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Clive Syddall

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British filmmaker and journalist
Clive Syddall
Clive Syddall
BornForfar, Scotland
Alma materUniversity of Leicester and University of Oxford
Occupations
  • Filmmaker
  • Television Journalist

Clive Syddall is a British filmmaker and television journalist noted for several campaigning documentaries. He also served as a Trustee of Marie Curie Cancer Care and Communications Advisor to the British Red Cross.

Life and career

Syddall was born in Forfar, Scotland. He was educated at St Egbert's College London, followed by the University of Leicester and Wadham College, Oxford.

Syddall's television career began in 1968. First as a graduate trainee with Southern Television, then moving to the BBC as a producer and director on 24 Hours, Midweek and later BBC's flagship Panorama where he produced films from the front line in Northern Ireland, the Arab-Israeli 'Yom Kippur' war, the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and the civil war in Rhodesia.

He was the BBC’s resident producer in Washington covering the Watergate Hearings securing the first interview with Nixon White House aide, John D. Erlichman, later gaoled for his role in the scandal. Clive also persuaded President Nixon's daughter Julie and her husband David Eisenhower, grandson of the former President, to appear live on the BBC to take questions from the ordinary British public. Reported at the time as ‘unprecedented’ and ‘an astonishing coup by the BBC’.

He went on to cover the Reagan campaign in his first bid for the republican nomination and the 1976 presidential campaign between President Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter.

In 1978 he was appointed Deputy Editor of the BBC's The Money Programme and later Story Editor on Newsnight.

In 1982 he moved to New York as an independent producer, directing and producing documentaries for the BBC, Channel 4 and PBS. Films included the now cult film Gang City – the story of the ongoing gang warfare in the Olympic City of Los Angeles BBC2, A Bitter Harvest - The Killing Fields of Mindanao, an investigation into major human rights violations taking place on a plantation funded by the British taxpayer in the Philippines (Channel 4) and Eater of Men - the first rafting expedition attempting the descent of the treacherous Waghi River in New-Guinea 'the-most-dangerous white-water river run ever filmed' reported The Royal Geographic Society at the time; produced for British Academy award-winning award-winning series River Journeys (BBC / PBS). He was also involved in the development of several feature films including the Oscar winning movie The Mission (Warner Brothers).

In 1988 he was invited to become managing director of Antelope Films. Productions included Global Rivals - The History of US Soviet Rivalry, for PBS, Pasternak - for an extended South Bank Show - a dramatised documentary on Boris Pasternak, the creator of Dr Zhivago, the first co-production between the British film Industry and Soviet State Film Company Video-Film. Other productions included The Margot Fonteyn Story (Channel 4) and the Cinema Short 1867 The Execution of Maximilian winner of the New York Film Festival Gold Medal Award for best Cinematography.

In 1992 he founded Paladin Pictures Ltd, specialising in current affairs, history and music & arts programming. Productions included Dance Ballerina Dance a BBC Christmas special and Travels With My Tutu which attracted record audiences, both presented by the Royal Ballet's principal ballerina Deborah Bull, The People's Duchess - the dramatised documentary of Georgiana Duchess of Devonshire the ill-fated ancestor of Diana Princess of Wales, reviewed at the time as 'The Benchmark for all Future History Documentaries (Channel 4). Several campaign documentaries included The Last Flight of Zulu Delta 576 - an investigation into the Chinook helicopter crash over the Mull of Kintyre killing 29 of Britain's top secret service personnel (Channel 4). The film led to a Parliamentary Inquiry and a decision in 2008 by the Secretary of State for Defence to review the case finally clearing the names of the two helicopter pilots.

In 2000 he formed a joint venture with Emmy-award-winning director Bill Cran and formed Paladin Invision. Productions for international distribution included Sinatra Dark Star - a 90-minute investigation into Sinatra's connection to the Mafia, Harem – TV mini-series telling the story of three of the most powerful women in the Ottoman Empire for Channel 4 and Jihad - The Men and Ideas Behind Al-Qaeda (15) a 2-hour documentary that launched the PBS series ‘America at a Crossroads’, awarded the du Pont Columbia University Award for ‘Excellence in Journalism’ in 2008.

He was Council member of the Royal Television Society, Trustee of Marie Curie Cancer Care 1991-1994 and served as Communications advisor to the British Red Cross (1991-1994). He has also served on the judging panel of the Royal Television Society Television Journalism Awards and the US News & Documentary Emmy Awards.

Documentary Filmography

Documentary - Single Productions
Year Title Format Description Distribution Awards
2008 JIHAD - The Men and Ideas behind Al-Qaeda 1 x 2 hrs Launched the PBS series America At A Crossroads PBS Awarded the du Pont Columbia University Award for ‘Excellence in Journalism’ and an Emmy Nomination – ‘Outstanding Historical

Programme’ (2008)

2008 Sinatra - Dark Star 1 x 90 mins Sinatra's connections to Mafia leaders BBC / ZDF / A&E Grierson nomination for Best Arts Documentary
2008 An Islamic Conscience – The Aga Khan and the Ismailis 1 x 60 mins Profile of and exclusive interview with HH The Aga Khan, leader of 15m Ismaili Muslims who traces his ancestry back to the Prophet Muhammed. For broadcast, DVD &; theatrical release to coincide with the Aga Khan's Golden Jubilee
The Demonised Duchess 1 x 75 mins Wallis Simpson Duchess of Windsor. Variously labelled a spy, a Nazi, a prostitute, a dominatrix, even a man. But was she really? Channel 4
2002 Nelson's Trafalgar 1 x 90 mins Broadcast to coincide with the bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar. Channel 4
1999 The People's Duchess Dramatised documentary of the Georgiana Duchess of Devonshire the ill-fated

ancestor of Diana Princess of Wales.

Channel 4
1998 Purple Secret - In Search of Royal Madness 1 x 60 mins 60’ investigation into Porphyria and the madness of King George III and his

descendants

Channel 4
1997 The Last Flight of Zulu 567 1 x 75 mins Investigation into the Chinook helicopter crash over the Mull of Kintyre killing 29

of Britain's top secret service personnel.

Channel 4
The Assassin 1 x 50 mins Film tracking down the American born Chilean Secret Agent hired to assassinate the foes of General Pinochet BBC 1 (Inside Story)
Julia's Baby 1 x 60 mins Julia is deaf, blind, single and pregnant, who will care for Julia's Baby? Channel 4
1995 Lost in Africa 1 x 60 mins Documentary on the fight by the International Red Cross to save 100,000 children separated from their parents by the civil war in Rwanda, Channel 4
1993 An Ordinary Boy Colin and Wendy Parry, whose son Tim was killed in the Warrington IRA bombing, travel to Northern Ireland to find out the reason for Tim's murder. BBC (Panorama) New York International Film & TV Festival award 1993
1987 Command and Control – How nuclear weapons are controlled Documentary report about "Command and Control", the collection of telephones, code books, keys and triggers that is supposed to stop a nuclear war. With 50,000 nuclear weapons in the world, how is security ensured, and who decides what is to be fired - and when? Channel 4
1987 A Bitter Harvest - The killing fields of Mindanao Investigation into major human rights violations carried out on a Palm Oil Plantation in the Philippines part funded by British Taxpayers. Channel 4
1979 Ambassador Jay Profile of the Prime Minister Jim Callaghan's son-in-law as British Ambassador in Washington and the workings of the embassy. With reporter Michael Cockerell BBC (Panorama)
1977 Allahabad Speaks Investigation of how the citizens of the City of Indira Gandhi's birthplace fared under her 'state of emergency' during which civil liberties were suspended, the press censored and widespread atrocities were carried out. With presenter David Dimbleby. BBC (Panorama)
1976 Who'll Help Letcher County? 1976 Presidential Election as seen through the eyes of the BBC citizens of one of the poorest counties in America. With presenter David Dimbleby. BBC (Panorama)
Documentary - Single Production (Music & Arts)
Year Title Format Description Distribution Awards
2002 P G Woodhouse The Long Exile 1 x 75 mins TV documentary. The story of lyricist and writer P.G. Wodehouse, from his days on Broadway through to his wartime years in an internment camp in Germany which led to accusations of treachery. Including contributions from biographers Robert McCrum and David Jasen, writer John Mortimer; lyricist Tim Rice; Sir Edward Cazalet (Wodehouse's grandson); Barrie Pitt and Bob Whitby, both wartime internees with Wodehouse; Hal Cazalet (great-grandson of Wodehouse, who sings some of Wodehouse's songs) and archival interview footage of Wodehouse from 1958 and 1971. Channel 4
2001 The Real Tommy Cooper 1 x 60 mins Workaholic comic Tommy Cooper is remembered by friends and colleagues. With contributions from Barry Cryer, Michael Winner, Russ Abbot, Zena Cooper (sister-in-law), biographer Jeremy Novick, Mary Kay, his 'personal assistant' for 17 years, and colleagues from his army entertainment days. Channel 4
1997 A Death in Venice An investigation in to who or what caused the fire at Venice's much loved Fenice Opera House, completely destroyed by fire. La Fenice, with contributions from notable venetians Francesco da Mosto and Mayor Cacciari. BBC 2 (The Works)
Dance Ballerina Dance 100 years of the choreography of women, presented by the Royal Ballet's Principal Ballerina Deborah Bull for BBC2’ Dance Night BBC 2 (Dance Night)
1994 The Shearing Touch – with Melvyn Bragg 1 x 60 mins Profile of the congenitally blind pianist George Shearing, including interviews with various musicians and recordings of performances including Johnny Dankworth, Cleo Lane and Mel Tormé. LWT / RM Arts New York International Film & TV Festival Award.
1992 The Vanishing Rembrandts 1 x 50 mins Film following the Dutch Investigation into the authenticity of several Rembrandt paintings BBC & A&E
1991 1867 – The Execution of Maximilian 11’ cinema short re-enacting Edouard Manet painting a series of pictures of the execution of the Emperor Maximilian, filmed in a single take Metropolitan Museum Art on Film Project / Channel 4 (Without Walls) New York International Film & TV Festival 'Gold Medal' Award for Best Cinematography
1990 Pasternak 1 x 90 mins Marking the centenary of Pasternak's birth and the first co-production between the British film industry and the Soviet state film company Video-film LWT South Bank Show / Granada International / Video-Film
1989 The Margot Fonteyn Story 1 x 90 mins Feature-length documentary presented by Dame Margot Fonteyn with amongst others, Robert Helpman and Sir Frederick Ashton. Channel 4 / RM Arts
Documentary Series
Year Title Format Description Distribution Awards
2004 The Curse of Oil - The Pipeline 3 x 1 hour The world needs more oil but just how far are we willing to go to get it? BBC2 / PBS Cine Golden Eagle Award (2004)
2003 Harem TV drama documentary mini series . The story of the century long “Sultinate of Women” and the secret inner workings of the Harem. Channel 4
2000 Travels With My Tutu 4 part series where Principal Ballerina Deborah Bull tries her hand at Tango, Belly dancing, Hip-Hop and Breakdancing. BBC
1998 Plague Wars TV mini series presented by Tom Mangold BBC / Worldwide Winner Best Investigative Reporting / New Documentary Award, Chicago International Television Competition 1998
1990 1421 – The Year China Discovered America 1421 – The Year China Discovered America 120’. (1990) PBS / Pearson TV
BBC Documentary Series
Year Title Format Description Distribution Awards
1984 Gang City 1 x 50 mins Documentary on the ongoing gang warfare in the Olympic City of Los Angeles launching the new BBC1 series Real Lives BBC (Real Lives)
1984 'Eater of Men' 1 x 50 mins documentary on the first navigation of the Waghi river, Papua New Guinea's most treacherous white water river with explorer Christina Dodwell. For the BBC series River Journeys BBC / PBS / ABC Australia BAFTA Award for ‘Best Factual Series’
1973 Jimmy Hoffa Comes Back One of the last interviews with the notorious leader of America's largest trade union before he went mysteriously missing, presumed murdered. His body was never found BBC (Midweek)
1973 Bad Blood - The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment Documentary tracking down the survivors of a clinical study in the American South to examine the long term effects of Syphilis who were falsely told by the US Public Health Service that they were being treated for the disease BBC (Midweek)
Regine - Queen of Clubs 1 x 40 mins Documentary on the legendary singer and international night club entrepreneur BBC (Larger than life)
1975 John Bloom Goes West Documentary tracking down the controversial washing machine millionaire starting a new life in Lost Angeles BBC Midweek / BBC 1 Special
1972 Ulster Veterans – Forgotten Men ‘Harrowing documentary’ of the lives of some of the 1,000 men badly wounded fighting in Northern Ireland. BBC (Midweek)

References

  1. "Wadham College Gazette 2022" (PDF). Wadham College, Oxford. 63 PDF / 123 Gazette.
  2. "Your Chance To Question Julie Nixon". Daily Mirror. July 10, 1973. p. 3.
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  10. "Global rivals / a co-production of WNET/N.Y. and Antelope Films Ltd. in association with ORF/Austria ; executive producer, John Sharnik ; series producers, Peter Montagnon, Clive Syddall ; U.S. producer, Jaqueline Leopold ; developed by Joan Konner".
  11. "BFI - The People's Duchess". BFI.
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  15. "Paladin and Invision merge". Broadcast. October 26, 2001.
  16. Deans, Jason (2000-09-07). "Indie pair launch Apollo". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-08-18.
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  18. "Harem[25/10/2003] (2003)". BFI. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  19. "America at a Crossroads - Episode Info | WETA". weta.org. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  20. "Thanksgiving service: Sir Charles Wheeler". The Times. 2009-01-20. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2019-08-18.
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  22. "NOMINEES FOR THE 29th ANNUAL NEWS & DOCUMENTARY EMMY® AWARDS ANNOUNCED BY THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS & SCIENCES | The Emmy Awards - The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences". Archived from the original on 2019-07-23. Retrieved 2019-08-20.
  23. Olgiati, Christopher. (2005), Sinatra - Dark Star, BBC, OCLC 611149210
  24. "An Islamic Conscience: the Aga Khan and the Ismailis". www.agakhanfilm.org. Archived from the original on 2018-11-29. Retrieved 2019-08-21.
  25. "Nelson's Trafalgar (2002)". BFI. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  26. "The People's Duchess (1999)". BFI. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
  27. "Purple Secret In Search of Royal Madness (1998)". BFI. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
  28. "Christopher Olgiati". www.olgiati.com. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
  29. "Lost in Africa (1995)". BFI. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
  30. "John Bridcut - Crux Productions - Filmography". www.johnbridcut.com. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
  31. "Collections Search | BFI | British Film Institute". collections-search.bfi.org.uk. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
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  33. "Collections Search | BFI | British Film Institute". collections-search.bfi.org.uk. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
  34. "A Death in Venice (1997)". BFI. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
  35. "The Shearing Touch (1994)". BFI. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
  36. "The Vanishing Rembrandts (1992)". BFI. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
  37. "Collections Search | BFI | British Film Institute". collections-search.bfi.org.uk. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
  38. "Found in the junk". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2002-11-23. Retrieved 2019-08-20.
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