William Brayne obituary

My friend William Brayne, who has died aged 78 after suffering from cancer, made his name as a documentary film cameraman and as a director of action-packed television drama. Bill's reputation of being able to "bring them in on time" and his eye for action caught the attention of Raymond Menmuir, producer of The Professionals, in 1978. In collaboration with the stunt arranger Peter Brayham, Bill staged numerous car chases, explosions and fistfights involving the characters of Bodie and Doyle.

Throughout the 1980s, Bill directed popular programmes such as Dempsey and Makepeace, C.A.T.S. Eyes, with Jill Gascoine as one of the team of female detectives, and Lovejoy. He also helped bring out the quirky humour of Bulman, the eccentric detective of the title played by Don Henderson, written by Murray Smith.