Michael Mills (British producer)

Michael Mills (13 May 1919 – 7 January 1988) was an English television producer and director who served as the BBC's Head of Comedy from 1967 until 1972.

Michael Mills
Born(1919-05-13)13 May 1919
Prestwich, Lancashire, (now Greater Manchester), England
Died7 January 1988(1988-01-07) (aged 68)
Gillingham, Kent, England
Occupation(s)Television producer, director
Years active1947–1986
Known forSome Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
Notable workHead of comedy at the BBC (1967–1972), producer at Thames Television
Spouse
​
(m. 1974)​
Children2

Early life and career

Mills was born in Prestwich, Lancashire (now part of Greater Manchester), England.[1] He joined the BBC before the Second World War as a sound effects operator, and served in the Free French Navy (on secondment from the Royal Navy) during hostilities, where he undertook revue-type shows.

In 1947, he returned to the BBC, as a light entertainment producer.[2] Yvonne Littlewood, at the time his personal assistant, recalled one live production of the three act Vivian Ellis musical Jill Darling in February 1949 which used both studios at Alexandra Palace, the set being changed in one while the second act was being broadcast.[3]

Mills served as the BBC's Head of Comedy from 1967 to 1972. According to creator Jimmy Perry, it was Mills who in 1968 suggested that a forthcoming series should be titled Dad's Army instead of The Fighting Tigers, and that John Le Mesurier should play the Sergeant and Clive Dunn, Corporal Jones.[4] Mills thought Frankie Howerd's role in the British stage production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum could be the basis for a series. This became Up Pompeii! (1969–70).[5] Mills was also responsible for commissioning the sitcom The Liver Birds in 1969.[6]

While the first series of Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969) was still being transmitted, he wrote to John Cleese: "The shows seem to be getting better and better and this is a view shared by most people who see it." Offering him a role in the second series, Mills had been told by Barry Took that Cleese was unsure about continuing: "I do hope you will be able to take part both as a writer and performer because the show would lose a great deal if you are not one of them."[7]

Last years

Mills was the original producer of television series Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em (1973–1975), and briefly supervised Wodehouse Playhouse (1976).[8][9] He joined Thames Television around this time, where he remained for the rest of his career. At Thames, he was responsible for the production of such series as Get Some In! (1975–1978) and Chance in a Million (1984-1986).[1][10]

Personal life

From 1974, Mills was married to the actress Valerie Leon.[11] The couple had two children; their daughter Merope Mills has worked for The Guardian newspaper. Michael Mills died in Gillingham, Kent, in 1988.[1]

References
  1. "Michael Mills". BFI. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  2. Barfe, Louis (1 January 2013). Turned Out Nice Again: The Story of British Light Entertainment. London: Atlantic Books. p. 53. ISBN 9781848877573.
  3. Barfe, Louis (1 January 2013). Turned Out Nice Again: The Story of British Light Entertainment. London: Atlantic Books. p. 54. ISBN 9781848877573.
  4. Pertwee, Bill (3 November 2009). Dad's Army: The Making of a TV Legend. USA: Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 22. ISBN 9781844861057.
  5. Joshel, Sandra R.; Margaret, Malamud; McGuire Jr., Donald T. (2005). Imperial Projections: Ancient Rome in Modern Popular Culture. Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 180–181. ISBN 9780801882685.
  6. "Carla Lane obituary: celebrated writer of TV sitcoms". The Guardian. 1 June 2016.
  7. Verkaik, Robert (31 May 2009). "BBC bosses almost lost faith in 'disgusting' Monty Python". The Independent. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  8. Innes, John (2003–2014). "Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em (1973-75, 1978)". BFI Screenonline. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  9. Taves, Brian (24 January 2015). P.G. Wodehouse and Hollywood: Screenwriting, Satires and Adaptations. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 9780786484430 – via Google Books.
  10. "BBC - Comedy Guide - Chance In A Million". 17 May 2006. Archived from the original on 17 May 2006.
  11. Maxford, Howard (2018). Hammer Complete: The Films, the Personnel, the Company. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. p. 494. ISBN 9781476629148.
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