Michael Imison

February 09, 1935

Michael Imison (born in Hoylake, Cheshire, 9 February 1935) is a retired British television director and literary agent. He directed several productions for the BBC in the 1960s, including Doctor Who, and subsequently served as the story editor on the second series of the science-fiction anthology programme Out of the Unknown. Imison began his career at the BBC working for the Script Department. Initial successes included directing Magnificence by John Skelton at the Tower Theatre, Canonbury, in May 1963. Under contract as a director at the BBC, Imison directed Compact and a serial adaptation of Thomas Mann's Buddenbrooks. His final directorial assignment for the BBC was the Doctor Who serial The Ark (1966), which starred William Hartnell as the First Doctor. Although his contract as a staff director was not renewed following the completion of the serial, Imison remained at the BBC and acted as story editor on the second series of Out of the Unknown under producer Irene Shubik.