Hazel Adair
My mother was television pioneer Hazel Adair, who created TV hits Crossroads and Compact amongst many others. She wrote the first drama to be aired on the newly launched ITV in 1955 and helped set up The Writers Guild of Great Britain, becoming the first female co-chair alongside Denis Norden later down the line. Hazel played a significant part in black history by creating some of the first regular roles for black actors on TV see Guardian article here.
My mother Hazel Adair was a pioneer of television, having created several soaps, including Sixpenny Corner which was the very first programme ever broadcast by the new commercial channel Associated Rediffusion in September 1955. It was the precursor of Coronation Street and East Enders. She also worked on Emergency Ward Ten as a scriptwriter and created with her writing partner Peter Ling the long running Compact and Crossroads. She truly did break the glass ceiling in television which was very male dominated until the latter part of the 20th century.