Peter Cregeen: Difference between revisions
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'''Peter Cregeen''' (born [[28 January]] [[1940]] in [[London]], [[England]])<ref>{{cite web | url = http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/12691| title= CREGEEN, Peter |
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| publisher = BFI | accessdate=2007-09-27}}</ref> is a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[television director]], [[television producer|producer]] and executive. He is possibly best known for being the original director of [[ITV]]'s successful police drama, ''[[The Bill]]'', and his substantial contribution to the serial thereafter. Cregeen acted as “Head of Series” for the BBC between 1989 and 1993, and is well known for canceling the [[BBC]]'s science fiction programme ''[[Doctor Who]]'' after its 26th series and several years of poor viewing figures. |
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== Career == |
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Cregeen began directing for television in the 1960s and producing in the 1970s. During the 1960s, 70s, and 80s he worked on numerous popular television series, including: ''[[The Troubleshooters]]'' (1965); ''[[King of the River]]'' (1966); ''[[Out of the Unknown]]'' (1969; 1970); ''[[The Onedin Line]]'' (19871; 1976); ''[[The Sandbaggers]]'' (1978); ''[[Colditz (TV series)|Colditz]]'' (1972; 1974) and ''[[Wings (BBC TV series)|Wings]]'' (1977-1978). |
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Cregeen has worked on various police dramas, including: ''[[The Gentle Touch]]'' (1980); ''[[The Expert]]'' (1969); ''[[Softly, Softly (TV series)|Softly Softly]]'' (1969-1972); ''[[Z-Cars]]'' (1965); ''[[Juliet Bravo]]'' (1983), and the pilot to ITV’s successful long running drama, ''[[The Bill]]'', which was originally named ''[[Woodentop (The Bill)|Woodentop]]'' (1983).<ref>{{cite web | url = http://thebillbios.billfans.com/history.htm| title= History| publisher = thebillbios| accessdate=2007-09-27}}</ref> As original director, Cregeen was responsible for ''The Bill'''s "distinctive and atmospheric feel", which he created by adopting a “[[fly-on-the-wall]] documentary style” with a single handheld camera.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.televisionheaven.co.uk/bill.htm | title= The Bill| publisher = televisionheaven.co.uk | accessdate=2007-09-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=PHUT3OB1wvkC&pg=PA63&lpg=PA63&dq=peter+creegan+the+bill&source=web&ots=uBgIrWfRZZ&sig=7eR0tbhceP8V-Vqpij_YcutPs2Y#PPP1,M1 | title= Policing and the media: facts, fictions and factions| publisher = google.com | accessdate=2007-09-27}}</ref> The response to ''Woodentop'' was so positive that within a month [[Thames Television]] had commissioned a 12 part series, which was renamed ''The Bill''. Cregeen remained with ''The Bill'', directing and producing between 1984 and 1987, and rose to [[executive producer]] between 1988 and 1989. Cregeen worked on ''The Bill'' during “its most popular period” when it switched in 1988 from a series to a “soap-style” twice-weekly half-hour format.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/473234/index.html| title= Bill, The (1984- ) |
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| publisher = [[BFI]] | accessdate=2007-08-30}}</ref> He left the series and [[ITV]] in 1989 to become "Head of Series" at the [[BBC]], later poaching fellow producer of The Bill, [[Michael Ferguson (director)|Michael Ferguson]], to become executive producer of the BBC’s flagship soap opera, ''[[EastEnders]]''.<ref name="first10years">{{cite book |last=Brake|first= Colin|authorlink= Colin Brake|title= [[EastEnders books#Non-fiction books|EastEnders: The First 10 Years: A Celebration]] |year=1995|publisher=BBC Books|id=ISBN 0-563-37057-2}}</ref> |
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As "Head of Series" at the BBC, Cregeen was responsible for the network’s one-off and returning series. During his tenure, Cregeen made the controversial decision to cancel the long running [[science fiction]] programme, ''[[Doctor Who]]'', following the end of its 26th series in 1989.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.thelogbook.com/dvd/doctor-who-survival/| title= Doctor Who - Survival| publisher =thelogbook.com| accessdate=2007-09-27}}</ref> At the time, Creegan told fans to expect a longer than usual wait for series 27, though he promised it would return; however ''Doctor Who'' did not return as an ongoing series on the BBC until 2005, 16 years later.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://shannonsullivan.com/drwho/serials/7q.html| title= Ghost Light| publisher =shannonsullivan.com| accessdate=2007-09-27}}</ref> In 2007, Cregeen and various other BBC staff gave the reasons for the cancellation of ''Doctor Who'' on a documentary entitled "End Game", which is featured on 26th series DVD ''[[Survival (Doctor Who)| Survival]]''. Reasons given included a general feeling at the BBC that the franchise needed a "rest", plummeting ratings—partly a result of being broadcast in direct competition to ITV's highest rated programme ''[[Coronation Street]]''—and a general disdain for science fiction among BBC staff at the time.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.dvdinmypants.com/reviews/A-G/drwho_survival.php| title= Doctor Who - Survival| publisher =dvdinmypants.com| accessdate=2007-09-27}}</ref> |
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Cregeen continued to produce various programmes for the BBC, having previously been the executive producer for [[BBC TV]]'s ''[[Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less]]'' in 1990—A two-part miniseries based on [[Jeffrey Archer]]'s best-selling book—and he also produced for ''[[A Question of Guilt]]'' in 1993.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/484343| title= A QUESTION OF GUILT| publisher =BFI| accessdate=2007-09-27}}</ref> In 1993 a ''Doctor Who'' feature length film to mark the series’ 30th anniversary was planned, with Cregeen taking on the role as producer; however production of the film, ''[[List of unmade Doctor Who serials#The Dark Dimension|The Dark Dimension]]'', was terminated by the BBC for "financial and logistical reasons."<ref>{{cite web | url = http://nzdwfc.tetrap.com/archive/tsv44/darkdimension.html| title= Inside The Dark Dimension| publisher =nzdwfc.tetrap.com| accessdate=2007-09-27}}</ref> |
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Cregeen remained "Head of Series" at the BBC until May 1993, when he was sacked and replaced by [[Michael Wearing]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19950319/ai_n13972185| title= How to make a flop| publisher =''[[The Independent]]''| accessdate=2007-09-27}}</ref> He has worked on numerous projects for ITV and the BBC since, and was responsible for commissioning [[Carlton Television]]'s successful drama ''[[Peak Practice]]'' in 1993.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.startrader.co.uk/mogul/mogul/mog_series.htm| title= MOGUL SERIES OVERVIEW| publisher =startrader.co.uk| accessdate=2007-09-27}}</ref> Cregeen has also been involved in theatre, working alongside multimillionairess, [[Janet Holmes à Court]], to encourage TV writers to contribute to her stage productions.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19951004/ai_n14010047| title= You name it. She owns it| publisher =The Independent| accessdate=2007-09-27}}</ref> |
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He resumed producing and directing of ''The Bill'' throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, and produced ''The Choir'', a five part adaptation of the novel by [[Joanna Trollope]], for the BBC (1994-1995).<ref name="bf">{{cite web | url = http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/12691?view=credit| title= Filmography| publisher =BFI| accessdate=2007-09-27}}</ref> From 1999-2000 he produced for ITV's ''[[Midsummer Murders]]'', and in 2001 he was appointed series executive producer of ITV's new soap opera ''[[Night and Day (TV series)|Night and Day]]'', which revolved around the lives of six very different families. He commented "We're making a soap that's modern, romantic and aspirational - a programme from a different perspective and in some ways a more realistic perspective. It's modern, sexy and fun with a very dark undercurrent."<ref>{{cite web | url = http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,,479588,00.html| title= ITV unveils new daytime soap| publisher =[[The Guardian]]| accessdate=2007-09-27}}</ref> The soap was relatively unsuccessful, and was axed in 2003.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,911669,00.html| title= Relaunched soap axed again| publisher =[[The Guardian]]| accessdate=2007-09-27}}</ref> Cregeen's latest directorial TV credit was for a 2003 episode of the popular BBC medical drama, ''[[Casualty (TV series)|Casualty]]''. |
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==References== |
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==External links== |
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*{{imdb name|id=0339543|name=Peter Cregeen}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cregeen, Peter}} |
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[[Category:British television directors]] |
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[[Category:British television producers]] |
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[[Category:Living people]] |
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Revision as of 06:27, 21 January 2009
Hagger?