Michael Imison
Michael Imison is a retired British television director and literary agent. He directed several productions for the BBC in the 1960s, including Doctor Who, and subsequently served as the story editor on the second series of the science-fiction anthology programme Out of the Unknown.
Early life and education
Imison attended Exeter College at the University of Oxford. During the 1950s, he served as a cadet in the national service.BBC career
Imison began his career at the BBC working for the Script Department. Initial successes included directing Magnyfcence by John Skelton at the Tower Theatre, Canonbury in May 1963. Under contract as a director at the BBC, Imison directed Compact and a serial adaptation of Thomas Mann's Buddenbrooks.His final directorial assignment for the BBC was the Doctor Who serial The Ark, which starred William Hartnell as the First Doctor. Although his contract as a staff director was not renewed following the completion of the serial, Imison remained at the BBC and acted as story editor on the second series of Out of the Unknown under producer Irene Shubik.
Literary agent
Later in his career, Imison became a literary agent. His company represented Noël Coward and Terence Rattigan, among many other playwrights. He also helped previously unknown dramatists such as David Edgar and Bernard Pomerance to international success. It has now been incorporated into Alan Brodie Representation Ltd.From 1976 until 1982, Imision represented playwright Mary O'Malley. In July 1978, the pair were involved in a car crash, hitting a lamppost. O'Malley, in the passenger seat, received a devastating injury to her right arm, resulting in an ununited fracture that took four years to unite, affecting her writing career for two years. Seven years after the accident, she sued her former agent for damages and was awarded £55,000 in costs. Imison admitted liability but contested the amount of damages.