Rhidian Brook
Encyclopedia
Rhidian Brook is a novelist, screenwriter and broadcaster.
He has written two novels. His first - The Testimony of Taliesin Jones (1996) - won the 1997 Somerset Maugham Award
, a Betty Trask Award
and the Author's Club First Novel Award
as well being runner up for Welsh Book of The Year (1997). Telling the story of an 11 year old who finds faith whilst coming to terms with his parent's separation, this critically acclaimed novel was hailed as a Welsh classic. In 2000 the novel was made into a film starring Jonathan Pryce
.
His second novel - Jesus and the Adman (1999) - tells the story of Johnny Yells, a young, ambitious advertising
executive, who comes up with the idea of using Jesus in a life assurance commercial. The resulting success of the campaign sees Yells' career take off; but a growing obsession with death sees him endure a frightening breakdown.
Brook has also written a number of short stories. His first was a winning entrant in the 1991 Time Out Short Story competition. After which he went on to have several stories published in magazines such as The Paris Review, Punch
and the New Statesman
, as well as a number recorded and broadcast on BBC Radio 4
's Short Story.
In 2005 Brook started writing screenplays for television and cinema. His first commission was 'Mr Harvey Lights A Candle' (2005) and starred Timothy Spall and was directed by Susanna White. He then wrote episodes for the BBC TV series Silent Witness
: The Meaning of Death" (2005); and A Body of Work (2006) . In 2008 he worked on developing 'The Bible' for the BBC and in 2009 wrote the drama 'Atlantis' which is due to broadcast on BBC1 in January 2011. His first feature film 'Africa United
' was released in the UK on 22 October 2010. It tells the story of five children who make a 3000 mile journey to the opening ceremony of the World Cup in South Africa.
An occasional journalist and broadcaster, Brook has also written articles on faith, travel, social issues and education for The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, The Observer and others.
In Easter 2005, he presented Nailing the Cross a documentary for BBC1 about the meaning of the cross to British culture. In 2006 he broadcast a series titled In The Blood for The BBC World Service, recording his family's journey through the AIDS
pandemic and work with the Salvation Army
. He wrote a memoir about that journey, published as More Than Eyes Can See: A Nine Month Journey into the Aids Pandemic (2007).
Since 1999, Rhidian Brook has been a regular contributor to BBC Radio 4's Thought for the Day
.
He lives with his wife and two children in London, England.
He has written two novels. His first - The Testimony of Taliesin Jones (1996) - won the 1997 Somerset Maugham Award
Somerset Maugham Award
The Somerset Maugham Award is a British literary prize given each May by the Society of Authors. It is awarded to whom they judge to be the best writer or writers under the age of thirty-five of a book published in the past year. The prize was instituted in 1947 by William Somerset Maugham and thus...
, a Betty Trask Award
Betty Trask Award
The Betty Trask Prize and Awards are for first novels written by authors under the age of 35, who reside in a current or former Commonwealth nation. The awards were established in 1984 by the Society of Authors, at the bequest of the late Betty Trask, a reclusive author of over thirty romance novels...
and the Author's Club First Novel Award
Author's Club First Novel Award
Authors' Club Best First Novel Award is awarded by the Authors' Club to the most promising first novel of the year, written by a British author and published in the UK during the calendar year preceding the year in which the award is presented....
as well being runner up for Welsh Book of The Year (1997). Telling the story of an 11 year old who finds faith whilst coming to terms with his parent's separation, this critically acclaimed novel was hailed as a Welsh classic. In 2000 the novel was made into a film starring Jonathan Pryce
Jonathan Pryce
Jonathan Pryce, CBE is a Welsh stage and film actor and singer. After studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and meeting his longtime partner English actress Kate Fahy in 1974, he began his career as a stage actor in the 1970s...
.
His second novel - Jesus and the Adman (1999) - tells the story of Johnny Yells, a young, ambitious advertising
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
executive, who comes up with the idea of using Jesus in a life assurance commercial. The resulting success of the campaign sees Yells' career take off; but a growing obsession with death sees him endure a frightening breakdown.
Brook has also written a number of short stories. His first was a winning entrant in the 1991 Time Out Short Story competition. After which he went on to have several stories published in magazines such as The Paris Review, Punch
Punch (magazine)
Punch, or the London Charivari was a British weekly magazine of humour and satire established in 1841 by Henry Mayhew and engraver Ebenezer Landells. Historically, it was most influential in the 1840s and 50s, when it helped to coin the term "cartoon" in its modern sense as a humorous illustration...
and the New Statesman
New Statesman
New Statesman is a British centre-left political and cultural magazine published weekly in London. Founded in 1913, and connected with leading members of the Fabian Society, the magazine reached a circulation peak in the late 1960s....
, as well as a number recorded and broadcast on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
's Short Story.
In 2005 Brook started writing screenplays for television and cinema. His first commission was 'Mr Harvey Lights A Candle' (2005) and starred Timothy Spall and was directed by Susanna White. He then wrote episodes for the BBC TV series Silent Witness
Silent Witness
Silent Witness is a BBC crime thriller series focusing on a team of forensic pathology experts and their investigations into various crimes. First broadcast in February 1996, the series is still airing to the present day, with a fifteenth series expected to air in January 2012. The series was...
: The Meaning of Death" (2005); and A Body of Work (2006) . In 2008 he worked on developing 'The Bible' for the BBC and in 2009 wrote the drama 'Atlantis' which is due to broadcast on BBC1 in January 2011. His first feature film 'Africa United
Africa United (2010 film)
Africa United is a 2010 film directed by first-time UK film director Deborah 'Debs' Gardner-Paterson and starring Emmanuel Jal, Eriya Ndayambaje, Roger Nsengiyumva, Sanyu Joanita Kintu, Sherrie Silver and Yves Dusenge.-Synopsis:...
' was released in the UK on 22 October 2010. It tells the story of five children who make a 3000 mile journey to the opening ceremony of the World Cup in South Africa.
An occasional journalist and broadcaster, Brook has also written articles on faith, travel, social issues and education for The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, The Observer and others.
In Easter 2005, he presented Nailing the Cross a documentary for BBC1 about the meaning of the cross to British culture. In 2006 he broadcast a series titled In The Blood for The BBC World Service, recording his family's journey through the AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
pandemic and work with the Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
. He wrote a memoir about that journey, published as More Than Eyes Can See: A Nine Month Journey into the Aids Pandemic (2007).
Since 1999, Rhidian Brook has been a regular contributor to BBC Radio 4's Thought for the Day
Thought for the Day
Thought for the Day is a daily scripted slot on the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 offering "reflections from a faith perspective on issues and people in the news", broadcast at around 7.45 each Monday to Saturday morning...
.
He lives with his wife and two children in London, England.
Books by Rhidian Brook
- The Testimony of Taliesin Jones (1996)
- Jesus and the Adman (1999)
- More Than Eyes Can See: A Nine Month Journey into the Aids Pandemic (2007)