Roy Battersby

Known for DirectingBorn 1936-04-20Died 2024-01-10London, England

Roy Battersby (1936-2024) was a British director. He started his career making documentary features for the BBC, including work on their groundbreaking science series Tomorrow's World. In 1970 he directed the innovative scientific documentary film The Body, before moving into drama and directing TV plays, often working with writer Colin Welland. He made with several films for the Play for Today series but his role as an organiser with the Workers Revolutionary Party and his Trotskyist politics led to him being blacklisted by the BBC at the behest of Special Branch and the security services, a fact which Battersby was unaware of at the time. Once his association ended in the 1980s, Battersby was allowed to direct at the BBC once more. Serials such as 1986's King of the Ghetto led to regular work on Between the Lines in the early 90s. Now specialising in crime drama, he also helmed several episodes of ITV's Inspector Morse, A Touch of Frost and Cracker. His 2005 film Red Mercury was shown at the Montreal World Film Festival, where it was nominated for best film. In 1996, Battersby was awarded the Alan Clarke award at BAFTA. He was married to actress Judy Loe and is the stepfather of actress Kate Beckinsale.Read more

Movies & web series

Leeds United!

Space Island One

Olly's Prison

The Palestinian

Yellowbacks

King of the Ghetto

Inspector Morse

A Touch of Frost

Doomwatch: Winter Angel

Gentry

Centre Play

ITV Saturday Night Theatre

The Moth

Cracker

Play for Today

Winter Flight

Unnatural Causes

Doomwatch

ScreenPlay

Roll On Four O'Clock

In Defence

Red Mercury

Between the Lines

The Black Candle

Mr. Love

The Body

Drama Out of a Crisis: A Celebration of Play for Today

Greys Inbetween

Escape From Kampala

The Act

King of the Ghetto

Post Mortem

The Operation

Right to Work March

Better Than the Movies

Some Women