David Maloney

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David Maloney bigraphy, stories - Monarchs

David Maloney : biography

1933 – 2006

David John Lee Maloney (14 December 1933—18 July 2006) was a British television director and producer. He was born in Alvechurch, Worcestershire, was educated at King Edward VI Five Ways and served in the Royal Air Force before becoming an actor in the theatre. He joined the BBC as a television production assistant and trained to be a director at the corporation.

He is best known for his work on various science-fiction series, directing several Doctor Who serials between 1968 and 1977. He also worked as a producer, overseeing the first three seasons of another popular BBC science-fiction series, Blake’s 7, during the late 1970s and early 80s.

He also produced the BBC’s famous 1981 adaptation of John Wyndham’s novel The Day of the Triffids and series 4 of When the Boat Comes In. In addition, Maloney directed several episodes of Juliet Bravo and Strike It Rich!

Maloney later moved on to factual programme-making and travelled the world making various documentaries for ITV. Towards the end of his life, Maloney himself appeared on-screen in a number of TV and DVD documentaries about his work on Doctor Who. He also provided DVD commentaries for three of the serials he directed, The Mind Robber, Genesis of the Daleks and The Talons of Weng-Chiang.

David Maloney died on 18 July 2006 at the Marie Curie Hospice, Hampstead, at the age of 72. He is survived by his children, Paul, Matthew and Sophia; his wife Edwina predeceased him.

Doctor Who

Maloney first worked on Doctor Who as a production assistant on the 1965 serial The Rescue. He later directed the following Doctor Who stories:

  • The Mind Robber
  • The Krotons
  • The War Games
  • Planet of the Daleks (also the final scene of the preceding Frontier in Space)
  • Genesis of the Daleks
  • Planet of Evil
  • The Deadly Assassin
  • The Talons of Weng-Chiang

Blake’s 7

As well as producing the first three seasons of Blake’s 7, Maloney also directed the following three episodes:

  • Deliverance (with Michael E. Briant) (Episode 12 of Season 1)
  • Star One (Episode 13 of Season 2)
  • Powerplay (Episode 2 of Season 3)