I started in Television as a researcher but moved to writer, producer, and finally to director.
Most of the following credits were produced for broadcast by the ITV Network, Nationally or in the Regions in the UK.
Most were under Tyne Tees Television or Yorkshire-Tyne Tees Television, but credits also include programs produced for broadcast on Channel 4, the BBC, Thames Television, Granada or Border Television and some on the northern Network.
Most were made in-house, some independently for the broadcaster and commissioned by them. Some programs existed and I joined the team. Some came from ideas I generated as a producer. Often the programs had to go through a pitching process to get greenlit to be made but, all were fun to be a part of.
My favorite – the blank page. All you know – you have maybe a title or an artist but most likely just a theme like “Arts series.” You know the number of episodes, the transmission dates, budget, and away you go fill in the rest or the TV screen goes black!
Programs were shot in the studio or on location(s) single camera, multi-camera, or live-outside broadcast.
Recently visiting John Reay, one of a couple of key Television Producers & Directors
like Vin Athey, from whom I learned, and had the most fun working with.
As a director the most important collaboration is always with the cinematographer and the editor.
PA Carole McKenzie with myself and Mary and DP Alistair McKenzie.
Made many programs together at Tyne Tees Television.
Editor Adam J Kirk formerly from Yorkshire Television.
The Dark Lantern
Working in television followed my experience of acting on the stage in theatre at Birmingham Rep & Youth Theatre, for Birmingham & Solihull. After graduation from the University of London I headed north to Newcastle and Tyne Tees Television. By the time I moved on from Tyne Tees I was producing programs like The Dark Lantern, a drama/animation program for ITV with American actor David Soul.
Starring David Soul
Written & animated by Robert & Jan Jefferson
Highway
I started as a Researcher on several studio-based productions such as Nexus and Inner Space (magazine interview guest programs), then moved to Associate Producer on ITV Network programs such as the live outside broadcast (OB) Morning Worship and Sir Harry Secombe’s Highway.
Highway ran on the ITV Network for over 10 years in prime time, reaching Sunday evening audiences of 13.5 million. The multi-camera series involved 70 production crew, filming two hour-long programs back-to-back at different locations, ending with scoring in London with a 34-to-36-piece orchestra. The program was a mix of local and celebrity interviews (Robert Hardy, Michael Williams, Terence Alexander, Ian Carmichael, Nick Berry); historical and pictorial information about the location and music; lots of great performers; and the powerful voice of Sir Harry.
From across the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors to towns and cities such as York, Harrogate, Knaresbrough, and Durham, to Lindisfarne – Holy Island, and two programs from Gibraltar, I went from Associate Producer to Producer by the end of the run.
Presented by Sir Harry Secombe, ITV Network
At Tyne Tees TV I worked in-house as a Producer and/or Director on a diverse range of series and single programs under factual, live, arts, music, religion, including The Enthronement of the Archbishop of York a (13-camera, 2.5 hours live-broadcast), The Corrs in Concert, That’s Entertainment, (Mike Neville, Corrie actor Denis Welch, Ant & Dec, Melvyn Bragg), Just Another Day, mini-series Meditations for Easter: The Easter Garden and 5 Minutes (the long-running Yorkshire-Tyne Tees short day time programs), City of Culture programs on arts and photography and the The A.B.C. of Christian Heritage, a history/archaeology, interview, and location-based series.
The ABC of Christian Heritage : (Seven x 30 mins. series.)
As Writer/Producer and Director, the series ran for a second season with The W.H.O. of Christian Heritage and later spawned The Lindisfarne Gospels. All these factual programs were presented by storyteller, actor Robert Duncan.
Over my time at Yorkshire-Tyne Tees TV, many of our series won several Awards including prestigious RTS Awards both when working in-house and through Duchy Parade Films Ltd as an Independent producer for the drama Wilfred broadcast on the ITV Northern Network.
Presented by actor Robert Duncan
The series owed much to Lighting/Camera work Alistair McKenzie.
The ABC & WHO TV Series had many special guests including Broadcaster Melvyn Bragg.
In the Studios at Tyne Tees, I directed music videos for legendary Classic Rock band, Hawkwind. I continued as an Independent on magazine/interview led series such as Lives in Focus; interviews with celebrities, industry leaders, and statesmen like former Chancellor, MP Denis Healey, Archbishops John Habgood and Robert Runcie; and The Care Concert for YTV; Directing for Dutch TV Sweet Fifteen for the series Metropolis; BBC journalist-led programs God on the Box; and animation for C4, The Astronomer’s Sun. I also worked through Broadcasters, producing on commercial videos such as for Gateshead City of Culture and interviews, such as with Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Factual, filmed on location across the north of England.
Strange Meeting, Broadcast on ITV, behind the scenes documentary
Animation produced by Duchy Parade Films and edited by Adam Kirk for Channel 4
Here, in no order, are a few program titles I worked on over years in television in the UK. As an Indie filmmaker, television was my learning ground from the wealth of experience and artists I had a chance to work alongside who were informative, creative, inspiring, and special to be around. What everyone who works in television or film production learns is – it takes a team.
Nexus
Inner Space
The Quaker Tapestry
The Dark Lantern (David Soul)
God on the Box
The Astronomer’s Sun
Matthew Wright – The Right Stuff
Visions
Lives in Focus
Morning Worship (live OB) countless episodes.
The Enthronement of the Archbishop of York (live OB)
Sweet Fifteen for Metropolis
Sir Harry Secombe’s Highway (series ran over ten-years)
The Care Concert (The Buzzcocks, Sham 69, Bruce Foxton, James, Gil Scott Heron)
Wilfred (Derek Jacobi, Edward Fox)
Just Another Day
No More Cry: The Corrs in Newcastle
Strange Meeting: The Making of Wilfred
That’s Entertainment (Ant & Dec, Melvyn Bragg, Mike Neville)
The Lindisfarne Gospels
The WHO of Christian Heritage (series) Robert Duncan
Meditations for Easter: The Easter Garden (series)
Documentary on the Archbishop of York, John Hapgood
5 Minutes (several series)
The ABC of Christian Heritage (series) Robert Duncan
Photography and Arts (series’)
Gateshead bid for City of Culture (PM, Tony Blair)
At the time of making the focus was the job in hand and then, what next? You hardly ever took behind-the-scenes stills, kept a copy of the program or posted on social media or a website. Even the titles of some programs or numbers made fade into memory as the focus was the making at the time and moving forward. Like theatre, you realize just how ephemeral television is. You make it, it is broadcast, you move to the next production, repeat. When making, every program was an intense focused time.
