George More O'Ferrall


Edward George More O'Ferrall was a pioneering British film and television producer and director, as well as an actor.

Biography

More O'Ferrall was born in Bristol, England. He was educated at Beaumont College in old Windsor, and the Central School of Dramatic Art. He joined Sir Phillip Ben Greet's Shakespeare company, within which he acted in the West End and directed plays and worked as a stage manager; he then joined the BBC in 1936 as one of the first theatre personalities to turn to television in Britain. He presented Picture Page, a magazine topical program, both before and after the Second World War. He also produced plays, including Clive of India, collaborating with screenwriter W.P. Lipscomb.
In 1948, he was awarded the first RTS Medal for his two-part production of Hamlet. In 1964, he was awarded the RTS Baird Medal for his outstanding contribution to television. In 1973, he was awarded the RTS Gold Medal. He worked for Anglia Television in 1959, serving as Head of Drama and then moved to ATV where he worked from 1964 until retiring in 1967.

Awards

More O'Ferrall was awarded the Baird medal for outstanding contribution to television. His television production of Hamlet was known as an 'Oscar on television'.
George More O'Ferrall's film Angels One Five was nominated for the 1953 BAFTA Award for Best Film and Best British Film. The Heart of the Matter was nominated for the 1954 BAFTA Award for Best Film and Best British Film.
He worked for the British Council in London and moved to live in Spain in 1975. He died in Ealing, London in 1982, aged 74. He left a lasting legacy and is considered one of the greats of film and television.

Selected filmography