BBC Composer 1973 - 1998

 I composed and performed music for Television and Radio for over twenty eight years, both as a staff composer for the BBC Radiophonic Workshop and as a freelance. My credits include Jonathan Miller's Body in Question series, many documentary programmes for BBC2 and Channel 4, as well as a notable contribution to Science Fiction music in Dr Who; my arrangement of the Dr Who theme is often played and has been released on many CD compilations.


Although my work on Dr Who has the highest profile, it formed only a small percentage of the music that I composed for the BBC. If you were to play it all sequentially, it would last over three days; although saying that to some people does not impress at all. It is only when they realise that you would only be able to finish about one and a half minutes of original music a day that it starts to mean anything. I was definitely not the most prolific, there were other composers producing even more. But clearly we are talking quantity here rather than quality, and only a small proportion of the work has stood the test of time.

Anyway, for those of you curious to know what was done and when, have a look below for an edited version of my database, detailing many of the notable productions, starting with the series I was working on when the Radiophonic Workshop closed, and traveling back in time to 1974 to my very first piece for the BBC; the sound of a flying pie!


 1997     Michael Palin’s Full Circle Series       
 1997     The Men With Nine Lives       
 1996     Papua New Guinea ("PNG Price of Peace")        TV Documentaries
 1996     Tales from Narnia: The Last Battle    Radio 4    Drama
 1996     Zig Zag Ancient Greece        TV Schools
 1996     Tales from Narnia: The Silver Chair        Children, Youth & Daily Sequences
 1995     Kaboom    Independent   
 1995     Tales from Narnia: Prince Caspian        Drama
 1995     Tales from Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader    Radio 4    Drama
 1995     Doctor Who: The Five Doctors (Special Edition Video)        BBC Enterprises
 1995     Look and Read    BBC1    TV Schools
 1995     Redcaps    BBC1    Independent
 1994     Doctor Who: Ghosts of N Space    Radio 2    Light Entertainment
 1994     Pinocchio    Radio 4    Drama
 1994     Zig Zag    BBC1    TV Schools
 1994     Tales from Narnia: The Horse and His Boy    Radio 4    Drama
 1994     Reality on the Rocks (series for Channel 4)    Non-BBC    Independent
 1994     The Lowdown: Series Title    BBC1    TV Children
 1993     Everyman: Shooting the Writer    BBC1    Network TV - Religion
 1993     Unofficial Rosie    Radio 4    Drama
 1993     Horizon: Assault on the Male    BBC2    TV Science Features
 1993     A Strange Landscape: The Clearing in the Forest    BBC2    Network TV - Religion
 1993     Off the Record    Radio 3    TV Schools
 1993     Equinox: The Real Jurassic Park    Channel Four    Independent
 1993     Doctor Who: The Paradise of Death    Radio 5    Light Entertainment
 1993     Horizon: Dead Sea Scrolls    BBC2    TV Science Features
 1993     Everyman: Whose Home Is It Anyway?    BBC1    Network TV - Religion
 1993     Art in 14th Century    BBC2    OU01 Open University
 1992     Horizon: Terraforming    BBC2    TV Science Features
 1992     Goldfish The Movie    Radio 5    Children, Youth & Daily Sequences
 1992     Guards! Guards!    Radio 5    Children, Youth & Daily Sequences
 1992     Timewatch: The Sparks that Lit the Bonfire    BBC1    History
 1992     Producer Choice Logo    Video    BBC Graphics
 1992     Scene (Titles)    BBC1    TV Schools
 1992     Nature: Coral    BBC2    HP02 Network TV - Natural History
 1992     The Natural World: Ice Fox    BBC2    HP02 Network TV - Natural History
 1992     Tales from The Perilous Realm    Radio 5    Children, Youth & Daily Sequences
 1992     Horizon: Frozen Addict    BBC2    TV Science Features
 1992     Fragments from Childhood (PH abstract sound piece)    Radio 3    Features, Art & Education
 1992     Horizon: The Black Sun    BBC2    TV Science Features
 1991     Soul: Nature    BBC1    MP02 Network TV - Religion
 1991     Soul: Consciousness    BBC1    MP02 Network TV - Religion
 1991     Soul: Cosmology    BBC2    MP02 Network TV - Religion
 1990     Tuning Up    Radio 3    Radio 3 Music
 1990     BBC For Europe    World Service    TV Presentation
 1990     Cats    BBC2    TV Features
 1990     Breakfast Serials    BBC1    TV Children
 1990     Design Classics: The Shell Logo    BBC2    TV Music & Arts
 1989     The Information Age ("The Machine that Changed the World")    BBC1    TV Science Features
 1989     Horizon: Legacy of a Volcano    BBC2    TV Science Features
 1989     Cardiff Singer of the World    BBC2    Music, Wales
 1989     Timewatch: Italian War Crimes    BBC2    Network South East
 1989     Comic Relief    BBC1    Light Entertainment Variety TV
 1988     Revelation    Radio 4    Religous Broadcasting
 1988     Almeida Festival    BBC2    Music and Arts
 1988     Natural World: Owls    BBC2    Network TV - Natural History Unit
 1988     The Great Rift    BBC2    Network TV - Natural History Unit
 1988     Pilgrims Progress    World Service    World Service
 1988     Timewatch: A Womans Story ("Annie Besant") (Reel 1 of 2)    BBC1    South & East TV
 1988     The Lowdown    BBC1    TV Children
 1988     O'Donnell Investigates Aging    BBC1    TV Continuing Education
 1988     Education Ident    Radio 4    Features, Art & Education
 1987     Horizon: Superconductivity    BBC2    TV Science Features
 1987     Horizon: Easter Island    BBC2    TV Science Features
 1987     Handmade    BBC2    TV Continuing Education
 1987     Wildlife Classics    Home Video    BBC Enterprises
 1987     Ernie's Incredible Illuminations    BBC1    TV Children
 1987     In Search of Unicorns    Scotland    Music & Arts
 1987     Let's See    BBC1    TV Schools
 1986     Horizon: Life Story (aka Double Helix)    BBC2    TV Science Features
 1986     Mediterranean Cookery    BBC2    TV Continuing Education
 1986     Information World    BBC1    TV Schools
 1986     Wildlife On One: Hummingbirds    BBC1    Network TV - Natural History Unit
 1986     Miniature Worlds: Snow    BBC2    Network TV - Natural History Unit, Bristol
 1986     Open Air    BBC1    General Features Manchester
 1986     Talking Business    BBC TV    TV Continuing Education
 1986     Children of Green Knowe (series)    BBC1    TV Children
 1986     The Bridge at Orbigo    Radio 3    Drama
 1985     Christmas Jingle1985    BBC1    TV Presentation
 1985     The Africans    BBC1    Current Affairs
 1985     Trial at Torun    Radio 4    Drama
 1985     Brazil    BBC2    TV Continuing Education
 1985     Choices    BBC1    MP02 Network TV - Religion
 1985     D-Day to Berlin (TV and subsequent video)    BBC1    Current Affairs
 1985     Lift Off    BBC1    TV Children
 1984     This Week, Next Week    BBC1    Current Affairs
 1984     Who Sir? Me Sir?    BBC1    TV Children
 1984     Doctor Who (Serial 6W): The Two Doctors    BBC1    Drama Series and Serials TV
 1984     Breakfast Time - Gymnasts (interview insert)    BBC1    Current Affairs
 1984     Green Goddess Video    BBC Enterprises    Home Video
 1984     Look and Read: Badger Girl    BBC1    TV Schools
 1984     BBC Video Logo    BBC Enterprises    Home Video
 1984     Natural World: Beneath the Keel    BBC1    Network TV - Natural History Unit
 1984     Doctor Who - Theme Update    BBC1    Drama Series and Serials TV
 1984     Dancer    BBC2    Music and Arts TV
 1984     Tyrone Crystal    BBC2    Schools Broadcasting N Ireland
 1983     Radiovision: Electronics at Work    Radio 4 Schools    Features, Art & Education
 1983     Horizon: Parasites    BBC2    TV Science Features
 1983     Junior Electronics    Radio 4 Schools (Radiovision)    Features, Art & Education
 1983     Doctor Who (Serial 6Q): Planet of Fire (Music)    BBC1    Drama Series and Serials TV
 1983     Light of Experience (Moment of Truth)    BBC2    MP02 Network TV - Religion
 1983     Snowflake '83    BBC1    TV Presentation
 1983     Doctor Who (Serial 6M): The Awakening    BBC1    Drama Series and Serials TV
 1983     Prima    BBC1    TV Continuing Education
 1983     Seven Deadly Sins    External Services    World Service
 1983     Woofer (Episode 1)    BBC1    TV Children
 1983     Doctor Who (6K - Special): The Five Doctors    BBC1    Drama Series and Serials TV
 1983     Radiovision: The Astronomers    Radio 4 Schools    Features, Art & Education
 1982     God in the Water    Radio 4    Drama
 1982     The Human Brain (Reel 1 of 5) Masters Reel 1    BBC Enterprises    BBC Enterprises
 1982     BBC1 Christmas Jingles    BBC1    TV Presentation
 1982     Timewatch    BBC2    Music and Arts TV
 1982     Inferno Revisited    Radio 4    Radiophonic Workshop
 1982     You and Yours    Radio 4    Curent Affairs & Magazine Progs (CAMP)
 1982     Enterprises Space Record    BBC Enterprises    BBC Records
 1982     Horizon: Titles 1982    BBC2    TV Science Features
 1982     Fancy Fish    BBC2    TV Continuing Education
 1981     Introducing Science: Light and Lighthouses    Radio 4 Schools    Features, Art & Education
 1981     BBC2 Autumn Promotion 1981    BBC2    TV Presentation
 1981     Prisoners of Conscience    BBC2    Documentary Features
 1981     K9 and Company: A Girl's Best Friend    BBC1    Drama Series and Serials TV
 1981     The Human Brain (7 part series)    BBC2    TV Science Features
 1981     K9 and Company: A Girl's Best Friend    BBC1    Drama Series and Serials TV
 1981     Westminster at Work    Radio 4    Parliamentary Broadcastin
 1981     Radiovision: The Tempest    Radio 4 Schools    Features, Art & Education
 1981     Doctor Who (Serial 5Y): Kinda    BBC1    Drama Series and Serials TV
 1981     Living Legends    External Services    Latin American Spanish Service
 1981     Angela Rippon Meets    BBC1    Documentary Features
 1980     The Making of Mankind (series)    BBC2    TV Science Features
 1980     Turning Points    BBC2    TV Science Features
 1980     The Next President    BBC TV    Current Affairs/Special Projects
 1980     Doctor Who (Serial 5S): Warriors' Gate    BBC1    Drama
 1980     Turning Point    BBC2    TV Science Features
 1980     Doctor Who Theme Record (RESL 80)    BBC Records    BBC Enterprises
 1980     Rumpole    Radio 4    Drama
 1980     Doctor Who (Serial 5Q): Meglos    BBC1    Drama
 1980     Doctor Who (5N): The Leisure Hive    BBC1    Drama
 1980     Spotlight    Regional TV    Plymouth
 1980     Escape    BBC2    General Features
 1979     Doctor Who Signature Tune Remake    BBC1    Drama
 1979     Quest    Regional TV    TV Bristol
 1979     Adventure at Sea    BBC2    Music and Arts
 1979     Mainstream    BBC1    Arts Features
 1979     Heinrich Schlieman - Treasure Finder    Radio 4 Schools    Features, Art & Education
 1979     Stone Book Quartet    Radio 4 Schools    Features, Art & Education
 1979     Shock of the New (2nd Version)    BBC2    Arts
 1979     The Body In Question: Greenwich Chorus EP       
 1979     World Service Book Quiz    External Services    World Service
 1979     Chronicle: Titles    BBC2    Music and Arts
 1979     Ghost Sonata    BBC1    Drama
 1979     A Midsummer Night's Dream    Radio 4 Schools    SP05 Education
 1979     The Shock of the New    BBC2    Music and Arts
 1979     Living Legends    BBC1    Music and Arts
 1978     Calling Nigeria    External Services    Nigerian Service
 1978     Sound in Mind    Radio 3    Radiophonic Workshop
 1978     Wee Have Also Sound-Houses    Radio 3    Radiophonic Wokshop
 1978     The Body In Question (13 part series)    BBC2    TV Science Features
 1978     History Series    External Services    World Service
 1978     Straight Down the Line    Radio 4    Current Affairs and Magazine Programmes
 1978     Radio 4 Logo    Radio 4    TV Presentation
 1978     Dream    Radio    Radiophonic Workshop
 1978     The Business World    BBC1    TV Continuing Education
 1978     Life at the Top    Radio 4    Current Affairs and Magazine Programmes
 1977     Let's Move    Radio 4 Schools    Features, Art & Education
 1977     Radio Merseyside Ident    Local Radio    Radio Merseyside
 1977     God Rest You Merry, Sleighmen    Radio 4    TV Presentation
 1977     World About Us: Korea    BBC2    General Features
 1977     Space Poetry Music    Radio Wales    WP06 Education
 1977     The Case of the Ancient Astronauts    BBC2    TV Science Features
 1977     Through a Glass Darkly (In the Kingdom of Colours)    BBC Records    BBC Enterprises
 1977     Life at Stake    BBC1    TV Science Features
 1977     The Tale of the Knight, the Witch & the Dragon    Radio 4    Drama
 1977     Fanfare    Radio 3    Music
 1977     Pilot Programme (Through a Glass Darkly)    Radio    Radiophonic Workshop
 1977     Ulster News Jingle    Radio Ulster    Radio Ulster
 1976     You and Yours Weekend Signature Tune    Radio 4    Current Affairs
 1976     James and the Giant Peach    Television    Childrens
 1976     City Limits    Radio    Radio Manchester
 1976     West Cumbria at One    Local Radio    Radio Carlisle
 1976     M101 (Maths) Titles    Television    Open University
 1976     The Secret War    Television    TV Science Features
 1976     Games and Puzzles    Radio    Bristol
 1976     Sinatra in Hollywood    Television    TV Presentation
 1976     Festival 40    Television    TV Presentation
 1976     The Caveman Cometh    Radio    Drama
 1976     A Country of Nations    BBC1    Current Affairs
 1976     Daedalus Equations (Mind Beyond)    Television    Drama
 1976     Hermit's Island    Radio 3    Music
 1976     A Question of Ulster    Television    Current Affairs
 1976     Radio Ulster Jingles    Radio Ulster    Radio Ulster
 1976     Glyndebourne - An Opera in Production    Radio 3    Creative Radio
 1976     The Dark Labyrinth    Radio 4   
 1976     Finger on the Pulse    Radio 4    Current Affairs
 1976     Spells for Schools    Radio 4 Schools    Features, Art & Education
 1976     Music Club: Hen Pizzicato    Radio 4   
 1976     World About Us: Cree Indians    BBC2    Features
 1975     Shell    BBC1    Current Affairs
 1975     Woman - Whither Now    BBC1    Current Affairs
 1975     Attica (Titles)    Television    Current Affairs
 1975     Decline and Fall    BBC2    Arts and Features
 1975     Sound By Design    Radio 3    Continuing Education
 1975     Mr Trueman - Why Did You Drop The Bomb?    Television    Current Affairs
 1975     Isle of the Free    Radio 4    Features, Art & Education
 1975     Europe from the Air    Radio    Features, Art & Education
 1975     Doctor Who (Serial 4H): Planet of Evil (Sounds)    BBC1    Drama
 1975     Space for Man    BBC1    Arts and Features
 1975     Discovery: It Just Growed    Radio 4 Schools    Features, Art & Education
 1975     The Sound of Edwin Morgan    Radio 3    Radiophonic Workshop
 1975     Discovery: Beginners    Radio 4 Schools    Features, Art & Education
 1975     English by Radio: Teaching Observed    External Services    English by Radio
 1975     In Service    Radio 4    Talks
 1975     Pila-Pala    Regional Television    Childrens Wales
 1975     Doctor Who (Serial 4D): Revenge of the Cybermen (compose assist)    BBC1    Drama
 1975     Merry-Go-Round: Series Ident.    BBC1    TV Schools
 1975     Choices for Tomorrow    BBC1    TV Continuing Education
 1975     Answers to Listeners' Questions    External Services    English by Radio
 1975     Stories and Rhymes: Warrior Princess    Radio 4    Features, Art & Education
 1975     Contact    Radio 2    Radio 2
 1974     Radio Ulster: Ident    Radio Ulster    Radio Ulster
 1974     Scene Around Six Titles    Regional TV    N. Ireland
 1974     Dominic    Radio 4 Schools    Features, Art & Education
 1974     The Magic Moving Picture Show    BBC2    Arts & Features
 1974     The Treasure of Abbott Thomas    BBC1    Drama
 1974     Ali Baba    Radio 4    Features, Art & Education
 1974     Asian Signature Tune    Local Radio    Radio Leicester
 1974     The Glass Lady    Radio 4    Features, Art & Education
 1974     In Concert    Local Radio    Radio London
 1974     Fourth Dimension: Help    Radio 4    Drama
 1974     Bus Timetable Alteration Ident.    Local Radio    Radio Brighton
 1974     Quest: Gilgamesh    Radio 4    Features, Art & Education
 1974     Discovery: Animal Pattern    Radio 4    Features, Art & Education
 1974     Bill Tidy Cartoons ("Chelm")    BBC2    Arts Features
 1974     Let's Join In: Some Sky in this Pie    Radio 4    Features, Art & Education