Roy John Battersby (20 April 1936 – 10 January 2024) was a British television director, known for his work in drama productions such as Between The Lines, Inspector Morse, Cracker and A Touch of Frost. Early in his career, he made documentary features for the BBC programmes Tomorrow's World and Towards Tomorrow. In 2005, his film Red Mercury was shown at the Montreal World Film Festival.

Battersby was married to actress Judy Loe and was the stepfather of actress Kate Beckinsale. Battersby was a Trotskyist for some years, becoming a full-time organiser for the now defunct Workers Revolutionary Party. The association had ended by 1981, but the connection led to his being blacklisted by the BBC.

Battersby died after a stroke on 10 January 2024, at the age of 87.

Filmography

YearTitleEpisodesComments
1969, 1970ITV Saturday Night TheatreMachineTV play written by Hugh Charteris
Roll on Four O'ClockTV play written by Colin Welland
1970The BodyDocumentary narrated by Vanessa Redgrave and Frank Finlay
1972Home and Away
1972–1974Play For TodayBetter Than The MoviesTV play written by John Elliot and starring Bryan Marshall
The OperationTV play written by Roger Smith
Leeds UnitedTV play written by Colin Welland and starring Elizabeth Spriggs
1975Centre PlayPost Mortem
1975–1976Couples9 episodes
1977The Palestinian
1981A Change in Time
1983No Excuses
The Home FrontAt The Grammar
Low Key Lady on High Speed Train
The Poodle Strikes Back
Walk in My Shoes
1984Winter Flight
1986King of the Ghetto4 episodes
Unnatural CausesEvensong
ScreenplayThe Act
1990EurocopsPushedCrime drama by Billy Hamon starring John Benfield as Jackson
Firing the Bullets
1990, 1991The Play on OneYellowbacks
Escape From Kampala
1991Inspector MorseFat ChanceCrime drama starring John Thaw, Kevin Whately, Maurice Denham and Zoë Wanamaker.
1992–1993Between The LinesLies and Damned LiesCrime drama starring Neil Pearson
A Watch & Chain of Course
Some Must Watch
Manoeuvre 11
1994–2006A Touch of FrostWidows and OrphansCrime drama starring David Jason
Quarry
Dancing in the Dark
Endangered Species
1994Between The LinesThe End UserCrime drama starring Neil Pearson
1995CrackerBrotherly LoveCrime drama starring Robbie Coltrane and Geraldine Somerville
1997The Moth
1998Space Island OneA Child Is Born
1999Doomwatch: Winter Angel
2000In Defence2 episodes
2005Red Mercury

Awards

YearResultAwardComments
1996WonBAFTA Alan Clarke award
2006NominatedMontréal World Film Festival Grand Prix des Amériquesfor Red Mercury (2005)

External links