Writing for radio
Having sold some radio sketches and my first radio play, I was commissioned to write another Afternoon Theatre followed by four 15-minute plays for the late night series “Just Before Midnight.”
I was still acting during that period, but then came crunch time.
There was a vacancy on the writing team for “The Dales” formerly “Mrs. Dale’s Diary”.
Jessie Mathews and Charles Simon had taken over as Doctor and Mrs. Dale and the series had been moved away from its cosy setting to an industrial town.
I was still acting during that period, but then came crunch time.
There was a vacancy on the writing team for “The Dales” formerly “Mrs. Dale’s Diary”.
Jessie Mathews and Charles Simon had taken over as Doctor and Mrs. Dale and the series had been moved away from its cosy setting to an industrial town.
The producer, Keith Williams, was looking for “new blood” to update the serial. He invited some “promising young writers” to do some test episodes, for which we were paid the lordly sum of seven guineas. I was one of the contestants. Tom Stoppard was another. I got the job. And Tom went off to write “Rosencrantz and Guildernstern.”
Being offered regular writing work on “The Dales” coincided with a tempting offer of a part in a new TV series. I knew I could no longer do both. The time had come to choose between my two careers. And so, in my mid-20s I became a full-time writer.
Being offered regular writing work on “The Dales” coincided with a tempting offer of a part in a new TV series. I knew I could no longer do both. The time had come to choose between my two careers. And so, in my mid-20s I became a full-time writer.
The Dales script conference - with producer, Keith Williams
Recording The Dales
I continued to write for The Dales until its demise in 1969. There was an outcry when it came off. Questions were even asked in the House of Commons.
But the BBC reckoned it was time for a new serial. Alan Downer and I were asked to develop the replacement, set in Belsize Park, and with younger characters. Its title was "Waggoners’ Walk".
But the BBC reckoned it was time for a new serial. Alan Downer and I were asked to develop the replacement, set in Belsize Park, and with younger characters. Its title was "Waggoners’ Walk".
After a sticky start Waggoners’ Walk gathered its own audience. Alan and I remained on the writing team throughout its eleven year run.
Newly married and with a student husband and a baby son (Ben) I was glad of the security. It only involved two weeks work a month, so gave me the opportunity to write more radio plays between my stints. Most of these had strong themes and parts for women.
I also started to write suspense plays including “Remember Me” which won a Giles Cooper award for Best Radio Plays.
I loved writing for radio and had no ambition then to move into television. But when Waggoners’ Walk was in its turn unexpectedly taken off in the savage cutbacks to Radio 4 in 1980 – my career took a new turn.
I also started to write suspense plays including “Remember Me” which won a Giles Cooper award for Best Radio Plays.
I loved writing for radio and had no ambition then to move into television. But when Waggoners’ Walk was in its turn unexpectedly taken off in the savage cutbacks to Radio 4 in 1980 – my career took a new turn.
A list of my radio writing credits can be found on the Diversity website: http://www.suttonelms.org.uk/JH.HTML
