Didsbury, Martin

Mr Didsbury joined Radio New Zealand in 1972 as presenter and compiler of The Country Session. His first television job was with Country Calendar and by 1973 he had become a full-time reporter and director of the programme. In 1977 Didsbury directed Today at One, a "light" current affairs programme before moving back into programmes like Dig This and A Dog's Life. Then the Corporation offered him a chance to produce a new current affairs programme: Close Up. He took up the challenge. "I wanted to get away from the traditional current affairs show and make a programme which showed more than told. I'd always thought there was a gap in New Zealand television between current affairs and documentaries. It seemed there was a lack of fast turn around documentaries."