Allan Prior
Encyclopedia
Allan Prior was an English
television scriptwriter and novelist, who wrote over 300 television episodes from the 1950s onwards.
He was founder-writer of influential police drama Z-Cars
with Troy Kennedy Martin
and wrote five of the first ten episodes and a total of 136 episodes for Z-Cars and spin-off series Softly, Softly
. He also wrote several episodes of the 1970s science-fiction series Blake's 7
.
He wrote more than thirty original plays for television, from episodes of Armchair Theatre
to later works including The Charmer
(1987) and A Perfect Hero
(1991). In 1995 his radio play Führer was BBC Radio 4
's flagship drama for its End of the War in Europe anniversary programmes.
His daughter is the Steeleye Span
singer Maddy Prior
.
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...
television scriptwriter and novelist, who wrote over 300 television episodes from the 1950s onwards.
He was founder-writer of influential police drama Z-Cars
Z-Cars
Z-Cars is a British television drama series centred on the work of mobile uniformed police in the fictional town of Newtown, based on Kirkby in the outskirts of Liverpool in Merseyside. Produced by the BBC, it debuted in January 1962 and ran until September 1978.-Origins:The series was developed by...
with Troy Kennedy Martin
Troy Kennedy Martin
Troy Kennedy Martin was a Scottish-born film and television screenwriter best known for creating the long running BBC TV police series Z-Cars, and for the award-winning 1985 anti-nuclear drama Edge of Darkness...
and wrote five of the first ten episodes and a total of 136 episodes for Z-Cars and spin-off series Softly, Softly
Softly, Softly (TV series)
Softly, Softly is a British television drama series, produced by the BBC and screened on BBC 1 from January 1966. It centred around the work of regional crime squads, plain-clothes CID officers based in the fictional region of Wyvern - supposedly in the Bristol and Chepstow area of the UK...
. He also wrote several episodes of the 1970s science-fiction series Blake's 7
Blake's 7
Blake's 7 is a British science fiction television series produced by the BBC for its BBC1 channel. The series was created by Terry Nation, a prolific television writer and creator of the Daleks for the television series Doctor Who. Four series of Blake's 7 were produced and broadcast between 1978...
.
He wrote more than thirty original plays for television, from episodes of Armchair Theatre
Armchair Theatre
Armchair Theatre is a British television drama anthology series, which ran on the ITV network from 1956 to 1974. It was originally produced by Associated British Corporation, and later by Thames Television after 1968....
to later works including The Charmer
The Charmer
The Charmer is the second studio album by American jam band Family Groove Company released on April 25, 2006. It was recorded at Studio Chicago in Chicago, Illinois in December 2005...
(1987) and A Perfect Hero
A Perfect Hero
A Perfect Hero is a 1991 TV minseries set in World War II England. It was first broadcast on ITV at 9:00pm on Friday 17 May 1991 and ran for six episodes...
(1991). In 1995 his radio play Führer was 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 flagship drama for its End of the War in Europe anniversary programmes.
His daughter is the Steeleye Span
Steeleye Span
Steeleye Span are an English folk-rock band, formed in 1969 and remaining active today. Along with Fairport Convention they are amongst the best known acts of the British folk revival, and were among the most commercially successful, thanks to their hit singles "Gaudete" and "All Around My Hat"....
singer Maddy Prior
Maddy Prior
Maddy Prior is an English folk singer, best known as the lead vocalist of Steeleye Span.-Early life:...
.
Awards
- 1962 and 1964 Crime Writers' AssociationCrime Writers' AssociationThe Crime Writers Association is a writers' association in the United Kingdom. Founded by John Creasey in 1953, it is currently chaired by Peter James and claims 450+ members....
Award, - 1962 and 1965 Writers Guild of Great Britain Award
- 1963 Grand Prix de Littérature PolicièreGrand Prix de Littérature PolicièreThe Grand Prix de Littérature Policière is a French literary prize founded in 1948 by author and literary critic Maurice-Bernard Endrèbe. It is the most prestigious award for crime and detective fiction in France...
- 1974 BAFTABritish Academy of Film and Television ArtsThe 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:...
Award