Derrick Sherwin

Derrick George Sherwin (16 April 1936 – 17 October 2018) was an English television producer, writer, story editor and actor. After beginning his career in the theatre, Sherwin became an actor in television before moving into writing. He became the story editor on Doctor Who and, as the producer of the series in 1969, he oversaw the transition from black-and-white to colour by producing Patrick Troughton's final story and Jon Pertwee's first. He also co-produced Paul Temple for the BBC.

Early life Sherwin began his career in the theatre and worked as a junior set designer, scenic artist, scene shifter, stage manager and lighting designer. He also spent two years of national service in the Royal Air Force. Following this, he established himself as an actor in theatre, films and television. While still working as an actor, he also began work as a freelance writer, contributing scripts to series such as Crossroads and Z-Cars.

Doctor Who In 1967, during the tenure of Patrick Troughton as the Second Doctor, Sherwin was offered a story-editing role on Doctor Who by BBC Head of Serials Shaun Sutton. He was story editor/script editor on the stories from The Web of Fear to The Mind Robber, on the latter tale writing the first episode. He also wrote the script for The Invasion, which introduced the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce (UNIT), having adapted the original storyline supplied by Kit Pedler.

In 1968–1969, Sherwin began to take a greater role in the producing side of Doctor Who, and after the serial The Mind Robber, he became the unofficial assistant producer for the next three serials, with Terrance Dicks succeeding him as script editor. On The Space Pirates, Sherwin briefly resumed his old role as script editor, while Dicks was busy writing Troughton's last story, the epic 10-part season finale The War Games with Malcolm Hulke. Dicks credited Sherwin with the creation of the Time Lords, who were introduced in The War Games.

Sherwin was involved in the casting of Jon Pertwee in the lead role on the programme, He had dismissed the actor originally cast in the part for not being able to perform the role adequately.

Sherwin was responsible for the idea of exiling the Doctor to Earth the end of The War Games, a decision he took in an attempt to improve falling viewing figures, reinvent the programme and bring more reality to Doctor Who by basing it more on Nigel Kneale's Quatermass serials from the 1950s.

Later work Sherwin left Doctor Who to once again work alongside Peter Bryant, who persuaded him to join the production of Paul Temple (1969-1971). Sherwin later produced the television series The Man Outside (1972), Skiboy (1973), and The Perils of Pendragon (1974).

Death Sherwin died on 17 October 2018 following a long illness.

Selected filmography Clue of the Silver Key (1961) Number Six (1962) The Vengeance of She (1968)

Publications Who's Next? (2014) (autobiography). Fantom Films Ltd. The Perfect Assassin or Wroten's Law (2014). (novel). United p.c.