Childs commenced training as a programme director with
ABC Weekend TV in 1962. He went on to produce and direct a wide variety of factual programmes and documentary films, including episodes of
This Week, the then
ITV current affairs flagship, and also contributed to the acclaimed series
The World at War. He was one of the founders of
Euston Films, the film production company established by
Thames Television in the early 1970s. Whilst there he produced
The Sweeney,
Special Branch and the
Quatermass series, together with a number of theatrical and television films, as well as writing and/or directing films and series episodes for both ITV and the
BBC. In 1984, Childs was appointed Controller of Drama at
Central Independent Television and, subsequently, Managing Director of Central Films. In this dual role, he acted as
executive producer on an extensive range of films and series for ITV. These included
Inspector Morse,
Boon The Bretts,
Soldier Soldier,
Peak Practice,
Sharpe,
Cadfael,
Chancer,
Gone to The Dogs,
Kavanagh QC and
Thief Takers. Following the acquisition of Central Television by
Carlton Communications, Childs opted to assume a freelance role. He continued to write and develop new television drama and films as an executive producer. As such, he was responsible for the series
Heat of the Sun, the
Inspector Morse episode
The Wench Is Dead, the television films
Into the Blue,
Goodnight Mister Tom and
The Waiting Time, together with a
Kavanagh QC film special, the
Monsignor Renard series, and
The Remorseful Day, the final episode of
Inspector Morse. From 2004 to 2005 he was responsible for developing
The Brief, a legal series, on which he acted as executive producer on two series. He also acted as executive producer on
Lewis, a spin-off series from
Inspector Morse. In October 2012 Ted Childs was the very special guest at a 43tv Retro TV Sweeney Meet in Twickenham, where he gave a lunchtime talk about his career in TV & Film and also answered questions from members of 43tv. ==Awards==