# Ayton Whitaker

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**Ayton Richardson Whitaker** (26 May 1916 – August 1999[1]) was a British producer and director of radio, film and television for the [BBC](/source/BBC).

## Life

Whitaker was born 26 May 1916, in [Maidenhead](/source/Maidenhead), [Berkshire](/source/Berkshire).[2] During the [Second World War](/source/Second_World_War) he was an officer in the [Royal Air Force](/source/Royal_Air_Force),[3] being captured and spending time as a [Prisoner of War](/source/Prisoner_of_War) in [Stalag Luft III](/source/Stalag_Luft_III).[4]

## Work

From 1945 he was a producer for radio programmes on the [BBC Home Service](/source/BBC_Home_Service) and the [Light Programme](/source/Light_Programme).[5] These included [Mrs Dale's Diary](/source/Mrs_Dale's_Diary)[6] and [Dick Barton Special Agent](/source/Dick_Barton).[7] From 1953 he also began producing television drama.[8] In 1956 he adapted and produced [Blithe Spirit](/source/Blithe_Spirit_(play)) by [Noël Coward](/source/No%C3%ABl_Coward) for the radio,[9] but from then on concentrated on producing and directing for television.

He was involved in the creation of the [Doctor Who](/source/Doctor_Who) series.[10]

## References

1. Whitaker, Ayton Richardson. ["England and Wales, Death Registration Index 1837-2007"](https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVZF-S743). Family Search. Retrieved 31 December 2014.

1. [BFI](https://web.archive.org/web/20141129050611/http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2bb2eedf15) Ayton Whitaker

1. London Gazette 25 July 1941 p 4281

1. Marilyn Walton and Michael Eberhard (2014) "From Interrogation to Liberation" p 275 ISBN 1491846887

1. Radio Times 25 November 1945 issue 1156 *et sequi*

1. Radio Times 20 February 1948 issue 127 *et sequi*

1. Radio Times 1 December 1950 issue 1412 *et sequi*

1. Radio Times 29 December 1953 issue 1572 *et sequi*

1. Radio Times 8 June 1956 issue 1700

1. [www.televisionheaven.co.uk](http://www.televisionheaven.co.uk/origin_of_doctor_who_2.htm) The origin of Dr Who.

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