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| publisher = [[British Film Institute|BFI]] | accessdate=30 August 2007}}</ref> He left the series and [[ITV (TV network)|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 spin-offs#Non-fiction books|EastEnders: The First 10 Years: A Celebration]] |year=1995|publisher=BBC Books|isbn=0-563-37057-2}}</ref>
| publisher = [[British Film Institute|BFI]] | accessdate=30 August 2007}}</ref> He left the series and [[ITV (TV network)|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 spin-offs#Non-fiction books|EastEnders: The First 10 Years: A Celebration]] |year=1995|publisher=BBC Books|isbn=0-563-37057-2}}</ref>


As "Head of Series" at the BBC, Cregeen was responsible for the Corporation's one-off and returning drama 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=27 September 2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705043020/http://www.thelogbook.com/dvd/doctor-who-survival/ |archivedate=5 July 2008 }}</ref> At the time, Cregeen 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, without Cregeen's involvement, 16 years later.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}} 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 series 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=27 September 2007}}</ref> In 2013, during an interview to mark the 50th anniversary of the series, ''Doctor Who'' executive producer [[Steven Moffat]] declared the decision to abandon ''Doctor Who'' in 1989 a decision of "outright stupidity and unforgivable blindness," while BBC Director General [[Michael Grade]] offered a different opinion, "It was absolutely the right decision at the time… The show was ghastly. It was pathetic… It lost its way."<ref name="radio times">[http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-11-18/axing-doctor-who-showed-bbcs-outright-stupidity-and-unforgiveable-blindness-says-steven-moffat Axing Doctor Who showed BBC's “outright stupidity and unforgivable blindness“ says Steven Moffat]. ''[[Radio Times]]''. 18 November 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2013.</ref>
As "Head of Series" at the BBC, Cregeen was responsible for the Corporation's one-off and returning drama 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=27 September 2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705043020/http://www.thelogbook.com/dvd/doctor-who-survival/ |archivedate=5 July 2008 }}</ref> At the time, Cregeen 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, without Cregeen's involvement, 16 years later.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}} 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 series 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 = 27 September 2007| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071023030331/http://dvdinmypants.com/reviews/A-G/drwho_survival.php| archive-date = 23 October 2007| url-status = dead}}</ref> In 2013, during an interview to mark the 50th anniversary of the series, ''Doctor Who'' executive producer [[Steven Moffat]] declared the decision to abandon ''Doctor Who'' in 1989 a decision of "outright stupidity and unforgivable blindness," while BBC Director General [[Michael Grade]] offered a different opinion, "It was absolutely the right decision at the time… The show was ghastly. It was pathetic… It lost its way."<ref name="radio times">[http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-11-18/axing-doctor-who-showed-bbcs-outright-stupidity-and-unforgiveable-blindness-says-steven-moffat Axing Doctor Who showed BBC's “outright stupidity and unforgivable blindness“ says Steven Moffat]. ''[[Radio Times]]''. 18 November 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2013.</ref>


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=27 September 2007}}</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=27 September 2007}}</ref>
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=27 September 2007}}</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=27 September 2007}}</ref>

Revision as of 18:51, 29 January 2020

Peter Cregeen
Born (1940-01-28) 28 January 1940 (age 84)
London, UK
OccupationTelevision director and producer
Years active1960s－
ChildrenMaria Cregeen

Peter Cregeen (born 28 January 1940 in London, England)[1] is a British television director, 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 served as "Head of Series" for the BBC between 1989 and 1993, and is well known for cancelling the BBC's science fiction programme Doctor Who after its 26th series and several years of poor viewing figures.

Career

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 (1971; 1976); The Sandbaggers (1978); Colditz (1972; 1974) and Wings (1977–1978).

Cregeen has worked on various police dramas, including: The Gentle Touch (1980); The Expert (1969); 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 (1983).[2] 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.[3][4] 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 year-round, twice-weekly half-hour format.[5] 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, to become executive producer of the BBC's flagship soap opera, EastEnders.[6]

As "Head of Series" at the BBC, Cregeen was responsible for the Corporation's one-off and returning drama 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.[7] At the time, Cregeen 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, without Cregeen's involvement, 16 years later.[citation needed] 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. Reasons given included a general feeling at the BBC that the series 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.[8] In 2013, during an interview to mark the 50th anniversary of the series, Doctor Who executive producer Steven Moffat declared the decision to abandon Doctor Who in 1989 a decision of "outright stupidity and unforgivable blindness," while BBC Director General Michael Grade offered a different opinion, "It was absolutely the right decision at the time… The show was ghastly. It was pathetic… It lost its way."[9]

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.[10] 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, The Dark Dimension, was terminated by the BBC for "financial and logistical reasons."[11]

Cregeen remained "Head of Series" at the BBC until May 1993, when he was replaced by Michael Wearing.[12] 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.[13] Cregeen has also been involved in theatre, working alongside multimillionairess, Janet Holmes à Court, to encourage TV writers to contribute to her stage productions.[14]

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).[15] From 1999 to 2000 he produced for ITV's Midsomer Murders, and in 2001 he was appointed series executive producer of ITV's new soap opera 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."[16] The soap was relatively unsuccessful, and was axed in 2003.[17] Cregeen's latest directorial TV credit was for a 2003 episode of the popular BBC medical drama, Casualty.

References

  1. ^ "CREGEEN, Peter". BFI. Retrieved 27 September 2007.
  2. ^ "History". thebillbios. Archived from the original on 28 December 2007. Retrieved 27 September 2007.
  3. ^ "The Bill". televisionheaven.co.uk. Archived from the original on 16 October 2007. Retrieved 27 September 2007.
  4. ^ Policing and the media: facts, fictions and factions. google.com. Retrieved 27 September 2007.
  5. ^ "Bill, The (1984– )". BFI. Retrieved 30 August 2007.
  6. ^ Brake, Colin (1995). EastEnders: The First 10 Years: A Celebration. BBC Books. ISBN 0-563-37057-2.
  7. ^ "Doctor Who – Survival". thelogbook.com. Archived from the original on 5 July 2008. Retrieved 27 September 2007.
  8. ^ "Doctor Who – Survival". dvdinmypants.com. Archived from the original on 23 October 2007. Retrieved 27 September 2007.
  9. ^ Axing Doctor Who showed BBC's “outright stupidity and unforgivable blindness“ says Steven Moffat. Radio Times. 18 November 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  10. ^ "A QUESTION OF GUILT". BFI. Retrieved 27 September 2007.
  11. ^ "Inside The Dark Dimension". nzdwfc.tetrap.com. Retrieved 27 September 2007.
  12. ^ "How to make a flop". The Independent. Retrieved 27 September 2007. [dead link‍]
  13. ^ "MOGUL SERIES OVERVIEW". startrader.co.uk. Retrieved 27 September 2007.
  14. ^ "You name it. She owns it". The Independent. Retrieved 27 September 2007. [dead link‍]
  15. ^ "Filmography". BFI. Retrieved 27 September 2007.
  16. ^ Deans, Jason (27 April 2001). "ITV unveils new daytime soap". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 27 September 2007.
  17. ^ Wells, Matt (11 March 2003). "Relaunched soap axed again". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 27 September 2007.
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