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'''Duncan Wood''' (24 March 1925 in [[Bristol]], [[England]] &ndash; 11 January 1997) was a British comedy producer, director and writer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9f3e8c03|title=Duncan Wood|website=BFI}}</ref> His best-known achievements were to produce all of [[Tony Hancock|Tony Hancock's]] [[Hancock's Half Hour|''Half Hours'']] for [[BBC TV]] during the late 1950s and early 1960s, and later, also with Hancock's former writers [[Galton and Simpson|Ray Galton and Alan Simpson]], the [[sitcom]] ''[[Steptoe and Son]]'' for most of its run.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-duncan-wood-1283119.html | work=The Independent | location=London | title=Obituary: Duncan Wood | first=Joe | last=McGrath | date=14 January 1997 | accessdate=1 May 2010}}</ref> He also produced the first series of ''[[The Bed-Sit Girl]]''.<ref name="RT">{{cite book|last=Lewishohn|first=Mark |authorlink=Mark Lewisohn|title=Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy|year=2003|publisher=[[BBC Worldwide]]|location=[[London]]|isbn=0-563-48755-0}}</ref>
'''Wilfred Duncan Wood''' (24 March 1925 &ndash; 11 January 1997) was a British comedy producer, director and writer, who has been described as "the founding father of the British TV sitcom".<ref name=mccann/> His best-known achievements were to produce all of [[Tony Hancock]]'s [[Hancock's Half Hour|''Half Hours'']] for [[BBC TV]] during the late 1950s and early 1960s, and later, also with Hancock's former writers [[Galton and Simpson|Ray Galton and Alan Simpson]], the [[sitcom]] ''[[Steptoe and Son]]'' for most of its run.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-duncan-wood-1283119.html | work=The Independent | location=London | title=Obituary: Duncan Wood | first=Joe | last=McGrath | date=14 January 1997 | accessdate=1 May 2010}}</ref> From 1970 to 1973, he was the [[BBC]]'s Head of Comedy.<ref name=screenonline>{{Cite web|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/874482/index.html|title=BFI Screenonline: Wood, Duncan (1925-1997) Biography|website=www.screenonline.org.uk}}</ref> He left in 1973 to become Head of Light Entertainment at [[ITV Yorkshire|Yorkshire Television]] and was responsible for commissioning ''[[Rising Damp]]''.<ref name=screenonline/>

==Life and career==
Born in [[Bristol]], he trained with the [[BBC]] as an [[outside broadcast]] engineer, before serving in south east Asia with the [[Royal Signals]] during the [[Second World War]]. He returned to the BBC in 1948, working on the [[1948 Olympics|Olympic Games]], and in the early 1950s started working as a producer of radio [[variety show|variety]] programmes, such as ''[[Workers' Playtime (radio programme)|Workers' Playtime]]'', on which he worked with up-and-coming comedians including [[Dick Emery]], [[Tony Hancock]], and [[Benny Hill]]. He moved into television in 1953, and worked on a wide range of programmes including dancing and [[panel show]]s.<ref name=mccann/>

He became a specialist producer of comedy programmes, following initial success in 1955 with the [[sketch show]] ''[[Great Scott - It's Maynard!]]''. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, he produced many of the BBC's most popular comedy shows, featuring Benny Hill, [[Frankie Howerd]], [[Ken Dodd]], and others. In 1956, he became producer and director of [[Tony Hancock]]'s ''[[Hancock's Half Hour]]'', working closely with writers [[Ray Galton]] and [[Alan Simpson (scriptwriter)|Alan Simpson]]. According to writer [[Graham McCann]], Wood "took the trouble to cast the occasional players just as carefully as he did the regular characters...Then came the cameras and the editing... where Wood went far beyond his contemporaries... because of the way that, step by step, he shaped and set out the syntax of sitcom shooting."<ref name=mccann>[https://www.comedy.co.uk/features/comedy_chronicles/duncan-wood-the-maestro/?fbclid=IwAR270Rwo45zWuP2d7zWxFlsCoZ_d1x12xdissaUlp1dqlzjj6HydtfPnQMA Graham McCann, "Duncan Wood: The maestro", ''British Comedy Guide'', 20 March 2022]. Retrieved 27 March 2022</ref>

In 1960 he was appointed as Chief Assistant Head of Programmes in the BBC's Light Entertainment Department, where he produced ''[[Steptoe and Son]]'', the first sitcom to have serious 'straight' actors in the leading roles, with scripts (again by Galton and Simpson) who brought "darkness... honesty, compassion and insight" to their scripts. Also during the 1960s, he produced such series as ''[[Citizen James]]'', ''[[Hugh And I]]'', ''[[The Bed-Sit Girl]]'', ''[[Harry Worth]]'', ''[[Oh Brother!]]'', ''[[The World of Beachcomber]]'', and many editions of ''[[Comedy Playhouse]]''.<ref name=mccann/>


From 1970 to 1973, he was the [[BBC]]'s Head of Comedy, replacing [[Michael Mills (British producer)|Michael Mills]].<ref name=screenonline>{{Cite web|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/874482/index.html|title=BFI Screenonline: Wood, Duncan (1925-1997) Biography|website=www.screenonline.org.uk}}</ref> He left in 1973 to become Head of Light Entertainment at [[ITV Yorkshire|Yorkshire Television]] and was responsible for commissioning ''[[Rising Damp]]''.<ref name=screenonline/>
From 1970 to 1973, he was the [[BBC]]'s Head of Comedy, replacing [[Michael Mills (British producer)|Michael Mills]].<ref name=screenonline>{{Cite web|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/874482/index.html|title=BFI Screenonline: Wood, Duncan (1925-1997) Biography|website=www.screenonline.org.uk}}</ref> He left in 1973 to become Head of Light Entertainment at [[ITV Yorkshire|Yorkshire Television]] and was responsible for commissioning ''[[Rising Damp]]''.<ref name=screenonline/>

He retired in 1984 but continued to work as a consultant for several years. He died in 1997 at the age of 71.<ref name=mccann/>


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:British television producers]]
[[Category:British television producers]]
[[Category:Mass media people from Bristol]]
[[Category:Mass media people from Bristol]]


{{tv-director-stub}}

Revision as of 19:38, 27 March 2022

For the South African water polo player, see Duncan Woods.
Duncan Wood
Wood (right) with Tony Hancock & Sid James (Photo: Bob Collins, 1959)
Born
Wilfred Duncan Wood

(1925-03-24)24 March 1925
Bristol, England
Died11 January 1997(1997-01-11) (aged 71)
London, England
OccupationTV producer
Years active1955–1980

Wilfred Duncan Wood (24 March 1925 – 11 January 1997) was a British comedy producer, director and writer, who has been described as "the founding father of the British TV sitcom".[1] His best-known achievements were to produce all of Tony Hancock's Half Hours for BBC TV during the late 1950s and early 1960s, and later, also with Hancock's former writers Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, the sitcom Steptoe and Son for most of its run.[2] From 1970 to 1973, he was the BBC's Head of Comedy.[3] He left in 1973 to become Head of Light Entertainment at Yorkshire Television and was responsible for commissioning Rising Damp.[3]

Life and career

Born in Bristol, he trained with the BBC as an outside broadcast engineer, before serving in south east Asia with the Royal Signals during the Second World War. He returned to the BBC in 1948, working on the Olympic Games, and in the early 1950s started working as a producer of radio variety programmes, such as Workers' Playtime, on which he worked with up-and-coming comedians including Dick Emery, Tony Hancock, and Benny Hill. He moved into television in 1953, and worked on a wide range of programmes including dancing and panel shows.[1]

He became a specialist producer of comedy programmes, following initial success in 1955 with the sketch show Great Scott - It's Maynard!. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, he produced many of the BBC's most popular comedy shows, featuring Benny Hill, Frankie Howerd, Ken Dodd, and others. In 1956, he became producer and director of Tony Hancock's Hancock's Half Hour, working closely with writers Ray Galton and Alan Simpson. According to writer Graham McCann, Wood "took the trouble to cast the occasional players just as carefully as he did the regular characters...Then came the cameras and the editing... where Wood went far beyond his contemporaries... because of the way that, step by step, he shaped and set out the syntax of sitcom shooting."[1]

In 1960 he was appointed as Chief Assistant Head of Programmes in the BBC's Light Entertainment Department, where he produced Steptoe and Son, the first sitcom to have serious 'straight' actors in the leading roles, with scripts (again by Galton and Simpson) who brought "darkness... honesty, compassion and insight" to their scripts. Also during the 1960s, he produced such series as Citizen James, Hugh And I, The Bed-Sit Girl, Harry Worth, Oh Brother!, The World of Beachcomber, and many editions of Comedy Playhouse.[1]

From 1970 to 1973, he was the BBC's Head of Comedy, replacing Michael Mills.[3] He left in 1973 to become Head of Light Entertainment at Yorkshire Television and was responsible for commissioning Rising Damp.[3]

He retired in 1984 but continued to work as a consultant for several years. He died in 1997 at the age of 71.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Graham McCann, "Duncan Wood: The maestro", British Comedy Guide, 20 March 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2022
  2. ^ McGrath, Joe (14 January 1997). "Obituary: Duncan Wood". The Independent. London. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  3. ^ a b c d "BFI Screenonline: Wood, Duncan (1925-1997) Biography". www.screenonline.org.uk.
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