John Wiles
Encyclopedia
John Wiles was a television writer and producer, now best known for being the second producer
of the popular science fiction serial Doctor Who
, succeeding Verity Lambert
. He was credited as producer on four serials between 1965 and 1966, namely The Myth Makers
, The Daleks' Master Plan
(which lasted for twelve episodes), The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve
, and The Ark
. Only The Ark, and three episodes of The Daleks' Master Plan, still survive in the BBC's archives. As Wiles chose not to employ John Cura and his telesnaps service, there is very little visual record left of his time on Doctor Who.
Wiles found his time as producer difficult and frustrating. Although he had a good working relationship with story editor Donald Tosh
, Wiles found that he was unable to make many changes to the format of the programme. Attempts to make the series darker led to clashes with actor William Hartnell
, who as the sole remaining member of the original team saw himself as the guardian of the show's original values. An attempt to give new companion Dodo Chaplet
a cockney
accent was vetoed by Wiles' superiors who ordered that the regulars must speak "BBC English". With Hartnell increasingly in poor health and hostile to Wiles, the latter sought a way to replace the actor. However this was again opposed by Wiles' superiors. Wiles also disliked the lengthy The Daleks' Master Plan
story which had been commissioned by the previous production team and which proved difficult to realise. One of his few changes that lasted even a short time was to limit nearly all stories to just four episodes. In early 1966 Wiles opted to resign in frustration with his inability to steer the show in the direction he wished, with Tosh resigning in sympathy. Ironically the tenure of the next producer, Innes Lloyd
, coincided with a change in superiors and so consequently Lloyd was now able to both introduce a character with a cockney accent (Ben Jackson) and replace Hartnell.
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
of the popular science fiction serial Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
, succeeding Verity Lambert
Verity Lambert
Verity Ann Lambert, OBE was an English television and film producer. She is best known as the founding producer of the science-fiction series Doctor Who, a programme which has become a part of British popular culture, and for her association with Thames Television...
. He was credited as producer on four serials between 1965 and 1966, namely The Myth Makers
The Myth Makers
The Myth Makers is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 16 October to 6 November 1965. The story is set in Homeric Troy, based on Iliad by Homer...
, The Daleks' Master Plan
The Daleks' Master Plan
The Daleks' Master Plan is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. The twelve episodes were aired from 13 November 1965 to 29 January 1966...
(which lasted for twelve episodes), The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve
The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve
The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 5 February to 26 February 1966...
, and The Ark
The Ark (Doctor Who)
The Ark is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 5 March to 26 March 1966...
. Only The Ark, and three episodes of The Daleks' Master Plan, still survive in the BBC's archives. As Wiles chose not to employ John Cura and his telesnaps service, there is very little visual record left of his time on Doctor Who.
Wiles found his time as producer difficult and frustrating. Although he had a good working relationship with story editor Donald Tosh
Donald Tosh
Donald Tosh was a BBC screenwriter during the 1960s who contributed to the Doctor Who programme in 1965.Before working on Doctor Who Tosh was briefly script editor on the series Compact, and had helped to develop the show that eventually became Coronation Street.Tosh was the story editor for the...
, Wiles found that he was unable to make many changes to the format of the programme. Attempts to make the series darker led to clashes with actor William Hartnell
William Hartnell
William Henry Hartnell was an English actor. During 1963-66, he was the first actor to play the Doctor in the long-running BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who.-Early life:...
, who as the sole remaining member of the original team saw himself as the guardian of the show's original values. An attempt to give new companion Dodo Chaplet
Dodo Chaplet
Dorothea "Dodo" Chaplet is a fictional character played by Jackie Lane in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. An Earth teenager from the year 1966, she was a companion of the First Doctor and a regular in the programme in its third season, from February to July,...
a cockney
Cockney
The term Cockney has both geographical and linguistic associations. Geographically and culturally, it often refers to working class Londoners, particularly those in the East End...
accent was vetoed by Wiles' superiors who ordered that the regulars must speak "BBC English". With Hartnell increasingly in poor health and hostile to Wiles, the latter sought a way to replace the actor. However this was again opposed by Wiles' superiors. Wiles also disliked the lengthy The Daleks' Master Plan
The Daleks' Master Plan
The Daleks' Master Plan is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. The twelve episodes were aired from 13 November 1965 to 29 January 1966...
story which had been commissioned by the previous production team and which proved difficult to realise. One of his few changes that lasted even a short time was to limit nearly all stories to just four episodes. In early 1966 Wiles opted to resign in frustration with his inability to steer the show in the direction he wished, with Tosh resigning in sympathy. Ironically the tenure of the next producer, Innes Lloyd
Innes Lloyd
Innes Lloyd was a British television producer of BBC drama producers.-Doctor Who:...
, coincided with a change in superiors and so consequently Lloyd was now able to both introduce a character with a cockney accent (Ben Jackson) and replace Hartnell.