Verity Lambert OBE 1935 – 2007

downthetubes was saddened to receive the news of the death of original Doctor Who producer, Verity Lambert.

Verity Lambert,  surrounded by monsters from the epic Doctor Who story, The Daleks’ Master Plan. Photo: BBC
Verity Lambert, surrounded by monsters from the epic Doctor Who story, The Daleks’ Master Plan. Photo: BBC

Verity was a pioneering producer on a pioneering programme. She worked on Doctor Who from 1963, when the programme started, until 1965. She was notable not only for being a talented, young television professional, but also for being a woman in a male-dominated industry.

In addition to Doctor Who, her many credits included cult series such as Adam Adamant Lives!, Budgie, Minder and Jonathan Creek, and outstanding dramas such as The Naked Civil Servant and Alan Bleasdale’s GBH.

Of course, Doctor Who, which was cancelled in 1989, returned to our screens in 2005 to great popular and critical acclaim.

An edited version of a photograph of Verity Lambert taken by Lorrie Graham for The Sydney Morning Herald, published 28th April 1986 | Via Wikimedia
An edited version of a photograph of Verity Lambert taken by Lorrie Graham for The Sydney Morning Herald, published 28th April 1986 | Via Wikimedia

New series lead writer and Executive Producer, Russell T Davies, quoted on the official BBC Doctor Who website, said: “There are a hundred people in Cardiff working on Doctor Who and millions of viewers, in particular many children, who love the programme that Verity helped create. This is her legacy and we will never forget that.”

“She made the television drama genre utterly her own,” commented Jane Tranter, controller of BBC Fiction. “She was deaf to the notion of compromise and there wasn’t an actor, writer, director or television executive she worked with who didn’t regard her with admiration, respect and awe.”

Our deep condolences to Verity’s family and friends.

Verity Lambert OBE, 27th November 1935 – 22nd November 2007

Screen Online has more detailed credits for Verity Lambert here

Wikipedia: Verity Lambert

Verity Lambert 2005 Archive Interview at the Doctor Who Appreciation Society

OBITUARIES

• Daily Telegraph Obituary

• Guardian Obituary
The Guardian notes Verity’s death comes only days after it was announced that she was to receive the Working Title Films lifetime achievement award at the 2007 Women in Film and Television Awards next month

• The Independent



Categories: Doctor Who, downthetubes News, Features, Obituaries, Other Worlds, Television

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