Roger Michell: a quiet genius still hitting his stride | Peter Bradshaw

The director's death aged 65 is a huge blow for British cinema, whose very best qualities - of wit, intelligence and subtlety - Michell exemplified

Roger Michell was the TV and movie director who had a midas touch with actors and with a particular type of English material: witty, literate, poignant and romantic. Michell was a master at directing anything on the continuum between Jane Austen and Richard Curtis, and knew what animated both.

Related: Roger Michell - a career in pictures