Harry Greene (television personality): Difference between revisions
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| known_for = UK's first television [[DIY]] expert<ref name=BBCObit/><ref name=WoLObit/> |
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| notable_works = ''Handy Round the Home'', ''Dream Home'', [[QVC UK]] |
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| influences = [[Joan Littlewood]] |
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| spouse = [[Marjie Lawrence]] <small>(1955-2010) Her death</small> |
| spouse = [[Marjie Lawrence]] <small>(1955-2010) Her death</small> |
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| partner = <!-- unmarried life partner; use ''Name (1950–present)'' --> |
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| children = [[Sarah Greene|Sarah]] |
| children = [[Sarah Greene|Sarah]], [[Laura Greene|Laura]], Robin |
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==DIY expert== |
==DIY expert== |
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At the launch of independent broadcaster [[Associated Rediffusion]], the couple starred in [[soap opera]] ''Round the Redways,'' about a couple who run a DIY store, with Greene playing an inept repair man. |
At the launch of independent broadcaster [[Associated Rediffusion]], the couple starred in [[soap opera]] ''Round the Redways,'' about a couple who run a DIY store, with Greene playing an inept repair man.<ref name=BBCObit/><ref name=WoLObit/> |
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Desperate to fill the schedules, Associated Rediffusion took up Marjie's proposal for Harry to film a DIY show based on him doing up their flat in [[Primrose Hill]], [[North London]]. First shown on 4 January 1957,<ref name=WoLObit/> ''Handy Round the Home'' emphasised practical demonstrations that viewers could copy at home, with his [[catchphrase]], “Safety first; DIY second” making him a household name.<ref name=BBCObit/><ref name=WoLObit/> |
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| ⚫ | In the 1980s Greene was employed by [[Greg Dyke]] at [[TV-AM]], devising, writing and producing ''Dream Home''. Greene persuaded the company to buy a delapidated cottage, which they then filmed him doing up and converting through construction. At the end of the project, the house was given away in a competition. He then joined the BBC's ''[[Pebble Mill at One]]'', where he built a new house from scratch with an accompanying team.<ref name=BBCObit/> |
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| ⚫ | In the 1980s Greene was employed by [[Greg Dyke]] at [[TV-AM]], devising, writing and producing ''Dream Home'', which Greene co-presented alongside his daughter [[Sarah Greene|Sarah]].<ref name=WoLObit/> Greene persuaded the company to buy a delapidated cottage, which they then filmed him doing up and converting through construction. At the end of the project, the house was given away in a competition. He then joined the BBC's ''[[Pebble Mill at One]]'', where he built a new house from scratch with an accompanying team.<ref name=BBCObit/> |
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He remained a regular on various terrestrial UK channels until the late 1990s, and then various [[satellite television]] [[home shopping]] channels, including [[QVC UK]].<ref name=BBCObit/> |
He remained a regular on various terrestrial UK channels until the late 1990s, and then various [[satellite television]] [[home shopping]] channels, including [[QVC UK]].<ref name=BBCObit/> |
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Revision as of 14:48, 13 March 2013
Harry Greene | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Education | Rhymney Grammar School |
| Alma mater | Cardiff College of Art |
| Occupation(s) | Draughtsman, Teacher, Actor, DIY expert |
| Years active | 1939-2013 |
| Known for | UK's first television DIY expert[1][2] |
| Notable work | Handy Round the Home, Dream Home, QVC UK |
| Spouse | Marjie Lawrence (1955-2010) Her death |
| Children | Sarah, Laura, Robin |
Harry Greene (November 1923 – March 2013) was a Welsh television personality, known for being the UK's first television DIY expert.[1][2]
Early life
Greene was born in Rhymney, near Caerphilly (then in Monmouthshire), to Jack Greene and his wife Una.[2] After being educated at Rhymney Grammar School, he was offered a place at Cardiff College of Art.[3] But he had to delay his study until after World War II, during which he was attached to REME as a draughtsman, working on classified tank design for the Russian front at Newport Technical College.[2]
Career
Post war, Greene took up his place at Cardiff College, then training as a draughtsman’s assistant and an architect. During this time he befriended fellow student and later Doctor Who script writer Terry Nation, who he worked together with on student productions and then working weekend with at the New Theatre, Cardiff as a stagehand.[2] This led onwards to amateur acting with the Unity Theatre company, and as a volunteer assistant at Cory Hall on Eynon Evans weekly BBC Wales radio show.
After training to become a teacher, he took up the position of Art and Drama teacher at Tredegar Grammar School.[2] Taking a class to see a performance of Uranium 235 starring Joan Littlewood, his friend and producer of Unity Theatre introduced the pair. Littlewood was looking for a young Welshman to play Shakespeare’s Owen Glendower, and Taffy in Ewan MacColl’s Paradise Street. Additionally as the owner/producer of the touring company Theatre Workshop, she also wanted someone who could build theatre sets and drive the lorry.
Greene resigned his teaching job the following day, and moved to Stratford, London to join the Theatre Workshop.[2] It was through this medium that he met his wife, actress Marjie Lawrence, whom he married in 1955.[2] Over his career, Greene starred in over 40 films, opposite actors including Sean Connery, Sir John Gielgud, Melina Mercouri, Lana Turner and Jean Seberg.[1]
DIY expert
At the launch of independent broadcaster Associated Rediffusion, the couple starred in soap opera Round the Redways, about a couple who run a DIY store, with Greene playing an inept repair man.[1][2]
Desperate to fill the schedules, Associated Rediffusion took up Marjie's proposal for Harry to film a DIY show based on him doing up their flat in Primrose Hill, North London. First shown on 4 January 1957,[2] Handy Round the Home emphasised practical demonstrations that viewers could copy at home, with his catchphrase, “Safety first; DIY second” making him a household name.[1][2]
In the 1980s Greene was employed by Greg Dyke at TV-AM, devising, writing and producing Dream Home, which Greene co-presented alongside his daughter Sarah.[2] Greene persuaded the company to buy a delapidated cottage, which they then filmed him doing up and converting through construction. At the end of the project, the house was given away in a competition. He then joined the BBC's Pebble Mill at One, where he built a new house from scratch with an accompanying team.[1]
He remained a regular on various terrestrial UK channels until the late 1990s, and then various satellite television home shopping channels, including QVC UK.[1]
Personal life
Greene and his wife had three children: actress and television presenter Sarah; television presenter Laura; and businessman Robin who runs a business in Switzerland.[4]
Greene collapsed and died a few days after returning home in March 2013 from a holiday with his daughter Sarah and her husband, fellow presenter Mike Smith.[1][2]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h "TV DIY pioneer Harry Greene dies, aged 89". BBC Wales. 13 March 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "TV's first DIY guru Harry Greene dies aged 89". WalesOnline.co.uk. 13 March 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
- ^ "Theatre Archive Project - Arts, literature and performance | British Library - Sounds". Bl.uk. 2007-09-20. Retrieved 2013-03-13.
- ^ Rik Henderson, Made by Michael (2004-02-12). "Camden New Journal". Camden New Journal. Retrieved 2013-03-13.