Leslie Stewart (writer)
Encyclopedia
Leslie Stewart is a British
-based writer and director.
", which earned Cliff Richard
the 1988 Christmas number one. His television script writing work includes Monarch of the Glen, Holby City
, Love Bytes, Down to Earth
, Casualty
, As If
, Peak Practice
, and the 1987 film
, Two of Us
, for the BBC
's Scene series.
In 1976, Stewart co-wrote his first musical, Shoot Up at Elbow Creek. He also wrote The Little Match Girl
, based on Hans Christian Andersen
's short story
, for Richmond
's Orange Tree Theatre
, which contained the song "Mistletoe and Wine." HTV
assisted in the production of the play for television in 1986.
Having worked extensively in music, writing for, among others, the jazz-rock outfit Swegas, Consortium and Cliff Richard, and producing artists including Jeff Baker, Stewart continues to work as a lyricist, currently with the the American blues musician, Johnny Mars
.
Stewart is a member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts
(BAFTA), the Writers' Guild of Great Britain
, the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors
and PRS for Music (formerly the Performing Rights Society).
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
-based writer and director.
Background
Born Leslie George Gannagé-Stewart, he co-wrote the song "Mistletoe and WineMistletoe and Wine
"Mistletoe and Wine" is a popular single by Cliff Richard.Written by Jeremy Paul, Leslie Stewart and Keith Strachan, it was originally performed as part of the musical Scraps at the Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond, London in 1976...
", which earned Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
the 1988 Christmas number one. His television script writing work includes Monarch of the Glen, Holby City
Holby City
Holby City, stylised as Holby Ci+y, is a British medical drama television series that airs weekly on BBC One.The series was created by Tony McHale and Mal Young as a spin-off from the established BBC medical drama Casualty, and premiered on 12 January 1999...
, Love Bytes, Down to Earth
Down to Earth (UK TV series)
Down to Earth was a BBC One television series first broadcast in 2000 about a couple who start a new life on a Devon farm. The early episodes of the series were based on a series of books written by Faith Addis about their real-life move from London to Devon.The music in the series was composed by...
, Casualty
Casualty (TV series)
Casualty, stylised as Casual+y, is a British weekly television show broadcast on BBC One, and the longest-running emergency medical drama television series in the world. Created by Jeremy Brock and Paul Unwin, it was first broadcast on 6 September 1986, and transmitted in the UK on BBC One. The...
, As If
As If
As If is a British comedy-drama series broadcast on Channel 4. There were 76 episodes across four series, the first broadcast on January 22, 2001 and the last on July 31, 2004.-Premise & Facts:...
, Peak Practice
Peak Practice
Peak Practice is a British drama series about a GP surgery in Cardale — a small fictional town in the Derbyshire Peak District — and the doctors who worked there. It ran on ITV from 10 May 1993 to 30 January 2002 and was one of their most successful series at the time...
, and the 1987 film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, Two of Us
Two of Us (1987 film)
Two of Us is a 1987 gay-themed BBC television film written by Leslie Stewart and directed by Roger Tonge. Produced as part of the BBC Schools SCENE series and intended for young adults...
, for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Scene series.
In 1976, Stewart co-wrote his first musical, Shoot Up at Elbow Creek. He also wrote The Little Match Girl
The Little Match Girl
The Little Match Girl is a short story by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen. The story is about a dying child's dreams and hope, and was first published in 1845. It has been adapted to various media including animated film, and a television musical.-Plot summary:On a cold New Year’s...
, based on Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author, fairy tale writer, and poet noted for his children's stories. These include "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Snow Queen," "The Little Mermaid," "Thumbelina," "The Little Match Girl," and "The Ugly Duckling."...
's short story
The Little Match Girl
The Little Match Girl is a short story by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen. The story is about a dying child's dreams and hope, and was first published in 1845. It has been adapted to various media including animated film, and a television musical.-Plot summary:On a cold New Year’s...
, for Richmond
London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames is a London borough in South West London, UK, which forms part of Outer London. It is unique because it is the only London borough situated both north and south of the River Thames.-Settlement:...
's Orange Tree Theatre
Orange Tree Theatre
The Orange Tree Theatre is a 172-seat theatre at 1 Clarence Street, Richmond in south west London, built specifically as a theatre in the round....
, which contained the song "Mistletoe and Wine." HTV
HTV
HTV, now legally known as ITV Wales & West, is the ITV contractor for Wales and the West of England, which operated from studios in Cardiff and Bristol. The company provided commercial television for the dual-region 'Wales and West' franchise, which it won from TWW in 1968...
assisted in the production of the play for television in 1986.
Having worked extensively in music, writing for, among others, the jazz-rock outfit Swegas, Consortium and Cliff Richard, and producing artists including Jeff Baker, Stewart continues to work as a lyricist, currently with the the American blues musician, Johnny Mars
Johnny Mars
Johnny Mars is an American electric blues harmonica player, singer, and songwriter. Over a long career, Mars has worked with Magic Sam, Earl Hooker, B.B. King, Jesse Fuller, Spencer Davis, Ian Gillan, Do-Re-Mi, Bananarama and Michael Roach.-Biography:####Mars was born in Laurens, South Carolina,...
.
Stewart is a member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts
British Academy of Film and Television Arts
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is a charity in the United Kingdom that hosts annual awards shows for excellence in film, television, television craft, video games and forms of animation.-Introduction:...
(BAFTA), the Writers' Guild of Great Britain
Writers' Guild of Great Britain
The Writers' Guild of Great Britain, established in 1959, is a trade union for professional writers. It is affiliated with both the Trades Union Congress and the International Affiliation of Writers Guilds .-Activities:...
, the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors
British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors
British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors was founded in 1947.It represents its members within the industry, to the government and to the European Commission....
and PRS for Music (formerly the Performing Rights Society).
Stage work
- Shoot up at Elbow Creek (The Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond; Greenwich, London; etc.).
- The Little Match Girl (with Keith StrachanKeith StrachanKeith Strachan is a British composer and theatre director. He co-wrote the song "Mistletoe and Wine", which got Cliff Richard the 1988 Christmas number one...
& Jeremy Paul; The Orange Tree, Richmond; Contact, Manchester; Reykjavík Opera House; European and Russian tours etc.), which transposed Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairytale to the world of alcohol abuse and child-prostitution. A song from the show, ‘Mistletoe and WineMistletoe and Wine"Mistletoe and Wine" is a popular single by Cliff Richard.Written by Jeremy Paul, Leslie Stewart and Keith Strachan, it was originally performed as part of the musical Scraps at the Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond, London in 1976...
’ won an Ivor Novello Award, was the best-selling single of 1988 and the third best-selling single of the 1980s. - The Solidier (Ware Arts Centre/Various)
- Contributed to the London Revue City Delights (with Keith Strachan; Oxford Playhouse)
Film for television
- Three Minute Heroes (Play for Today BBC 1)
- The Amazing Miss Stella Estelle (Play for Today BBC 1)
- Space Station: Milton Keynes (Screen Two, BBC)
- Wide Games (SceneScene (UK TV series)Scene is a British television anthology drama series made by the BBC for teenagers. Featuring plays on topical issues, sometimes of a controversial nature, and by leading contemporary playwrights, programs were originally broadcast to a school audience as part of the BBC Schools strand. Dramas from...
, BBC 2) - Good Neighbours (Scene, BBC 2)
- Janna, Where Are You? (Scene, BBC 2)
- Q.P.R. Askey Is Dead (Scene, BBC 2)
- That Green Stuff (Scene, BBC 2)
- Two of Us (Scene, BBC 2)
- The Little Match Girl (HTV/Picture Base, Emmy Nomination)
- Boogie Outlaws (mini-series, BBC 2)
- Love Bytes, an anthology series, Nominated for Most Outstanding Drama Series – Silver Logie Award 2005, produced by Shine and Fox TV.
Other television work
- Peak Practice (Carlton TV)
- Holby CityHolby CityHolby City, stylised as Holby Ci+y, is a British medical drama television series that airs weekly on BBC One.The series was created by Tony McHale and Mal Young as a spin-off from the established BBC medical drama Casualty, and premiered on 12 January 1999...
(BBC TV) - Down to EarthDown to Earth (UK TV series)Down to Earth was a BBC One television series first broadcast in 2000 about a couple who start a new life on a Devon farm. The early episodes of the series were based on a series of books written by Faith Addis about their real-life move from London to Devon.The music in the series was composed by...
(BBC TV) - Monarch of the Glen (BBC TV/Ecosse)
- Causalty (BBC TV)
- As If (Ch4/Carnival/Columbia Tri-Star)
- Urpo and Turpo (Lumifilm, Helsinki).
Plays for radio
- The Key to My Father's House (BBC R4, The Monday Play, starring Ken Colley, Francesca Brill, Adam Hussein)
- Canada Park(BBC R4, The Monday Play, starring Harry Towb, James Coyle and Tom Rogers)
- Dancing Backwards (BBC R4, The Friday Play, starring Bill Nighy, Frances Barber, Sheridan Smith)
Screenplays
- The Great Wall of China (Deco Films, funded by the EEC’s Media II development fund)
- The Runner (20th Century Fox20th Century FoxTwentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
) - Cloudberry 9 (Film Development Corporation)
- The Millennium Job (Ardent Productions/Mel SmithMel SmithMelvin Kenneth "Mel" Smith is an English comedian, writer, film director, producer, and actor. He is most famous for his work on the sketch comedy shows Not the Nine O'Clock News and Alas Smith and Jones along with his comedy partner Griff Rhys Jones.- Early life :Smith's father, Kenneth, was born...
)
Directed
- Foot in the Door (Just Films/Anglia TV)
- Once Upon a Time (LSA/Eastern Arts)
- How Green is My Alley? (LSA)
- Filigree, a documentary (Just Films/BFI/Eastern Arts)
- That Green Stuff (Scene, BBC2)
- Space Station: Milton Keynes (Screen 2, BBC 2)
- Lola (BBC 1)
- She's Not There (BBC 1)
- Terry (BBC 1)