Meet The Authors
C.V. JOHNNY BYRNE
Updated Jan. 1996
BACKGROUND
Born and educated in Dublin, Ireland. Johnny Byrne has long been associated with the development of quality, prime time television drama in the UK. With over a hundred and forty film and television writing credits, his range covers adapted and original work in period, historical, contemporary, futuristic and children's drama.
Johnny Byrne is particularly associated with the development and creation of long running popular drama series for television. This began in the mid-'70's when he was Executive Story Editor and main writer (12 Episodes) on ITC's "Space 1999". Later, as Script Consultant and main writer (38 episodes), he worked on the BBC's "All Creatures Great & Small" for the duration of its very long run. Currently, he is the creator and main writer of "Heartbeat", the UK’s number one drama series.
Johnny Byrne has also :
Adapted the books of the wild animal doctor, David Taylor, the springboard for the popular BBC drama series `One By One', for which he scripted 13 episodes.
Written 3 adventures (12 episodes) and created the long running companion, Nyssa, for BBC TV 's `Doctor Who' and completed the screenplay for the feature film version of the series.
Worked as script, story and drama consultant for the BBC, ITV companies and on various Feature Film and Independent TV Drama projects.
SOME PAST CREDITS:
"LOVE HURTS" (Select TV - BBC) - written episodes for this popular drama series starring Adam Faith & Zoe Wanamaker.
"ADOLF HITLER - My Part In His Downfall" (UA) Feature film adaptation of Spike Milligan's best selling memoir of his wartime service.
`SEASON OF THE WITCH.' (BBC) 90 min. single drama for the `Play For Today' slot.
`TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED' (Anglia Int.) 3 x 30 min. episodes.
`DODGER BONZO & THE REST' (Thames TV) 3 x 30 min. episodes. Children's drama. (Award Winner)
`INTO INFINITY' (NBC/Gerry Anderson) Feature length After School drama SF special for the NBC Network.
`MIRACLES TAKE LONGER' (Thames TV. 4 x 30 min. serial.)
`PIPKINS' (LWTV) 6 x 20 Min. series for children.)
`ALL CREATURES GREAT & SMALL' (BBC) 2 90 minute feature length Christmas specials.
`CHIP & CHARLY' - for ILKO FILMS (MUNICH) 25 minute animated children's film.
"TO DIE FOR" Feature film romantic comedy drama about a gay couple coming to terms with AIDS bereavement. On general release in the USA and elsewhere since June ‘95.
IN PRODUCTION/UNDER COMMISSION:
HEARTBEAT SERIES 7 - 26 further episodes of the series devised by Johnny is now in pre-production. Hearbeat has been the UK's top rating drama series since it was first screened.
"THE LEGEND OF RUSLAN" - BBC Screen One feature film to be shot on the North Norfolk marshes and the Siberian Taimyr Peninsula.
"NOAH’S ARK" - (CARLTON TV) Creator/Writer six part family drama series to be screened September 1997.
"THE KENNEDY’S" (BBC Northern Ireland) 8 Part Drama Series currently under commission.
"A COUNTRY LIFE" (working title) an adaptation of the works of Derek Tangye. (For Kensington Films)
NOVELS & STORIES:
`GROUPIE' (1969, with Jenny Fabian) New English Library/Bantam/Corgi. International best seller of the late '60's London underground rock scene. Groupie will be republished in June 1997 by Omnibus Press, London.
`STOPCOCK' Modern Gothic thriller. Many SF Short Stories including those published in Impulse, Science Fantasy, Judith Merrill Best Of Sci/Fi etc. He also edited various Literary and SF Magazines in the late `60's and early `70's.
OTHER ACTIVITIES:
Traveller/writer, teaching English as a Foreign Language in London/Paris/Athens, Istanbul, technical writer, Departmental Manager for ecclesiastical suppliers, journeyman electrician, lifeguard on the Isis, Oxford, Touring Manager for his then agent's (Shel Talmy) rock groups, stage performer in late 60's. London/Nationwide performer/organiser for the performing arts. Contributor to electronic internet conferences on the language, customs, literature, social and military history of the ancient Celts and Irish.
Johnny is a director/shareholder of Teddytredbear Ltd, a company formed to exploit his screenplay - "The Legend Of Teddy Bear", and a director/shareholder of Backs Electronic Publishing Ltd, an independent company developing and producing CD-I & CD-Rom projects, both in house and for clients. BEPL’s first CD-i title, `Ann Willan - The Food Of France’ won one of the first awarded EMMAs (Euro Multi Media Award).
CURRENTLY:
Completing writing assignment on Heartbeat Series 7, Noah’s Ark and othr projects for Portman Films, Zenith Films, British Lion, Carlton TV and the BBC. Researching and writing an historical novel set in Elizabethan Ireland, and completing a historically based TV Mini-Series on the wartime relationship between Heinrich Himmler & Felix Kersten - an unacknowledged humanitarian hero of WW2.
Johnny Byrne is married, the father of three boys and lives in rural North Norfolk.
Agent:
Seifert Dench Ass.
24 D'Arblay St.
London W1V 3FH
Tel: 0171-437 4551
Fax: 0171-439 1355
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JENNY FABIAN
Age
Indeterminate age.
Childhood
Born Newquay, Cornwall. Childhood spent in boys baording school where father was house master / games master / mod languages master.
Education
Miss Kindersley’s Kindergarten, Highgate.
Sarum High School for Girls, Hampstead.
Francis Holland C of E School for Girls, Clarence gate, St. Johns Wood.
Left after GCE’s (7).
Work
Worked Reynolds News / Sunday Citizen, working class Sunday rag. Married Italian croupier, had two daughters. Separated. Met Hawkins, Keyes, Byrne. Worked Daily Telegraph Magazine. Dropped out. Worked Middle Earth and Roundhouse. Wrote ‘Groupie’ with Johnny Byrne. Wrote articles for Harpers and Queen, Tatler, Time Out, Event, Forum, Friendz. Wrote solo novel ‘A Chemical Romance’. Dropped out again. Worked for Sir Mark Palmer as stable lad. Went to Ireland to work on Curragh. Married Maldwyn Thomas. Through him got involved with coursing greyhounds. Trained two Waterloo Cup winners. Wrote for Field and Sporting Life on coursing. Two kids, Emma and Francis. Writing third book with Johnny Byrne. Dropping back in.
How to contact the authors:
Johnny Byrne E-Mail address: jbyrne@cix.compulink.co.uk
Jenny Fabian: your guess is as good as anyone!
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