Personal Info
Birth date
1925-03-26 (100 Years)
Day of death
2009-10-09
Gender
Male
Known for
Production
Place of birth
-
Also known as
-Barry Letts
Biography
Barry Leopold Letts (26 March 1925 – 9 October 2009) was an English actor, television director, writer and producer, best known for being the producer of Doctor Who from 1969 to 1974. Born in Leicester, he worked as an actor in theatre, films and television before retiring in his early forties and becoming a television director. He then became the producer of the BBC science fiction series Doctor Who for five years, overseeing almost the entirety of Jon Pertwee's tenure as the Third Doctor and casting Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor. He produced or directed many of the BBC's Sunday Classic drama serials from 1976 to 1986, and returned to Doctor Who in 1980 to be the executive producer for its eighteenth season.
Filmography
EastEnders
4.144
Overview:
The everyday lives of working-class residents of Albert Square, a traditional Victorian square of terrace houses surrounding a park in the East End of London's Walford borough.The Avengers
7.7
Overview:
A quirky spy show of the adventures of eccentrically suave British Agent John Steed and his predominantly female partners. Jonathan Steed - an urbane, proper gentleman spy - teams with various assistants throughout the series' run, including Dr. David Keel, Cathy Gale, Emma Peel and Tara King, to repeatedly save the world from diabolical schemes plotted by equally diabolical evil-doers (among them robots and man-eating monsters).Doctor Who
7.874
Overview:
The adventures of The Doctor, a time-traveling humanoid alien known as a Time Lord. He explores the universe in his TARDIS, a sentient time-traveling spaceship. Its exterior appears as a blue British police box, which was a common sight in Britain in 1963 when the series first aired. Along with a succession of companions, The Doctor faces a variety of foes while working to save civilizations, help ordinary people, and right many wrongs.Z-Cars
7
Overview:
Z-Cars or Z Cars is a British television drama series centred on the work of mobile uniformed police in the fictional town of Newtown, based on Kirkby, Merseyside. Produced by the BBC, it debuted in January 1962 and ran until September 1978.Maigret
6.9
Overview:
BBC series based on the novels by Georges Simenon which starred Rupert Davies as Inspector Maigret, a French police detective who preferred to watch and listen in order to solve crimes. The series ran from 1960-63 on British television.No Hiding Place
3.7
Overview:
No Hiding Place is a British television series that was produced at Wembley Studios by Associated-Rediffusion for the ITV network between 16 September 1959 and 22 June 1967. It was the sequel to the series Murder Bag and Crime Sheet, all starring Raymond Francis as Detective Superintendent, later Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Lockhart.A Tale of Two Cities
5
Overview:
Set against the conditions leading up to the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror, French doctor Alexandre Manette serves an 18-year imprisonment in the Bastille in Paris, followed by his release to live in London with the daughter he has never met.Doctor Who: The Android Invasion
7
Overview:
The Doctor and Sarah return to Earth in the present day to find a strangely deserted village and woods stalked by white-clad figures.Softly, Softly
5
Overview:
Softly, Softly is a British television drama series, produced by the BBC and screened on BBC 1 from January 1966. It centred around the work of regional crime squads, plain-clothes CID officers based in the fictional region of Wyvern, supposedly in the Bristol area of England.Dæmos Rising
5.7
Overview:
Trapped in an isolated cottage, Captain Cavendish thinks he is seeing ghosts. The only person who might understand and help is Kate Lethbridge-Stewart ... but when she arrives, she realises that Cavendish is key in a plot to summon the Daemons back to the Earth. With time running out, Kate discovers that sometimes even the familiar can turn out to be your worst nightmare.Myth Makers 37: Roger Delgado
NYR
Overview:
Roger Delgado appeared in only eight Doctor Who stories, but today he is fondly remembered as creating one of the most exciting characters to grace the series. As The Master, Roger was the perfect nemesis for Jon Pertwee’s Doctor and in this special Myth Makers many of the team from that era, including Jon Pertwee, Nicholas Courtney, Barry Letts, Paul Bernard and Shaun Sutton, recall Roger’s time in the show and his career in television and films.Scott of the Antarctic
7.1
Overview:
The true story of the British explorer Robert Falcon Scott and his ill-fated expedition to try to be the first man to discover the South Pole - only to find that the murderously cold weather and a rival team of Norwegian explorers conspire against himDoctor Who: The Keeper of Traken
7.4
Overview:
The Doctor and Adric learn from the wizened Keeper of Traken that a great evil has come to his planet in the form of a Melkur - a calcified statue. The Keeper of Traken is nearing the end of his reign and seeks the Doctor's help in preventing the evil from taking control of the bioelectronic source that is the keystone of the Traken Union's civilisation.Musical Scales: An Era of Experimentation
NYR
Overview:
A look at an extraordinary era of musical experimentation within Doctor Who, with special emphasis on the musical scores for Doctor Who and the Silurians and The Sea Devils. Featuring producer Barry Letts, composer Mark Ayres and directors Timothy Combe, Christopher Barry and Michael Briant, with an archive appearance from Radiophonic composer Malcolm Clarke.Doctor Who: The Sea Devils
7.5
Overview:
The Master joins forces with The Sea Devils to take over the world, unless The Doctor and The Royal Navy can stop them.Doctor Who: Robot
6.8
Overview:
The newly-regenerated Doctor helps UNIT battle a sentient robot being manipulated by a corrupt scientific organization.Doctor Who: Frontier in Space
8
Overview:
In the 26th century, the Doctor and Jo uncover a plot by the Master to provoke an interplanetary war between Earth and Draconia.Doctor Who: The Monster of Peladon
5
Overview:
The Doctor returns to Peladon fifty years after his last visit, to find Queen Thalira, daughter of the late King Peladon, on the throne. A tense labour dispute between Pel nobility and miners is worsened when apparitions of their deity Aggedor attack and kill several miners. The Galactic Federation desperately needs trisilicate for its war against Galaxy 5 and sends in brutal Ice Warrior troopers to ensure production. The Doctor discovers a devious plot at the heart of Aggedor's appearances.Doctor Who: 60 Years of Secrets & Scandals
4.7
Overview:
Behind-the-scenes stories from the long-running sci-fi drama. There are tales of stunts that went dangerously wrong and secrets of how the crew brought monsters to life, as well as revelations about how some storylines proved to be so scary the BBC were forced to re-edit episodes.Frieda
5.3
Overview:
An RAF pilot who was shot down during WWII returns home to his English village with his new bride. The trouble is that she is the German lady who helped him escape.Are Friends Electric?
NYR
Overview:
This documentary examines Tom Baker's introduction as the Doctor and the making of his first story, Robot.Doctor Who: Invasion of the Dinosaurs
6.8
Overview:
The Third Doctor and Sarah arrive in 1970s London to find it has been evacuated because dinosaurs have appeared mysteriously. It turns out the dinosaurs are being brought to London via a time machine to further a plan to revert London to a pre-technological level.Where on Earth Is Katy Manning?
9
Overview:
By her own admission, Katy Manning is ‘as blind as a bat’ and never knows where she’ll end up. When she suddenly arrived in the UK, Katy was probably as surprised as the rest of us! Determined to thank the legion of Doctor Who fans who had written and supported her during her years abroad, Katy embarked on a whirlwind tour of British conventions and shops before leaving (yet again) for Australia… Along the way bump into Nicholas Courtney, Richard Franklin, John Leeson, Sophie Aldred, Sylvester McCoy, Michael Sheard and other surprise guest stars!Doctor Who: The Green Death
8.7
Overview:
The Doctor and UNIT investigate a deadly infection lurking underneath the Welsh mining town of Llanfairfach. It's an adventure that will change Jo Grant's life forever...The Perfect Scenario: The End of Dreams
NYR
Overview:
Continuing his search for inspiration, Zed resumes his studies of twentieth-century television's Doctor Who. What he finds will have a profound effect...Changing Time: Living and Leaving Doctor Who
NYR
Overview:
A special 50-minute documentary that looks at the making of The Hand of Fear, and also examines the special relationship between the Doctor and his companion, Sarah Jane Smith.Doctor Who: The Curse of Peladon
7.6
Overview:
The planet Peladon has applied to join the Galactic Federation, and The Doctor is mistaken for the chairman of the committee sent to assess its application, while Jo is taken for an Earth princess, with the mythical curse of Aggedor apparently striking chancellor Torbis dead, The Doctor must discover who is desperate to stop Peladon joining, but soon he is sentenced to death and his only Allies seem to be Jo and the Ice Warrior Delegates.Doctor Who: Death to the Daleks
6.2
Overview:
An energy drain traps the Third Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith on the planet Exxilon with its hostile natives, causing the travellers to make an uneasy alliance with a Marine Space Corps expedition and a squadron of Daleks. The key to escape for all of them lies at the heart of a powerful and mysterious lost city, but only after a series of deadly traps.Warriors of Mars
NYR
Overview:
A brief history of the Ice Warriors in Doctor Who by the people who designed and brought them to life.Exodus
5.8
Overview:
The story of Exodus is relocated to the seaside town Margate. Moses lives in the Promised Lands with his adoptive parents, until he finds his mother in the shanty town, Dreamland, where she’s been ghettoised with other ‘undesirables’. He takes on his father, Pharaoh, and leads a radical campaign to liberate the people of Dreamland.Acting
2023Doctor Who: 60 Years of Secrets & Scandals as Self - archive
2023Time and Atlantis: Chronicling The Time Monster as (archive footage)
2019Doctor Who and the Third Man as Unknown
2011IMC Needs You! as Unknown
2011Life on Earth as Self
2011The Doctor's Moriarty as Self
2011Come in Number Five as (archive footage)
2010The Tin Men and the Witch as Unknown
2010Warriors of Mars as Unknown
2009The Perfect Scenario: Lost Frontiers as Unknown
2009The Perfect Scenario: The End of Dreams as Unknown
2009Roger Delgado: The Master as Unknown
2009The Frighten Factor as Unknown
2008Hello Sailor! as Unknown
2008Musical Scales: An Era of Experimentation as Unknown
2007Exodus as Professor Marcus
2007Are Friends Electric? as Unknown
2007The Worst Journey in the World as Narrator
2006Built for War: The Sontaran Story as (archival footage)
2006Changing Time: Living and Leaving Doctor Who as Unknown
2005Terrance Dicks: Fact & Fiction as Unknown
2003The Story of Doctor Who as Unknown
1998Where on Earth Is Katy Manning? as Unknown
1997Myth Makers 37: Roger Delgado as Self
1994Myth Makers 29: Barry Letts and Terrance Dicks (Part 2) as Self
199330 Years in the TARDIS as Himself
1993Myth Makers 25: Barry Letts and Terrance Dicks (Part 1) as Self
1970Doctor Who: Inferno as Loudspeaker Voice
1966Softly, Softly (4 Episodes) as Unknown
1962City Beneath the Sea (7 Episodes) as Unknown
1962Z-Cars (4 Episodes) as Unknown
1961The Avengers (1 Episode) as Unknown
1960Maigret (1 Episode) as Unknown
1960The Small House at Allington (6 Episodes) as Captain Bernard Dale
1959No Hiding Place (1 Episode) as Unknown
1957The Silver Sword (7 Episodes) as Unknown
1956Reach for the Sky as Tommy
1953The Cruel Sea as Raikes
1949A Boy, a Girl and a Bike as Syd
1948Scott of the Antarctic as Apsley Cherry-Garrard
1948To the Public Danger as Fred Lane
1947Frieda as Jim Merrick
1943San Demetrio London as Apprentice John Jones - M.V. San Demetrio
Production
2023Tales of the Tardis (1 Episode) ... Producer
1984The Prisoner of Zenda (6 Episodes) ... Producer
1984The Invisible Man (6 Episodes) ... Producer
1983Jane Eyre (11 Episodes) ... Producer
1983Dombey and Son (10 Episodes) ... Producer
1982The Hound of the Baskervilles (4 Episodes) ... Producer
1981Great Expectations (13 Episodes) ... Producer
1981Doctor Who: Logopolis ... Executive Producer
1981Doctor Who: The Keeper of Traken ... Executive Producer
1981Doctor Who: Warriors' Gate ... Executive Producer
1980Doctor Who: State of Decay ... Executive Producer
1980Doctor Who: Full Circle ... Executive Producer
1980Doctor Who: Meglos ... Executive Producer
1980A Tale of Two Cities (8 Episodes) ... Producer
1980Doctor Who: The Leisure Hive ... Executive Producer
1980The Swish of the Curtain (4 Episodes) ... Producer
1979The Old Curiosity Shop (9 Episodes) ... Producer
1978The Mill on the Floss (8 Episodes) ... Producer
1978Pinocchio (4 Episodes) ... Producer
1977Treasure Island ... Producer
1977Nicholas Nickleby (6 Episodes) ... Producer
1975Doctor Who: Robot ... Producer
1974Doctor Who: Planet of the Spiders ... Producer
1974Doctor Who: The Monster of Peladon ... Producer
1974Doctor Who: Death to the Daleks ... Producer
1974Doctor Who: Invasion of the Dinosaurs ... Producer
1974Doctor Who: The Time Warrior ... Producer
1973Moonbase 3 (6 Episodes) ... Producer
1973Doctor Who: The Green Death ... Producer
1973Doctor Who: Planet of the Daleks ... Producer
1973Doctor Who: Frontier in Space ... Producer
1973Doctor Who: Carnival of Monsters ... Producer
1973Doctor Who: The Three Doctors ... Producer
1972Doctor Who: The Time Monster ... Producer
1972Doctor Who: The Mutants ... Producer
1972Doctor Who: The Sea Devils ... Producer
1972Doctor Who: The Curse of Peladon ... Producer
1972Doctor Who: Day of the Daleks ... Producer
1971Doctor Who: The Dæmons ... Producer
1971Doctor Who: Colony in Space ... Producer
1971Doctor Who: The Claws of Axos ... Producer
1971Doctor Who: The Mind of Evil ... Producer
1971Doctor Who: Terror of the Autons ... Producer
1970Doctor Who: Inferno ... Producer
1970Doctor Who: The Ambassadors of Death ... Producer
1970Doctor Who and the Silurians ... Producer
1963Doctor Who (127 Episodes) ... Producer
Writing
2004Dæmos Rising ... Script Consultant
1982Gulliver in Lilliput (4 Episodes) ... Adaptation
1974Doctor Who: Planet of the Spiders ... Writer
1972Doctor Who: The Time Monster ... Writer
1971Doctor Who: The Dæmons ... Writer
1963Doctor Who (23 Episodes) ... Writer
Directing
1986David Copperfield (10 Episodes) ... Director
1985EastEnders (22 Episodes) ... Director
1982Gulliver in Lilliput (4 Episodes) ... Director
1978Pinocchio (4 Episodes) ... Director
1975Doctor Who: The Android Invasion ... Director
1974Doctor Who: Planet of the Spiders ... Director
1973Doctor Who: Carnival of Monsters ... Director
1971Doctor Who: Terror of the Autons ... Director
1970Doctor Who: Inferno ... Co-Director
1968Adventure Weekly (13 Episodes) ... Director
1968Doctor Who: The Enemy of the World ... Director
1963Doctor Who (29 Episodes) ... Director
1962Z-Cars (3 Episodes) ... Director
Creator
1986David Copperfield ... Creator
1984The Prisoner of Zenda ... Creator
1984The Invisible Man ... Creator
1983Jane Eyre ... Creator
1980A Tale of Two Cities ... Creator
1980The Swish of the Curtain ... Creator
1977Nicholas Nickleby ... Creator
1973Moonbase 3 ... Creator