imported>GreenC bot: Rescued 1 archive link; Move 1 url. Wayback Medic 2.5 per WP:URLREQ#bbfc.co.uk

2025-04-25T01:27:19Z

Rescued 1 archive link; Move 1 url. Wayback Medic 2.5 per WP:URLREQ#bbfc.co.uk

New page

{{short description|British television producer and director (born 1949)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Geoff Posner
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Geoffrey Harold Posner
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1949|07|07|df=yes}}
| birth_place =
| nationality =
| occupation = Television producer, director
| title =
| years_active = 1981–present
| website =
}}
'''Geoffrey Harold Posner''' (born 7 July 1949) is a British television producer and director.<ref>{{cite web
| title = Search The Collection
| publisher =National Portrait Gallery
| url=http://www.npg.org.uk/live/search/portrait.asp?LinkID=mp68934&rNo=0&role=sit
| access-date =2007-12-18}}
</ref> Posner has directed and produced some of Britain's most successful comedy shows since the early 1980s.

==Career==
Starting off as a director on the satirical show ''[[Not the Nine O'Clock News]]'', he also directed ''Revolting Women'' for BBC Manchester in 1981, a sketch show featuring amongst others Jeni Barnett and Linda Broughton, and in 1982 went on to direct the groundbreaking [[BBC2]] anti-sitcom ''[[The Young Ones (TV series)|The Young Ones]]''. Working also as an assistant producer on that show, he went on to produce in the same year the unaired pilot of the [[Rowan Atkinson]] historical sitcom ''[[Blackadder]]''.<ref name="IMDB">{{cite web
| title = Geoff Posner
| publisher =IMDB
| url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0692714
| access-date =2007-10-11}}
</ref> One of his biggest successes came in 1985, when he produced and directed the multi-award-winning ''[[Victoria Wood As Seen On TV]]'', a sketch show written by (and starring) the comedian.<ref name="Brandwood">
{{cite book
| last = Brandwood
| first = Neil
| title= Victoria Wood – The Biography
| edition = 1st
| year = 2002
| publisher = Boxtree
| location = London
| isbn = 1-85227-982-6
}}
</ref>

Posner has since produced and directed some of the most popular British television comedies of the 1990s and 2000s. They include ''[[Harry Enfield's Television Programme]]'', ''[[French & Saunders]]'', ''[[Paul Calf]]'s Video Diaries'', and ''[[Dinnerladies (TV series) | dinnerladies]]''. More recently he was one of the TV directors covering the [[Live 8]] concert. He was also producer of the second and third series of ''[[Little Britain (sketch show)|Little Britain]]''.<ref name="IMDB" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Little Britain TV Series Two|publisher=davidwalliamsfans.com|url=http://www.davidwalliams.com/LittleBritainTvHome2.htm|access-date=2007-12-18|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070409163528/http://www.davidwalliams.com/LittleBritainTvHome2.htm|archive-date=2007-04-09}}
</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Little Britain TV Series Three|publisher=davidwalliamsfans.com|url=http://www.davidwalliams.com/LittleBritainTvHome3.htm|access-date=2007-12-18|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080203202709/http://www.davidwalliams.com/LittleBritainTvHome3.htm|archive-date=2008-02-03}}
</ref>

His shows have won six [[BAFTA]] awards and been nominated for another seven.<ref>{{cite web
| title = Geoff Posner - Awards
| publisher =IMDB
| url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0692714/awards
| access-date =2007-10-11}}
</ref>

Posner formed [[Pozzitive Television]] with fellow TV producer [[David Tyler (UK)|David Tyler]] in 1992.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pozzitive.co.uk/home-page|title=Pozzitive: Welcome to Pozzitive|first=Pozzitive|last=Comedy|website=pozzitive.co.uk}}</ref>

Posner also directed the [[1998 Eurovision Song Contest]] in [[Birmingham]] and the [[Diamond Jubilee Concert|Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert]] in 2012.

He was awarded an honorary doctorate from the [[University of Essex]] in 2016.<ref name="HongradEssex2016">{{cite web|title=Graduation 2016 at the University of Essex|url=http://www.essex.ac.uk/news/event.aspx?e_id=10640|website=University of Essex|access-date=14 July 2016}}</ref>

== Television productions ==
*''Revolting Women'', director, episode one, 1981
*''[[Top of the Pops]]'', director, five episodes, 1980-1981 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b847acc1d|title=Top of the Pops[29/01/81] (1981)|website=BFI}}{{dead link|date=October 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
*''[[Not the Nine O'Clock News]]'', director, series 4, 1982<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0662519/|title=Shame|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>
*''[[Blackadder]]'', director, pilot, 1982<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2016/04/23/i-felt-spoiled-to-be-there-geoff-posner-remembers-victoria-wood/|title='I felt spoiled to be there.' Geoff Posner remembers Victoria Wood|first=Geoff|last=Posner|newspaper=The Telegraph |date=April 23, 2016|via=www.telegraph.co.uk}}</ref>
*''[[Blankety Blank]]'', director, one episode, 1982<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1990483/|title=Episode #5.1|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>
*''[[The Young Ones (TV series)|The Young Ones]]'', director, 1982<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/the-accidental-humorist-1582307.html|title=The accidental humorist|date=November 17, 1995|website=The Independent}}</ref>
*''[[Carrott's Lib]]'', director, 1982 - 1983<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt8675386/|title=The Best of Carrott's Lib|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>
*''[[The Lenny Henry Show]]'', director, 1984-1988<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/thelennyhenryshow/|title=The Lenny Henry Show|website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref>
* Madness The Pilot, director, TV short, 1984<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6925226/|title=Madness the Pilot|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>
*''Lenny Henry Tonite'', director, 1986<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/a6d4907d6c2f46439afd26398065e5f5|title=Lenny Henry Tonite|date=September 25, 1986|issue=3278|pages=76|via=BBC Genome}}</ref>
*''[[French and Saunders]]'', director, 1987-1988<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/500435/index.html|title=BFI Screenonline: French and Saunders (1987-)|website=www.screenonline.org.uk}}</ref>
*''The Robbie Coltrane Special'', director, 1989<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443621/|title=The Robbie Coltrane Special|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>
*''[[Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV]]'', director/producer, 1989<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://televisionheaven.co.uk/reviews/victoria-wood-as-seen-on-tv|title=Victoria Wood As Seen on TV|first=Steve|last=Ashfield (June 2018)|website=Television Heaven}}</ref>
*''John Sessions' Tall Tales'', director, 1991<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/d756811d2feb42c29d6e3d24d9a10b70|title=John Sessions's Tall Tales|date=September 15, 1991|issue=3534|pages=52|via=BBC Genome}}</ref>
*''[[Josie (TV series)|Josie]]'', director, 1991<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b81be3fe7|title=Josie[08/05/91] (1991)|website=BFI}}{{dead link|date=October 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
*''[[Paul Merton: The Series]]'', director, 1991<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0993414/|title=Episode #1.1|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>
*''[[Harry Enfield's Television Programme]]'', director, 1992<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7bbd24ba|title=Harry Enfield's Television Programme (1992)|website=BFI}}{{dead link|date=October 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
*''[[Victoria Wood's All Day Breakfast]]'', director, 1992<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0284621/|title=Victoria Wood's All Day Breakfast|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>
*''It's A Mad World, World, World, World'', director, 1994<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0399205/|title=It's a Mad World, World, World, World|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>
*''[[Paul Calf's Video Diary]]'', director / producer, 1994<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107794/fullcredits|title=Paul Calf's Video Diary (TV Short 1993) - IMDb|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>
*''Victoria Wood: Live In Your Own Home'', director/ producer, 1994<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7df89fe4|title=Victoria Wood: Live in Your Own Home (1994)|website=BFI}}{{dead link|date=October 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
*''A Christmas Night With the Stars'', director, 1994<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0540865/|title=Episode dated 27 December 1994|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>
*''[[Pauline Calf's Wedding Video]]'', director/ producer, 1994<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7df9c7f1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321202542/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7df9c7f1|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 21, 2019|title=Three Fights, Two Weddings and a Funeral Pauline Calf's Wedding Video (1994)|website=BFI}}</ref>
*''[[Coogan's Run]]'', director/ producer, 1995<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/coogansrun/|title=Coogan's Run|website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref>
*''[[The Tony Ferrino Phenomenon]]'', director/ producer, 1997<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/the_tony_ferrino_phenomenon/|title=The Tony Ferrino Phenomenon - BBC2 Comedy|first=British Comedy|last=Guide|website=British Comedy Guide}}</ref>
*''[[Harry Enfield and Chums]]'', director/ producer, 1997<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bbfc.co.uk/releases/new-harry-enfield-chums-video|title=The New Harry Enfield & Chums|website=bbfc.co.uk}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
*''Victoria Wood: Live'', director/ producer, 1997<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3740326/|title=Victoria Wood: Live|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>
*''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1998]]'', director, 1998<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0313385/|title=The Eurovision Song Contest|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>
*''Stephen Fry's Live From The Lighthouse'', director/ producer, 1998<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0179944/|title=Live from the Lighthouse|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>
*''Steve Coogan: The Man Who Thinks He's It'', director/ producer, 1998<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0192631/|title=Steve Coogan: The Man Who Thinks He's It|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>
*''[[Dinnerladies (TV series)|dinnerladies]]'', director/ producer, 1998-2000<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/geoff_posner/|title=Geoff Posner|first=British Comedy|last=Guide|website=British Comedy Guide}}</ref>
*''[[tLC (TV series)|tlc]]'', director/ producer, 2002<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/apr/08/broadcasting.bbc|title=TLC to inject humour into the NHS|first=Jason|last=Deans|newspaper=The Guardian |date=April 8, 2002|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref>
*''The Prince's Trust 30th Birthday: Live'', director/ producer, 2006<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0811027/|title=The Prince's Trust 30th Birthday: Live|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>
*''[[Little Britain (sketch show)|Little Britain]]'' series 2 and 3, director/ producer, 2004-2006<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0358856/fullcredits|title=Little Britain (TV Series 2003–2006) - IMDb|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>
*''[[Music Hall Meltdown]]'', director/ producer, 2007<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007gm0j|title=BBC Four - Music Hall Meltdown|website=BBC}}</ref>
*''Giles Wemmbley-Hogg Goes Off... to Glastonbury'', director/producer, 2007<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1181815/|title=Giles Wemmbley Hogg Goes Off.... to Glastonbury|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>
*''Marcus Brigstocke: Planet Corduroy'', director/producer, 2007<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1230462/|title=Marcus Brigstocke: Planet Corduroy|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>
*''[[Saturday Live Again]]'', director/ producer, 2007<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1556032/|title=Saturday Live Again!|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>
*''[[Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps]]'', 'The Aftermath', director, 2009<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1578240/|title=The Aftermath: Part 2 - Sliding Gaz|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>
*''[[Big Top (British TV series)|Big Top]]'', director/ producer, 2009<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/big_top/|title=Big Top - BBC1 Sitcom|first=British Comedy|last=Guide|website=British Comedy Guide}}</ref>
*''The Angina Monologues'', director/ producer, 2010<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2157015/|title=The Angina Monologues|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>
*''[[The One Ronnie]]'', director/ producer, 2010<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00wyj62|title=BBC One - The Ones, Series 1, The One Ronnie|website=BBC}}</ref>
*''[[Come Fly with Me (2010 TV series)|Come Fly With Me]]'', producer, 2010-2011<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1749004/fullcredits|title=Come Fly with Me (TV Series 2010–2011) - IMDb|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>
*''The One Griff Rhys Jones'', director/ producer, 2012<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2160628/|title=The One Griff Rhys Jones|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>
*''[[Catherine Tate's Nan]]'', director/ producer, 2014-2015<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5298406/|title=Catherine Tate's Nan|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>
*''Victoria Wood: From Soup to Nuts'', executive producer, 2018<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b2mrc5|title=BBC Radio 4 - Victoria Wood - From Soup to Nuts, From Soup...|website=BBC}}</ref>

== Other work ==
Posner also produced and directed a number of live events, including the Opening Ceremony of the [[London 2012 Olympic Games]], the [[Royal Wedding]] of [[Prince William]] and [[Kate Middleton]], and the [[Jubilee Gala 2013]].

== Notable awards and nominations ==

*[[Carrott's Lib]], BAFTA, Best Light Entertainment Programme - winner, 1984<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/1984/television/light-entertainment-programme|title=BAFTA Awards|website=awards.bafta.org}}</ref>
*[[Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV]], BAFTA, Best Light Entertainment Programme - winner, 1986<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/1986/television/light-entertainment-programme|title=BAFTA Awards|website=awards.bafta.org}}</ref>
*[[Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV]], BAFTA, Best Light Entertainment Programme - winner, 1987<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/1987/television/light-entertainment-programme|title=1987 Television Light Entertainment Programme | BAFTA Awards|website=awards.bafta.org}}</ref> a
*Victoria Wood on TV, BAFTA, Best Light Entertainment Programme - winner, 1988<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/1988/television/light-entertainment-programme|title=1988 Television Light Entertainment Programme | BAFTA Awards|website=awards.bafta.org}}</ref>
*[[French and Saunders]], BAFTA, Best Light Entertainment Programme - nominated, 1989<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/1989/television/light-entertainment-programme|title=1989 Television Light Entertainment Programme | BAFTA Awards|website=awards.bafta.org}}</ref>
*[[The Lenny Henry Show]], BAFTA, Best Light Entertainment Programme - nominated, 1989<ref name="auto"/>
*[[Harry Enfield's Television Programme]], BAFTA, Best Light Entertainment Programme - nominated, 1993<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/1993/television/light-entertainment-programme-or-series|title=BAFTA Awards|website=awards.bafta.org}}</ref>
*[[Pauline Calf's Wedding Video]] (as ''Three Fights, Two Weddings, and a Funeral''), BAFTA, Best Television Comedy - winner, 1995<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/1995/television/comedy-programme-or-series|title=BAFTA Awards|website=awards.bafta.org}}</ref>
*[[Dinnerladies (TV series)|dinnerladies]], BAFTA, Television Comedy - nominated, 1999<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/1999/television/comedy-programme-or-series|title=BAFTA Awards|website=awards.bafta.org}}</ref>
*[[Eurovision Song Contest]], Best Live Outside Broadcast Coverage - nominated, 1999<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/1999/television/live-outside-broadcast-coverage|title=BAFTA Awards|website=awards.bafta.org}}</ref>
*[[Dinnerladies (TV series)|dinnerladies]], BAFTA, Situation Comedy - nominated, 2000<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/2000/television/situation-comedy|title=BAFTA Awards|website=awards.bafta.org}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://catalogue.bbc.co.uk/catalogue/infax/contributor/6269 Geoff Posner at the BBC Programme Catalogue]{{Dead link|date=February 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* {{IMDb name|id=0692714|name=Geoff Posner}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Posner, Geoff}}
[[Category:1949 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:BBC television producers]]
[[Category:British television directors]]

Geoff Posner - Revision history

imported>GreenC bot: Rescued 1 archive link; Move 1 url. Wayback Medic 2.5 per WP:URLREQ#bbfc.co.uk