“… an original thinker with an amazing ability to raise dry, everyday life-situations to a bright and interesting level.”
Andy Moore, HandyFish Ltd
“… the best scriptwriter I've ever worked with.”
Magnus Carter, Mentor Ltd
ONCE UPON A TIME IN WALTHAMSTOW...
I’ve worked in communication ever since leaving Lincoln College, Oxford, in 1972. I started as a newspaper reporter on the Waltham Forest Guardian in Walthamstow, North East London, and was promoted to Chief Reporter of the Epping Gazette, in Essex, in 1975. I then spent a year on the Sheffield Morning Telegraph, followed by a spell teaching English in Germany.
Back in the UK I spent two years as a subeditor (desk writer) at the BBC World Service in London. Off to Manchester then, I worked as a reporter and producer for BBC and independent local radio and BBC regional TV.
While at the Beeb I was asked as a favour to Media Train some politicians, in other words to prepare them to be given a tough time by journalists from TV, radio and newspapers. I found this rewarding and worthwhile. I carried on doing it occasionally and over the years it’s become an important part of what I do.
Also in Manchester I developed a fun sideline as a topical songwriter and performer, producing a song every week for BBC Radio Manchester and occasionally on TV chat shows in Leeds and Newcastle. I and my future wife Pam Beddard and two others then formed a comedy group and took our song & sketch show to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. An early cast member was a then unknown young drama student called Steve Coogan…