Born: 31st January 1918 (as John Angus Basil Crockett)
Died: 11th October 1986 (aged 68 years)
Episodes Broadcast: 1964

A director, producer, designer, writer, actor, artist and dancer, Hampshire-born John Crockett studied art at Goldsmiths College, then focussed on theatre design at the Slade School of Fine Art. In 1940, he married Anne Stern, whom he had met when he visited her dance company. The Crocketts spent much of the decade running the Compass Players, which sought to bring classic theatre such as Dr Faustus to overlooked audiences in small communities. Crockett also provided art therapy to psychologically troubled youth.

Crockett went on to direct and design for a number of theatre companies throughout the Fifties. His first taste of television was as producer and designer on People Of Nowhere in 1961. He then divided his time between the stage (where he co-founded the Ikon Theatre Company) and the small screen. After directing episodes of the anthology Suspense, Crockett was recruited to Doctor Who, first on a single episode of Marco Polo, and then handling the entirety of The Aztecs. In between, an invigorated Crockett submitted a number of ideas for historical stories to the Doctor Who production office.

Crockett then directed several episodes of Compact before leaving television. He also taught art and drama at a Somerset secondary school. Crockett died on October 11th, 1986.