Robert Banks Stewart obit

Bergerac writer Robert Banks Stewart dies aged 84

 

He was not on the list.

TV writer Robert Banks Stewart, best known for creating the Jersey-based detective series Bergerac and Shoestring, has died aged 84.

Stewart also wrote the classic Doctor Who episode Terror of the Zygons.

Born in 1931, he began his career as a journalist in his native Edinburgh

As a producer on The Darling Buds of May, Stewart was said to have been instrumental in launching the career of Catherine Zeta-Jones after he chose her to play Pop Larkin's daughter.

The adaptation of HE Bates' printed stories gained one of the highest ratings for a new series in the history of British TV and launched Zeta Jones career as an internationally renowned actress.

His other creation, Shoestring, introduced Trevor Eve in his breakout role as the shambling but shrewd private detective. The series dominated Sunday night viewing for two years and was nominated for a Bafta.

Other series he contributed to included The Avengers, Callan and Arthur of the Britons.

Stewart's episodes for Doctor Who: Terror of the Zygons were set in his native Scotland and drew on the Loch Ness Monster legend.

Crime solving Jersey-based Jim Bergerac, starring John Nettles, was a divorced loner and recovering alcoholic who liked to drive vintage sports cars

It ran for 10 years from 1981 to 1991.

Robert Banks Stewart had an incredible career in British television drama, becoming one of its greatest ever writers, story editors and producers. He started writing in primary school, winning a Burns essay prize and contributing stories to local newspapers. At age 15, he left school to become an office boy at the Edinburgh Evening Dispatch. He did his National Service with Field Marshal Montgomery's peacetime staff. He then worked as a newspaper editor. By this time he had written several plays and done a stint as a radio commentator. He eventually left Scotland for a post as foreign corespondent for Illustrated magazine. When that publication folded, he joined the Rank Organisation, providing rewrites and producing movie and TV scripts.

 

Writer

Christopher Eccleston, Peter Capaldi, David Tennant, Matt Smith, and Jodie Whittaker in Doctor Who (2005)

Doctor Who

8.5

TV Series

"Zygons" created by

Zygons created by

2013–2015

3 episodes

 

Doctor Who: The Lost Stories (2009)

Doctor Who: The Lost Stories

8.1

Podcast Series

story

written by

2011

1 episode

 

My Uncle Silas (2001)

My Uncle Silas

7.3

TV Series

adaptation

2001–2003

7 episodes

 

Doctor Who: Destiny of the Doctors (1997)

Doctor Who: Destiny of the Doctors

7.0

Video Game

character created by: The Zygons

1997

 

Millicent Martin in Moon and Son (1992)

Moon and Son

7.6

TV Series

creator

writer

1992

13 episodes

 

Terence Alexander, Sean Arnold, Annette Badland, Deborah Grant, Lindsay Heath, Celia Imrie, David Kershaw, Geoffrey Leesley, Thérèse Liotard, Nancy Mansfield, Tony Melody, John Nettles, Cécile Paoli, John Telfer, and Mela White in Bergerac (1981)

Bergerac

6.9

TV Series

series created by

by

1981–1991

87 episodes

 

Catherine Zeta-Jones, Pam Ferris, Philip Franks, and David Jason in The Darling Buds of May (1991)

The Darling Buds of May

7.8

TV Series

adaptation

1991

2 episodes

 

Steve Bisley, David Bamber, Dermot Crowley, and Dulice Liecier in Call Me Mister (1986)

Call Me Mister

7.2

TV Series

creator

written by

1986

10 episodes

 

Trevor Eve in Shoestring (1979)

Shoestring

7.5

TV Series

creator

writer

1979–1980

21 episodes

 

Iain Cuthbertson in Charles Endell, Esq (1979)

Charles Endell, Esq

7.4

TV Series

writer

1979–1980

5 episodes

 

Nigel Hawthorne in Jukes of Piccadilly (1980)

Jukes of Piccadilly

TV Series

deviser

writer

1980

6 episodes

 

Between the Covers

TV Movie

Writer

1980

 

Helen Shaver, Donann Cavin, Michael J. Reynolds, and Michael Tough in Search and Rescue: The Alpha Team (1977)

Search and Rescue: The Alpha Team

7.2

TV Series

written by

1977–1978

1 episode

 

Owner Occupied

TV Movie

written by

1977

 

Jan Francis in Rooms (1974)

Rooms

7.8

TV Series

writer

1977

3 episodes

 

Iain Cuthbertson in Sutherland's Law (1973)

Sutherland's Law

7.7

TV Series

writer

1975–1976

4 episodes

 

Paul McGann, Colin Baker, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, William Hartnell, Sylvester McCoy, Jon Pertwee, and Patrick Troughton in Doctor Who (1963)

Doctor Who

8.4

TV Series

written by

1975–1976

10 episodes

 

The Legend of Robin Hood (1975)

The Legend of Robin Hood

7.2

TV Mini Series

writer

1975

3 episodes

 

John Thaw and Dennis Waterman in The Sweeney (1975)

The Sweeney

8.1

TV Series

written by (as Robert Banks-Stewart)

1975

1 episode

 

Robert Vaughn, Tony Anholt, and Nyree Dawn Porter in The Protectors (1972)

The Protectors

6.7

TV Series

writer

1974

1 episode

 

Michael Gothard, Oliver Tobias, and Jack Watson in Arthur of the Britons (1972)

Arthur of the Britons

7.6

TV Series

writer

story

1973

5 episodes

 

Sean Connery, Michael Caine, Paul Scofield, and Anna Calder-Marshall in ITV Saturday Night Theatre (1969)

ITV Saturday Night Theatre

5.9

TV Series

writer

1972

1 episode

 

John Carlisle and John Woodvine in New Scotland Yard (1972)

New Scotland Yard

7.3

TV Series

writer

1972

1 episode

 

Jason King (1971)

Jason King

6.9

TV Series

screenplay

1972

1 episode

 

Fulton Mackay, Patrick Mower, Derren Nesbitt, Wensley Pithey, and George Sewell in Special Branch (1969)

Special Branch

7.4

TV Series

writer

1969

1 episode

 

Patrick O'Connell and Joanna Van Gyseghem in Fraud Squad (1969)

Fraud Squad

7.1

TV Series

writer

1969

1 episode

 

Ty Hardin in Riptide (1969)

Riptide

7.8

TV Series

written by

writer

1969

5 episodes

 

Edward Woodward in Callan (1967)

Callan

8.3

TV Series

by

writer

1967–1969

3 episodes

 

Alfred Burke in Public Eye (1965)

Public Eye

8.5

TV Series

writer

1968

1 episode

 

Barbara Bouchet, Richard Johnson, and Carol Lynley in Danger Route (1967)

Danger Route

5.5

additional material (as Robert Stewart)

1967

 

Edward Judd and Caroline Mortimer in Intrigue (1966)

Intrigue

TV Series

Writer

1966

 

Armchair Theatre (1956)

Armchair Theatre

7.5

TV Series

story editor

1966

4 episodes

 

Gerald Harper in Adam Adamant Lives! (1966)

Adam Adamant Lives!

7.0

TV Series

by

1966

1 episode

 

The Avengers (1961)

The Avengers

8.3

TV Series

teleplay by

1965–1966

2 episodes

 

Undermind (1965)

Undermind

6.9

TV Series

written by

1965

3 episodes

 

Never Mention Murder (1965)

Never Mention Murder

6.7

screenplay

1965

 

Dr. Finlay's Casebook (1962)

Dr. Finlay's Casebook

7.7

TV Series

writer

dramatisation

1962–1965

5 episodes

 

Downfall (1964)

Downfall

6.7

screenplay (as Robert Stewart)

1964

 

The Human Jungle (1963)

The Human Jungle

7.9

TV Series

story

teleplay

1963–1964

6 episodes

 

The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre (1959)

The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre

7.7

TV Series

screenplay

1960–1964

7 episodes

 

Peter Copley and Paul Williamson in Thorndyke (1964)

Thorndyke

TV Series

dramatisation

1964

1 episode

 

Roger Moore in The Saint (1962)

The Saint

7.5

TV Series

screenplay by (as Robert Stewart)

1963–1964

2 episodes

 

Nigel Patrick in Zero One (1962)

Zero One

8.4

TV Series

Writer (as Robert Stewart)

1963

3 episodes

 

ITV Television Playhouse (1955)

ITV Television Playhouse

7.9

TV Series

writer (as Robert Stewart)

1963

1 episode

 

Backfire! (1962)

Backfire!

6.5

screenplay (as Robert Stewart)

1962

 

Walter Matthau and Frank McGee in The DuPont Show of the Week (1961)

The DuPont Show of the Week

6.1

TV Series

writer (as Robert Stewart)

1962

1 episode

 

The Brain (1962)

The Brain

5.2

screenplay (as Robert Stewart)

1962

 

Playback (1962)

Playback

6.9

screenplay (as Robert Stewart)

1962

 

Silent Evidence

TV Series

writer (as Robert Stewart)

1962

1 episode

 

The Sinister Man (1961)

The Sinister Man

5.8

screenplay (as Robert Stewart)

1961

 

Partners in Crime (1961)

Partners in Crime

6.3

screenplay (as Robert Stewart)

1961

 

Top Secret (1961)

Top Secret

7.1

TV Series

writer

1961

2 episodes

 

Michael Quinn and Donald Wolfit in Ghost Squad (1961)

Ghost Squad

7.2

TV Series

Writer (as Robert Stewart)

1961

1 episode

 

Patrick McGoohan in Danger Man (1960)

Danger Man

7.9

TV Series

screenplay (as Robert Stewart)

1960–1961

2 episodes

 

Marriage of Convenience (1960)

Marriage of Convenience

6.2

screenplay (as Robert Stewart)

1960

 

Kay Callard and John Turner in Knight Errant Limited (1959)

Knight Errant Limited

6.4

TV Series

Writer (as Robert B. Stewart)

1960

1 episode

 

Interpol Calling (1959)

Interpol Calling

7.3

TV Series

writer

teleplay

1959–1960

13 episodes

 

Additional Crew

Do You Have a Licence to Save This Planet? (2001)

Do You Have a Licence to Save This Planet?

5.6

Video

creator: "Krynoid"

2001

 

Armchair Thriller (1978)

Armchair Thriller

7.3

TV Series

story editor

1978

17 episodes

 

Jan Francis in Rooms (1974)

Rooms

7.8

TV Series

story editor

1977

61 episodes

 

Demon Seed (1977)

Demon Seed

6.3

technical consultant (as Robert Stewart)

1977

 

Barry Foster in Van der Valk (1972)

Van der Valk

7.0

TV Series

story editor

1973

7 episodes

 

William Russell and Judy Matheson in Harriet's Back in Town (1972)

Harriet's Back in Town

7.3

TV Series

story editor

1973

16 episodes

 

Ty Hardin in Riptide (1969)

Riptide

7.8

TV Series

story consultant

1969

1 episode

 

The Human Jungle (1963)

The Human Jungle

7.9

TV Series

story adviser (as Robert Stewart)

1963

12 episodes

 

Producer

McCallum (1995)

McCallum

7.6

TV Series

producer

1998

1 episode

 

Timothy Spall in Frank Stubbs Promotes (1993)

Frank Stubbs Promotes

6.7

TV Series

executive producer (as Robert Banks-Stewart)

1993

2 episodes

 

Millicent Martin in Moon and Son (1992)

Moon and Son

7.6

TV Series

producer

1992

13 episodes

 

Catherine Zeta-Jones, Pam Ferris, Philip Franks, and David Jason in The Darling Buds of May (1991)

The Darling Buds of May

7.8

TV Series

producer

1991

4 episodes

 

Storyboard (1983)

Storyboard

7.2

TV Series

producer

1989

2 episodes

 

Anthony Valentine, Tim Barlow, Robert Powell, and Gavin Richards in Hannay (1988)

Hannay

7.2

TV Series

producer

1988

5 episodes

 

Steve Bisley, David Bamber, Dermot Crowley, and Dulice Liecier in Call Me Mister (1986)

Call Me Mister

7.2

TV Series

producer

1986

10 episodes

 

Ian McShane in Lovejoy (1986)

Lovejoy

7.8

TV Series

producer

1986

10 episodes

 

Terence Alexander, Sean Arnold, Annette Badland, Deborah Grant, Lindsay Heath, Celia Imrie, David Kershaw, Geoffrey Leesley, Thérèse Liotard, Nancy Mansfield, Tony Melody, John Nettles, Cécile Paoli, John Telfer, and Mela White in Bergerac (1981)

Bergerac

6.9

TV Series

producer

1981–1983

19 episodes

 

Trevor Eve in Shoestring (1979)

Shoestring

7.5

TV Series

producer

1979–1980

21 episodes

 

Jan Francis in Rooms (1974)

Rooms

7.8

TV Series

producer

1974–1977

 

Ty Hardin in Riptide (1969)

Riptide

7.8

TV Series

producer

associate producer

1969

2 episodes

 

Stiff Upper Lip

TV Movie

producer

1967

 

Edward Judd and Caroline Mortimer in Intrigue (1966)

Intrigue

TV Series

producer

1966

3 episodes