Famous Father
Richard's father John Creasey, who died in 1973, was the world's most prolific crime writer. After receieving 743 rejection slips he successfully published over 600 books achieving worldwide sales of over 80 million in at least 5000 different editions and 28 different languages.
Nigel Cawthorne's biography of John Creasey is well worth a read 'The King Of Crime Writers' (For even more click BOOKS)
Traineeships
Richard kick-started his career in the media with two traineeship:
Trainee Stage Manager, climbing to stage manager, at The Salisbury Repertory Theatre. Folowede by Trainee Script Editor on ITC’s 'The Baron' and 'Gideon’s Way' TV series.
Television
For most of his television career Richard worked at ITV, starting in 1965 as Unit Manager for Granada TV’s local programmes and finishing in 1995.At the same time he was Director of Special Projects at Central Independent Television and Director of Network Factual Programmes at Meridian Broadcasting. (For more information click TELEVISION).
Currently Richard is a non executive director at Spring Films, one of the UK’s most prestigious independent production companies run by André Singer and chaired by Sir Tom Shebbeare.
tve
While at Central Television Richard co-founded the Television Trust for the Environment (tve), which was set up in 1984 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and Central Independent Television. In 2015 he stepped down as chairman but still remains actively involved as emeritus chair.
Russia
Also during his time at Central Television Richard founded the East West Creative Association (EWCA), the first creative multi-media joint venture between the Soviet Union and the UK.
Ten years on EWCA split into two companies, and Richard became a Founder Director of BUR Media Group and BFC Media which, for ten years, distributed Disney and Colombia TriStar films throughout the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States).
In April 2003 BFC Media opened the first ever IMAX theatre in Moscow, Russia. Richard is now the managing director of BFC Media.
Digital
After a thrilling 30 year career in ITV Richard became a Founder and Editor-in-Chief at The Digital Village (also known as H2G2), which was formed in 1995 by a group of leading thinkers and doers from the on-line, television and literary worlds, including the late Douglas Adams, author of the 'Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy'.
In 2001 BBC Online bought the highly acclaimed h2g2 community website; Richard stayed on as the Executive Producer.
Radio
While at the BBC Richard presented his first ever radio series 'Crossing the Boundary'.
Family
Richard with Wendy his first wife had two sons Simon and Guy, and a daughter Sarah - tragically Simon died in 2004. Richard lives in Primrose Hill, London (lucky him), with his second wife, Vera who has a son, Volodia. And together they have three daughters-in-law and six grandchildren.
Adventure
Richard's Dad introduced him to a wide world of adventure and travel, when the family embarked on the 1st World Trip back in 1952. This led to the 2nd World Trip and the 'Ford London New York Overland Challenge'. Richard was team leader of this expedition, which set out from London on December 27th 1993 via the Siberian deep freeze, to a triumphant arrival at United Nations headquarters in New York on April 5th 1994. (For more information click ADVENTURES)
Richard is also an enthusiastic amateur pilot. He first got his Private Pilots License in1967.
See how Richard helped to build an 'Easy Raider' microlight for a BBC Adventure, which nearly but didn't get commissioned.
He now has a share in a Flight Design CTSW and in 2014 enjoyed getting to grips with a de Havilland DH 82 Tiger Moth at the Boultbee Flight Academy.
Last but not least
Following his television career Richard is a life member BAFTA.
As a novelist he is a member of the Crime Writers Association (CWA), and International Thriller Writers (ITW).
And in the past Richard has been a Trustee of Wildscreen and WWF UK, and a member of two Advisory Committees of the Arts Council.
