Profile of Ron Grainer on Famous Like Me

Ron Grainer (August 11, 1922 in Atherton, Queensland - February 21, 1981), Australian born composer who worked for most of his professional career in the United Kingdom. He is mostly remembered for his film and television music.

Grainer collaborated with the BBC Radiophonic Workshop on a number of television series themes, including Giants of Steam (a documentary about railways) and, most famously, the science fiction series Doctor Who. Grainer was so impressed with Delia Derbyshire's realisation of his score (which remained the standard version of the Doctor Who theme for over a decade) that he offered to split his royalty with her, but this was prevented by BBC bureaucracy. Another famous Grainer-composed theme was for the series The Prisoner, which was based upon an earlier piece of music Grainer had written entitled "The Age of Elegance".

Perhaps one of his most eclectic film works was the music to The Omega Man, based upon the book I am Legend by Richard Matheson and starring Charlton Heston. The soundtrack was not released on CD until a few years ago in a limited run of 3000 copies through FilmScoreMonthly. Copies appear on eBay from time to time, but it is now considered a rarity. The music contains a mix of symphonic, jazz, avantguarde and electronic music.

Television credits

• Doctor Who
• Maigret
• Steptoe and Son
• Tales of the Unexpected
• The Prisoner
• That Was The Week That Was
• Paul Temple
• Man in a Suitcase (also used on TFI Friday)
• and many more

Film credits

• A Kind of Loving
• The Mouse on the Moon (1963)
• The Omega Man
• Only When I Larf
• To Sir, with Love
• and many more

Stage credits

• 1964 - Robert and Elizabeth
• 1966 - On The Level
• 1970 - Sing A Rude Song

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