Cyril Ornadel (b. 1924) is a British conductor, songwriter and composer chiefly in musical theatre. He studied at the Royal College of Music.

As well as being musical director for a number of major West End shows, including My Fair Lady, he composed several musicals of his own, including Pickwick (1963) (lyrics by Leslie Bricusse), starring Sir Harry Secombe, Great Expectations (1975) starring Sir John Mills, both adapted from Charles Dickens, and Treasure Island (1973) adapted from Robert Louis Stevenson and starring Sir Bernard Miles and Spike Milligan. Great Expectations and Treasure Island (both with lyrics by Hal Shaper) were designated Best British Musical at the Ivor Novello Awards. He also penned the song Portrait of My Love (lyrics by Norman Newell), a hit for Matt Monro in 1960. At My Time of Life from Great Expectations was recorded by Bing Crosby in 1976.

Cyril Ornadel's contribution to music for Television includes scores for Edward the Seventh (1975), starring Timothy West as Edward VII and the opening and closing titles of the British television science-fiction series Sapphire & Steel (1979).

External links

• Cyril Ornadel bio