Douglas Adams - Revision history

Kurt at 12:50, 30 March 2023

2023-03-30T12:50:19Z

Kurt: /* See also */

2022-12-19T22:18:41Z

Kurt: /* External links */

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External links

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	\|viaf=113230702		\|viaf=113230702
	\|label=Douglas Adams}}		\|label=Douglas Adams}}
	* {{Official website}}
	* {{IMDb name}}		* {{IMDb name}}
	* {{British Comedy Guide\|people\|douglas_adams}}		* {{British Comedy Guide\|people\|douglas_adams}}

Kurt: /* References */

2022-10-05T18:54:10Z

References

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	* Felch, Laura (2004). [http://www.bookslut.com/nonfiction/2004_05_002057.php Don't Panic: Douglas Adams and the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Neil Gaiman], May 2004		* Felch, Laura (2004). [http://www.bookslut.com/nonfiction/2004_05_002057.php Don't Panic: Douglas Adams and the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Neil Gaiman], May 2004
	* Ray, Mohit K (2007). ''Atlantic Companion to Literature in English'', Atlantic Publishers and Distributors. {{ISBN\|81-269-0832-7}}		* Ray, Mohit K (2007). ''Atlantic Companion to Literature in English'', Atlantic Publishers and Distributors. {{ISBN\|81-269-0832-7}}
	* {{cite book\|last=Simpson\|first=M. J.\|title=[[Hitchhiker: A Biography of Douglas Adams]]\|year=2003\|publisher=Justin, Charles & Co.\|location=Boston, Mass.\|isbn=1-932112-17-0\|edition=1st}}		* {{cite book\|last=Simpson\|first=M. J.\|title=[[w:Hitchhiker: A Biography of Douglas Adams\|Hitchhiker: A Biography of Douglas Adams]]\|year=2003\|publisher=Justin, Charles & Co.\|location=Boston, Mass.\|isbn=1-932112-17-0\|edition=1st}}
	* Webb, Nick (2005a). ''Wish You Were Here: The Official Biography of Douglas Adams''. Ballantine Books. {{ISBN\|0-345-47650-6}}		* Webb, Nick (2005a). ''Wish You Were Here: The Official Biography of Douglas Adams''. Ballantine Books. {{ISBN\|0-345-47650-6}}
	* Webb, Nick (2005b). [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/75853 "Adams, Douglas Noël (1952–2001)"], ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, January 2005. Retrieved 25 October 2005.		* Webb, Nick (2005b). [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/75853 "Adams, Douglas Noël (1952–2001)"], ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, January 2005. Retrieved 25 October 2005.

Kurt: /* Work on Doctor Who */

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Work on Doctor Who

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	Adams sent the script for the ''HHGG'' pilot radio programme to the ''Doctor Who'' production office in 1978, and was commissioned to write ''[[w:The Pirate Planet\|The Pirate Planet]]''. He had also previously attempted to submit a potential film script, called ''Doctor Who and the Krikkitmen'', which later became his novel ''[[w:Life, the Universe and Everything\|Life]]'' (which in turn became the third ''Hitchhiker's Guide'' radio series). Adams then went on to serve as script editor on the show for its seventeenth season in 1979. Altogether, he wrote three [[w:List of Doctor Who episodes (1963–1989)\|''Doctor Who'' serials]] starring [[w:Tom Baker\|Tom Baker]] as the [[w:Fourth Doctor\|Fourth Doctor]]:		Adams sent the script for the ''HHGG'' pilot radio programme to the ''Doctor Who'' production office in 1978, and was commissioned to write ''[[w:The Pirate Planet\|The Pirate Planet]]''. He had also previously attempted to submit a potential film script, called ''Doctor Who and the Krikkitmen'', which later became his novel ''[[w:Life, the Universe and Everything\|Life]]'' (which in turn became the third ''Hitchhiker's Guide'' radio series). Adams then went on to serve as script editor on the show for its seventeenth season in 1979. Altogether, he wrote three [[w:List of Doctor Who episodes (1963–1989)\|''Doctor Who'' serials]] starring [[w:Tom Baker\|Tom Baker]] as the [[w:Fourth Doctor\|Fourth Doctor]]:

	* ''[[w:The Pirate Planet\|The Pirate Planet]]'' (the second serial in the ''[[w:The Key to Time\|Key to Time]]'' arc, in ''[[w:Doctor Who (season 16)\|season 16]]'')<ref>{{cite book \|title=[[w:The Discontinuity Guide\|The Discontinuity Guide]] \|last1=Cornell \|first1=Paul \|author-link1=w:Paul Cornell \|last2=Day \|first2=Martin \|author-link2=Martin Day (writer) \|last3=Topping \|first3=Keith \|author-link3=w:Keith Topping \|year=1995 \|publisher=[[w:Virgin Books\|Virgin Books]] \|location=London \|isbn=0-426-20442-5 \|chapter=The Pirate Planet\|chapter-url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/pirateplanet/detail.shtml }}</ref>		* ''[[w:The Pirate Planet\|The Pirate Planet]]'' (the second serial in the ''[[w:The Key to Time\|Key to Time]]'' arc, in ''[[w:Doctor Who (season 16)\|season 16]]'')<ref>{{cite book \|title=[[w:The Discontinuity Guide\|The Discontinuity Guide]] \|last1=Cornell \|first1=Paul \|author-link1=w:Paul Cornell \|last2=Day \|first2=Martin \|author-link2=w:Martin Day (writer) \|last3=Topping \|first3=Keith \|author-link3=w:Keith Topping \|year=1995 \|publisher=[[w:Virgin Books\|Virgin Books]] \|location=London \|isbn=0-426-20442-5 \|chapter=The Pirate Planet\|chapter-url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/pirateplanet/detail.shtml }}</ref>
	* ''[[w:City of Death\|City of Death]]'' (with producer [[w:Graham Williams (television producer)\|Graham Williams]], from an original storyline by writer [[w:David Fisher (writer)\|David Fisher]]. It was transmitted under the pseudonym "[[w:David Agnew\|David Agnew]]")<ref>{{cite book \|title=[[w:The Discontinuity Guide\|The Discontinuity Guide]] \|last1=Cornell \|first1=Paul \|author-link1=w:Paul Cornell \|last2=Day \|first2=Martin \|author-link2=w:Martin Day (writer) \|last3=Topping \|first3=Keith \|author-link3=w:Keith Topping \|year=1995 \|publisher=[[w:Virgin Books\|Virgin Books]] \|location=London \|isbn=0-426-20442-5 \|chapter=City of Death\|chapter-url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/cityofdeath/detail.shtml }}</ref>		* ''[[w:City of Death\|City of Death]]'' (with producer [[w:Graham Williams (television producer)\|Graham Williams]], from an original storyline by writer [[w:David Fisher (writer)\|David Fisher]]. It was transmitted under the pseudonym "[[w:David Agnew\|David Agnew]]")<ref>{{cite book \|title=[[w:The Discontinuity Guide\|The Discontinuity Guide]] \|last1=Cornell \|first1=Paul \|author-link1=w:Paul Cornell \|last2=Day \|first2=Martin \|author-link2=w:Martin Day (writer) \|last3=Topping \|first3=Keith \|author-link3=w:Keith Topping \|year=1995 \|publisher=[[w:Virgin Books\|Virgin Books]] \|location=London \|isbn=0-426-20442-5 \|chapter=City of Death\|chapter-url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/cityofdeath/detail.shtml }}</ref>
	* ''[[w:Shada (Doctor Who)\|Shada]]'' (only partially filmed; not televised due to industry disputes, but was later completed using animation for the unfinished scenes and broadcast as "Doctor Who: The Lost Episode" on [[w:BBC America\|BBC America]] 19 July 2018)<ref>{{cite book \|title=[[w:The Discontinuity Guide\|The Discontinuity Guide]] \|last1=Cornell \|first1=Paul \|author-link1=w:Paul Cornell \|last2=Day \|first2=Martin \|author-link2=w:Martin Day (writer) \|last3=Topping \|first3=Keith \|author-link3=w:Keith Topping \|year=1995 \|publisher=[[w:Virgin Books\|Virgin Books]] \|location=London \|isbn=0-426-20442-5 \|chapter=Shada\|chapter-url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/shada/detail.shtml }}</ref>		* ''[[w:Shada (Doctor Who)\|Shada]]'' (only partially filmed; not televised due to industry disputes, but was later completed using animation for the unfinished scenes and broadcast as "Doctor Who: The Lost Episode" on [[w:BBC America\|BBC America]] 19 July 2018)<ref>{{cite book \|title=[[w:The Discontinuity Guide\|The Discontinuity Guide]] \|last1=Cornell \|first1=Paul \|author-link1=w:Paul Cornell \|last2=Day \|first2=Martin \|author-link2=w:Martin Day (writer) \|last3=Topping \|first3=Keith \|author-link3=w:Keith Topping \|year=1995 \|publisher=[[w:Virgin Books\|Virgin Books]] \|location=London \|isbn=0-426-20442-5 \|chapter=Shada\|chapter-url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/shada/detail.shtml }}</ref>
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	Elements of ''Shada'' and ''City of Death'' were reused in Adams's later novel ''[[w:Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency\|Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency]]'', in particular, the character of [[w:Professor Chronotis\|Professor Chronotis]]. [[w:Big Finish Productions\|Big Finish Productions]] eventually remade ''Shada'' as an audio play starring [[w:Paul McGann\|Paul McGann]] as the Doctor. Accompanied by partially animated illustrations, it was [[w:Doctor Who spin-offs#Webcasts\|webcast]] on the [[w:BBC Online\|BBC website]] in 2003, and subsequently released as a two-CD set later that year. An omnibus edition of this version was broadcast on the digital radio station [[w:BBC7\|BBC7]] on 10 December 2005.		Elements of ''Shada'' and ''City of Death'' were reused in Adams's later novel ''[[w:Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency\|Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency]]'', in particular, the character of [[w:Professor Chronotis\|Professor Chronotis]]. [[w:Big Finish Productions\|Big Finish Productions]] eventually remade ''Shada'' as an audio play starring [[w:Paul McGann\|Paul McGann]] as the Doctor. Accompanied by partially animated illustrations, it was [[w:Doctor Who spin-offs#Webcasts\|webcast]] on the [[w:BBC Online\|BBC website]] in 2003, and subsequently released as a two-CD set later that year. An omnibus edition of this version was broadcast on the digital radio station [[w:BBC7\|BBC7]] on 10 December 2005.

	In the ''Doctor Who'' 2012 Christmas episode "[[w:The Snowmen#Production\|The Snowmen]]", writer [[w:Steven Moffat\|Steven Moffat]] was inspired by a storyline that Adams pitched called ''The Doctor Retires''.<ref>{{cite web\|last=Moffat \|first=Steven\|author-link=Steven Moffat\|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2012-12-24/doctor-who-christmas-special-steven-moffat-matt-smith-and-jenna-louise-coleman-reveal-all \|title=Doctor Who Christmas special: Steven Moffat, Matt Smith and Jenna-Louise Coleman reveal all \|work=Radio Times \|date=24 December 2012 \|access-date=8 July 2013}}</ref>		In the ''Doctor Who'' 2012 Christmas episode "[[w:The Snowmen#Production\|The Snowmen]]", writer [[w:Steven Moffat\|Steven Moffat]] was inspired by a storyline that Adams pitched called ''The Doctor Retires''.<ref>{{cite web\|last=Moffat \|first=Steven\|author-link=w:Steven Moffat\|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2012-12-24/doctor-who-christmas-special-steven-moffat-matt-smith-and-jenna-louise-coleman-reveal-all \|title=Doctor Who Christmas special: Steven Moffat, Matt Smith and Jenna-Louise Coleman reveal all \|work=Radio Times \|date=24 December 2012 \|access-date=8 July 2013}}</ref>

	====''The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy''====		====''The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy''====

Kurt: /* The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy */

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The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

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	====''The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy''====		====''The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy''====
	{{Main\|The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy}}		{{Main\|The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy}}
	''The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'' was a concept for a science-fiction comedy radio series pitched by Adams and radio producer [[w:Simon Brett\|Simon Brett]] to [[w:BBC Radio 4\|BBC Radio 4]] in 1977. Adams came up with an outline for a pilot episode, as well as a few other stories (reprinted in [[w:Neil Gaiman\|Neil Gaiman]]'s book ''[[w:Don't Panic: The Official Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Companion]]'') that could be used in the series.		''The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'' was a concept for a science-fiction comedy radio series pitched by Adams and radio producer [[w:Simon Brett\|Simon Brett]] to [[w:BBC Radio 4\|BBC Radio 4]] in 1977. Adams came up with an outline for a pilot episode, as well as a few other stories (reprinted in [[w:Neil Gaiman\|Neil Gaiman]]'s book ''[[w:Don't Panic: The Official Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Companion\|Don't Panic: The Official Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Companion]]'') that could be used in the series.
	[[File:Towelday-Innsbruck.jpg\|thumb\|upright\|[[w:Towel Day\|Towel Day]] 2005 in Innsbruck, Austria, where Adams first had the idea of ''The Hitchhiker's Guide''. In the novels, a towel is the most useful thing a space traveller can have. The annual Towel Day (25 May) was first celebrated in 2001, two weeks after Adams's death.]]		[[File:Towelday-Innsbruck.jpg\|thumb\|upright\|[[w:Towel Day\|Towel Day]] 2005 in Innsbruck, Austria, where Adams first had the idea of ''The Hitchhiker's Guide''. In the novels, a towel is the most useful thing a space traveller can have. The annual Towel Day (25 May) was first celebrated in 2001, two weeks after Adams's death.]]

Kurt: /* The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy */

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The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

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	====''The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy''====		====''The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy''====
	{{Main\|The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy}}		{{Main\|The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy}}
	''The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'' was a concept for a science-fiction comedy radio series pitched by Adams and radio producer [[Simon Brett]] to [[w:BBC Radio 4\|BBC Radio 4]] in 1977. Adams came up with an outline for a pilot episode, as well as a few other stories (reprinted in [[w:Neil Gaiman\|Neil Gaiman]]'s book ''[[w:Don't Panic: The Official Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Companion]]'') that could be used in the series.		''The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'' was a concept for a science-fiction comedy radio series pitched by Adams and radio producer [[w:Simon Brett\|Simon Brett]] to [[w:BBC Radio 4\|BBC Radio 4]] in 1977. Adams came up with an outline for a pilot episode, as well as a few other stories (reprinted in [[w:Neil Gaiman\|Neil Gaiman]]'s book ''[[w:Don't Panic: The Official Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Companion]]'') that could be used in the series.
	[[File:Towelday-Innsbruck.jpg\|thumb\|upright\|[[w:Towel Day\|Towel Day]] 2005 in Innsbruck, Austria, where Adams first had the idea of ''The Hitchhiker's Guide''. In the novels, a towel is the most useful thing a space traveller can have. The annual Towel Day (25 May) was first celebrated in 2001, two weeks after Adams's death.]]		[[File:Towelday-Innsbruck.jpg\|thumb\|upright\|[[w:Towel Day\|Towel Day]] 2005 in Innsbruck, Austria, where Adams first had the idea of ''The Hitchhiker's Guide''. In the novels, a towel is the most useful thing a space traveller can have. The annual Towel Day (25 May) was first celebrated in 2001, two weeks after Adams's death.]]

Kurt: /* Writing */

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Writing

Show changes

Kurt: /* Early life */

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Early life

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	==Early life==		==Early life==
	Adams was born in [[Cambridge]] on 11 March 1952 to Christopher Douglas Adams (1927–1985), a management consultant and computer salesman, former probation officer and lecturer on probationary group therapy techniques, and nurse Janet (1927–2016), née Donovan.<ref>Hitchhiker: A Biography of Douglas Adams, M. J. Simpson, Justin, Charles & Co., 2004, p. 7</ref><ref name=ODNB >Webb 2005b</ref> The family moved a few months after his birth to the [[East End of London]], where his sister, Susan, was born three years later.<ref name=Adams_xix>{{Harvnb\|Adams\|2002\|p=xix}}</ref> His parents divorced in 1957; Douglas, Susan and their mother moved then to an [[RSPCA]] animal shelter in [[Brentwood, Essex]], run by his maternal grandparents.<ref>Webb 2005a, p. 32.</ref> Each remarried, giving Adams four half-siblings. A great-grandfather was the playwright [[Frank Wedekind\|Benjamin Franklin Wedekind]].<ref>Hitchhiker: A Biography of Douglas Adams, M. J. Simpson, Justin, Charles & Co., 2004, pp. 7-8</ref>		Adams was born in [[w:Cambridge\|Cambridge]] on 11 March 1952 to Christopher Douglas Adams (1927–1985), a management consultant and computer salesman, former probation officer and lecturer on probationary group therapy techniques, and nurse Janet (1927–2016), {{née}} Donovan.<ref>Hitchhiker: A Biography of Douglas Adams, M. J. Simpson, Justin, Charles & Co., 2004, p. 7</ref><ref name=ODNB >Webb 2005b</ref> The family moved a few months after his birth to the [[w:East End of London\|East End of London]], where his sister, Susan, was born three years later.<ref name=Adams_xix>{{Harvnb\|Adams\|2002\|p=xix}}</ref> His parents divorced in 1957; Douglas, Susan and their mother moved then to an [[w:RSPCA\|RSPCA]] animal shelter in [[w:Brentwood, Essex\|Brentwood]], run by his maternal grandparents.<ref>Webb 2005a, p. 32.</ref> Each remarried, giving Adams four half-siblings. A great-grandfather was the playwright [[w:Frank Wedekind\|Benjamin Franklin Wedekind]].<ref>Hitchhiker: A Biography of Douglas Adams, M. J. Simpson, Justin, Charles & Co., 2004, pp. 7-8</ref>

	===Education===		===Education===
	Adams attended Primrose Hill Primary School in Brentwood. At the age of nine, he passed the entrance exam for [[Brentwood School (Essex)\|Brentwood School]]. He attended the [[Preparatory school (United Kingdom)\|prep school]] from 1959 to 1964, then the main school until December 1970. Adams was {{convert\|6\|ft\|m}} tall by age 12, and stopped growing at {{convert\|6\|ft\|5\|in\|m}}. His form master, Frank Halford, said that Adams's height had made him stand out and that he had been self-conscious about it.<ref name=Adams_7>{{Harvnb\|Adams\|2002\|p=7}}</ref><ref>Botti, Nicholas. [http://douglasadams.eu/interview-with-frank-halford/ "Interview with Frank Halford"]. ''Life, DNA, and H2G2.'' 2009. Web. Retrieved 13 March 2012. (Click on link at bottom for facsimile page from ''Daily News'' article, 7 March 1998.)</ref> His ability to write stories made him well known in the school.<ref name=Simpson_9>{{Harvnb\|Simpson\|2003\|p=9}}</ref> He became the only student ever to be awarded a ten out of ten by Halford for creative writing – something he remembered for the rest of his life, particularly when facing [[writer's block]].<ref name=Adams_xix />		Adams attended Primrose Hill Primary School in Brentwood. At the age of nine, he passed the entrance exam for [[w:Brentwood School (Essex)\|Brentwood School]]. He attended the [[w:Preparatory school (United Kingdom)\|prep school]] from 1959 to 1964, then the main school until December 1970. Adams was {{convert\|6\|ft\|m}} tall by age 12, and stopped growing at {{convert\|6\|ft\|5\|in\|m}}. His form master, Frank Halford, said that Adams's height had made him stand out and that he had been self-conscious about it.<ref name=Adams_7>{{Harvnb\|Adams\|2002\|p=7}}</ref><ref>Botti, Nicholas. [http://douglasadams.eu/interview-with-frank-halford/ "Interview with Frank Halford"]. ''Life, DNA, and H2G2.'' 2009. Web. Retrieved 13 March 2012. (Click on link at bottom for facsimile page from ''Daily News'' article, 7 March 1998.)</ref> His ability to write stories made him well known in the school.<ref name=Simpson_9>{{Harvnb\|Simpson\|2003\|p=9}}</ref> He became the only student ever to be awarded a ten out of ten by Halford for creative writing – something he remembered for the rest of his life, particularly when facing [[w:writer's block\|writer's block]].<ref name=Adams_xix />

	Some of his earliest writing was published at the school, such as a report on its photography club in ''The Brentwoodian'' in 1962, or spoof reviews in the school magazine ''Broadsheet'', edited by [[Paul Neil Milne Johnstone]], who later became a character in ''The Hitchhiker's Guide''. He also designed the cover of one issue of the ''Broadsheet'', and had a letter and short story published in ''[[Eagle (comic)\|The Eagle]]'', the boys' comic, in 1965. A poem entitled "A Dissertation on the task of writing a poem on a candle and an account of some of the difficulties thereto pertaining" written by Adams in January 1970 at the age of 17, was discovered in a cupboard at the school in early 2014.<ref>Flood, Alison (March 2014). [https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/mar/19/lost-school-poems-douglas-adams-griff-rhys-jones "Lost poems of Douglas Adams and Griff Rhys Jones found in school cupboard"], ''The Guardian'', 19 March 2014. Accessed 2 July 2014</ref>		Some of his earliest writing was published at the school, such as a report on its photography club in ''The Brentwoodian'' in 1962, or spoof reviews in the school magazine ''Broadsheet'', edited by [[w:Paul Neil Milne Johnstone\|Paul Neil Milne Johnstone]], who later became a character in ''The Hitchhiker's Guide''. He also designed the cover of one issue of the ''Broadsheet'', and had a letter and short story published in ''[[w:Eagle (comic)\|The Eagle]]'', the boys' comic, in 1965. A poem entitled "A Dissertation on the task of writing a poem on a candle and an account of some of the difficulties thereto pertaining" written by Adams in January 1970 at the age of 17, was discovered in a cupboard at the school in early 2014.<ref>Flood, Alison (March 2014). [https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/mar/19/lost-school-poems-douglas-adams-griff-rhys-jones "Lost poems of Douglas Adams and Griff Rhys Jones found in school cupboard"], ''The Guardian'', 19 March 2014. Accessed 2 July 2014</ref>

	On the strength of an essay on religious poetry that discussed [[the Beatles]] and [[William Blake]], he was awarded an [[Exhibition (scholarship)\|Exhibition]] in English at [[St John's College, Cambridge]] (where his father had also been a student),<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.joh.cam.ac.uk/douglas-adams-life-universe-0\|title = Douglas Adams: Life in the Universe \| StJohns}}</ref> going up in 1971. He wanted to join the [[Footlights]], an invitation-only student comedy club that has acted as a hothouse for comic talent. He was not elected immediately as he had hoped, and started to write and perform in revues with Will Adams (no relation) and Martin Smith; they formed a group called "Adams-Smith-Adams". He became a member of the Footlights by 1973.<ref name="Simpson_30-40">{{Harvnb\|Simpson\|2003\|pp=30–40}}</ref> Despite doing very little work — he recalled having completed three essays in three years — he graduated in 1974 with a 2:2 in [[English literature]].<ref>{{Cite ODNB\|url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-75853\|title=Adams, Douglas Noël (1952–2001), writer \|year=2004 \|language=en\|doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/75853\|access-date=10 June 2019}}</ref>		On the strength of an essay on religious poetry that discussed [[w:the Beatles\|the Beatles]] and [[w:William Blake\|William Blake]], he was awarded an [[w:Exhibition (scholarship)\|Exhibition]] in English at [[w:St John's College, Cambridge\|St John's College]] (where his father had also been a student),<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.joh.cam.ac.uk/douglas-adams-life-universe-0\|title = Douglas Adams: Life in the Universe \| StJohns}}</ref> going up in 1971. He wanted to join the [[w:Footlights\|Footlights]], an invitation-only student comedy club that has acted as a hothouse for comic talent. He was not elected immediately as he had hoped, and started to write and perform in revues with Will Adams (no relation) and Martin Smith; they formed a group called "Adams-Smith-Adams". He became a member of the Footlights by 1973.<ref name="Simpson_30-40">{{Harvnb\|Simpson\|2003\|pp=30–40}}</ref> Despite doing very little work — he recalled having completed three essays in three years — he graduated in 1974 with a 2:2 in [[w:English literature\|English literature]].<ref>{{Cite ODNB\|url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-75853\|title=Adams, Douglas Noël (1952–2001), writer \|year=2004 \|language=en\|doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/75853\|access-date=10 June 2019}}</ref>

	==Career==		==Career==

Kurt at 18:29, 5 October 2022

2022-10-05T18:29:08Z

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	Adams also wrote ''[[w:Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency\|Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency]]'' (1987) and ''[[w:The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul\|The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul]]'' (1988), and co-wrote ''[[w:The Meaning of Liff\|The Meaning of Liff]]'' (1983), ''[[w:The Deeper Meaning of Liff\|The Deeper Meaning of Liff]]'' (1990), and ''[[w:Last Chance to See\|Last Chance to See]]'' (1990). He wrote two stories for the television series ''[[w:Doctor Who\|Doctor Who]]'', co-wrote ''[[w:City of Death\|City of Death]]'' (1979), and served as script editor for its [[w:Doctor Who (season 17)\|seventeenth season]]. He co-wrote the sketch "[[w:Patient Abuse\|Patient Abuse]]" for the final episode of ''[[Monty Python's Flying Circus]]''. A posthumous collection of his selected works, including the first publication of his final (unfinished) novel, was published as ''[[w:The Salmon of Doubt\|The Salmon of Doubt]]'' in 2002.		Adams also wrote ''[[w:Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency\|Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency]]'' (1987) and ''[[w:The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul\|The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul]]'' (1988), and co-wrote ''[[w:The Meaning of Liff\|The Meaning of Liff]]'' (1983), ''[[w:The Deeper Meaning of Liff\|The Deeper Meaning of Liff]]'' (1990), and ''[[w:Last Chance to See\|Last Chance to See]]'' (1990). He wrote two stories for the television series ''[[w:Doctor Who\|Doctor Who]]'', co-wrote ''[[w:City of Death\|City of Death]]'' (1979), and served as script editor for its [[w:Doctor Who (season 17)\|seventeenth season]]. He co-wrote the sketch "[[w:Patient Abuse\|Patient Abuse]]" for the final episode of ''[[Monty Python's Flying Circus]]''. A posthumous collection of his selected works, including the first publication of his final (unfinished) novel, was published as ''[[w:The Salmon of Doubt\|The Salmon of Doubt]]'' in 2002.

	Adams was an advocate for environmentalism and conservation, a lover of fast cars,<ref name=TI>{{cite web\|work=[[The Independent]]\|title=Douglas Adams: Master of his universe\|date=19 April 2005\|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/douglas-adams-master-of-his-universe-495422.html}}</ref> technological innovation and the [[w:Macintosh\|Apple Macintosh]], and a self-proclaimed "radical atheist".		Adams was an advocate for environmentalism and conservation, a lover of fast cars,<ref name=TI>{{cite web\|work=[[w:The Independent\|The Independent]]\|title=Douglas Adams: Master of his universe\|date=19 April 2005\|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/douglas-adams-master-of-his-universe-495422.html}}</ref> technological innovation and the [[w:Macintosh\|Apple Macintosh]], and a self-proclaimed "radical atheist".

	==Early life==		==Early life==
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	==External links==		==External links==
	~~{{Commons category}}~~
	~~{{Wikiquote}}~~
	{{Library resources box		{{Library resources box
	\|by=yes		\|by=yes
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	{{s-start}}		{{s-start}}
	{{s-bef\|before= [[Anthony Read]]}}		{{s-bef\|before= [[w:Anthony Read\|Anthony Read]]}}
	{{s-ttl\|title=''[[Doctor Who]]'' script editor\|years=1979–80}}		{{s-ttl\|title=''[[w:Doctor Who\|Doctor Who]]'' script editor\|years=1979–80}}
	{{s-aft\|after= [[Christopher H. Bidmead]]}}		{{s-aft\|after= [[w:Christopher H. Bidmead\|Christopher H. Bidmead]]}}
	{{s-end}}		{{s-end}}
	{{Douglas Adams}}		{{Douglas Adams}}
	{{HitchhikerBooks}}		{{HitchhikerBooks}}
	{{Dirk Gently}}		{{Dirk Gently}}
	~~{{Infocom games}}~~
	~~{{Inkpot Award 1980s}}~~
	~~{{Authority control}}~~

	{{DEFAULTSORT:Adams, Douglas}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Adams, Douglas}}
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	[[Category:21st-century English novelists]]		[[Category:21st-century English novelists]]
	[[Category:20th-century English screenwriters]]		[[Category:20th-century English screenwriters]]
	~~[[Category:Alumni of St John's College, Cambridge]]~~
	~~[[Category:Apple Inc. people]]~~
	[[Category:Audiobook narrators]]		[[Category:Audiobook narrators]]
	[[Category:BBC radio producers]]		[[Category:BBC radio producers]]
	[[Category:British atheism activists]]		[[Category:British atheism activists]]
	~~[[Category:British child writers]]~~
	[[Category:Burials at Highgate Cemetery]]		[[Category:Burials at Highgate Cemetery]]
	[[Category:English atheists]]		[[Category:English atheists]]
	[[Category:English comedy writers]]		[[Category:English comedy writers]]
	~~[[Category:English essayists]]~~
	~~[[Category:English humanists]]~~
	[[Category:English humorists]]		[[Category:English humorists]]
	[[Category:English radio writers]]		[[Category:English radio writers]]
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	[[Category:English social commentators]]		[[Category:English social commentators]]
	[[Category:English television writers]]		[[Category:English television writers]]
	~~[[Category:Infocom]]~~
	~~[[Category:Inkpot Award winners]]~~
	[[Category:Interactive fiction writers]]		[[Category:Interactive fiction writers]]
	[[Category:British male television writers]]		[[Category:British male television writers]]
	~~[[Category:Monty Python]]~~
	~~[[Category:Non-fiction environmental writers]]~~
	[[Category:People educated at Brentwood School, Essex]]		[[Category:People educated at Brentwood School, Essex]]
	[[Category:People from Cambridge]]		[[Category:People from Cambridge]]
	[[Category:Usenet people]]		[[Category:Usenet people]]
	[[Category:Weird fiction writers]]		[[Category:Weird fiction writers]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:18, 19 December 2022
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	\|[[w:BBC America\|BBC America]]		\|[[w:BBC America\|BBC America]]
	\|}		\|}

	~~==See also==~~
	* [[w:List of animal rights advocates\|List of animal rights advocates]]

	==Notes==		==Notes==

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:52, 5 October 2022
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	Adams sent the script for the ''HHGG'' pilot radio programme to the ''Doctor Who'' production office in 1978, and was commissioned to write ''[[w:The Pirate Planet\|The Pirate Planet]]''. He had also previously attempted to submit a potential film script, called ''Doctor Who and the Krikkitmen'', which later became his novel ''[[w:Life, the Universe and Everything\|Life]]'' (which in turn became the third ''Hitchhiker's Guide'' radio series). Adams then went on to serve as script editor on the show for its seventeenth season in 1979. Altogether, he wrote three [[w:List of Doctor Who episodes (1963–1989)\|''Doctor Who'' serials]] starring [[w:Tom Baker\|Tom Baker]] as the [[w:Fourth Doctor\|Fourth Doctor]]:		Adams sent the script for the ''HHGG'' pilot radio programme to the ''Doctor Who'' production office in 1978, and was commissioned to write ''[[w:The Pirate Planet\|The Pirate Planet]]''. He had also previously attempted to submit a potential film script, called ''Doctor Who and the Krikkitmen'', which later became his novel ''[[w:Life, the Universe and Everything\|Life]]'' (which in turn became the third ''Hitchhiker's Guide'' radio series). Adams then went on to serve as script editor on the show for its seventeenth season in 1979. Altogether, he wrote three [[w:List of Doctor Who episodes (1963–1989)\|''Doctor Who'' serials]] starring [[w:Tom Baker\|Tom Baker]] as the [[w:Fourth Doctor\|Fourth Doctor]]:

	* ''[[w:The Pirate Planet\|The Pirate Planet]]'' (the second serial in the ''[[w:The Key to Time\|Key to Time]]'' arc, in ''[[w:Doctor Who (season 16)\|season 16]]'')<ref>{{cite book \|title=[[w:The Discontinuity Guide\|The Discontinuity Guide]] \|last1=Cornell \|first1=Paul \|author-link1=w:Paul Cornell \|last2=Day \|first2=Martin \|author-link2=Martin Day (writer) \|last3=Topping \|first3=Keith \|author-link3=w:Keith Topping \|year=1995 \|publisher=[[w:Virgin Books\|Virgin Books]] \|location=London \|isbn=0-426-20442-5 \|chapter=The Pirate Planet\|chapter-url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/pirateplanet/detail.shtml }}</ref>		* ''[[w:The Pirate Planet\|The Pirate Planet]]'' (the second serial in the ''[[w:The Key to Time\|Key to Time]]'' arc, in ''[[w:Doctor Who (season 16)\|season 16]]'')<ref>{{cite book \|title=[[w:The Discontinuity Guide\|The Discontinuity Guide]] \|last1=Cornell \|first1=Paul \|author-link1=w:Paul Cornell \|last2=Day \|first2=Martin \|author-link2=w:Martin Day (writer) \|last3=Topping \|first3=Keith \|author-link3=w:Keith Topping \|year=1995 \|publisher=[[w:Virgin Books\|Virgin Books]] \|location=London \|isbn=0-426-20442-5 \|chapter=The Pirate Planet\|chapter-url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/pirateplanet/detail.shtml }}</ref>
	* ''[[w:City of Death\|City of Death]]'' (with producer [[w:Graham Williams (television producer)\|Graham Williams]], from an original storyline by writer [[w:David Fisher (writer)\|David Fisher]]. It was transmitted under the pseudonym "[[w:David Agnew\|David Agnew]]")<ref>{{cite book \|title=[[w:The Discontinuity Guide\|The Discontinuity Guide]] \|last1=Cornell \|first1=Paul \|author-link1=w:Paul Cornell \|last2=Day \|first2=Martin \|author-link2=w:Martin Day (writer) \|last3=Topping \|first3=Keith \|author-link3=w:Keith Topping \|year=1995 \|publisher=[[w:Virgin Books\|Virgin Books]] \|location=London \|isbn=0-426-20442-5 \|chapter=City of Death\|chapter-url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/cityofdeath/detail.shtml }}</ref>		* ''[[w:City of Death\|City of Death]]'' (with producer [[w:Graham Williams (television producer)\|Graham Williams]], from an original storyline by writer [[w:David Fisher (writer)\|David Fisher]]. It was transmitted under the pseudonym "[[w:David Agnew\|David Agnew]]")<ref>{{cite book \|title=[[w:The Discontinuity Guide\|The Discontinuity Guide]] \|last1=Cornell \|first1=Paul \|author-link1=w:Paul Cornell \|last2=Day \|first2=Martin \|author-link2=w:Martin Day (writer) \|last3=Topping \|first3=Keith \|author-link3=w:Keith Topping \|year=1995 \|publisher=[[w:Virgin Books\|Virgin Books]] \|location=London \|isbn=0-426-20442-5 \|chapter=City of Death\|chapter-url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/cityofdeath/detail.shtml }}</ref>
	* ''[[w:Shada (Doctor Who)\|Shada]]'' (only partially filmed; not televised due to industry disputes, but was later completed using animation for the unfinished scenes and broadcast as "Doctor Who: The Lost Episode" on [[w:BBC America\|BBC America]] 19 July 2018)<ref>{{cite book \|title=[[w:The Discontinuity Guide\|The Discontinuity Guide]] \|last1=Cornell \|first1=Paul \|author-link1=w:Paul Cornell \|last2=Day \|first2=Martin \|author-link2=w:Martin Day (writer) \|last3=Topping \|first3=Keith \|author-link3=w:Keith Topping \|year=1995 \|publisher=[[w:Virgin Books\|Virgin Books]] \|location=London \|isbn=0-426-20442-5 \|chapter=Shada\|chapter-url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/shada/detail.shtml }}</ref>		* ''[[w:Shada (Doctor Who)\|Shada]]'' (only partially filmed; not televised due to industry disputes, but was later completed using animation for the unfinished scenes and broadcast as "Doctor Who: The Lost Episode" on [[w:BBC America\|BBC America]] 19 July 2018)<ref>{{cite book \|title=[[w:The Discontinuity Guide\|The Discontinuity Guide]] \|last1=Cornell \|first1=Paul \|author-link1=w:Paul Cornell \|last2=Day \|first2=Martin \|author-link2=w:Martin Day (writer) \|last3=Topping \|first3=Keith \|author-link3=w:Keith Topping \|year=1995 \|publisher=[[w:Virgin Books\|Virgin Books]] \|location=London \|isbn=0-426-20442-5 \|chapter=Shada\|chapter-url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/shada/detail.shtml }}</ref>
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	Elements of ''Shada'' and ''City of Death'' were reused in Adams's later novel ''[[w:Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency\|Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency]]'', in particular, the character of [[w:Professor Chronotis\|Professor Chronotis]]. [[w:Big Finish Productions\|Big Finish Productions]] eventually remade ''Shada'' as an audio play starring [[w:Paul McGann\|Paul McGann]] as the Doctor. Accompanied by partially animated illustrations, it was [[w:Doctor Who spin-offs#Webcasts\|webcast]] on the [[w:BBC Online\|BBC website]] in 2003, and subsequently released as a two-CD set later that year. An omnibus edition of this version was broadcast on the digital radio station [[w:BBC7\|BBC7]] on 10 December 2005.		Elements of ''Shada'' and ''City of Death'' were reused in Adams's later novel ''[[w:Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency\|Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency]]'', in particular, the character of [[w:Professor Chronotis\|Professor Chronotis]]. [[w:Big Finish Productions\|Big Finish Productions]] eventually remade ''Shada'' as an audio play starring [[w:Paul McGann\|Paul McGann]] as the Doctor. Accompanied by partially animated illustrations, it was [[w:Doctor Who spin-offs#Webcasts\|webcast]] on the [[w:BBC Online\|BBC website]] in 2003, and subsequently released as a two-CD set later that year. An omnibus edition of this version was broadcast on the digital radio station [[w:BBC7\|BBC7]] on 10 December 2005.

	In the ''Doctor Who'' 2012 Christmas episode "[[w:The Snowmen#Production\|The Snowmen]]", writer [[w:Steven Moffat\|Steven Moffat]] was inspired by a storyline that Adams pitched called ''The Doctor Retires''.<ref>{{cite web\|last=Moffat \|first=Steven\|author-link=Steven Moffat\|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2012-12-24/doctor-who-christmas-special-steven-moffat-matt-smith-and-jenna-louise-coleman-reveal-all \|title=Doctor Who Christmas special: Steven Moffat, Matt Smith and Jenna-Louise Coleman reveal all \|work=Radio Times \|date=24 December 2012 \|access-date=8 July 2013}}</ref>		In the ''Doctor Who'' 2012 Christmas episode "[[w:The Snowmen#Production\|The Snowmen]]", writer [[w:Steven Moffat\|Steven Moffat]] was inspired by a storyline that Adams pitched called ''The Doctor Retires''.<ref>{{cite web\|last=Moffat \|first=Steven\|author-link=w:Steven Moffat\|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2012-12-24/doctor-who-christmas-special-steven-moffat-matt-smith-and-jenna-louise-coleman-reveal-all \|title=Doctor Who Christmas special: Steven Moffat, Matt Smith and Jenna-Louise Coleman reveal all \|work=Radio Times \|date=24 December 2012 \|access-date=8 July 2013}}</ref>

	====''The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy''====		====''The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy''====