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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