Kevin Corbishley: The light rigger behind BBC hits

Some names become famous because they’re on camera. Others matter because the show quite literally can’t be made without them. Kevin Corbishley is one of those behind-the-scenes professionals whose work only became widely discussed after viewers noticed tributes at the end of major BBC dramas and comedies.

If you first came across his name through the on-screen dedication in Ghosts, Radio Times explained why the show chose to honour him and what he contributed to the production. 

What we can verify about Kevin Corbishley

Because Kevin Corbishley worked in technical crew roles, not everything people commonly search for is publicly documented in reliable, primary sources. What is clearly supported by reputable reporting is that he worked as a light rigger on Ghosts and also worked as a rigger on Call the Midwife, and that both productions aired tributes following his death.

Radio Times reported that Ghosts included a dedication reading “In loving memory of our friend Kevin Corbishley,” and described him as a crew member who had worked on the series for several years, including as a light rigger from season 2 onward.

It also reported that Call the Midwife aired a tribute to “Kev Corbishley: 1965–2022,” and referenced an official social media reply describing him as a “dearly loved member of our crew.”

A career built in the crews, not the spotlight

In film and television, “crew” can mean hundreds of specialist roles—people whose work you feel even if you never learn their names. Kevin Corbishley’s screen credits that are commonly referenced online include Ghosts (2019), Call the Midwife (2012), and Anna Karenina (2012), among other projects.

Credit listings are not the same thing as an official biography, and they don’t confirm private life details. But they do help show the kind of productions he was associated with: long-running, high-pressure sets where reliability and safety matter as much as creativity.

When colleagues and productions publicly memorialise a crew member, it is often because that person was both technically skilled and personally respected. In Kevin Corbishley’s case, the fact that two widely watched BBC series chose to name him in tribute is a strong signal of how valued he was on set.

Kevin Corbishley and the Ghosts tribute

The Ghosts season 4 premiere aired in September 2022 and ended with a dedication to Kevin Corbishley. Radio Times reported that he “had worked as a light rigger” on the show since season 2 and that he died early in filming for that run of episodes.

That context matters for viewers in the UK and the US who may not know how close-knit TV crews can be. On long productions, the technical team isn’t a rotating background—many people return season after season, building routines and trust. A dedication placed before the end credits is the kind of message productions use when the loss is personal and felt across departments, not just a formal credit note.

The tribute also highlights something audiences don’t always consider: comedy still relies on precision craft. Ghosts balances bright humour with eerie atmosphere, and lighting plays a huge role in making that blend feel natural rather than staged. Even if viewers don’t consciously think “light rigger,” they feel the impact of that work in every scene.

Kevin Corbishley and Call the Midwife

Radio Times also reported that Kevin Corbishley worked as a rigger on Call the Midwife, and that the show included a tribute message in its season 11 finale, which aired in February 2022.

Call the Midwife is especially demanding in visual terms: it often aims for a warm, period-authentic look while filming scenes that move between intimate rooms, busy streets, and emotionally intense moments. That visual consistency depends on teams who can rig and support lighting safely and quickly—often under time pressure, often in locations where space is tight.

The reported tribute—naming “Kev Corbishley” alongside the dates 1965–2022—also indicates the production’s intention to recognise him as part of its extended family, not simply as a credit line.

What a light rigger does, and why it’s high-trust work

A “light rigger” is commonly understood as a specialist who helps install, secure, and manage lighting equipment so that shooting can happen safely and the director of photography’s plan can be executed. In high-end TV, lighting technicians work under the gaffer and coordinate with other senior crew, setting up and operating equipment and handling power needs on set.

ScreenSkills (a respected UK industry body for screen-sector training and careers) notes that the role involves not only operating lighting but also wiring, testing, fault finding, and rigging equipment—work that carries real risk if done poorly, which is why competence and safety practice are central to the job. 

This helps explain why colleagues value great riggers so deeply. On set, lighting isn’t just a “look”—it’s heavy equipment overhead, electrical power distribution, safe cable runs, and constant adjustments while multiple departments move around the same space. The best technicians are trusted because they protect people while protecting the shot.

Why on-screen tributes to crew members matter

Viewers in both the UK and the USA are increasingly curious about the names they see in memorial cards at the end of episodes. That curiosity is healthy: it reminds the industry and the audience that screen storytelling is a collective achievement.

In the case of Kevin Corbishley, the reported tributes function as a public thank-you from productions that millions watch, turning a private loss into a moment of recognition.

It also gently corrects a common misconception about fame and impact. Many of the most consequential careers in entertainment belong to people who never do interviews, never walk red carpets, and still help create the scenes audiences remember for years. When a production pauses to honour someone, it’s often because their everyday presence—skill, calm, humour, teamwork—was essential to getting the work done.

Legacy and the best way to talk about it responsibly

A lot of online writing about Kevin Corbishley expands into personal claims that are hard to verify. For a responsible biography, it’s better to stick to what reputable sources clearly support: his association with major productions, his technical role, and the fact that he was publicly mourned by the teams he worked with.

From that verified foundation, the legacy becomes clear without exaggeration. Kevin Corbishley represents the standard of professionalism that keeps sets running: people who do difficult, physical, safety-critical work so that performers can perform, and so that stories can look and feel the way they’re meant to.

In a world that often spotlights only the visible, the tributes to Kevin Corbishley made many viewers pause and appreciate the craft underneath the craft—an impact that will last long after a single episode ends.

Conclusion

Kevin Corbishley may not have been a household name during his lifetime, but the respect shown through tributes on Ghosts and Call the Midwife offers a rare window into how much a skilled crew member can mean to a production. Based on reputable reporting, he was a light rigger and rigger who helped deliver beloved television—proof that the people who shape what we watch are often the ones we never see.

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