Barry Letts: Difference between revisions

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'''Barry Letts''' (born [[1925]]) was [[producer]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' during the 1970s, he directed two prominant stories of Doctor Who.
'''Barry Letts''' (born [[1925]]) is perhaps best known as the [[producer]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' during [[Jon Pertwee]]'s tenure as [[the Doctor]]. 
He is also the author of Doctor Who novels: ''[[The Ghosts of N-Space (novel)|The Ghosts of N-Space]]'', ''[[Deadly Reunion]]'' and ''[[Island of Death]]''. Letts also wrote the BBC Radio play ''[[The Paradise of Death]]'' as well as novelising it. Letts adapted ''The Ghosts of N-Space'', which he also wrote, into a radio drama shortly after.
 
However, his influence ran deeper than the average producer of "classic" ''Doctor Who'', as evidenced by his wide-ranging credits.  He was the only [[executive producer]] of the 1963 version of the show, overseeing the work of [[John Nathan-Turner]]'s first year as producer, and [[Tom Baker]]'s last year as the Doctor.  He was the only producer of ''Doctor Who'' to have also served as a director. He also held a number of uncredited positions with the production, varying from uncredited acting jobs to writing.  In this latter capacity, he paired with [[Robert Sloman]]. 
 
As the person who cast Tom Baker as the Doctor, commissioned Baker's first year of scripts, and significantly advanced [[Robert Holmes]]' career as a ''Doctor Who'' writer,  he also had a profound, but sometimes under-appreciated, impact on [[Philip Hinchcliffe]]'s time as producer.  With [[Terrance Dicks]], Letts is also generally seen as the effective co-creator of [[the Master]] <ref>[http://www.shannonsullivan.com/drwho/serials/eee.html Shannon Sullivan's guide to ''[[Terror of the Autons]]'']</ref>, [[Sarah Jane Smith]]<ref>[http://www.shannonsullivan.com/drwho/serials/uuu.html Shannon Sullivan's guide to ''[[The Time Warrior]]'']</ref> and [[Harry Sullivan]]<ref>[http://www.shannonsullivan.com/drwho/serials/4a.html Shannon Sullivan's guide to ''[[Robot (TV story)|Robot]]'']</ref>. 
 
His contribution to the casting of these characters were especially profound.  He felt it his duty to be on the look-out for suitable actors to replace companions during his tenure as producer, and kept meticulous records of various actors, on the off chance that one might be required to play a companion.  [[Elizabeth Sladen]] was about the 250th actor whose details he had recorded.  ([[BBC DVD]]: ''[[The Hand of Fear]]'')  Meanwhile, he was so taken with [[Ian Marter]]'s qualities that he twice gave the actor the chance to become a series regular. ([[BBC DVD]]: ''[[Carnival of Monsters]]'')
 
Letts is also credited with introducing certain themes that later appeared in ''Doctor Who''.  He was the first writer to insist upon including [[ecology|eco-friendliness]] and [[Buddhism]] — later seen in stories like ''[[The Seeds of Doom]]'' and ''[[Kinda (TV story)|Kinda]]'' — were both themes that debuted on his watch. 
Outside the world of televised ''Doctor Who'', he was the first writer of "past Doctor" adventures on audio, predating the rise of [[Big Finish]] audios by half a decade. He also contributed to the [[Target Books]] range of television novelizations, and he adapted his own radio dramas.  Interestingly, his adaptation of ''[[The Paradise of Death (novelisation)|The Paradise of Death]]'' was the final book released by Target, before their license passed to [[Virgin Books]].  He has also written a couple of novels for the [[BBC Past Doctor Adventures]] range. 
 
He is also a frequent contributor to the [[BBC DVD]] range.  While he unsurprisingly appears on commentaries of stories which he produced, he has also come to be used as a general "authority" on the classic series.  Therefore, he has appeared in front of the camera as himself in various bonus documentaries. Depending on the subject, he is sometimes seen on DVDs of serials in which he had no formal role, as when he was part of a general retrospective on [[Sarah Jane]] for ''The Hand of Fear''.  


==Filmography==
==Filmography==
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*[[Planet of the Spiders]]
*[[Planet of the Spiders]]
*[[The Android Invasion]]
*[[The Android Invasion]]
 
==As Writer==
*[[The Dæmons]] (as [[Guy Leopold]])
*[[The Time Monster]] (uncredited, with [[Robert Sloman]])
*[[The Green Death]] (uncredited, with Robert Sloman)
*[[Planet of the Spiders]] (uncredited, with Robert Sloman)
===As Producer===
===As Producer===
*[[Doctor Who and the Silurians]]
*[[Doctor Who and the Silurians]]
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*[[The Paradise of Death]]
*[[The Paradise of Death]]
*[[The Ghosts of N-Space (audio drama)|The Ghosts of N-Space]]
*[[The Ghosts of N-Space (audio drama)|The Ghosts of N-Space]]
 
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
==External links==
{{imdb name|id=0504818|name=Barry Letts}}
{{imdb name|id=0504818|name=Barry Letts}}

Revision as of 18:12, 23 April 2009

RealWorld.png

Barry Letts (born 1925) is perhaps best known as the producer of Doctor Who during Jon Pertwee's tenure as the Doctor.

However, his influence ran deeper than the average producer of "classic" Doctor Who, as evidenced by his wide-ranging credits. He was the only executive producer of the 1963 version of the show, overseeing the work of John Nathan-Turner's first year as producer, and Tom Baker's last year as the Doctor. He was the only producer of Doctor Who to have also served as a director. He also held a number of uncredited positions with the production, varying from uncredited acting jobs to writing. In this latter capacity, he paired with Robert Sloman.

As the person who cast Tom Baker as the Doctor, commissioned Baker's first year of scripts, and significantly advanced Robert Holmes' career as a Doctor Who writer, he also had a profound, but sometimes under-appreciated, impact on Philip Hinchcliffe's time as producer. With Terrance Dicks, Letts is also generally seen as the effective co-creator of the Master [1], Sarah Jane Smith[2] and Harry Sullivan[3].

His contribution to the casting of these characters were especially profound. He felt it his duty to be on the look-out for suitable actors to replace companions during his tenure as producer, and kept meticulous records of various actors, on the off chance that one might be required to play a companion. Elizabeth Sladen was about the 250th actor whose details he had recorded. (BBC DVD: The Hand of Fear) Meanwhile, he was so taken with Ian Marter's qualities that he twice gave the actor the chance to become a series regular. (BBC DVD: Carnival of Monsters)

Letts is also credited with introducing certain themes that later appeared in Doctor Who. He was the first writer to insist upon including eco-friendliness and Buddhism — later seen in stories like The Seeds of Doom and Kinda — were both themes that debuted on his watch.

Outside the world of televised Doctor Who, he was the first writer of "past Doctor" adventures on audio, predating the rise of Big Finish audios by half a decade. He also contributed to the Target Books range of television novelizations, and he adapted his own radio dramas. Interestingly, his adaptation of The Paradise of Death was the final book released by Target, before their license passed to Virgin Books. He has also written a couple of novels for the BBC Past Doctor Adventures range.

He is also a frequent contributor to the BBC DVD range. While he unsurprisingly appears on commentaries of stories which he produced, he has also come to be used as a general "authority" on the classic series. Therefore, he has appeared in front of the camera as himself in various bonus documentaries. Depending on the subject, he is sometimes seen on DVDs of serials in which he had no formal role, as when he was part of a general retrospective on Sarah Jane for The Hand of Fear.

Filmography

As Director

As Writer

As Producer

Bibliography

Prose Stories

Target Novelisations

Virgin Missing Adventures

BBC Past Doctor Adventures

BBC Radio Dramas

References

  1. ↑ Shannon Sullivan's guide to Terror of the Autons
  2. ↑ Shannon Sullivan's guide to The Time Warrior
  3. ↑ Shannon Sullivan's guide to Robot

External links

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