Danny Brocklehurst
Encyclopedia
Danny Brocklehurst is a BAFTA and International Emmy -winning English
screenwriter
. Brocklehurst worked as a journalist
for several years (as a freelancer for The Guardian
, City Life
and Manchester Evening News
and senior feature writer for The Big Issue
) before becoming a full-time screenwriter.
He has written acclaimed television drama series including the BAFTA
-winning Clocking Off
, Shameless and The Street
; International Emmy winner Accused
, comedy-drama Linda Green
; the critically lauded serials Exile
and The Stretford Wives
and 2006 BBC One hit Sorted
. He has been nominated for both BAFTA and Royal Television Society
writing awards.
, as well as the acclaimed two part BBC film The Stretford Wives
, which was shot by director Peter Webber
.
With Shameless, Danny won a BAFTA for series one, co-wrote series two with Paul Abbott
and became lead writer on series three. He left prior to the fourth series.
His self created series, Sorted, the BBC's high profile postal drama, starring Hugo Speer
, achieved 5 million viewers in the summer of 2006 and was the only drama that year to grow week on week in the ratings. Despite this; and the largely good critical response; the then controller Jane Tranter did not recommission the show.
In 2007, Brocklehurst wrote a film about the Fathers4Justice campaign for producers Harbour Pictures. Whilst, his Company Pictures
produced four-part ITV
drama, Talk To Me, starring Max Beesley
, Laura Fraser
, Adrian Bower
, Kate Ashfield
and Emma Pierson
.
He has written episodes of both Jimmy McGovern
's The Street
and his new crime drama Accused
for BBC One. Liam's Story, starring Andy Serkis
. Accused
won an International Emmy in 2011 for best drama series.
In 2011 he wrote a 3 part BBC 1 drama, Exile
, “a tale of prodigal redemption” which becomes an investigative crime story. It starred John Simm
and Jim Broadbent
. It was critically acclaimed. It received an average of 5.5 million viewers and an Audience Appreciation score of 90%.
In 2011 it was announced that Danny would write a new HBO drama, Dirty
, with Andrea Arnold
attached to direct.
.
(as Jimmy Buddha); written a book adaptation for Working Title Films
.
Hot 100 2007.
He has cited Tony Marchant
, Jimmy McGovern
and Alan Bleasdale
as his writing inspirations. In a Creative Times feature in 2010, he wrote that Our Friends in the North
was his favourite drama of all time.
In 2011 he has been nominated for TWO Writers Guild Awards for Exile
and Accused
. http://www.writersguild.org.uk/news-a-features/general/203-guild-awards-2011-shortlists-announced
Career in brief:
Danny has written a play about Thatcher's Mutually Assured Destruction policy in the 1980s, The End of The World, a thriller about a man who seems to have ceased to exist Nobody, an Australian set examination of greed, Loaded and a single drama about an eighty-year-old woman who admits to a series of brutal murders, Mary Shane.
He has appeared as a regular commentator on Radio 4 and 5Live.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007/jun/06/broadcasting.tvandradio
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15833023
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
. Brocklehurst worked as a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
for several years (as a freelancer for The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, City Life
City Life (Magazine)
City Life was a Manchester-based listings magazine that was published between December 1983 and December 2005. It was a distinctive blend of radical politics and coverage of the increasingly exciting Manchester youth culture scene of the early 1980s, coinciding with the rise of Factory Records and...
and Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
The Manchester Evening News is a regional daily newspaper covering Greater Manchester in the United Kingdom. It is published every day except Sunday and is owned by Trinity Mirror plc following its sale by Guardian Media Group in early 2010. It has an average daily circulation of 90,973 copies...
and senior feature writer for The Big Issue
The Big Issue
The Big Issue is a street newspaper published in eight countries; it is written by professional journalists and sold by homeless individuals. It was founded by John Bird and Gordon Roddick in September 1991...
) before becoming a full-time screenwriter.
He has written acclaimed television drama series including the BAFTA
British Academy Television Awards
The British Academy Television Awards are presented in an annual award show hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts . They have been awarded annually since 1954, and are analogous to the Emmy Awards in the United States.-Background:...
-winning Clocking Off
Clocking Off
Clocking Off is a British television drama series which ran on the BBC One network for four series from 2000 to 2003. It was produced for the BBC by the independent Red Production Company, and created by Paul Abbott...
, Shameless and The Street
The Street
The Street may refer to:*The Street , a drama shown on BBC One in 2006, 2007 and 2009*"The Street" , by H. P. Lovecraft*The Street , a 1946 novel by Ann Petry...
; International Emmy winner Accused
Accused
Accused or The Accused may refer to:* A person charged with a criminal offense, or the state of being so charged; see indictment** Suspect, a known person suspected of committing a crimeMusic* The Accüsed, a 1980s Seattle crossover thrash bandFilm...
, comedy-drama Linda Green
Linda Green
Linda Green is a British television comedy-drama series that lasted for two series, screened in 2001 and 2002. The twenty half-hour episodes were broadcast on BBC One and produced for the BBC by the independent Red Production Company....
; the critically lauded serials Exile
Exile (TV series)
Exile is a British psychological thriller television series dealing with the topic of Alzheimer's disease against a background of corruption. It stars John Simm and Jim Broadbent and was broadcast on BBC One...
and The Stretford Wives
The Stretford Wives
The Stretford Wives is a British drama film made by the BBC. It was first broadcast on BBC One in August 2002 and has not been released on DVD. The film revolves around the lives of three sisters – played by Fay Ripley, Claire Rushbrook, and Lindsey Coulson – who live in Stretford,...
and 2006 BBC One hit Sorted
Sorted (TV series)
Sorted is a BBC television drama series, first broadcast in 2006, and transmitted on BBC One and BBC HD. It was created by Danny Brocklehurst, who has also written Clocking Off, The Stretford Wives and Shameless...
. He has been nominated for both BAFTA and Royal Television Society
Royal Television Society
The Royal Television Society is a British-based educational charity for the discussion, and analysis of television in all its forms, past, present and future. It is the oldest television society in the world...
writing awards.
TV work
Danny wrote several episodes of the BAFTA award winning series Clocking OffClocking Off
Clocking Off is a British television drama series which ran on the BBC One network for four series from 2000 to 2003. It was produced for the BBC by the independent Red Production Company, and created by Paul Abbott...
, as well as the acclaimed two part BBC film The Stretford Wives
The Stretford Wives
The Stretford Wives is a British drama film made by the BBC. It was first broadcast on BBC One in August 2002 and has not been released on DVD. The film revolves around the lives of three sisters – played by Fay Ripley, Claire Rushbrook, and Lindsey Coulson – who live in Stretford,...
, which was shot by director Peter Webber
Peter Webber
Peter Webber is a British director who is best known for his debut feature film Girl with a Pearl Earring and Hannibal Rising.-Early career:Webber made his first short film, The Zebra Man, straight out of film school...
.
With Shameless, Danny won a BAFTA for series one, co-wrote series two with Paul Abbott
Paul Abbott
Paul Abbott is a BAFTA award-winning English television screenwriter and producer. Abbott has become one of the most critically and commercially successful television writers working in Britain today, following his work on many popular series, including Coronation Street, Cracker and Shameless,...
and became lead writer on series three. He left prior to the fourth series.
His self created series, Sorted, the BBC's high profile postal drama, starring Hugo Speer
Hugo Speer
Hugo Speer is an English actor.He was born in Harrogate, Yorkshire, and educated at Harrogate Grammar School. He studied acting at The Arts Educational School....
, achieved 5 million viewers in the summer of 2006 and was the only drama that year to grow week on week in the ratings. Despite this; and the largely good critical response; the then controller Jane Tranter did not recommission the show.
In 2007, Brocklehurst wrote a film about the Fathers4Justice campaign for producers Harbour Pictures. Whilst, his Company Pictures
Company Pictures
Company Pictures is an independent British television production company which has produced drama programming for many broadcasters. Their productions have included:*drama series Wild at Heart for ITV1, written by Ashley Pharoah....
produced four-part ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
drama, Talk To Me, starring Max Beesley
Max Beesley
Maxton Gig Beesley Jr. , known simply as Max Beesley, is an English actor and musician.Beesley rose to fame for his role of Andy Simpson in Every Woman, Every Man from 1993 to 1998, and has since appeared in a variety of television shows including Bodies, Hotel Babylon, London Ink, Survivors and...
, Laura Fraser
Laura Fraser
Laura Fraser is a Scottish actress.-Early life:Fraser is the daughter of Rose, a college lecturer and nurse, and Alister Fraser, a scriptwriter who also worked in business. She attended Hillhead High School and is a former member of the Scottish Youth Theatre...
, Adrian Bower
Adrian Bower
Adrian Bower is an English actor, best known for his role as physical education and geography teacher Brian Steadman in the first three series of the British comedy series Teachers...
, Kate Ashfield
Kate Ashfield
Kate Ashfield is a British actress, best known for her award-winning roles as Jody in the Anglo-German film Late Night Shopping, as Sadie MacGregor in the British film This Little Life and as Liz in the 2004 film Shaun of the Dead.-Biography:Ashfield was born in Oldham, Lancashire, England...
and Emma Pierson
Emma Pierson
Emma Jane Pierson, better known as Emma Pierson, is an English actress. She is best known for her role as Anna Thornton-Wilton in the BBC television drama Hotel Babylon....
.
He has written episodes of both Jimmy McGovern
Jimmy McGovern
Jimmy McGovern is a BAFTA award-winning English television scriptwriter from Liverpool.-Early career:McGovern started his career working on Channel 4's soap opera Brookside in 1982, tackling many social issues such as unemployment.-Successes:...
's The Street
The Street
The Street may refer to:*The Street , a drama shown on BBC One in 2006, 2007 and 2009*"The Street" , by H. P. Lovecraft*The Street , a 1946 novel by Ann Petry...
and his new crime drama Accused
Accused
Accused or The Accused may refer to:* A person charged with a criminal offense, or the state of being so charged; see indictment** Suspect, a known person suspected of committing a crimeMusic* The Accüsed, a 1980s Seattle crossover thrash bandFilm...
for BBC One. Liam's Story, starring Andy Serkis
Andy Serkis
Andrew Clement G. "Andy" Serkis is an English actor, director and author. He is popularly known for playing Gollum in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, for which he earned several award nominations, including the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in The Two Towers...
. Accused
Accused
Accused or The Accused may refer to:* A person charged with a criminal offense, or the state of being so charged; see indictment** Suspect, a known person suspected of committing a crimeMusic* The Accüsed, a 1980s Seattle crossover thrash bandFilm...
won an International Emmy in 2011 for best drama series.
In 2011 he wrote a 3 part BBC 1 drama, Exile
Exile (TV series)
Exile is a British psychological thriller television series dealing with the topic of Alzheimer's disease against a background of corruption. It stars John Simm and Jim Broadbent and was broadcast on BBC One...
, “a tale of prodigal redemption” which becomes an investigative crime story. It starred John Simm
John Simm
John Simm is an English stage and screen actor. In recent years he is best known for his roles as Sam Tyler in the detective drama Life on Mars and as The Master in the revival of the science fiction series Doctor Who, but he has also starred in many highly acclaimed award-winning television...
and Jim Broadbent
Jim Broadbent
James "Jim" Broadbent is an English theatre, film, and television actor. He is known for his roles in Iris, Moulin Rouge!, Topsy-Turvy, Hot Fuzz, and Bridget Jones' Diary...
. It was critically acclaimed. It received an average of 5.5 million viewers and an Audience Appreciation score of 90%.
In 2011 it was announced that Danny would write a new HBO drama, Dirty
Dirty
Dirty is the seventh album by the American alternative rock group Sonic Youth, originally released on July 21, 1992 by DGC Records. It was deemed best album of 1992 by Entertainment Weekly.-Recording:...
, with Andrea Arnold
Andrea Arnold
Andrea Arnold OBE is a filmmaker and former actress from England, who made her feature film directorial debut in 2006 with Red Road.-Early TV work:...
attached to direct.
Theatre
In theatre he has written three award winning plays, My Eight Times Table, Nobody and Loaded (transferred to Radio Four), as well being story adviser and book co-writer of the hit West End (and national touring) musical Never ForgetNever Forget (musical)
Never Forget is a jukebox musical with a book written by Guy Jones and Ed Curtis, with screenwriter Danny Brocklehurst acting as story advisor, based on the 1990s songs of boyband Take That, written by Gary Barlow...
.
Film
In film, he has adapted the Whitbread nominee Buddha DaBuddha Da
Buddha Da is a novel written by Anne Donovan. It was shortlisted for the 2003 Orange Prize, and the 2003 Whitbread Book Award for a first novel.-Plot summary :...
(as Jimmy Buddha); written a book adaptation for Working Title Films
Working Title Films
Working Title Films is a British film production company, based in London, UK. The company was founded by Tim Bevan and Sarah Radclyffe in 1983. It produces feature films and several television productions, including films starring comic actor Rowan Atkinson...
.
Miscellaneous
He was featured in the writers' section of the Broadcast MagazineBroadcast magazine
Broadcast is a weekly magazine for the United Kingdom television and radio industry. It covers a wide range of news and issues affecting the professional broadcast market in the UK. Broadcast has regular weekly sections covering News, Commissioning, Facilities, Analysis, Opinion, Interview,...
Hot 100 2007.
He has cited Tony Marchant
Tony Marchant
Tony Marchant is a British playwright and television dramatist. In 1982 he won the London Critics' Theatre Award for Most Promising Playwright for The Lucky Ones and Raspberry. In 1999 he won the British Academy Television Awards Dennis Potter Award for services to television...
, Jimmy McGovern
Jimmy McGovern
Jimmy McGovern is a BAFTA award-winning English television scriptwriter from Liverpool.-Early career:McGovern started his career working on Channel 4's soap opera Brookside in 1982, tackling many social issues such as unemployment.-Successes:...
and Alan Bleasdale
Alan Bleasdale
Alan Bleasdale is an English television dramatist, best known for writing several social realist drama serials based on the lives of ordinary people.The Bleasdales live in prescot,liverpool,wales and london.-Early life:Bleasdale is an only child; his father worked in a food factory and his mother...
as his writing inspirations. In a Creative Times feature in 2010, he wrote that Our Friends in the North
Our Friends in the North
Our Friends in the North is a British television drama serial, produced by the BBC and originally broadcast in nine episodes on BBC Two in early 1996...
was his favourite drama of all time.
In 2011 he has been nominated for TWO Writers Guild Awards for Exile
Exile
Exile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
and Accused
Accused
Accused or The Accused may refer to:* A person charged with a criminal offense, or the state of being so charged; see indictment** Suspect, a known person suspected of committing a crimeMusic* The Accüsed, a 1980s Seattle crossover thrash bandFilm...
. http://www.writersguild.org.uk/news-a-features/general/203-guild-awards-2011-shortlists-announced
Career in brief:
- Clocking Off, series 2-4 (BAFTA nomination), episodes starring Sophie OkonedoSophie OkonedoSophie Okonedo, OBE is a British actress, who has starred both in successful British and American productions. In 1991, she made her acting debut in the British critically acclaimed coming-of-age drama, Young Soul Rebels...
, Ricky TomlinsonRicky TomlinsonEric Tomlinson , known by his stage name Ricky Tomlinson, is an English actor and comedian, best known for his roles as Bobby Grant in Brookside, DCI Charlie Wise in Cracker and James "Jim" Royle in The Royle Family....
and Pam FerrisPam FerrisPamela Ann "Pam" Ferris is a German-born Welsh actress. She is best known for her starring roles on television as Ma Larkin in The Darling Buds of May, as Laura Thyme in Rosemary & Thyme, and for playing Miss Trunchbull in the movie Matilda...
. - Linda Green, episodes starring Liza TarbuckLiza TarbuckLiza Tarbuck is an English actress and television and radio presenter, and daughter of comedian Jimmy Tarbuck.She trained at the National Youth Theatre and RADA graduating in 1986 alongside Clive Owen, Rebecca Pidgeon and Serena Harragin.-Acting:...
and Jane HorrocksJane HorrocksBarbara Jane Horrocks is an English voice, stage, screen and television actress, voice artist, musician, and singer. She is best known for her role as "Bubble" in the TV series Absolutely Fabulous as well as her distinctive voice....
. - The Stretford Wives (directed by Peter WebberPeter WebberPeter Webber is a British director who is best known for his debut feature film Girl with a Pearl Earring and Hannibal Rising.-Early career:Webber made his first short film, The Zebra Man, straight out of film school...
), starring Fay RipleyFay RipleyFay Ripley is an English actress and recipe author. Born in Wimbledon, London, Ripley is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama . Her first professional role was in the chorus of a pantomime version of Around the World in 80 Days...
. - Shameless, series 1-3 (BAFTA winner), starring James McAvoyJames McAvoyJames McAvoy is a Scottish stage and screen actor. He made his acting debut as a teen in 1995's The Near Room and continued to make mostly television appearances until the early 2000s. His notable television work includes State of Play, Shameless, and Frank Herbert's Children of Dune...
and Anne-Marie DuffAnne-Marie DuffAnne-Marie Duff is an English actress best known for playing Fiona Gallagher in Shameless, and Elizabeth I in The Virgin Queen.-Early life:...
. - Sorted (directed by Iain B Macdonald), starring Hugo SpeerHugo SpeerHugo Speer is an English actor.He was born in Harrogate, Yorkshire, and educated at Harrogate Grammar School. He studied acting at The Arts Educational School....
. - Talk to Me (directed by Emmy winner Dearbhla WalshDearbhla WalshDearbhla Walsh is an Irish film and television director who has worked on drama series for several television channels in Ireland and the United Kingdom, including episodes of EastEnders, Shameless and The Tudors. She won the 2009 Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or...
), starring Max BeesleyMax BeesleyMaxton Gig Beesley Jr. , known simply as Max Beesley, is an English actor and musician.Beesley rose to fame for his role of Andy Simpson in Every Woman, Every Man from 1993 to 1998, and has since appeared in a variety of television shows including Bodies, Hotel Babylon, London Ink, Survivors and...
and Aaron JohnsonAaron JohnsonAaron Johnson is a professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
. - The Street (one episode, with Jimmy McGovernJimmy McGovernJimmy McGovern is a BAFTA award-winning English television scriptwriter from Liverpool.-Early career:McGovern started his career working on Channel 4's soap opera Brookside in 1982, tackling many social issues such as unemployment.-Successes:...
) - Shameless USA (Showtime - John WellsJohn WellsJohn Wells may refer to:People* John C. Wells , British linguist, phonetician and Esperantist* Jonathan Wells , real name John Corrigan Wells...
), Episodes starring William H Macy and Joan CusackJoan CusackJoan Mary Cusack is an American film, stage and television actress. Throughout her career, Cusack has appeared in many films as well as appearing in stage productions.... - Life After Marriage (abc network, with Grey's Anatomy creator Shonda RhimesShonda RhimesShonda Rhimes is an American screenwriter, director and producer. Rhimes is best known as the creator, head writer, and executive producer of acclaimed television series Grey's Anatomy and its spin-off Private Practice. In May 2007, Rhimes was named one of Time magazine's 100 Time 100 people who...
. - Accused - director Richard Laxton, starring Andy SerkisAndy SerkisAndrew Clement G. "Andy" Serkis is an English actor, director and author. He is popularly known for playing Gollum in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, for which he earned several award nominations, including the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in The Two Towers...
and Jodie Whittacker - Exile - director John Alexander, starring John SimmJohn SimmJohn Simm is an English stage and screen actor. In recent years he is best known for his roles as Sam Tyler in the detective drama Life on Mars and as The Master in the revival of the science fiction series Doctor Who, but he has also starred in many highly acclaimed award-winning television...
and Jim BroadbentJim BroadbentJames "Jim" Broadbent is an English theatre, film, and television actor. He is known for his roles in Iris, Moulin Rouge!, Topsy-Turvy, Hot Fuzz, and Bridget Jones' Diary...
and Timothy WestTimothy WestTimothy Lancaster West, CBE is an English film, stage and television actor.-Career:West's craggy looks ensured a career as a character actor rather than a leading man. He began his career as an Assistant Stage Manager at the Wimbledon Theatre in 1956, and followed this with several seasons of...
.
BAFTA
BAFTA TV Award| Year | Series | Category | Result | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Clocking Off | Best Writer | Nominated | ||||
| 2002 | Shameless | Best Series | Won | 2002 | Clocking Off | Best Drama Series | Nominated |
| 2006 | Shameless | Best Writer | Nominated | ||||
Royal Television Society
RTS Television Award| Year | Series | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Clocking Off | Best Writer | Nominated |
| 2002 | Shameless | Best Series | Won |
| 2006 | Shameless | Best Writer | Nominated |
Radio
Danny has written extensively for radio. His police series Stone is in its third series. It stars Hugo Speer as Detective Inspector John Stone and every episode features a morally complex crime. It has been described as 'gritty' (The Guardian), 'hard hitting' (The Times) and 'realistic in a way radio drama rarely is' (The Observer).Danny has written a play about Thatcher's Mutually Assured Destruction policy in the 1980s, The End of The World, a thriller about a man who seems to have ceased to exist Nobody, an Australian set examination of greed, Loaded and a single drama about an eighty-year-old woman who admits to a series of brutal murders, Mary Shane.
He has appeared as a regular commentator on Radio 4 and 5Live.
External links
- Guardian article, Are You Sitting Uncomfortably? http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2005/dec/19/mondaymediasection2
- Guardian article, The decade that TV forgot.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007/jun/06/broadcasting.tvandradio
- International Emmy's.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15833023