Joy Whitby | |
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| Born | Joy Whitby (1930-07-27)27 July 1930 (age 94) England |
| Education | St Anne's College, Oxford |
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| Years active | 1955–? |
| Employer | British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) |
Joy Whitby (born 27 July 1930)[1] is an English television executive, television, and radio producer who specialises in children's programmes and animated films.
Whitby read History atSt Anne's College, Oxford, and, after graduating, her first job was as a secretary at the Mayfair Delinquency Clinic.[2] She joined the BBC as a studio manager in 1955 and, a year later, became a producer onListen with Mother.[3] She moved from radio to television in 1962.
Whitby was attached to the children's television seriesBlue Peter, Whitby was commissioned to write an internal BBC report onWatch with Mother; the five pre-filmed series had been on air for a decade. The first Controller ofBBC 2,Michael Peacock was aware of the shortage ofnursery schools in the country and appointed Whitby to create and producePlay School, a new television series for pre-school children, running Monday to Friday through the year. In developing the series, Whitby consulted teachers, writers and illustrators.[3] Nancy Quayle, an expert on "learning through play", became a permanent consultant and Wendy Duggan provided the many animals featured in Pet's Corner. There were other familiar landmarks like the story telling chair, the dressing up pegs, the revolving clock and three "windows" which led to the outside world through a library of specially made films.
Because of a blackout the previous night, the first edition ofPlay School inadvertently opened the new BBC 2 service on 21 April 1964.[4] One of its innovations was a rotating team of diverse presenters with as many men as women. According toSamira Ahmed, Whitby foundBrian Cant's "unpretentious charm" at his audition ideal for the new show.[5] The presenters were not all English.Paul Danquah is thought to have been the first black presenter of a children's programme.Rick Jones was Canadian andMarla Landi, Italian.[5]Eric Thompson soon adapted and created all the voices forThe Magic Roundabout which was based on the French series,Le Manège Enchanté.
Following the success ofPlay School, Michael Peacock asked Whitby to create a new daily programme at teatime to fill a spare 15 minute slot.[6] The result,Jackanory, created by Whitby withMolly Cox andAnna Home, was launched in 1965.[7] It drew on quality stories from around the world and invited actors, writers, artists and celebrities to present stories that were particularly suitable for them. For example,Sir Compton Mackenzie retold Greek Legends andMargaret Rutherford read fiveBeatrix Potter tales.
In 1967, Peacock became Managing Director ofLondon Weekend Television. Amongst other BBC executives, he invited Whitby and her boss,Doreen Stephens, the former head of Family Programmes, to join the new franchise contractor. Whitby ran the Children's Department which enabled her to branch out into drama. She producedThe Growing Summer, withWendy Hiller,Knock Three Times withHattie Jacques, andCatweazle starringGeoffrey Bayldon. In 1969, she resigned along with other heads of department in protest at Michael Peacock's dismissal.[8] She founded her own company, Grasshopper Productions, and in 1970, wrote and produced her first independent film series,Grasshopper Island, forITV.
In 1975, Whitby joinedYorkshire Television and, during her ten years as Head of Children's Programmes, she created many original programmes. Among these wereThe Book Tower, withTom Baker as its first presenter, and an international children's drama series for theEuropean Broadcasting Union (EBU). During this period, she also produced two independent productions,Emma and Grandpa, which she wrote and directed, as well as the television filmA Pattern of Roses, which she adapted KM Peyton's ghost story. It featuredHelena Bonham Carter in her first screen appearance.
Since 1985, Whitby has focused on making animated films based on quality picture books. These include five-minute episodes of theMouse and Mole series for the BBC, voiced byRichard Briers andAlan Bennett, later to be joined byImelda Staunton for a Christmas special. Other titles includeThe Mousehole Cat,The Angel and the Soldier Boy,A Small Miracle, andEast of the Moon (based on one ofTerry JonesFairy Tales).[9]
Whitby attended theNational Trust's Advisory Panel for Youth, sat on the Board of theUnicorn Theatre and was a member of the first Board of theChannel Four Television Corporation. Her awards include a BAFTA forPlay School, a Prix Jeunesse forThe Book Tower, and an ACE Award forThe Angel and the Soldier Boy. In 1979, she won theEleanor Farjeon Award for services to Children's Books.
In 1954, she marriedTony Whitby, who died in 1975, when he was Controller ofBBC Radio 4.[10] Joy Whitby has three sons and eight grandchildren.
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