In 2010 ATV Network welcomed back producer and director Alan Coleman to the company. Coleman was the first director on Britain's founding daily serial, Crossroads, later becoming head of Children's Drama at ATV; before moving to Australia where he over saw such shows as Neighbours and Home and Away.

Alan Coleman was born in Birmingham, England. He originally started out as an actor with the Birmingham Repertory Theatre before training as a cameraman at the Alpha Television Studios in Aston Cross, West Midlands. The studios were home to ATV Network who at that time held the ITV broadcasting licences for weekday Midlands and weekend London transmissions.

Joining ATV in the early 1960s Alan rose through the ranks and directed the first eight years of Crossroads, which was the first five-nights a-week 25-minute serial broadcast on UK television. The series was broadcast 'as-live' to tape - such was the budget - no editing facilities were available.

In 1969 he was the first person to direct from the then state-of-the-art new television studios ATV Centre in Birmimgham and in 1972 became the company's first Head of Children's Drama for ATV Network. As ATV was taking drama for children more seriously he introduced to ITV audiences classics such as Escape into Night, The Jensen Code and Kids From 47A - many of which have become cult classics on DVD in recent years.

In 1974 Alan was headhunted by Reg Grundy and flown out to Australia to help set-up and run the Grundy Organization's Drama Department. Alan was the driving force behind the medical soap The Young Doctors - he produced, directed and wrote the series - and it would go on to become the longest running drama series in Australian television history as well as the first Aussie soap to sell internationally.

While with Grundy - now Fremantle Media Australia - he produced, wrote and directed many of the shows which have in recent years become known as "soap operas". These include Australia's first teenage-aimed serial Class of 74 - and it's follow-up Class of 75, Glenview High, female inmate drama Prisoner: Cell Block H and it's male-prison spin-off, Punishment.

In the 1990s he was the Executive Producer on Neighbours during one of its more popular eras of the decade. Alan famously blew-up the original Waterhole pub in the saga. Also as Executive Producer he established Shortland Street - which was New Zealand's first-ever weeknight soap.

For the Seven Network - which also aired ATV's Crossroads - he gave his creative experience to Home and Away. In the late 1990s Alan returned to the UK and joined Thames Television - part of the same family as Grundy - to produce the Channel 5 daily saga Family Affairs.

In 2008 the legendary television producer, director and writer was named as the winner of the inaugural Lifetime Achievement accolade at the Aussie Soap Awards. The awards are held each year by online radio programme 'The Soap Show' to recognise excellence in this unique art form.

"I am absolutely thrilled to receive this award," said Coleman, "and to be recognised in this way for doing a job that I love."

After nearly 50 years in the television industry Alan continues to produce for the art he loves and also runs special workshops for people of all ages teaching them the unique skills and disciplines required to work for the film and television camera. He lives in Sydney, Australia.

"Alan has pioneered the unique art form that is five nights a week fast turn around drama," his agent Darren Gray said at the time of his Soap Show Award, "He has launched the careers of hundreds of actors and behind the scenes crew members and his productions have been enjoyed by millions of viewers around the world. I can't think of anyone more deserving of this award than Alan and I am truly delighted to see his enormous contribution to the entertainment industry recognised in this way."

To mark the 55th anniversary of Associated Television - ATV Network - launching back in 1955 as one of the first ITV companies, we're proud to have Alan Coleman back with us as the company's Honorary President. And we couldn't think of anyone more fitting for the role. Alan's contribution to ATV and global television is immeasurable.