Anthony Steven
Encyclopedia
Anthony Steven was a veteran television
screenwriter who worked on many programmes including All Creatures Great and Small, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and several historically based dramas.
In 1984, he wrote the script for the Doctor Who
story The Twin Dilemma
. It was beset by production problems and the scripts were reputedly very slow in arriving; at one point, Steven claimed that his typewriter had "literally exploded". Illness prevented him completing the final drafts, which were instead finished by script editor Eric Saward
. The story is widely dismissed as one of the least popular in the series' long history. In SFX
#150 new series executive producer Russell T Davies cites the story as "the beginning of the end" of Doctor Who
. A 1997 poll by Doctor Who Magazine
ranked the serial the second worst of all time), while a 2003 poll by fansite Outpost Gallifrey
ranked it worst of all. In 2009, another Doctor Who Magazine
poll of the 200 stories produced up to that point saw the serial finish in last place again, along with finishing last in every single age group that voted.
. Later he was discovered by John Grierson
(Founder of the Crown film unit and pioneer of the documentary film as we know it today) who hired him as a writer.
In 1957 Steven joined the BBC
. A prolific writer, he wrote many television serials over a period of thirty years. Some of his scripts were original but many were adaptations of notable classical novels, including several episodes of The Forsyte Saga.
Steven's relationship with the BBC
ended when he was abruptly sacked. Steven had put his name on the script of a friend who had been turned down repeatedly by the BBC. His friend was penniless, but with Steven's name attached, the script went into production and the struggling writer was paid some much needed money. Unfortunately, Steven told this to a fellow colleague who reported him to senior management. That same afternoon, Steven was informed that his services at the BBC
would no longer be required.
Steven went to work for ITV
instead, but would later return to the BBC
.
Anthony Steven did not always deliver his scripts on time and certainly exasperated his editors. Considering he refused to use an electric typewriter, it is therefore unlikely that his machine ever “blew up” but it did sometimes break down. The large quantities of cigarette ash that fell into the works sometimes caused it to jam. His son used a combination of metholated spirits and a vacuum cleaner to suck it out.
Anthony Steven was also a noted raconteur. His outrageous stories, based much on his own life, are fondly remembered by those who heard them.
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
screenwriter who worked on many programmes including All Creatures Great and Small, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and several historically based dramas.
In 1984, he wrote the script for the Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
story The Twin Dilemma
The Twin Dilemma
The Twin Dilemma is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four twice-weekly parts from 22 March to 30 March 1984, the first to star Colin Baker in the title role.-Synopsis:...
. It was beset by production problems and the scripts were reputedly very slow in arriving; at one point, Steven claimed that his typewriter had "literally exploded". Illness prevented him completing the final drafts, which were instead finished by script editor Eric Saward
Eric Saward
Eric Saward was born on 9 December 1944 and became a scriptwriter and script editor for the BBC, resigning from the latter post on the TV programme Doctor Who in 1986....
. The story is widely dismissed as one of the least popular in the series' long history. In SFX
SFX magazine
SFX is a British magazine covering the topics of science fiction and fantasy.-Description:SFX magazine is published every four weeks by Future Publishing and was founded in 1995. The magazine covers topics in the genres of popular science fiction, fantasy and horror, within the media of films,...
#150 new series executive producer Russell T Davies cites the story as "the beginning of the end" of Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
. A 1997 poll by Doctor Who Magazine
Doctor Who Magazine
Doctor Who Magazine is a magazine devoted to the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
ranked the serial the second worst of all time), while a 2003 poll by fansite Outpost Gallifrey
Outpost Gallifrey
Outpost Gallifrey was a fan website for the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was active as a complete fan site from 1995 until 2007, then existing solely as a portal to the still-active parts of the site, including its news page and forums Outpost Gallifrey was a fan website...
ranked it worst of all. In 2009, another Doctor Who Magazine
Doctor Who Magazine
Doctor Who Magazine is a magazine devoted to the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
poll of the 200 stories produced up to that point saw the serial finish in last place again, along with finishing last in every single age group that voted.
Career
Anthony Steven started his career as a reporter on the Oxford MailOxford Mail
Oxford Mail is a daily tabloid newspaper in Oxford, England owned by Newsquest. It is published six days a week. It is a sister paper to the weekly tabloid The Oxford Times.-History:...
. Later he was discovered by John Grierson
John Grierson
John Grierson was a pioneering Scottish documentary maker, often considered the father of British and Canadian documentary film. According to popular myth, in 1926, Grierson coined the term "documentary" to describe a non-fiction film.-Early life:Grierson was born in Deanston, near Doune, Scotland...
(Founder of the Crown film unit and pioneer of the documentary film as we know it today) who hired him as a writer.
In 1957 Steven joined 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...
. A prolific writer, he wrote many television serials over a period of thirty years. Some of his scripts were original but many were adaptations of notable classical novels, including several episodes of The Forsyte Saga.
Steven's relationship with 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...
ended when he was abruptly sacked. Steven had put his name on the script of a friend who had been turned down repeatedly by the BBC. His friend was penniless, but with Steven's name attached, the script went into production and the struggling writer was paid some much needed money. Unfortunately, Steven told this to a fellow colleague who reported him to senior management. That same afternoon, Steven was informed that his services at 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...
would no longer be required.
Steven went to work for 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...
instead, but would later return to 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...
.
Anthony Steven did not always deliver his scripts on time and certainly exasperated his editors. Considering he refused to use an electric typewriter, it is therefore unlikely that his machine ever “blew up” but it did sometimes break down. The large quantities of cigarette ash that fell into the works sometimes caused it to jam. His son used a combination of metholated spirits and a vacuum cleaner to suck it out.
Anthony Steven was also a noted raconteur. His outrageous stories, based much on his own life, are fondly remembered by those who heard them.