Sean O'Connor

The film is based on Rattigan's 1952 play which had previously been filmed in 1955, starring Vivien Leigh and Kenneth More.

Sean Michael O'Connor (11 February 1968) is an English producer, writer, and director working in theatre, film, television and radio.

Sean Michael O'Connor was born on 11 February 1968 and grew up in The Wirral, where he attended a grammar school, St Anselm's College, run by the Christian Brothers.

He later earned a degree in English from University College London.

Following his graduation, O'Connor successfully applied for a place on ITV's Regional Theatre Young Directors’ Scheme.

O'Connor produced the feature film version of Terence Rattigan's The Deep Blue Sea directed by Terence Davies and starring Rachel Weisz, Tom Hiddleston and Simon Russell Beale.

In the late 1990s, O'Connor worked as producer of the long-running radio drama The Archers, storylining and directing the programme.

He re-introduced several popular characters including Kenton Archer, Adam Travers-Macy and Lillian Bellamy, as well as introducing Fallon Rogers, Ed Grundy and Emma Carter.

Subsequently, he was appointed as Series Producer of Hollyoaks on Channel 4.

In 2001, O'Connor was appointed as Series Story Producer on the BBC soap opera, EastEnders.

story-lining the award-winning Kat and Zoe Slater story, the domestic violence story featuring Little Mo, and Dot Cotton's marriage to Jim Branning.

In 2005, O'Connor was appointed producer of the Channel 5 soap opera Family Affairs.

He planned to revamp the show but was told that the show would be axed.

He appointed Dominic Treadwell-Collins, his future predecessor in EastEnders as story producer and reintroduced characters Eileen Callan (Rosie Rowell) and Melanie Costello (Rebecca Hunter).

O'Connor also produced the third series of Footballers' Wives for Shed Productions as well as the re-booted version of Minder starring Shane Richie and Lex Shrapnel for TalkbackThames.

He left the show in 2005.

Diederick Santer, who introduced the Mitchell sisters whilst executive producer between 2006 and 2010, said that whilst he commended O'Connor for producing "brilliant work at The Archers", the direction he had taken EastEnders in had made it "unwatchable".

Barbara Windsor, who played the sister's on-screen aunt, described the decision to Hello magazine as "a mistake."

whilst former executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins also criticised the sisters' axing, adding that he was "really sad" to see them go.

His decision to recast original character Michelle Fowler to actress Jenna Russell was criticised by viewers, who argued that the recast "just [wasn't] working".

Produced by Camberwell Productions and Fly Films, The Deep Blue Sea was released in the UK in 2011, the centenary of Rattigan's birth.

O'Connor introduces the playtext of The Deep Blue Sea published by Nick Hern Books with notes by Dan Rebellato.

O'Connor serves as a trustee of the estate of Sir Terence Rattigan.

He was the editor of the long-running BBC radio drama, The Archers from 2013 to 2016 and the executive producer of EastEnders from 2016 to 2017.

On 5 August 2013, it was announced that O'Connor had been appointed editor of The Archers.

Of his return to the show, O'Connor commented "I'm delighted to be returning to Ambridge to work with the team in Birmingham. I'm honoured to take the reins of our national epic drama and to build on the extraordinary achievements of Vanessa Whitburn who dedicated much of her career to this unique cultural institution."

On 18 February 2016, it was announced that O'Connor would return to EastEnders after 11 years and take over from Dominic Treadwell-Collins as Executive Producer.

On his return he commented "I'm thrilled to be back in Walford and particularly delighted to work once more with many dear friends and colleagues both backstage and on screen. I loved my time working at EastEnders previously; there's nothing quite as challenging nor as rewarding."

Following this, he announced he would be stepping down from The Archers, saying "At the same time, it is a real wrench for me to leave Ambridge. The Archers is an extraordinary programme – a jewel at the heart of the BBC and in the hearts of the British public. Working on it, with the extraordinary cast, writers and production team in Birmingham has been an absolute privilege. The Archers has been a part of my life for much of my life - and though I'll be away from Borsetshire, I'll continue to listen to the villagers of Ambridge, who feel to me – as they do for millions of listeners - like family."

O'Connor's first episode as executive producer aired on 11 July 2016.

Although O'Connor's first credited episode aired in July, his own creative work was not seen onscreen until late September.

O'Connor's tenure as executive producer has generally been received as negative by viewers and former cast alike, primarily his decision to kill off sisters Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell in a swimming pool freak accident which elicited strong reactions from viewers and has been regarded as one of the "worst decisions in [soap opera] history".

In June 2017, The Sun reported that O'Connor had been axed from EastEnders for bullying cast members as well as the soap's drop in ratings, however O'Connor denied this and The Sun were ordered to pay "substantial damages".

The BBC announced that O'Connor would be leaving EastEnders on 23 June after a year in the role of executive producer.

cast members said: "I've had an amazing time at EastEnders. Working with the editorial staff, cast and crew at Elstree has been an absolute privilege".

O'Connor's final episode as Executive Producer aired on 24 November 2017.

Following his departure, former cast member Ross Kemp, who played Grant Mitchell in the soap accused O'Connor of "treating the cast badly" and "working them into the ground".

He was however defended by Samantha Womack, who despite her character being killed off [by O'Connor] said that "her heart [went] out to him and everyone struggling in the show".

As a graduate of the Regional Theatre Young Directors' Scheme, O'Connor has worked all over the UK as a theatre director.

His work has featured at Liverpool Everyman, Hornchurch, Salisbury Playhouse, Chester Gateway, Windsor, Guilford, Bath, Richmond, Chichester, Cardiff and Edinburgh.