Biography

British television producer, noted for his frequent collaboration with writer Dennis Potter. Trodd had known Potter. since they both did national service in the Intelligence Corps (1953-55), then, later, at Oxford University. He is perhaps best known for the classic series Pennies from Heaven and The Singing Detective.

Following his national service, Trodd won a scholarship to University College, Oxford (1955-58), graduated in English and then taught at universities in west Africa. In 1965, he was invited by Roger Smith, story editor on the Wednesday Play, to become his second assistant, alongside Tony Garnett.

A founding member of the independent production unit Kestrel in 1968 and of PFH Productions a decade later.

On 11 December 2011, Trodd attended a screening of Potter's rediscovered Emergency - Ward 9, on which he worked as script editor, at the BFI Southbank in London, introducing the play and answering questions afterwards about its production and his broader working relationship with Potter and Simon Gray.

Father Benjamin Trodd was a crane driver-turned-maintenance electrician at Fawley oil refinery, mother Winifred Pitfield was a homemaker.