Denis Pitts
Encyclopedia
Denis Pitts journalist
, film-maker and novelist.
Denis Pitts first became widely known for his reports on the Suez Crisis
and his subsequent articles in the New Statesman
. In Suez he made the acquaintance of Michael Parkinson
, who at the time was in charge of liaising with the press, and they would later work together for the Granada regional news programme, Scene at 6.30. While at Granada he wrote an episode of Coronation Street
http://www.corrie.net/profiles/staff/writers.html and did a series of interviews with Clement Attlee
which the former prime minister agreed to if published posthumously.
He continued to work in television making a film called ‘What the Hell Happens in Marlborough?’ which caused a stir locally. He went on to make ‘The World of Gracie Fields
’ and ‘The World of Bob Hope
’ for the BBC. Gracie Fields revealed marital problems, also for posthumous publication, which he wrote up for the People
. While making the Bob Hope film, he filmed the anti-Vietnam protest at Kent State University in which the National Guard killed four students.
He published three novels. This City is Ours (US title: Target Manhattan) about a native American hijacking of a ship in New York harbour, The Predator which told the story of a wealthy businessman kidnapping Common Market leaders during a summit and which includes a long section set during the Suez Crisis. The last one, Rogue Hercules, tells of amoral pilots carrying a plane load of arms over southern African countries in search of a buyer,
He was a senior editor for Chronicle yearbooks, Chronicle of the 20th Century and Chronicle of the World.
His Guardian obituary called him a ‘Fresh Breeze in Moscow’, relating to his stint working as the correspondent there for the Daily Express
.
Much earlier in his career he was the last editor of Lilliput (magazine)
http://users.ev1.net/~homeville/fictionmag/s1128.htm#A45982 where he gave cartoonist, John Glashan
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,3876318,00.html
his break.
His views on the death of Grace Archer
in the radio soap, The Archers, are quoted by Greg Dyke
in his McTaggart Lecture of 2000http://www.bbc.com/pressoffice/speeches/stories/dyke_mactaggart2000.shtml.
His BBC Guide to Comedy link.http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/talent/p/pitts_denis.shtml
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, film-maker and novelist.
Denis Pitts first became widely known for his reports on the Suez Crisis
Suez Crisis
The Suez Crisis, also referred to as the Tripartite Aggression, Suez War was an offensive war fought by France, the United Kingdom, and Israel against Egypt beginning on 29 October 1956. Less than a day after Israel invaded Egypt, Britain and France issued a joint ultimatum to Egypt and Israel,...
and his subsequent articles in 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....
. In Suez he made the acquaintance of Michael Parkinson
Michael Parkinson
Sir Michael Parkinson, CBE is an English broadcaster, journalist and author. He presented his interview programme, Parkinson, from 1971 to 1982 and from 1998 to 2007.- Early life :...
, who at the time was in charge of liaising with the press, and they would later work together for the Granada regional news programme, Scene at 6.30. While at Granada he wrote an episode of Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
http://www.corrie.net/profiles/staff/writers.html and did a series of interviews with Clement Attlee
Clement Attlee
Clement Richard Attlee, 1st Earl Attlee, KG, OM, CH, PC, FRS was a British Labour politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1945 to 1951, and as the Leader of the Labour Party from 1935 to 1955...
which the former prime minister agreed to if published posthumously.
He continued to work in television making a film called ‘What the Hell Happens in Marlborough?’ which caused a stir locally. He went on to make ‘The World of Gracie Fields
Gracie Fields
Dame Gracie Fields, DBE , was an English-born, later Italian-based actress, singer and comedienne and star of both cinema and music hall.-Early life:...
’ and ‘The World of Bob Hope
Bob Hope
Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel...
’ for the BBC. Gracie Fields revealed marital problems, also for posthumous publication, which he wrote up for the People
The People
The People, previously known as the Sunday People, is a British tabloid Sunday-only newspaper. The paper was founded on 16 October 1881.It is published by the Trinity Mirror Group.In July 2011 it had an average daily circulation of 806,544....
. While making the Bob Hope film, he filmed the anti-Vietnam protest at Kent State University in which the National Guard killed four students.
He published three novels. This City is Ours (US title: Target Manhattan) about a native American hijacking of a ship in New York harbour, The Predator which told the story of a wealthy businessman kidnapping Common Market leaders during a summit and which includes a long section set during the Suez Crisis. The last one, Rogue Hercules, tells of amoral pilots carrying a plane load of arms over southern African countries in search of a buyer,
He was a senior editor for Chronicle yearbooks, Chronicle of the 20th Century and Chronicle of the World.
His Guardian obituary called him a ‘Fresh Breeze in Moscow’, relating to his stint working as the correspondent there for the Daily Express
Daily Express
The Daily Express switched from broadsheet to tabloid in 1977 and was bought by the construction company Trafalgar House in the same year. Its publishing company, Beaverbrook Newspapers, was renamed Express Newspapers...
.
Much earlier in his career he was the last editor of Lilliput (magazine)
Lilliput (magazine)
Lilliput was a small-format British monthly magazine of humour, short stories, photographs and the arts, founded in 1937 by the photojournalist Stefan Lorant. The first issue came out in July and it was sold shortly after to Edward Hulton, when editorship was taken over by Tom Hopkinson in 1940....
http://users.ev1.net/~homeville/fictionmag/s1128.htm#A45982 where he gave cartoonist, John Glashan
John Glashan
John Glashan was a Scottish cartoonist, illustrator and playwright. He was the creator of the "Genius" cartoons....
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,3876318,00.html
his break.
His views on the death of Grace Archer
Grace Archer
Grace Archer née Fairbrother was a fictional character in the BBC's long-running radio soap, The Archers, and was one of the original characters. She was played by Ysanne Churchman...
in the radio soap, The Archers, are quoted by Greg Dyke
Greg Dyke
Gregory "Greg" Dyke is a British media executive, journalist and broadcaster. Since the 1960s, Dyke has a long career in the UK in print and then broadcast journalism. He is credited with introducing 'tabloid' television to British broadcasting, and reviving the ratings of TV-am...
in his McTaggart Lecture of 2000http://www.bbc.com/pressoffice/speeches/stories/dyke_mactaggart2000.shtml.
His BBC Guide to Comedy link.http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/talent/p/pitts_denis.shtml