Bill Podmore
Encyclopedia
Edgar William "Bill" Podmore (15 August 1931 – 22 January 1994) was a British
television producer. Born in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire
, he was best known for his long association with the soap opera Coronation Street
, a series he produced for twelve years (1976–88). This period is now widely regarded as a "golden era" in the programme's history.
Initially a Royal Air Force
pilot, he became a TV cameraman for the BBC, shortly after with Granada Television and later a director. When, as a relatively young man, he was called upon to direct an episode of Coronation Street, Violet Carson
(Ena Sharples
) with a massive twinkle in her eye, drew herself up to her full height and confronted him - "Hello Bill, welcome...my train leaves at 5.30 p.m.!"
Bill was asked to take over as producer of "the Street" in 1976. Initially he turned the offer down flat. As former Street writer John Stevenson
recalled recently in a BBC Radio 2 documentary, "Coronation Street was on a downward slope at the time. Stevenson stated that no-one wanted to work on it, the quality of the scripts had dropped, the storylines were poor and it was becoming something of a joke within the TV industry to have to work on it".
Podmore helped steer the programme back onto an even keel. He referred to this as "re-decoration, not demolition" meaning that he intended to capitalise on the strengths he already had there. Thus the Ogdens became a comedic double act yet again, and Eddie Yeats
, who before Podmore's stewardship had been nothing more than a petty thug, became the Ogden's surrogate son and was revealed to have a heart of gold. Bill brought in new characters, such as Renee Bradshaw, and brought minor characters, such as Fred Gee and Vera Duckworth
, to the fore.
However, it was not all plain sailing. In the early 1980s, Peter Dudley
was arrested in a Manchester public lavatory for importuning. Podmore, a married man with two children, Hellen and Richard John, stood by Peter steadfastly, insisting that although he was involved in a "shameful" court case in reality, whatever Dudley did in his private life was his own business. Dudley later suffered a stroke caused by the stress of the case, and finally suffering a fatal heart attack after asking to be "written-out" of the show.
Podmore was, however, no easy touch. The cast referred to him as "The Godfather" for he could be very ruthless. In 1980, he killed Renee Roberts off as he considered her marriage to Alf Roberts
not working; Podmore was quoted as saying that Alf Roberts was allowed to emerge "from the shadows of a rather humdrum marriage". When Stephen Hancock
refused to sign a new contract, Podmore had him killed off, having him shot dead in a bungled wages snatch at Baldwin's Factory.
Podmore was also instrumental in the unpopular termination of actor Peter Adamson
's contract. Adamson had been suspended from the programme after allegations that he had interfered with two young girls in a Bury
(Lancashire, England) swimming pool. Podmore, who had known Adamson for over 20 years was prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt, especially after he was found not guilty. But Adamson, faced with cripplingly high legal fees, sold his story to a British national newspaper, giving away personal details about the very people who had stood by him in his darkest hour. Podmore called this "indefensible" and sacked him.
In 1988, Podmore settled into retirement, dying in 1994.
His memoirs, entitled Coronation Street - The Inside Story, were published in 1990.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
television producer. Born in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire
Gainsborough, Lincolnshire
Gainsborough is a town 15 miles north-west of Lincoln on the River Trent within the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. At one time it served as an important port with trade downstream to Hull, and was the most inland in England, being more than 55 miles from the North...
, he was best known for his long association with the soap opera Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
, a series he produced for twelve years (1976–88). This period is now widely regarded as a "golden era" in the programme's history.
Initially a Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
pilot, he became a TV cameraman for the BBC, shortly after with Granada Television and later a director. When, as a relatively young man, he was called upon to direct an episode of Coronation Street, Violet Carson
Violet Carson
Violet Helen Carson OBE was an English actress, best known for playing Ena Sharples, one of the original characters in the British soap opera Coronation Street.-Early life and career:...
(Ena Sharples
Ena Sharples
Ena Sharples is one of the original characters from the British soap opera Coronation Street, and was played by Violet Carson.-Development:...
) with a massive twinkle in her eye, drew herself up to her full height and confronted him - "Hello Bill, welcome...my train leaves at 5.30 p.m.!"
Bill was asked to take over as producer of "the Street" in 1976. Initially he turned the offer down flat. As former Street writer John Stevenson
John Stevenson (writer)
John Stevenson is a British writer who since 1976 has been a regular script writer on Britain's longest running soap opera, Coronation Street. He was originally a newspaper journalist...
recalled recently in a BBC Radio 2 documentary, "Coronation Street was on a downward slope at the time. Stevenson stated that no-one wanted to work on it, the quality of the scripts had dropped, the storylines were poor and it was becoming something of a joke within the TV industry to have to work on it".
Podmore helped steer the programme back onto an even keel. He referred to this as "re-decoration, not demolition" meaning that he intended to capitalise on the strengths he already had there. Thus the Ogdens became a comedic double act yet again, and Eddie Yeats
Eddie Yeats
Edward Jeremy Timothy "Eddie" Yeats was a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street.-1974–1987:Eddie Yeats was born in Liverpool on 22 August 1941. In adulthood, Eddie held low-paid jobs and made extra cash by helping out his disreputable friends with carrying out...
, who before Podmore's stewardship had been nothing more than a petty thug, became the Ogden's surrogate son and was revealed to have a heart of gold. Bill brought in new characters, such as Renee Bradshaw, and brought minor characters, such as Fred Gee and Vera Duckworth
Vera Duckworth
Veronica "Vera" Duckworth , played by Elizabeth Dawn, is a fictional character on the British soap opera Coronation Street, first appearing in August 1974 and last appearing in episode 6,734 on 18 January 2008, where the character peacefully died in her sleep at the age of 70 from heart failure...
, to the fore.
However, it was not all plain sailing. In the early 1980s, Peter Dudley
Peter Dudley
Peter Dudley was an English character actor best known for his role as Bert Tilsley in television's Coronation Street; a role he played continuously from 1979 until 1983.His period in the programme was however dogged by controversy...
was arrested in a Manchester public lavatory for importuning. Podmore, a married man with two children, Hellen and Richard John, stood by Peter steadfastly, insisting that although he was involved in a "shameful" court case in reality, whatever Dudley did in his private life was his own business. Dudley later suffered a stroke caused by the stress of the case, and finally suffering a fatal heart attack after asking to be "written-out" of the show.
Podmore was, however, no easy touch. The cast referred to him as "The Godfather" for he could be very ruthless. In 1980, he killed Renee Roberts off as he considered her marriage to Alf Roberts
Alf Roberts
Alfred Sidney "Alf" Roberts was a fictional character in the British ITV soap Coronation Street. He ran a grocery shop at No. 15 and was heavily involved in local politics, including two spells as mayor of Weatherfield...
not working; Podmore was quoted as saying that Alf Roberts was allowed to emerge "from the shadows of a rather humdrum marriage". When Stephen Hancock
Stephen Hancock
Stephen Hancock is a British TV actor. He was born in Stratford-upon-Avonin 1929. He is most notable for his role as Ernest Bishop in Coronation Street which he played from 1969 until the character was killed off in 1978...
refused to sign a new contract, Podmore had him killed off, having him shot dead in a bungled wages snatch at Baldwin's Factory.
Podmore was also instrumental in the unpopular termination of actor Peter Adamson
Peter Adamson
Peter Adamson was a British stage and television actor. He is best known for playing the character of Len Fairclough in the long-running television series Coronation Street from 1961 to 1983.-Life and career:...
's contract. Adamson had been suspended from the programme after allegations that he had interfered with two young girls in a Bury
Bury
Bury is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the River Irwell, east of Bolton, west-southwest of Rochdale, and north-northwest of the city of Manchester...
(Lancashire, England) swimming pool. Podmore, who had known Adamson for over 20 years was prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt, especially after he was found not guilty. But Adamson, faced with cripplingly high legal fees, sold his story to a British national newspaper, giving away personal details about the very people who had stood by him in his darkest hour. Podmore called this "indefensible" and sacked him.
In 1988, Podmore settled into retirement, dying in 1994.
His memoirs, entitled Coronation Street - The Inside Story, were published in 1990.
External links
- BBCi List of Bill Podmore's credits