Raymond William Butt (25 June 1935 – 12 July 2013) was a British television producer and director. He worked on several sitcoms for BBC Television, the series with the highest profile being Only Fools and Horses.[1]
Life[]
Butt grew up in London as an only child with his mother and father. He left school at 16 and served national service in the Royal Air Force.
He produced Only Fools and Horses until Series 5, directing most episodes himself, when he moved onto new projects. He also worked on Last of the Summer Wine and Are You Being Served?. Butt directed the 1976 two-part episode from Last of the Summer Wine's third series consisting of the episodes, "The Great Boarding House Bathroom Caper" and "Cheering up Gordon."[2][3] Butt would also serve as primary producer for Are You Being Served? between 1975 and 1977.[4] He frequently collaborated with writer John Sullivan, directing for four different series written by Sullivan.
Butt retired in 1989. He received two BAFTAs, one for Only Fools and Horses and one for Just Good Friends. He died on 12 July 2013 and was survived by his partner, Jo Blyth, and a daughter from an earlier marriage.[5][6][1]
Are You Being Served? Episodes directed by Ray Butt[]
- Shoulder to Shoulder
- New Look
- Christmas Crackers
- No Sale
- Top Hat and Tails
- Forward Mr. Grainger
- Fire Practice
- Fifty Years On
- Oh What a Tangled Web
- The Father Christmas Affair
- Mrs. Slocombe Expects
- A Change Is as Good as a Rest
- Founder's Day
- The Old Order Changes
- Take-Over
- Goodbye Mr. Grainger
Sources[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ray Butt: Television producer best known as the guiding force of 'Only Fools and Horses' 18 July 2013. The Independent
- ↑ The Great Boarding-House Bathroom Caper (Last of the Summer Wine: Roy Clarke (writer) & Ray Butt (director) - BBC One Season 3 Episode 3. 10 November 1976)
- ↑ Cheering Up Gordon (Last of the Summer Wine: Roy Clarke (writer) & Ray Butt (director) - BBC One Season 3 Episode 4. 17 November 1976)
- ↑ Are You Being Served? (BBC Guide to Comedy)
- ↑ Obituary: Ray Butt, telegraph.co.uk, 16 July 2013
- ↑ Only Fools and Horses tribute at Ray Butt's funeral - 29 July 2013. BBC News