A few words, really, to mark the passing of one of British television's foremost producers, Verity Lambert. It is especially poignant that her death, at the age of 71, was announced on 23rd November 2007, the 44th anniversary of transmission of the first episode of 'Doctor Who'.
Not only did Verity produce the series back in the mists of time in 1963 but she was instrumental in getting it to the screen despite the trials of being the youngest and only woman in a production role in television and having to defend her decisions to sceptical drama and childrens departments at the BBC. The fact that the show survives to this day is testament to her belief in the programme and it will remain her lasting legacy.
But let's not forget her other contributions to the television landscape. She developed and produced such seminal programmes as Adam Adamant Lives, Budgie, The Naked Civil Servant, Rock Follies, Quatermass, Rumpole of the Bailey, Edward and Mrs Simpson, Reilly: Ace of Spies, Minder, GBH and Jonathan Creek. Many of her productions were showered with awards, particularly The Naked Civil Servant and Edward And Mrs Simpson. She ran her own production company, Cinema Verity, producing feature films, dramas and sit-coms until her untimely death.
She was a television legend - one of the few left - and she will be missed. God bless, Verity.
Director General
- Frank Collins
- Freelance writer and film and television researcher (for hire). He has contributed to a number of DVD and Blu-ray releases, magazines, books and websites about archive television and cinema including work for Moviemail, Frame Rated, Arrow Video and Indicator. Publications include The Black Archives #62: Kinda (2022) and #31: Warriors' Gate (2019), I.B Tauris's 'Doctor Who: The Eleventh Hour - A Critical Celebration of the Matt Smith and Steven Moffat Era' (2013) and 'Doctor Who - The Pandorica Opens' (2010).
The Book(s) What I Wrote
"Merits attention from Doctor Who fans interested in the development of a script by going deep into the story’s genesis and shifts in tone, and the infamous production difficulties which plagued it. The glimpses of Steve Gallagher’s original scripts are fascinating, as are the changes made to them by seemingly everyone from directors to producers to cast members." We Are Cult. 17 June 2019.
"Whether you’re a fan of the show under Moffat or not, it offers an intriguing, insightful look at all aspects of the series" 7/10 - Starburst, January 2014
"A worthy addition to serious texts on Doctor Who" - Doctor Who Magazine 431, February 2011
"an impressive work, imbued with so much analytical love and passion, and is an absolute must-read for any fan" N. Blake - Amazon 4/5 stars
"...mixes the intellectual and the emotional very well...it's proper media criticism" 9/10 - The Medium Is Not Enough
"... an up-to-date guide that isn’t afraid to shy away from the more controversial aspects of the series" 8/10 - Total SciFi Online
"...well-informed new angles on familiar episodes... this is a great read from start to finish" - Bertie Fox - Amazon 4/5 stars
"Frank Collins has produced a book that is fiercely idiosyncratic, displays a wide-ranging intellect the size of a planet, but which is also endearingly open and inclusive in its desire to share its expansive knowledge..." 4/5 - Horrorview.com
"The book is great! It makes you think, it makes you work. It encourages you to go back and watch the series with a whole new perspective..." - G.R. Bundy's Blog: Telly Stuff And Things
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