My father, Michael Blakstad, who has died aged 83, was a television producer and director whose credits include the popular BBC science programme Tomorrow’s World. He was also an entrepreneur and, in later life, a campaigner on behalf of people with dementia.
Born in Penang to Jill (nee McGrath) and Cliff Blakstad, an official in the Malay civil service, Michael was still a baby when the second world war struck the region. His father was captured and tortured in the Changi PoW camp; Michael was evacuated with his mother to her native Australia.
