My friend and colleague John Bruce, who has died aged 88, was a director of television drama with a flair for bringing literary and historical works to the screen. He had International Emmy nominations for The Reason of Things (1981), and for The Woman in White (1982), a beautifully recreated five-part adaptation of the Wilkie Collins novel, with Ian Richardson, Jenny Seagrove and Diana Quick perfectly cast.
Later came Parnell & the Englishwoman (1991), Hugh Leonard’s dramatisation of the affair that brought about the downfall of the Irish nationalist politician, starring Trevor Eve and Francesca Annis. John admirably combined political intrigue and romantic passion with lush rolling fields, country manors and period costume.
