David Allen

Mr David Allen

I was born in 1939. I began working at the BBC in 1969, my final year at the BBC was 2002.

Education

Harrow Weald Country Grammar School, Balliol College Oxford (Natural Sciences)

Previous Jobs

Head of Science at Beaumont College, Windsor (1962-1966) and Head of Science at Stonyhurst College, Lancashire (1966-1968)

How I joined the BBC

In 1968 I was living in Lancashire running a school science department. I went to see my brother in law (Iain Johnstone) read the news on ITV. Sitting in the gallery watching the live ITN programmes going out (I remember seeing Reginald Bosanquet's toupé being adjusted between items) it all seemed rather exciting and I was hooked. One morning Iain rang to say there was an ad. in The Listener for assistant producers 'with a committed interest in education'. So I applied, was interviewed by Donald Grattan at 5 Portland Place and got the job. This in spite of not making a very convincing case for making Chemistry interesting on TV. I didn't take the job up for a while because of seeing people through Oxbridge entrance but joined in January 1969.

My first impressions of the BBC

Apart from the leaking fish tank in 5 PP other first impressions of the BBC were before I joined. My future mentor Senior Producer JamesMcCloy encouraged me before moving back to London to go to watch Look North, the regional TV news opt-out presented by Stuart Hall at the BBC's Manchester Piccadilly studio. James had said in reply to my letter to Mr McCloy: 'Dear David, it's all christian names at the BBC'. James set me to work with Michael Garrod on 'Know How' a live sunday programme for engineers. I remember staying up all night to make sure a massive lathe was installed in TC2 during the overnight set and light. The presenter was Arthur Garratt.

Broad BBC career

Produced and directed TV programmes on educational subjects - ranging from medicine to consumer affairs, disability, child care, pedagogics, and computing (I edited and was series producer for the various BBC Micro Computer series, including MicroLive). Later I worked on interactive multimedia and then for Production Modernisation - where new broadcasting techniques (such as the Virtual Studio) brought me in contact with BBC R&D. There we developed a lot of new cost-saving technologies (lightweight kit, dish-free radio cameras and so on).

My training at the BBC

When I arrived as a tyro assistant producer our exec producer James McCloy would book the TV studio at BH and some lines and we'd go down and take it in turns to direct, present, operate a camera, etc. The BH studio had I think three cameras and a pokey little gallery and was not much used in the mornings. Then we'd go back to Villiers House and view the results on a dreadful early VCR. About three months in, I was sent on a 10 week directing course at Woodstock Grove where we had a full set of lectures a day and directing sessions in TVC studios. We would be given drama sequences, LE, music, talks and other things to direct and the results would be tele-recorded and played in and shredded. During lunch breaks, tea breaks and any other spare time we had to produce a 1/2 hour multicamera programme with a cash budget of £100. This would just pay for a few graphics, a presenter and so on. Fabulous training. My programme was called "50 years Underground" , was presented by Arthur Garrett and recorded at Riverside 1. The course ended with two weeks working with film - and again, an personal exercise was needed. Filming tended to be around Walpole Park and I chose a scene from Zoo Story (uninspired - two people talking on a park bench).

Non autobiographical notes and facts BBC about the BBC

Budgeting in the early 1970s consisted of 'above' and 'below' the line costs. Below the line meant allocated resources and didn't feel like real money. Above the line included T&D, artists and - crucially - film stock. At £100 for a 10 minute roll it meant you really had to watch the shooting ratio. That had enormous advantages when it came to editing - far fewer rushes to plough through.

Periods at the BBC

1969 until 1986

I was an Assistant Producer/producer on a Full time permanent staff contract. I was promoted to 53 during the period.We were based at Villiers House in the Further Education then Continuing Education TV department., at that time run by Donald Grattan, John Cain, Sheila Innes. Assistant producer, then producer, and senior producer within Further Education Department (later Continuing Education Department TV..

My main mentors for the period were

James McCloy (Senior Producer 1969-)

I worked on the following programmes during this time at the BBC:

The Education Programme

I worked as an Assistant Producer on The Education Programme.

Early Years at School

I worked as a Producer on Early Years at School.

Know How

From 1969 I worked as an Assistant Producer on Know How.

Medicine Today

From 1970 I worked as an Assistant Producer on Medicine Today.

Other People's Children

From 1976 I worked as a Producer on Other People's Children. For some unknown reason a series of 19 x15 minute programmes aimed at childminders. The series saw the launch of the National Childminders Association and covered the practicalities of running a child care service as well as child development issues.

Notable people from this programme: Had the dubious distinction of having Jimmy Savile present the first programme. The major presenters were Brian Redhead and Mavis Nicholson

Managing the Micro

From 1980 I worked as a Producer/director on Managing the Micro. A stop-gap series of five programmes which in a sense was sandwiched between The Silicon Factor (made for a general audience) and the Computer Literacy Project 'proper'. It dealt with how service and manufacturing businesses could make use of microelectronics in products, processes and offices. It was presented by Brian Redhead.

Making the Most of the Micro - Live

From 1983 I worked as a Series Producer/Editor on Making the Most of the Micro - Live.