Pennant Roberts
{{Short description|British director and producer (1940–2010)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Pennant Roberts
|image =
|birth_name = John Pennant Roberts
|birth_date = {{birth date|1940|12|15|df=y}}
|birth_place = {{nowrap|Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England}}
|death_date = {{death date and age|2010|6|22|1940|12|15|df=y}}
|death_place = Cardiff, Wales
|occupation = Television director and producer
|known_for =
|title =
|education =
|alma mater = University of Bristol
|nationality =
|years_active = 1962–2010
|parents =
|spouse = Betsan Roberts
|children =
}}
John Pennant Roberts (15 December 1940 – 22 June 2010){{Cite web |date=9 January 2020 |title=Doctor Who Guide: Pennant Roberts |url=https://guide.doctorwhonews.net/ |access-date=21 February 2024 |website=Doctor Who Guide |language=en}} was a British director and producer known for his work in British television drama.
Early life
Roberts was born at Weston-super-Mare in Somerset to Welsh parents. He went to school in Bristol and read physics at the University of Bristol.
Career
Beginning his television career as a floor manager with BBC Wales, he later directed BBC television drama programmes including Softly, Softly, Doomwatch,{{cite web|url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/features/obituaries/2010/pennant-roberts/|title=Pennant Roberts - Obituaries |newspaper=The Stage|date=23 August 2010|publisher=}} The Onedin Line, Sutherland's Law, Survivors, Angels, Blake's 7, Doctor Who, Juliet Bravo, Tenko and Howards' Way.
Regarding Roberts' contribution to Doctor Who, for which he directed five televised serials between 1977 and 1985 (starring Tom Baker, Peter Davison and Colin Baker), as well as another, Shada, which wasn't originally completed, Patrick Mulkern of Radio Times wrote, "Pennant Roberts wasn’t one of Who's most dynamic directors, but he was shrewd at casting. He'd assign more roles to women than sci-fi scripts usually demanded and give many young actors a break."{{cite web | url= https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2012-06-05/timelash/ | title= Timelash ★ | work=Radio Times | first=Patrick | last=Mulkern | accessdate=24 May 2020}} He was also responsible for the casting of Louise Jameson as the companion Leela, having previously interviewed her for a role on Survivors.{{cite web | url= https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2020-03-18/doctor-who-leela-return/ | title= Doctor Who's Louise Jameson reveals why she turned down a return to the series | work=Radio Times | first=Morgan | last=Jeffery | date=18 March 2020| accessdate=24 May 2020}}
A fluent speaker of Welsh, he was also active in the Welsh television industry and moved to Cardiff in 1994.Piers Haggard [https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2010/aug/06/pennant-roberts-obituary Obituary: Pennant Roberts], The Guardian, 6 August 2010
Roberts was active within the Directors' and Producers' Rights Society and chair of the body for many years. Following his death, fellow director Piers Haggard described him as "a warm and committed man" who "served his fellow film and TV directors for more than 30 years with enormous dedication."
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|id=0731489|name=Pennant Roberts}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Roberts, Pennant}}
Category:Alumni of the University of Bristol
Category:British people of Welsh descent
Category:British television directors
Category:British television producers
Category:Deaths from cancer in Wales
Category:People from Weston-super-Mare
{{UK-tv-bio-stub}}