Keith Williams

From 1979-84 Keith Williams was the Head of Drama Plays at the BBC. He was responsible for 70-80 single films and plays each year making him for a time the most influential person in British film and television industry. In total he and he alone decided which films and plays were made. No one else. No committees. In all he green lit just over 350 single plays/ films. Unlike today when dozens of people are involved in the process. During his tenure of office every single year a BBC film won that years BAFTA award. In this period he gave countless first time directors, producers and most importantly writers their chance to make films and drama over 50 in all. He was also responsible for agreeing to commission over 2,000 single dramas scripts of which many were actually made. From 1974-79 Keith was Head of BBC Script Development. In the 1960's he was given executive responsibility for more than 450 radio productions ever single year- plays, series, serials and the reading of books. Towards the end of his life Keith spent much time in Damascus lecturing on drama and helping to produce films. His students were from all over the Arab world- Yemen, Iraq, Libya and many other countries.