Bill Podmore

Twice married and divorced. At the time of his death in January 1994, he was in a relationship with television worker Millie Preece.

Following his retirement from television, Podmore penned his memoirs, "Coronation Street: The Inside Story" (1990 Mcdonald & Co), a book which contained some caustic criticisms of former cast members, in particular Peter Adamson (Len Fairclough) and the late Fred Feast (Fred Gee).

In 1988, amid dwindling audiences, the UK press speculated that Podmore had been sacked as producer of Coronation Street, claiming that his long reign had left the programme stale. Bill himself, however, always maintained that his departure was mutually amicable.

In 1975, he was appointed producer of the UK soap opera, Coronation Street, and remained at the helm for thirteen years, making him the most enduring producer in the programme's history. During this period, Podmore was credited with introducing more humorous plotlines into the serial, which eventually saw the Street regain its mantle as Britain's most watched programme. Certainly, in its halcyon days (1976-1984), the soap's ratings dominance was seemingly unassailable.

He was a producer and director, known for Nearest and Dearest (1968), Coronation Street (1960) and Sam (1973). He was married to Gillian Podmore.

A former RAF pilot, he entered television in the mid 1950s as a trainee camera operater, made the transition to director a decade or more later, and eventually carved a reputation as a respected sitcom producer.

Bill Podmore was born on August 15, 1931 in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, England as Edgar William Podmore.