Janice Willett (30 October 1932 – 6 November 2018) was a British television producer with ABC Television during the 1950s and 1960s, at the time being one of only a few female producers working in television. Her television career began at the BBC where she worked as secretary to Michael Barry, head of drama for

BBC Television BBC Television is a service of the BBC. The corporation has operated a public broadcast television service in the United Kingdom, under the terms of a royal charter, since 1927. It produced television programmes from its own studios from 193 ...

, and later joined producer Dennis Vance as his assistant. In 1955 she left the BBC along with Vance to work at

Highbury Studios The Highbury Studios were a British film studio located in Highbury, North London which operated from 1937 until 1956. The studios were constructed by the producer Maurice J. Wilson. During its early years, the studio was hired out to independent ...

where she was a production assistant for programmes such as '' Theatre Royal'' and '' TV Playhouse'', before joining ABC in 1956. At ABC she produced programmes such as ''Moment of Fame'' as well as various children's shows. Vance soon joined her there, and she helped him to organise ABC’s drama department, before she became a producer in her own right. One of the programmes Willett produced for ABC was ''State Your Case'', a show that invited viewers to write in for a chance to win £100 to help them fulfil a personal dream. Letters would typically be from parents wishing to visit their children overseas, young couples in need of a deposit for a house, or individuals with business ideas, including one viewer who wanted the money to build a rocket ship capable of reaching outer space. ''State Your Case'' began in ABC's northern region, but was aired nationally from February 1957. Willett also produced ''The Sunday Break'', a religious programme for younger people that aired on Sunday evenings and which was presented by Julie Stevens. In March 1961, the programme aired "A Man Dies", a controversial Passion Play depicting Jesus Christ dressed in a pair of

jeans Jeans are a type of pants or trousers made from denim or dungaree cloth. Often the term "jeans" refers to a particular style of trousers, called "blue jeans", with copper-riveted pockets which were invented by Jacob W. Davis in 1871 and paten ...

. On 11 April 1961 Willett was treated at the

West Middlesex Hospital West Middlesex University Hospital (WMUH) is an acute NHS hospital in Isleworth, West London, operated by Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. It is a teaching hospital of Imperial College School of Medicine and a designated ac ...

after Vance stabbed her in the shoulder during an incident at ABC's Teddington Studios. Filming for " Dance with Death", an episode of ''

The Avengers Avenger, Avengers, The Avenger, or The Avengers may refer to: Arts and entertainment In the Marvel Comics universe * Avengers (comics), a team of superheroes ** Avengers (Marvel Cinematic Universe), a central team of protagonist superheroes o ...

'' had been underway at the studios at the time. Vance, who had experienced a

mental breakdown A mental disorder, also referred to as a mental illness or psychiatric disorder, is a behavioral or mental pattern that causes significant distress or impairment of personal functioning. Such features may be persistent, relapsing and remitti ...

the previous year, was charged with

grievous bodily harm Grievous bodily harm (often abbreviated to GBH) is a term used in English criminal law to describe the severest forms of battery. It refers to two offences that are created by sections 18 and 20 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861. The ...

later the same day after giving himself up to police. At his subsequent trial, held at the

Old Bailey The Central Criminal Court of England and Wales, commonly referred to as the Old Bailey after the street on which it stands, is a criminal court building in central London, one of several that house the Crown Court of England and Wales. The s ...

on 27 April, Vance was found guilty due to diminished responsibility and sentenced to three years' probation, after a psychiatrist successfully argued in his defence. He was ordered to spend twelve months of this sentence as a patient at London's

St Luke's Hospital St. Luke's Hospital may refer to: Australia * St Lukes Private Hospital, Launceston, Tasmania * St Luke's Private Hospital, , Sydney, New South Wales Canada * Hôpital Saint-Luc, Montreal, Quebec China * Shanghai Chest Hospital, formerly St. Luke ...

. Vance was dismissed by ABC, but later worked for Associated Television. Willett left ABC in 1962 to join the Central Office of Information, and little is known about her life after that. She married composer and writer

Norman Kay Norman Kay may refer to: *Norman Kay (bridge) (1927–2002), American bridge player *Norman Kay (composer) (1929–2001), British composer *Norman Kaye (1927–2007), Australian actor and musician {{hndis, Kay, Norman ...

in 1969, and the couple had a daughter. Norman Kay died in 2001. A long-term resident of

Richmond Richmond most often refers to: * Richmond, Virginia, the capital of Virginia, United States * Richmond, London, a part of London * Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town in England * Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada * Richmond, California, ...

in southwest London, in her later years Willett became involved with the

Richmond Society Richmond is a town in south-west London,The London Government Act 1963 (c.33) (as amended) categorises the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames as an Outer London borough. Although it is on both sides of the River Thames, the Boundary Comm ...

and took over responsibility for their publicity. She died on 6 November 2018.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Willett, Janice British television producers British women television producers 1932 births 2018 deaths