Jack Kine Pioneer of television special effects has died at the age of 83 This is taken from an obituary in The Independent:

Jack Kine was a true pioneer of television. As the co-founder in 1954 of the BBC Visual Effects Department along with Bernard Wilkie, he worked on many landmark productions, inventing techniques that stood the burgeoning industry in good stead for decades to come.

Their baptism of fire was 'Running Wild' with Morecambe and Wise in 1954, quickly followed by Rudolph Cartier's epic production '1984'. They learnt fast and quickly: on 'Quatermass II' (1955) the amorphous monster was hurriedly put together after Cartier finished one morning session with the announcement that "after lunch we shoot the creature".

Although shows were predominantly live, some pre-filming was allowed for 'Quatermass and the Pit' (1958/59), for which Kine designed the hideously plausible Martian creatures.

Their remit covered every genre including comedy (Dad's Army, Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em), drama (Z-Cars, Maigret) and education (Blue Peter and Tomorrow's World). They weren't backroom boffins, but an integral part of the studio team, establishing a rapport with cast and crew alike.

The television Visual Effects Department became the biggest of its kind in the world, with a bevy of talented designers blowing things up with aplomb. BBC bureaucracy would not allow joint heads of department, so Kine became the titular chief, assuming a more administrative role, whilst Wilkie continued on the workshop floor.

He was great company, full of stories and proud of his work without being arrogant.

This is taken from the Bucks Herald, January 25, 2005:

Tributes to special effects pioneer

One of the pioneers of special effects in television has died at his home in Worminghall, at the age of 83.

Jack Kine, of The Avenue, joined the BBC in 1938 at Alexandra Palace after he was born just a stone's throw away from the Corporation's original headquarters, although he was only to spend one year there before he served in the Second World War.

Mr Kine returned in 1947 to try to pick up where he had left off.

Speaking to The Bucks Herald in February last year, he described what life was like in the early days of television.

He said: "The whole thing was purely experimental to begin with and only three programmes were being broadcast a week. I started as a scenic artist painting background on canvas and worked in a small independent unit run by an engineer. But the job grew as television became more demanding."

Mr Kine had to begin to think about incorporating effects such as smoke, cobwebs, fire and explosions and together with partner, Bernard Wilkie, approached BBC bosses to ask if they could create a special effects unit.

The pair's big break came with the series Great Expectations and Miss Haversham's famous wedding breakfast scene.

Over the years he worked with famous names including Morecambe and Wise, and Peter Cook and Dudley Moore.  But his proudest achievement was the creation of science fiction's most infamous villains – The Daleks.

Mr Kine also produced the original Tardis.

He revealed what the Daleks were based on.  Mr Kine explained: "The designer of the show took us to see a performance by Russian dancers. Men in black leather came on in points to do a sabre dance before women wearing huge skirts came on. They had to bend their knees so it looked as though they were gliding across the stage – they are the Daleks."

Mr Kine, who was writing his autobiography at the time of his death, leaves two daughters and three grandchildren.