Radio Times’ Don Smith photographs – from Doctor Who to Judi Dench

By Dominic Lobley

Published: Friday, 13 May 2022 at 12:00 am

This week, we received the very sad news that former Radio Times photographer Don Smith has died at the age of 89.

Don started freelancing at Radio Times in 1955, before becoming its first, and only, in-house photographer in 1967.

Over his long career, Don captured some of the most iconic stars and programmes in British television history, from Tony Hancock and Julie Andrews, to Monty Python, Steptoe and Son, Doctor Who, Blackadder and Dad’s Army.

While Don officially retired in 1992, he remained a regular visitor to the Radio Times offices ever since, and his pictures continued to feature on the pages of RT. He also appeared at the Radio Times Festival and literary festivals discussing his long and celebrated career.

Don was part of the fabric of Radio Times, much loved by the team past and present, and will be sadly missed, but his legacy will live on through his vast archive of images.

"Judi
Judi Dench, 1985
Radio Times/Don Smith
"Actor
Actor Peter O’Toole, 1972
Radio Times/Don Smith
"Tony
Tony Hancock, photographed on the set of Hancock’s Half-Hour, 1959
Radio Times/Don Smith
"Emma,
Emma, Sophie with their father Eric Thompson. Photographed at Gairloch in the Highlands, with Florence and Dougal from the Magic Roundabout. 1972
Radio Times/Don Smith
"Ronnie
Ronnie Barker on the set of Porridge, 1975
Radio Times/Don Smith
"Ernie
Ernie Wise, Eric Morecambe and Des O’Connor in rehearsals for the 1975 Morecambe and Wise Christmas Show
Radio Times/Don Smith
"Dalek
Dalek creator Terry Nation, 1972
Radio Times/Don Smith
"Entertainer
Children’s favourite Basil Brush, 1969
Radio Times/Don Smith
"Harry
Harry H Corbett and Wilfrid Brambell on the set of Steptoe and Son, 1970
Radio Times/Don Smith
"On
On location with Z Cars, 1967
Radio Times/Don Smith
"DJ
DJ Kenny Everett, 1967
Radio Times/Don Smith
"Singer
Singer John Denver, 1973
Radio Times/Don Smith
"Sammy
Sammy Davis Jr at Television Centre, 1963
Radio Times/Don Smith
"John
John Betjeman, date unknown
Radio Times/Don Smith
Radio Times will pay to tribute to Don in the pages of Radio Times, and here is a selection of some of his best images.

You can also read a tribute to Don from Radio Times’s co-editor Shem Law.

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