Ron Grainer

1922–1981 · Atherton Tableland, Queensland, Australia

Biography

Ron Grainer (1922–1981) was an Australian composer who spent most of his career in the United Kingdom, writing music for television, film and theatre. He composed the themes for Doctor Who, Steptoe and Son, The Prisoner and Tales of the Unexpected, and also scored films including To Sir, with Love and The Omega Man. His work earned several Ivor Novello Award nominations and wins, including awards for Maigret and Steptoe and Son.

Sound 63

2020s

2025
Doctor Who: Wish World & The Reality War
Main Title Theme Composer
2024
Doctor Who at the Proms
Music
Doctor Who: The Legend of Ruby Sunday & Empire of Death
Main Title Theme Composer
Doctor Who
Main Title Theme Composer
62

2010s

2013
Doctor Who at the Proms
Music
2010
Doctor Who at the Proms
Music

2000s

2005
Doctor Who
Main Title Theme Composer
82

1990s

1996
Doctor Who
Main Title Theme Composer
63

1980s

1981
It Takes a Worried Man
Original Music Composer
1980
Never Never Land
Original Music Composer
Flickers
Original Music Composer

1970s

1979
Roald Dahl’s Tales of the Unexpected: The Landlady
Music
Malice Aforethought
Original Music Composer
Rebecca
Original Music Composer
1978
Edward and Mrs Simpson
Music
Edward & Mrs. Simpson
Music
1976
The Bawdy Adventures of Tom Jones
Original Music Composer
I Don't Want to Be Born
Conductor, Original Music Composer
45
One Away
Original Music Composer
1974
South Riding
Music
South Riding
Original Music Composer
Mousey
Original Music Composer
1973
Yellow Dog
Original Music Composer
And No One Could Save Her
Original Music Composer
1972
Mutiny on the Buses
Original Music Composer
Steptoe & Son
Original Music Composer
The Eyes of Charles Sand
Original Music Composer
1971
Thief
Original Music Composer, Conductor
The Omega Man
Original Music Composer
62
1970
Hoffman
Original Music Composer
Doctor Who: Inferno
Music Arranger
For the Love of Ada
Original Music Composer

1960s

1969
In Search of Gregory
Original Music Composer
Destiny of a Spy
Original Music Composer
Lock Up Your Daughters
Original Music Composer
The Assassination Bureau
Original Music Composer
67
Maigret at Bay
Music
Before Winter Comes
Original Music Composer
1968
Only When I Larf
Original Music Composer
1967
Boy Meets Girl
Original Music Composer
To Sir, with Love
Original Music Composer
74
1965
The Legend of Young Dick Turpin
Original Music Composer
The Mood Man
Music Arranger
1964
The Moon-Spinners
Original Music Composer
63
Night Must Fall
Original Music Composer
Nothing But the Best
Original Music Composer
Doctor Who: The Edge of Destruction
Music
The Caretaker
Original Music Composer
1963
Doctor Who
Main Title Theme Composer
83
The Running Man
Main Title Theme Composer
The Home-Made Car
Music
We Joined the Navy
Original Music Composer
The Mouse on the Moon
Original Music Composer
Station Six-Sahara
Original Music Composer
The King's Breakfast
Music
1962
The Dock Brief
Original Music Composer
Live Now - Pay Later
Original Music Composer, Conductor
Some People
Original Music Composer
A Kind of Loving
Original Music Composer, Conductor
Oliver Twist
Original Music Composer
Steptoe and Son
Original Music Composer
78
1961
Terminus
Original Music Composer, Conductor
1960
Maigret
Original Music Composer, Music
76