Brideshead Revisited and Coronation Street producer Derek Granger dies aged 101
Brideshead Revisited producer Derek Granger has died aged 101.
During his television career, Granger also produced the ITV series Coronation Street in its early days from 1961-1962 when he worked at Granada Television, now known as ITV Granada.
A statement from his close friends said: “Brideshead Revisited producer Derek Granger has passed away peacefully at his home at the age of 101.”
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Derek Granger produced the 1981 award-winning film adaptation of Evelyn Waugh’s novel Brideshead Revisited, starring Anthony Andrews and Jeremy Irons (Granada/PA).
Born in 1921, Granger previously wrote theater reviews for the Brighton Evening Argus before moving to the Financial Times to become the newspaper’s first drama critic at the suggestion of the late veteran actor Laurence Olivier. .
He then became head of drama at Granada Television, working on many popular TV series including Country Matters and the 1976 film Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with Olivier, Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner.
Soon after Coronation Street was premiered in December 1960, Granger had a stint as a producer of the soap opera he once called a “divine role”.
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Granger produced the ITV series Coronation Street in its early days from 1961-1962 (Peter Byrne/PA)
In an interview with the Telegraph earlier this year before his 101st birthday, he told the newspaper: “I’m happier doing that than anything else I’ve done on television.
“It’s a divine role, it’s amazing. You have the power of life and death, love and sex.”
Granger is best known as the producer of the award-winning 1981 film adaptation of Evelyn Waugh’s novel Brideshead Revisited, starring Jeremy Irons and Anthony Andrews.
Trying his hand at cinema, he has also produced a number of films including A Handful Of Dust and Where Angels Fear To Tread.
A statement from ITV said: “With profound sadness, the production team at Coronation Street and ITV Studios extend their sincere condolences to Derek’s family and friends.”
Granger had a long relationship with interior designer Kenneth Partridge, who famously designed John Lennon’s home in Surrey, until Partridge’s death in 2015.
https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/television/tv-news/brideshead-revisited-and-coronation-street-producer-derek-granger-dies-aged-101-42183457.html Brideshead Revisited and Coronation Street producer Derek Granger dies aged 101