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.
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