We use cookies to help us understand how you use our site, and make your experience better. To find out more read our privacy policy.
Profile image for John Lye

John Lye

Director, Producer

A meticulous, unflappable producer and director, John Lye’s career spanned three decades – most of it spent with TVNZ in Christchurch and Avalon. Lye did time as a cameraman and floor manager. Later he commanded two major productions of the 1980s — That’s Country and McPhail and Gadsby. After leaving TVNZ in 2000, he helped launch Big Brother Australia and live broadcasts of New Zealand Parliament.

He was the only person I fully trusted with transforming a script into a finished sketch… I had complete faith in John’s judgement. If the plants needed light, then let there be light and if John said a sketch wasn’t working, we knew it wasn’t working. David McPhail, on page 170 of his autobiography The Years Before My Death

Thumbnail image for RNZ Interview: That's Country - Suzanne Prentice & John Lye
Interview

RNZ Interview: That's Country - Suzanne Prentice & John Lye

Interview, 2022

Thumbnail image for Frontseat - Series Two, Episode 10

Frontseat - Series Two, Episode 10

2006, Studio Director - Television

Thumbnail image for Frontseat - Series One, Episode 14

Frontseat - Series One, Episode 14

2004, Studio Director - Television

Thumbnail image for Good Morning

Good Morning

1996, Director - Television

Thumbnail image for Pathways - Pilot Episode

Pathways - Pilot Episode

1994, Producer - Short Film

Thumbnail image for Dilemmas

Dilemmas

1993 - 1994, Director - Television

Thumbnail image for Dilemmas - 12 November 1993

Dilemmas - 12 November 1993

1993, Director - Television

Thumbnail image for Dilemmas - 3 December 1993

Dilemmas - 3 December 1993

1993, Director - Television

Thumbnail image for The Krypton Factor (1991) - Episode Seven

The Krypton Factor (1991) - Episode Seven

1991, Director - Television

Thumbnail image for Visual Symphonies - The Outback

Visual Symphonies - The Outback

1991, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for This is Your Life - Johnny Checketts

This is Your Life - Johnny Checketts

1990, Director, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Sale of the Century

Sale of the Century

1989 - 1992, Director - Television

Thumbnail image for The Krypton Factor

The Krypton Factor

1988 - 1991, Producer, Director - Television

Thumbnail image for Rabbiters Rest - Dust to Dust

Rabbiters Rest - Dust to Dust

1985, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for McPhail & Gadsby - Best of Series Five

McPhail & Gadsby - Best of Series Five

1983, Director, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for That's Country - 20 March 1982

That's Country - 20 March 1982

1982, Producer, Director - Television

Thumbnail image for On the Mat - 17 March 1981

On the Mat - 17 March 1981

1981, Director - Television

Thumbnail image for McPhail & Gadsby

McPhail & Gadsby

1980 - 1987, 1998, Director, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for That's Country

That's Country

1981 - 1984, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for McPhail & Gadsby - First Episode

McPhail & Gadsby - First Episode

1980, Director, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for On the Mat - 29 July 1980

On the Mat - 29 July 1980

1980, Director - Television

Thumbnail image for That Look in Your Eyes

That Look in Your Eyes

1979, Director - Music video

Thumbnail image for Be Mine Tonight

Be Mine Tonight

1979, Director - Music video

Thumbnail image for Telethon

Telethon

1976, Director, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for On the Mat

On the Mat

1980 - 1983, Director - Television

Thumbnail image for Romper Room

Romper Room

1978 - 1979, Producer, Director - Television

Thumbnail image for Town and Around

Town and Around

1970, Director (Christchurch) - Television