Philip Hinchcliffe

Philip Hinchcliffe (born 1944) is a British television producer, who is probably best known for the overseeing of the "golden era" of British television series Doctor Who in the mid-1970s. He has worked extensively on productions since 1971, with Alexander the Greatest being his first major project as a script editor.

Related Topics:
1944 - British - Television producer - Doctor Who - 1970s - 1971 - Alexander the Greatest - Script editor

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He joined the Doctor Who production team at the age of 29, trailing and then succeeding long-serving producer Barry Letts in 1974. Officially, he was credited on the series from shortly after the start of Tom Baker's era, with the story The Ark in Space. However, it was not until a year later that Hinchcliffe fully took charge, with Planet of Evil in late 1975 - Tom Baker's second season in the title role of the Doctor.

Related Topics:
1974 - Tom Baker - The Ark in Space - Planet of Evil - 1975

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Hinchcliffe, together with script editor Robert Holmes, ushered in a change in tone for the television series. The series became darker and more adult than previously, with a gothic atmosphere influenced by the horror films produced by Hammer Films. This is especially evident in serials like Pyramids of Mars and The Talons of Weng-Chiang.

Related Topics:
Robert Holmes - Horror film - Hammer Films - Pyramids of Mars - The Talons of Weng-Chiang

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While the Hinchcliffe-Holmes era is frequently praised by fans as a highly successful one, the BBC received complaints from Mary Whitehouse, chairwoman of the National Viewers' and Listeners' Association, that the programme was unfit for children and could traumatise them. While the BBC publicly defended the programme, after three seasons Hinchcliffe was moved onto the adult police thriller series Target in 1977, and his replacement Graham Williams was specifically instructed to lighten the tone of the storylines.

Related Topics:
BBC - Mary Whitehouse - 1977 - Graham Williams

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After Doctor Who Hinchcliffe worked on numerous series, including Taggart, The Last Musketeer and many others. His daughter, Celina Hinchcliffe, is a television presenter, who works on sporting events for the BBC.

Related Topics:
Doctor Who - Taggart - The Last Musketeer - Celina Hinchcliffe - BBC

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