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Matthew Robinson is a British-Cambodian television director and producer who has been active since 1966, working across a variety of genres including drama series, plays, science fiction, soaps, and children's television. Raised in Huntingdon, he graduated from King's College, Cambridge University with a degree in Economics before starting his career as a researcher for ATV (Associated Television). He later joined BBC TV, contributing to current affairs shows such as The Money Programme (1966) and Nationwide (1969). Robinson established himself as a prolific director of drama series and soap operas, with credits including Coronation Street (1960), Emmerdale Farm (1972), Brookside (1982), Howards' Way (1985), and EastEnders (1985). He also wrote episodes for Crossroads (1964), earning the tabloid nickname "The Pope of Soap."
After years directing drama, plays, and soaps, Robinson ventured into science fiction when John Nathan-Turner appointed him to direct Daleks and Cybermen episodes of Doctor Who (1963). He directed the challenging Resurrection of the Daleks: Part One (1984), featuring Peter Davison as the Doctor, and the following year directed Colin Baker’s debut in Attack of the Cybermen: Part One (1985). Despite limited prior experience in science fiction, Robinson brought visual flair, tension, drama, and pace to these episodes, making them among the most exciting adventures of that era. Plans for him to direct a third story, "The Nightmare Fair," were halted when the project was cancelled before production.
Robinson played a key role in the early development of the BBC soap EastEnders (1985), collaborating closely with creator Julia Smith on casting and directing the initial episodes. He also introduced Leslie Grantham to the series, an actor he had previously worked with on Doctor Who (1963).
By the late 1980s, Robinson shifted his focus from directing to producing, achieving notable success with the long-running children’s drama Byker Grove (1989), which addressed significant issues for its young audience. He later returned to EastEnders (1985) as executive producer from 1998 to 2000. In 2000, he became Head of Drama at BBC Wales, helping to build its reputation as a key center for BBC drama production.
Embracing new challenges, after three years at BBC Wales Robinson applied his extensive British television experience to address social issues in Cambodia through the series Taste of Life (2004). Produced by the BBC World Service Trust, the series combined important health messages, especially about HIV/AIDS, with engaging storytelling, reaching an estimated audience of over half the population.
Following the success of Taste of Life (2004), Robinson remained in Cambodia and founded his own film and TV production company, KMF (Khmer Mekong Films), in 2006. Since then, KMF has produced hundreds of hours of TV drama for local channels and ten feature films in the Khmer language.
In 2020, upon recommendation from Cambodia's Minister of Culture, Robinson was granted Cambodian citizenship by Prime Minister Samdach Hun Sen.
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