- Born
- Nickname
- The Pope of Soap
- Matthew Robinson is a British-Cambodian television director and producer who, since 1966, has worked on a wide range of productions including drama series, plays, science-fiction, soaps and children's television. He was brought up in Huntingdon and, after graduating from King's College, Cambridge University with a degree in Economics, became a researcher for ATV (Associated Television). He then moved to BBC TV working on current affairs programmes such as The Money Programme (1966) and Nationwide (1969). He would progress to establishing himself as a prolific director of drama series and soap operas. His work on Coronation Street (1960), Emmerdale Farm (1972), Brookside (1982), Howards' Way (1985) and EastEnders (1985), as well as writing episodes of Crossroads (1964), earned him the tabloid nickname "The Pope of Soap".
After a number of years of directing drama productions, plays and soaps, he then tried his hand at directing science-fiction when John Nathan-Turner appointed him to direct both Daleks and Cybermen in Doctor Who (1963). Robinson directed the notoriously difficult to direct Daleks in Resurrection of the Daleks: Part One (1984), starring Peter Davison as the Doctor, and then a year later he returned to direct a new Doctor, Colin Baker, in Attack of the Cybermen: Part One (1985). Although science-fiction was not an area Robinson had previous experience in, these episodes proved nevertheless successful, with Robinson helping to bring enough visual style, tension, drama and pace to make them a couple of the most exciting adventures from that period of the series. On the strength of these it was hoped that he would return to direct a third adventure, "The Nightmare Fair", but this story was cancelled before going into production.
Robinson was an influential figure in the early days of the BBC soap EastEnders (1985), working closely with the show's creator, Julia Smith, in the casting of the actors from the outset and directing the early episodes. Robinson also brought Leslie Grantham to the series, an actor he had previously worked with on Doctor Who (1963).
By the end of the 1980s, Robinson began to concentrate on producing rather than directing. He had a great success with the long-running children's drama Byker Grove (1989), a series which aimed to bring important issues to the attention of its young audience. After Byker Grove (1989), Robinson returned to EastEnders (1985) to become executive producer from 1998 until 2000. In 2000 he became Head of Drama for BBC Wales, helping to establish its reputation as the BBC's new home for its drama programmes.
Never afraid of a fresh challenge, after three years at BBC Wales he brought his enormous experience in British television to tackling the social problems of Cambodia with the series Taste of Life (2004). Made by the BBC World Service Trust, the series attempted to provide important health messages, particularly regarding issues such as HIV/AIDS, but doing it with entertaining stories that would engage the audience. It is estimated that more than half the population watched the series.
Following his success with Taste of Life (2004), Robinson stayed in Cambodia and in 2006 established his own film and TV production company, KMF (Khmer Mekong Films). KMF has since produced hundreds of hours of TV drama for local channels, and 10 feature films in the Khmer language.
In 2020, on the recommendation of Cambodia's Minister of Culture, Robinson was awarded Cambodian Citizenship by Prime Minister Samdach Hun Sen.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Anonymous
- He was scheduled to direct a third Doctor Who (1963) story, "The Nightmare Fair", written by the series' former producer Graham Williams, which was to have been broadcast in January 1986 as the opening story of the 23rd Season. The serial was never made because Michael Grade put Doctor Who (1963) on hiatus and it returned in September 1986 with a different set of stories.
- He is the older brother of the singer-songwriter Tom Robinson. Like his brother, he is also a musician. He plays keyboards and was credited by Colin Baker as teaching him how to play the opening chords of Johann Sebastian Bach's "Toccata and Fugue in D minor" for a scene in Attack of the Cybermen: Part One (1985).
- As lead director at the beginning of EastEnders (1985), he brought actor Leslie Grantham to the attention of producer Julia Smith, thus launching Grantham to stardom. As the producer of Byker Grove (1989), he launched the careers of Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, who have gone on to become British television's most popular light entertainment double act. He has also been acknowledged as "my key godfather" by internationally renowned film director Tom Hooper for giving him his break into television directing.
- A strong supporter of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, he once lost a BBC TV directing job after the producer of a prestigious drama series heard that he had enthusiastically celebrated Thatcher's 1987 General Election victory. He is also a self-proclaimed 'climate change' sceptic and avoids films on the subject for his Cambodian company KMF (Khmer Mekong Films).
- [on his move to Cambodia] After 37 years hacking at Britain's TV coal face, I relished the chance to combine my acquired creative skills with teaching a public service project in a faraway country of which I knew little.
- I don't care if you're in Alaska, China or Tasmania - people like good stories with a beginning, middle and end.
- Quality writing is necessary in order to create original drama.
- If the TV companies want to create original drama, they need to be prepared to pay writers to produce the drama.
- To be a good writer we do not spend only a few days, a professional writer doesn't do anything besides writing.
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