Verity Lambert, the first producer of Doctor Who, has died at the age of 71.  Ms. Lambert was an important figure in British television history, being the youngest producer and only female drama producer at the BBC when she launched the Doctor Who show at age 27. (As a nod, the Doctor said his mother's name was Verity in the episode "Human Nature.")

Her career in the BBC was long and varied, and in 1985, she formed her own production company, "Cinema Verity." Two of her productions have been voted in the top five of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes of the 20th century. Her personal awards include an O.B.E, the Alan Clarke Award for Outstanding Contribution to Television, and (now to be given posthumously) this year's Lifetime Achievement Award from Women in Film and Television.  

Current Who producer Russell T. Davis is quoted as saying "There are a hundred people in Cardiff working on Doctor Who and millions of viewers, in particular many children, who love the programme that Verity helped create. This is her legacy and we will never forget that."