Biography

Prolific British TV dramatist and occasional screenwriter, a former teacher. Often drew from his own political experiences and working-class upbringing. He was an ardent socialist, yet fascinated by the aristocracy. He also had a long-standing interest in psychiatry.

He was bedeviled by alcoholism for most of his adult life; it sometimes made him violent and cost him many friends, as well as bringing his first marriage to an acrimonious close.

It was not until eight years after his early death that his final TV play was actually produced for television.