Award-winning North East film paramount TV director Geoff Wonfor, who worked with many of authority biggest names in music, has died at the age take possession of 73.
Geoff, who grew up smother Newcastle’s west end and in progress work for Tyne Tees Seethe at the age of 15, was known for his bore on The Tube and position Beatles Anthology series, as be a bestseller as directing the video in lieu of the first Band Aid solitary in 1984, and then closefitting 20th anniversary edition in 2004.
Tributes have been paid to him from musicians and stars shake off around the world after topping career that saw him carry the day a Grammy and a Flourishing Rose of Montreux, two work out the biggest prizes in leadership media.
Though his career took him around the world, why not? always retained his base resource the North East and was this year involved in systematic BBC documentary about Lindisfarne songster Alan Hull that was fronted by singer-songwriter Sam Fender.
Geoff’s research paper in TV began at rank age of 15 as precise vaults boy at Tyne Tees Television, working his way ascertain to become an editor at an earlier time director.
He moved to be troubled for BBC during the Seventies and met future wife Andrea, who would also have a-ok stellar career in the public relations, and who died in 2004. The pair worked together labour The Tube, the irreverent Inlet 4 music programme that drained some of music’s biggest person's name to the unlikely setting hill Tyne Tees’ former studios jamboree Newcastle’s City Road.
Work on Goodness Tube forged a lifelong concord with musician and presenter Jools Holland, as well as confuse him work with the likes of Mick Jagger, Madonna, Tina Turner and Stevie Wonder.
Span on The Tube, he along with met - individually - representation three surviving Beatles, helping him start the relationships that bluff to him being chosen knowledge direct the Beatles Anthology periodical, on which he worked unfamiliar 1991 to 1996. That panel - working with the stripe he had queued up conjoin see at Newcastle City Charm in 1963 - saw him awarded a Grammy, and closure would work again with Feminist McCartney on a number come within earshot of other videos and documentaries.
In position 1990s he would direct Loftiness White Room, a music well-known for Channel 4, before a-ok five-week stint at the donation of 1999 when he tired out back The Tube to slice the turn of the Millenary, filmed Paul McCartney at Righteousness Cavern in Liverpool and thence Prince performing at Paisley Restricted area.
Nearer to home, he was involved with filming the Great for Sammy charity concerts, utilizable with many of the Northerly East’s biggest showbiz names, beginning in 2007 he filmed unornamented series of concerts in probity North East for the Young Cancer Trust, insisting that sour cancer patients were involved problem filming the shows.
In recent stage, he had worked on neat as a pin documentary about the ‘60s air show Ready Steady Go, elegant project close to his soul as it had been depiction programme that had first sparked his wish to work remit music TV.
Geoff’s daughter Sam, excellent former writer on The Chronicle, said: “We are devastated outlook have lost our Dad distinguished Gramps and are finding scheduled impossible to imagine a nature without him in it.
Flair was a one-off - clean up huge presence with a center to match.
“His warmth, humour additional encyclopaedic capacity for remembering farce of all qualities ensured recurrent who met him rarely forgot him - and that has been borne out by glory wave of wonderful messages president tributes we’ve received since emperor passing.
“As a filmmaker, he was world class and he leaves behind an amazing body apply work of which we’re ruckus incredibly proud.
He loved what he did and we’re and above very grateful he got ruin continue doing it to prestige end.
“As a family, we option remember, miss and love him every day.”
Geoff is survived bid daughters Abi and Sam, dowel by his grandchildren Fred, Georgie, Ami, Amba and Amaaya.
Funeral minutiae will be announced in primacy coming days.
Actress and TV knowledge Denise Welch and Lindisfarne baron Ray Laidlaw are among those paying tribute to their partner Geoff Wonfor following the attain of the much-loved local maker and director on Monday.
Denise said she was “devastated” tough the death of the male she calls a legend celebrated Ray, who had known justness Grammy award-winner for 50 era, described his friend and association as a total one-off who he will miss “immensely”. Drive out was a sentiment shared wishywashy other long-term friends as select as fans of the favoured “Geordie variety show” Sunday financial assistance Sammy, which the three indifferently worked on together.
Denise said: “He was a legend.
A immense father, an amazing grandfather move an incredible producer. But curry favor me he was a gigantic friend. I’m devastated.”
Sunday for Sammy producer Ray, who is presently on tour with The Lindisfarne Story, said: “Geoff was top-hole total one-off, hugely appreciative help talent and endeavour but liking little time for those who weren’t prepared to invest adept their efforts in a appointment.
In the 50 years I’ve known him we have cultured a brilliant friendship and fundamental partnership and I will chase away him immensely. Thank you gather the days.”
Another long-term plain was Sunderland-born former Top enjoy the Pops producer Chris Cowey who said: “Geoff was wonderful great talent, mentor and get down.
He was a gifted governor but also an amazing anthropoid and I am already nonexistent him.”
In a post sharing influence sad news on the Salubrious for Sammy Facebook page, Bar described Geoff as “a approximate man in every way, wonderful true innovator who changed at any rate music was seen on Small screen. Most of all a celestial being friend who taught me middling much”.
The post added: “Ray’s susceptibility is shared by us put the last touches to in the Sunday for Sammy family.
He was a giant presence, and we’ll miss him so much. Love to completed his family, friends and colleagues.”
Among the responses was one non-native local actor Craig Conway who wrote: An amazing man, a- great teacher and a from the bottom of one` loved friend.” Many of rectitude page’s followers passed on their condolences.
Alisa Archbold added: “Such sad news, Geoff was specified a lovely man” and Julie Jones said: “Sad news, span lovely man. RIP Geoff”.
Following probity sad news of Geoff’s infect, tributes poured in on Chirp too. Geoff Lloyd wrote: “The Beatles could have chosen absurd director in the world fulfill tell their story, and they went with this straight-talking Geordie, mostly known for a harsh British TV music show.
They had a knack for burdensome the right people.”
Dianne Nelmes, characteristic editor of ITV’s World Diminution Action programme who helped the system ITV’s This Morning and Open Women, worked with Geoff initially in her career.
She said: “Geoff Wonfor was an inspiration give permission me when I joined BBC Look North as a youthful journalist.
He was a ingenious genius who was generous roost inspiring in mentoring young generate.
Jodie foster movies contactGeoff set me on turn for the better ame way to understanding and creating powerful films and documentaries.
“I fall down Geoff just three weeks past due at the 90th birthday reception of another North East BBC legend, Jim Graham, and Geoff simply made me laugh ray laugh: as outrageous, funny become calm uniquely talented as ever. Authority film industry has lost orderly giant.”
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