Anthony Read

Writing

Anthony Read

Born 1935-04-21 · Staffordshire, England, UK

Anthony Read (21 April 1935 – 21 November 2015) was an English television producer, screenwriter, script editor and author. He was principally active in British television from the 1960s to the mid-1980s, which included a period as a script editor and writer of Doctor Who from 1977 to 1979, although he occasionally contributed to televised productions until 1999. Beginning in the 1980s, he launched a second career as a print author, concentrating largely on World War II histories. He was also a chair of the Writers' Guild of Great Britain. From 2004 he regularly wrote prose fiction, mainly in the form of a revival of his television series The Baker Street Boys (1983).

Acting credits

A Matter of Time poster
NR

A retrospective documentary looking at Graham Williams' three-year tenure as Doctor Who producer.

A Matter of Time

2007

Parrot Fashion poster
NR

A 30-minute documentary looking at the writing and production of The Pirate Planet.

Parrot Fashion

2007

Into the Unknown poster
NR

A look at the complex production of the Doctor Who story Underworld, with particular emphasis on the difficulties in achieving the bluescreen virtual studio sets.

Into the Unknown

2010

The Elusive David Agnew poster
NR

The Elusive David Agnew was a BBC documentary looking at David Agnew. It was released on the DVD of The Invasion of Time and featured interviews with Terrance Dicks and Anthony Read.

The Elusive David Agnew

2008

Paris in the Springtime poster
NR

A 45-minute look at the making of City of Death, and in particular, the contribution of writer and script editor Douglas Adams.

Paris in the Springtime

2005

No artwork available
NR

Part 1 of a documentary about when Alexander Korda was asked about who might replace him when he has resigned as a chief of the production of the British Lion.

Korda: I Don't Grow on Trees: Part One

1993

Defining Shadows poster
NR

The cast and crew look back at the making of The Armageddon Factor.

Defining Shadows

2007

Darkness & Light: The Life of Graham Williams poster
NR

Family and colleagues remember the Doctor Who producer. In 1977, Birkenhead-born first-time producer Graham Williams took over one of the BBC’s most famous shows, Doctor Who. His turbulent three years in the role saw clashes with star Tom Baker, budgetary nightmares and catastrophic industrial action – but also the highest viewing figures the programme has ever achieved. Graham died in 1990, aged just 45, leaving behind a wife and three young children. In this intimate new film, Graham’s family, friends and colleagues look back on a life of darkness and light.

Darkness & Light: The Life of Graham Williams

2024

Built for War: The Sontaran Story poster
7.0

The genesis and development of the Sontaran race through the history of the series, as told by some of the actors and production team involved. This specially produced documentary includes contributions from Terrance Dicks, Elisabeth Sladen, Anthony Read, Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, Bob Baker, Eric Saward and Stuart Fell.

Built for War: The Sontaran Story

2006

Getting Blood from the Stones poster
NR

Cast and crew look back at the making of The Stones of Blood.

Getting Blood from the Stones

2007

The Humans of Tara poster
NR

The cast and crew look back at the making of The Androids of Tara.

The Humans of Tara

2007

Behind the camera

Kipper poster
NR

Kipper is obsessed with Manor Park Football Club. At his workplace, this obsession attracts the derision of two of his colleagues. Meanwhile, Manor Park are to play against Dutch club Ajax

Kipper

1977

Doctor Who: The Invasion of Time poster
6.2

The Doctor returns to Gallifrey, claims his rights and is inaugurated President. It soon turns out that he has led a group of aliens called Vardans to the planet to eradicate them completely. After they are destroyed, the Sontarans take their opportunity and follow them in their invasion until they are destroyed by the Doctor.

Doctor Who: The Invasion of Time

1978

Doctor Who: The Horns of Nimon poster
4.7

After the TARDIS collides with a spacecraft delivering human tributes to the evil bull-like Nimon, the Doctor and Romana must stop the fearsome alien's quest to rule the galaxy.

Doctor Who: The Horns of Nimon

1980

Hell's Angel poster
7.0

Dick Foster is adopted as a child, but has grown into a youth who causes problems and upsets.

Hell's Angel

1971

Chocky's Children poster
6.0

A year has passed since Matthew said goodbye to his alien friend, and in the summer holidays he meets Albertine, a mathematical prodigy, with whom he discovers he can communicate telepathically. One day Chocky returns to warn Matthew that they are both in danger. When he returns to tell Albertine, he finds she has disappeared.

Chocky's Children

1985

Chocky's Challenge poster
6.8

Chocky hopes, with Matthew and Albertine's help, to help the human race discover cosmic power, which unlike Earth's finite natural resources, will sustain them for as long as the universe itself exists. But their knowledge has aroused a great deal of interest from the military, and they are willing to take drastic action if they don't get what they want.

Chocky's Challenge

1986

Diane poster
7.0

Teenager Diane Weaver lives in a small council flat with her brooding father, the groundskeeper of a local church. What no one realises, is how close Diane and her father are.

Diane

1975