Peter Spence
Encyclopedia
Peter Spence is an English
journalist
and writer
. He is perhaps best known for creating and writing the British sitcom
To the Manor Born
.
, Worcestershire
. At the age of 18, he became a reporter for the Birmingham Post and Mail. Around the same times, he joined the Territorial Army. He studied Politics and American Studies at Nottingham University
and graduated in 1968 and became a professional writer in the same year.
, Crackerjack
and Rosemary & Thyme
. In the mid-1970s, he created To the Manor Born, and after a radio
pilot
was made, the series aired on television from 1979 to 1981. Out of 21 episodes, he wrote 20 of them.
Spence has also written for radio, including Roy Castle Show and Windsor Davies Presents.
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...
journalist
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...
and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
. He is perhaps best known for creating and writing the British sitcom
British sitcom
A British sitcom tends, as it does in most other countries, to be based on a family, workplace or other institution, where the same group of contrasting characters is brought together in each episode. Unlike American sitcoms, where twenty or more episodes in a season is the norm, British sitcoms...
To the Manor Born
To the Manor Born
To the Manor Born is a British sitcom that first aired on BBC1 from 1979 to 1981. A special edition appeared in 2007. Starring Penelope Keith and Peter Bowles, the first 20 episodes and the 2007 special were written by Peter Spence, the creator, while the 1981 finale was written by Christopher...
.
Early life
Born in 1944, Peter Spence was educated at Bromsgrove SchoolBromsgrove School
Bromsgrove School, founded in 1553, is a co-educational independent school in the Worcestershire town of Bromsgrove, England. The school has a long history and many notable former pupils.-History:...
, Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
. At the age of 18, he became a reporter for the Birmingham Post and Mail. Around the same times, he joined the Territorial Army. He studied Politics and American Studies at Nottingham University
University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is a public research university based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, with further campuses in Ningbo, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
and graduated in 1968 and became a professional writer in the same year.
Career
Peter Spence has written for many television shows including Not the Nine O'Clock NewsNot the Nine O'Clock News
Not the Nine O'Clock News is a television comedy sketch show which was broadcast on BBC 2 from 1979 to 1982.Originally shown as a comedy "alternative" to the BBC Nine O'Clock News on BBC 1, it featured satirical sketches on current news stories and popular culture, as well as parody songs, comedy...
, Crackerjack
Crackerjack
Crackerjack was a British children's comedy/variety BBC television series. It started on 14 September 1955 and ran for over 400 shows, first in B&W and later in colour, until 21 December 1984.-Presenters:...
and Rosemary & Thyme
Rosemary & Thyme
Rosemary & Thyme is a British television mystery series that starred Felicity Kendal and Pam Ferris as gardening detectives Rosemary Boxer and Laura Thyme. The show began on ITV in 2003, and the third series ended in August 2007...
. In the mid-1970s, he created To the Manor Born, and after a radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
pilot
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
was made, the series aired on television from 1979 to 1981. Out of 21 episodes, he wrote 20 of them.
Spence has also written for radio, including Roy Castle Show and Windsor Davies Presents.