Peter Cregeen
Encyclopedia
Peter Cregeen is a British
television director
, producer
and executive. He is possibly best known for being the original director of ITV
's successful police drama, The Bill
, and his substantial contribution to the serial thereafter. Cregeen acted as “Head of Series” for the BBC between 1989 and 1993, and is well known for cancelling the BBC
's science fiction programme Doctor Who
after its 26th series and several years of poor viewing figures.
(1966); Out of the Unknown
(1969; 1970); The Onedin Line
(19871; 1976); The Sandbaggers
(1978); Colditz
(1972; 1974) and Wings (1977-1978).
Cregeen has worked on various police dramas, including: The Gentle Touch
(1980); The Expert (1969); Softly Softly
(1969-1972); Z-Cars
(1965); Juliet Bravo
(1983), and the pilot to ITV’s successful long-running drama, The Bill
, which was originally named Woodentop
(1983). As original director, Cregeen was responsible for The Bills "distinctive and atmospheric feel", which he created by adopting a “fly-on-the-wall documentary style” with a single handheld camera. The response to Woodentop was so positive that within a month Thames Television
had commissioned a 12 part series, which was renamed The Bill. Cregeen remained with The Bill, directing and producing between 1984 and 1987, and rose to executive producer
between 1988 and 1989. Cregeen worked on The Bill during “its most popular period” when it switched in 1988 from a series to a “soap-style” twice-weekly half-hour format. He left the series and ITV
in 1989 to become "Head of Series" at the BBC
, later poaching fellow producer of The Bill, Michael Ferguson
, to become executive producer of the BBC’s flagship soap opera, EastEnders
.
As "Head of Series" at the BBC, Cregeen was responsible for the Corporation's one-off and returning drama series. During his tenure, Cregeen made the controversial decision to cancel the long-running science fiction
programme, Doctor Who
, following the end of its 26th series in 1989. At the time, Creegan told fans to expect a longer than usual wait for series 27, though he promised it would return; however Doctor Who did not return as an ongoing series on the BBC until 2005, 16 years later. In 2007, Cregeen and various other BBC staff gave the reasons for the cancellation of Doctor Who on a documentary entitled "End Game", which is featured on 26th series DVD Survival
. Reasons given included a general feeling at the BBC that the franchise needed a "rest", plummeting ratings—partly a result of being broadcast in direct competition to ITV's highest rated programme Coronation Street
—and a general disdain for science fiction among BBC staff at the time.
Cregeen continued to produce various programmes for the BBC, having previously been the executive producer for BBC TV's Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less
in 1990—A two-part miniseries based on Jeffrey Archer's best-selling book—and he also produced for A Question of Guilt
in 1993. In 1993 a Doctor Who feature length film to mark the series’ 30th anniversary was planned, with Cregeen taking on the role as producer; however production of the film, The Dark Dimension, was terminated by the BBC for "financial and logistical reasons."
Cregeen remained "Head of Series" at the BBC until May 1993, when he was sacked and replaced by Michael Wearing
. He has worked on numerous projects for ITV and the BBC since, and was responsible for commissioning Carlton Television
's successful drama Peak Practice
in 1993. Cregeen has also been involved in theatre, working alongside multimillionairess, Janet Holmes à Court
, to encourage TV writers to contribute to her stage productions.
He resumed producing and directing of The Bill throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, and produced The Choir, a five part adaptation of the novel by Joanna Trollope
, for the BBC (1994-1995). From 1999-2000 he produced for ITV's Midsummer Murders, and in 2001 he was appointed series executive producer of ITV's new soap opera Night and Day
, which revolved around the lives of six very different families. He commented "We're making a soap that's modern, romantic and aspirational - a programme from a different perspective and in some ways a more realistic perspective. It's modern, sexy and fun with a very dark undercurrent." The soap was relatively unsuccessful, and was axed in 2003. Cregeen's latest directorial TV credit was for a 2003 episode of the popular BBC medical drama, Casualty
.
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 director
Television director
A television director directs the activities involved in making a television program and is part of a television crew.-Duties:The duties of a television director vary depending on whether the production is live or recorded to video tape or video server .In both types of productions, the...
, producer
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...
and executive. He is possibly best known for being the original director of ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
's successful police drama, The Bill
The Bill
The Bill is a police procedural television series that ran from October 1984 to August 2010. It focused on the lives and work of one shift of police officers, rather than on any particular aspect of police work...
, and his substantial contribution to the serial thereafter. Cregeen acted as “Head of Series” for the BBC between 1989 and 1993, and is well known for cancelling the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's science fiction programme 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...
after its 26th series and several years of poor viewing figures.
Career
Cregeen began directing for television in the 1960s and producing in the 1970s. During the 1960s, 70s, and 80s he worked on numerous popular television series, including: The Troubleshooters (1965); King of the RiverKing of the River
King of the River is a British television series transmitted by the BBC between 1966 and 1967.The series centred around the King family and their efforts to maintain their sail-driven barge transport business. It starred Bernard Lee, otherwise known as M in the James Bond films....
(1966); Out of the Unknown
Out of the Unknown
Out of the Unknown is a British television science fiction anthology drama series, produced by the BBC and broadcast on BBC2 in four series between 1965 and 1971. Each episode was an independent dramatisation of a separate science fiction short story...
(1969; 1970); The Onedin Line
The Onedin Line
The Onedin Line is a BBC television drama series which ran from 1971 to 1980. The series was created by Cyril Abraham.The series is set in Liverpool from 1860 to 1886 and deals with the rise of a shipping line, the Onedin Line, named after its owner James Onedin...
(19871; 1976); The Sandbaggers
The Sandbaggers
The Sandbaggers is a British television drama series about men and women on the front lines of the Cold War. Set contemporaneously with its original broadcast on ITV in 1978 and 1980, The Sandbaggers examines the effect of the espionage game on the personal and professional lives of British and...
(1978); Colditz
Colditz (TV series)
Colditz is a British television series co-produced by the BBC and Universal Studios and screened between 1972 and 1974.The series deals with Allied prisoners of war imprisoned at the supposedly escape-proof Colditz Castle when designated Oflag IV-C during World War II, and their many attempts to...
(1972; 1974) and Wings (1977-1978).
Cregeen has worked on various police dramas, including: The Gentle Touch
The Gentle Touch
The Gentle Touch is a British police drama television series made by London Weekend Television for ITV which ran from 1980-1984. Commencing transmission on 11 April 1980, the series is notable for being the first British series to feature a female police detective as its leading character, ahead of...
(1980); The Expert (1969); Softly Softly
Softly, Softly (TV series)
Softly, Softly is a British television drama series, produced by the BBC and screened on BBC 1 from January 1966. It centred around the work of regional crime squads, plain-clothes CID officers based in the fictional region of Wyvern - supposedly in the Bristol and Chepstow area of the UK...
(1969-1972); Z-Cars
Z-Cars
Z-Cars is a British television drama series centred on the work of mobile uniformed police in the fictional town of Newtown, based on Kirkby in the outskirts of Liverpool in Merseyside. Produced by the BBC, it debuted in January 1962 and ran until September 1978.-Origins:The series was developed by...
(1965); Juliet Bravo
Juliet Bravo
Juliet Bravo is a British television series, which ran on BBC1 between 1980 and 1985. The theme of the series concerned a female police inspector who took over control of a police station in the fictional town of Hartley in Lancashire.-Programme name:...
(1983), and the pilot to ITV’s successful long-running drama, The Bill
The Bill
The Bill is a police procedural television series that ran from October 1984 to August 2010. It focused on the lives and work of one shift of police officers, rather than on any particular aspect of police work...
, which was originally named Woodentop
Woodentop (The Bill)
"Woodentop" is an episode of the Thames Television series of one-off plays Storyboard. The programme was originally broadcast on 16 August 1983. It is also the forerunner to the long-running British police television series The Bill...
(1983). As original director, Cregeen was responsible for The Bills "distinctive and atmospheric feel", which he created by adopting a “fly-on-the-wall documentary style” with a single handheld camera. The response to Woodentop was so positive that within a month Thames Television
Thames Television
Thames Television was a licensee of the British ITV television network, covering London and parts of the surrounding counties on weekdays from 30 July 1968 until 31 December 1992....
had commissioned a 12 part series, which was renamed The Bill. Cregeen remained with The Bill, directing and producing between 1984 and 1987, and rose to executive producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
between 1988 and 1989. Cregeen worked on The Bill during “its most popular period” when it switched in 1988 from a series to a “soap-style” twice-weekly half-hour format. He left the series and ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
in 1989 to become "Head of Series" at the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, later poaching fellow producer of The Bill, Michael Ferguson
Michael Ferguson (director)
Michael Ferguson is a British script writer, television director and television producer. Ferguson has been described as a “long term champion of realistic popular drama”. Ferguson was executive producer of the BBC soap opera, EastEnders between 1989 and 1991...
, to become executive producer of the BBC’s flagship soap opera, EastEnders
EastEnders
EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
.
As "Head of Series" at the BBC, Cregeen was responsible for the Corporation's one-off and returning drama series. During his tenure, Cregeen made the controversial decision to cancel the long-running science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
programme, 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...
, following the end of its 26th series in 1989. At the time, Creegan told fans to expect a longer than usual wait for series 27, though he promised it would return; however Doctor Who did not return as an ongoing series on the BBC until 2005, 16 years later. In 2007, Cregeen and various other BBC staff gave the reasons for the cancellation of Doctor Who on a documentary entitled "End Game", which is featured on 26th series DVD Survival
Survival (Doctor Who)
-Writing:Writer Rona Munro approached script editor Andrew Cartmel at a BBC scriptwriting workshop and said that she'd "kill to write for Doctor Who." The story Munro developed incorporated themes including the morals of hunting...
. Reasons given included a general feeling at the BBC that the franchise needed a "rest", plummeting ratings—partly a result of being broadcast in direct competition to ITV's highest rated programme 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...
—and a general disdain for science fiction among BBC staff at the time.
Cregeen continued to produce various programmes for the BBC, having previously been the executive producer for BBC TV's Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less
Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less
Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less was Jeffrey Archer's first novel, first published in 1976. It was said to have been inspired by Archer's real-life experience of near-bankruptcy.-Synopsis:...
in 1990—A two-part miniseries based on Jeffrey Archer's best-selling book—and he also produced for A Question of Guilt
A Question of Guilt
A Question of Guilt is a novel in the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew super mystery series....
in 1993. In 1993 a Doctor Who feature length film to mark the series’ 30th anniversary was planned, with Cregeen taking on the role as producer; however production of the film, The Dark Dimension, was terminated by the BBC for "financial and logistical reasons."
Cregeen remained "Head of Series" at the BBC until May 1993, when he was sacked and replaced by Michael Wearing
Michael Wearing
Michael Wearing is a British television producer, who has spent much of his career working on various drama productions for the BBC. He is best known as the producer of the highly-acclaimed serials Boys from the Blackstuff and Edge of Darkness , which created for him a reputation as one of...
. He has worked on numerous projects for ITV and the BBC since, and was responsible for commissioning Carlton Television
Carlton Television
Carlton Television was the ITV franchise holder for London and the surrounding counties including the cities of Solihull and Coventry of the West Midlands, south Suffolk, middle and east Hampshire, Oxfordshire, south Bedfordshire, south Northamptonshire, parts of Herefordshire & Worcestershire,...
's successful drama Peak Practice
Peak Practice
Peak Practice is a British drama series about a GP surgery in Cardale — a small fictional town in the Derbyshire Peak District — and the doctors who worked there. It ran on ITV from 10 May 1993 to 30 January 2002 and was one of their most successful series at the time...
in 1993. Cregeen has also been involved in theatre, working alongside multimillionairess, Janet Holmes à Court
Janet Holmes à Court
Janet Holmes à Court, AC, HFAIB is an Australian businesswoman, and one of Australia's wealthiest women. She is the Chairman of one of Australia's largest private companies, Heytesbury Pty Ltd, having turned around its fortunes after the death of her husband Robert Holmes à Court in 1990...
, to encourage TV writers to contribute to her stage productions.
He resumed producing and directing of The Bill throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, and produced The Choir, a five part adaptation of the novel by Joanna Trollope
Joanna Trollope
Joanna Trollope OBE , is an English novelist.-Life:Joanna Trollope was educated at Reigate County School for Girls followed by St Hugh's College, Oxford. From 1965 to 1967, she worked at the Foreign Office...
, for the BBC (1994-1995). From 1999-2000 he produced for ITV's Midsummer Murders, and in 2001 he was appointed series executive producer of ITV's new soap opera Night and Day
Night and Day (TV series)
Night and Day was a British soap opera which was produced by Granada Television for LWT and ran on ITV from 2001 to 2003.Its theme-song, "Always & Forever", was sung by Kylie Minogue.-Synopsis:...
, which revolved around the lives of six very different families. He commented "We're making a soap that's modern, romantic and aspirational - a programme from a different perspective and in some ways a more realistic perspective. It's modern, sexy and fun with a very dark undercurrent." The soap was relatively unsuccessful, and was axed in 2003. Cregeen's latest directorial TV credit was for a 2003 episode of the popular BBC medical drama, Casualty
Casualty (TV series)
Casualty, stylised as Casual+y, is a British weekly television show broadcast on BBC One, and the longest-running emergency medical drama television series in the world. Created by Jeremy Brock and Paul Unwin, it was first broadcast on 6 September 1986, and transmitted in the UK on BBC One. The...
.