Death Announced Of Award-Winning Chiswick Director

Jim Goddard had a prestigious career in television and on the big screen

Chiswick resident Jim Goddard (77) who was an acclaimed director of television dramas and a BAFTA winner has died in hospital following an illness.

In his long and varied career he directed some of television’s most popular and acclaimed dramas ranging from The Bill, to Holby City and the Ruth Rendell series.

Born in London (Battersea) in 1936, he studied at the Slade School of Art and his early career he joined Euston Films (a subsidiary of Thames TV) for which he directed several crime thrillers set in London. He collaborated with writer Trevor Preston on two ground-breaking television series;Fox (1978, 13 episodes ) and Out (1980, six episodes) which pioneered a new arthouse film style for the genre.

In 1984, he was awarded a Bafta TV Award for Best Drama Series/Miniseries for television miniseries Kennedy (Martin Sheen), which achieved critical and commercial success and enormous viewing figures. He was also awarded the Desmond Davis Award for Creative Contribution to Television and an Emmy for his direction of the 1982 television adaptation of the RSC’s The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickelby.

Other awards included a CableACE (cable tv industry) award for the television adaptation of Metamorphosis in 1987 (based on the Stephen Berkoff adaptation of the Franz Kafka book). He was also nominated for a BAFTA in 1985 for Parker.

Jim Goddard also directed a number of films for television and the big screen, including Shanghai Surprise, (1986) which starred then newlyweds Sean Penn and Madonna and Lie Down With Lions (1994).

Other television directing credits included Eastenders, A Tale of Two Cities and The New Adventures of Robin Hood. He also directed The Black Stuff (1980) which went on to become the popular series, The Boys from the Black Stuff.

Jim Goddard lived for 29 years in Chiswick. Basing himself close to the river Thames, he enjoyed sailing and carpentry in his spare time.

When he retired from directing he revisited his passion for painting and was a frequent contributor to Bedford Park Festival exhibitions.

His close friend, former partner, Maddie Burdett-Coutts described him as “a larger than life character” and said he would be sorely missed.He leaves a son, George (28) and is also survived by his brother.

The funeral will take place on 9th July.

June 28, 2013