Francis Essex

Francis Essex (March 24, 1929 – March 5, 2009) was a British Television and stage Producer, Author and Composer. Essex's career spanned several decades during which he worked for several TV Production Companies, including: Light Entertainment Producer for the BBC Channel in the UK from 1954 to 1960; Senior Producer for the ATV (Associated TeleVision) Network from 1960 to 1965; Controller of Programmes Scottish Television from 1965 to 1969; ATV Network Production Controller from 1969 to 1976; Member Board of Directors - 1974; Director of Production from 1976 to 1981 and Chairman ITV Children's Network Committee from 1976 to 1981.

Essex's numerous works include Bells of St Martins, St Martin's Theatre 1953, which he wrote and presented. He also devised and directed Six of One, Adelphi 1964, and was the author of the Jolson The Musical, Victoria Palace 1995. Essex's scripts include; The Gentle Flame (for Julie Andrews), The Shillingbury Blowers (for Trevor Howard), Quincy's Quest (for Tommy Steele), The Shillingbury Tales (Series), the Cuffry Series (for Bernard Cribbins) and The Silent Scream IMDb - The Silent Scream(House of Hammer). His numerous musical scores include Luke's Kingdom, The Seas Must Live and The Lightning Tree. Essex is also the author of the Shillingbury Tales (imdb.com 1983 and Skerrymor Bay 1984.

Essex's awards and accreditations include: Fellow, Royal Television Society, BAFTA Light Entertainment Award, 1964, Leonard Brett Award, 1964 & 1981 and the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical 1996 for Jolson The Musical.

Francis married Jeanne Shires in 1956 and had two sons, Martin and Stephen (deceased).