Gerard Glaister, a renowned British television producer, is credited with creating numerous hit series that captivated audiences. His impressive portfolio includes Dr Finlay's Casebook, Secret Army, Colditz, The Expert, and Howard's Way, among others.
One of his most notable achievements was the production of The Brothers, a road haulage family drama that aired from 1972 to 1976. Glaister not only devised the series but also produced it, and it became a huge success, starring Jean Anderson, Patrick O'Connell, and Richard Easton. The show's blend of boardroom and bedroom battles made it a staple of Friday and Sunday night television, and it was later sold to several countries.
Glaister's other notable production was Howard's Way, a drama that aired from 1985 to 1990. Set on the River Hamble, the show followed the lives of a wealthy family and their business dealings. Starring Maurice Colbourne and Jan Harvey, the series was known for its over-the-top characters and dramatic plot twists.
Born in 1915, Glaister was the son of a Royal Navy surgeon. He studied acting at RADA and made his West End debut in 1939 before joining the RAF. During World War II, he served as a pilot and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his bravery.
After the war, Glaister worked in repertory theater before joining the BBC as a director in 1957. He spent nine years working on the BBC's Dr Finlay's Casebook, a Scottish medical drama that starred Bill Simpson and Andrew Cruickshank.
Glaister's other notable productions include The Xpert, a detective series that aired on BBC2 in 1968, and Colditz, a true-life drama series about prisoners of war attempting to escape from Colditz castle. The show was based on the book by Major Pat Reid, a survivor of Colditz, who also acted as technical advisor.
Glaister's collaboration with Brian Degas resulted in another hit series, Secret Army, which aired from 1977 to 1979. The show was about the activities of Lifeline, an underground resistance movement in Belgium during World War II.
Throughout his career, Glaister produced over 30 television series, including Buccaneer, an air freight company series, and Trainer, a BBC weekly drama about a young trainer trying to succeed in the competitive world of horseracing. He retired from television shortly after Trainer finished production.
