---
name: "John Black"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/john-black"
roles: ["Director"]
born: "1 January 1931"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 1
updated: "2026-09-16T18:08:59.764781+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# John Black

Director. Born 1 January 1931 in Hong Kong.

## Details

- **Work:** Director
- **Born:** 1 January 1931, Hong Kong
- **Active:** 1963–1970
- **Works often with:** Anthony Read, Carey Blyton, David Maloney, Douglas Camfield, Elizabeth Waller, Fiona Cumming

## Biography

John Black is a retired British television director. His credits include episodes of *Coronation Street* (1976–1978), *Crown Court* (1979), *Play for Today* (1977) and *The Bill* (1991).

He directed two *Doctor Who* serials: *The Keeper of Traken* (1981), the penultimate Fourth Doctor story which introduced companion Nyssa, and *Four to Doomsday* (1982), the first serial recorded with the Fifth Doctor. He also directed the *K-9 and Company* pilot *A Girl's Best Friend* (1981). Black began his directing career in the mid-1970s after working as a reporter and completing the BBC's internal directors' course.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, shannonsullivan.com, tardis.wiki.*

## On Fi1m (1)

- *Doctor Who* (1963), Fi1m 81, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/doctor-who.md)

## Also credited on (not yet reviewed)

- *Play for Today* (1970), Director

## Also known for

- *Coronation Street* (1960), Director
- *The Bill* (1984), Director

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/john-black