He went on to produce and direct a wide variety of factual programmes and documentary films, including episodes of This Week, the then ITV current affairs flagship, and also contributed to the acclaimed series The World at War.
In this dual role, he acted as executive producer on an extensive range of films and series for ITV.
Following the acquisition of Central Television by Carlton Communications, Childs opted to assume a freelance role.
As such, he was responsible for the series Heat of the Sun, the Inspector Morse episode The Wench Is Dead, the television films Into the Blue, Goodnight Mister Tom and The Waiting Time, together with a Kavanagh QC film special, the Monsignor Renard series, and The Remorseful Day, the final episode of Inspector Morse.
In the same year he was awarded the RTS Baird Medal for outstanding contribution to British regional television.