John Sullivan (writer) - Revision history

Kurt at 04:47, 12 February 2023

2023-02-12T04:47:46Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:47, 11 February 2023
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	~~{{short description\|English television scriptwriter}}~~

	~~{{Use British English\|date=August 2011}}~~
	~~{{Use dmy dates\|date=September 2021}}~~
	{{Infobox writer		{{Infobox writer
	\|name = John Sullivan <br /> <small>[[w:Order of the British Empire\|OBE]]</small>		\|name = John Sullivan <br /> <small>[[Order of the British Empire\|OBE]]</small>
	\|birth_name = {{nowrap\|John Richard Thomas Sullivan}}		\|birth_name = {{nowrap\|John Richard Thomas Sullivan}}
	\|image = JohnSullivan1.jpg		\|image = JohnSullivan1.jpg
	\|caption = Sullivan in 2010		\|caption = Sullivan in 2010
	\|birth_date = {{Birth date\|df=y\|1946\|12\|23}}<ref name=BFI>{{cite web\|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/578834\|title=BFI Screenonline: Sullivan, John (1946–2011) Biography\|website=Screenonline.org.uk\|access-date=26 April 2018\|url-status=live\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222162606/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/578834/\|archive-date=22 February 2017}}</ref>		\|birth_date = {{Birth date\|df=y\|1946\|12\|23}}<ref name=BFI>{{cite web\|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/578834\|title=BFI Screenonline: Sullivan, John (1946–2011) Biography\|website=Screenonline.org.uk\|access-date=26 April 2018\|url-status=live\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222162606/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/578834/\|archive-date=22 February 2017}}</ref>
	\|birth_place = [[w:Balham\|Balham]], [[w:South London\|South London]], England<ref name=BFI/>		\|birth_place = [[Balham\|Balham]], [[South London\|South London]], England<ref name=BFI/>
	\|death_date = {{Death date and age\|df=y\|2011\|4\|22\|1946\|12\|23}}		\|death_date = {{Death date and age\|df=y\|2011\|4\|22\|1946\|12\|23}}
	\|death_place = [[w:Surrey\|Surrey]], England		\|death_place = [[Surrey\|Surrey]], England
	\|period = 1977–2011		\|period = 1977–2011
	\|notableworks = <div class="plainlist nowrap">		\|notableworks = <div class="plainlist nowrap">
	* {{Smaller\|2010–2011}} ''[[w:Rock & Chips\|Rock & Chips]]''		* {{Smaller\|2010–2011}} ''[[Rock & Chips\|Rock & Chips]]''
	* {{Smaller\|2005–2009}} ''[[w:The Green Green Grass\|The Green Green Grass]]''		* {{Smaller\|2005–2009}} ''[[The Green Green Grass\|The Green Green Grass]]''
	* {{Smaller\|1996–2003}} ''[[w:Roger Roger\|Roger Roger]]''		* {{Smaller\|1996–2003}} ''[[Roger Roger\|Roger Roger]]''
	* {{Smaller\|1986–1987}} ''[[Dear John (UK TV series)\|Dear John]]''		* {{Smaller\|1986–1987}} ''[[Dear John (UK TV series)\|Dear John]]''
	* {{Smaller\|1983–1986}} ''[[Just Good Friends]]''		* {{Smaller\|1983–1986}} ''[[Just Good Friends]]''
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	\|occupation = Screenwriter		\|occupation = Screenwriter
	\|spouse = {{marriage\|Sharon Usher\|1974}}		\|spouse = {{marriage\|Sharon Usher\|1974}}
	\|children = 3, including [[w:Jim Sullivan (writer)\|Jim]]		\|children = 3, including [[Jim Sullivan (writer)\|Jim]]
	}}		}}
	'''John Richard Thomas Sullivan''' [[w:Officer of the Order of the British Empire\|OBE]] (23 December 1946 – 22 April 2011) was an English television scriptwriter responsible for several [[w:British sitcom\|British sitcom]]s, including ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]'', ''[[Citizen Smith]]'' and ''[[Just Good Friends]]''.		'''John Richard Thomas Sullivan''' [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire\|OBE]] (23 December 1946 – 22 April 2011) was an English television scriptwriter responsible for several [[British sitcom\|British sitcom]]s, including ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]'', ''[[Citizen Smith]]'' and ''[[Just Good Friends]]''.

	==Biography==		==Biography==
	John Sullivan was born at 35 Zennor Road, Balham, London, on 23 December 1946.<ref name="ODNB">{{Cite ODNB\|id=103877\|title=Sullivan, John Richard Thomas (1946–2011)}}</ref> His Irish-born father was John Patrick Sullivan, (17 March 1908 – September 1993), a plumber, and his mother was Hilda Clara May, née Parker (23 December 1907 – December 1992), a cleaner.<ref name="ODNB"/>		John Sullivan was born at 35 Zennor Road, Balham, London, on 23 December 1946.<ref name="ODNB">{{Cite ODNB\|id=103877\|title=Sullivan, John Richard Thomas (1946–2011)}}</ref> His Irish-born father was John Patrick Sullivan, (17 March 1908 – September 1993), a plumber, and his mother was Hilda Clara May, née Parker (23 December 1907 – December 1992), a cleaner.<ref name="ODNB"/>

	From working-class [[w:South London\|South London]], Sullivan worked in a variety of low-paid jobs for 15 years before getting his first break writing sketches for ''[[The Two Ronnies]]'', which led to writing the sitcom ''[[Citizen Smith]]'' (1977–1980). However, it was the sitcom ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]'' (1981–2003) that he is best known for. Other sitcoms include ''[[Dear John (UK TV series)\|Dear John]]'', ''[[Just Good Friends]]'', ''[[Sitting Pretty (TV series)\|Sitting Pretty]]'', ''[[Roger Roger]]'', and ''[[The Green Green Grass]]''.<ref name=BFI/> In addition, he wrote the comedy drama serial ''Over Here'' and the drama series ''[[Micawber (television)\|Micawber]]'' for ITV, and co-wrote the comedy ''[[Heartburn Hotel]]''. His work won him a number of comedy awards, including the [[British Academy Television Awards\|BAFTA]] for best sitcom on three occasions, and he was made an [[Order of the British Empire\|OBE]] in 2005. His last work was ''[[Rock & Chips]]'', a comedy drama prequel to ''Only Fools and Horses''. The final episode of Sullivan's last comedy series aired six days after his death from [[pneumonia]] on 22 April 2011.<ref name=deathannouncement/>		From working-class [[South London\|South London]], Sullivan worked in a variety of low-paid jobs for 15 years before getting his first break writing sketches for ''[[The Two Ronnies]]'', which led to writing the sitcom ''[[Citizen Smith]]'' (1977–1980). However, it was the sitcom ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]'' (1981–2003) that he is best known for. Other sitcoms include ''[[Dear John (UK TV series)\|Dear John]]'', ''[[Just Good Friends]]'', ''[[Sitting Pretty (TV series)\|Sitting Pretty]]'', ''[[Roger Roger]]'', and ''[[The Green Green Grass]]''.<ref name=BFI/> In addition, he wrote the comedy drama serial ''Over Here'' and the drama series ''[[Micawber (television)\|Micawber]]'' for ITV, and co-wrote the comedy ''[[Heartburn Hotel]]''. His work won him a number of comedy awards, including the [[British Academy Television Awards\|BAFTA]] for best sitcom on three occasions, and he was made an [[Order of the British Empire\|OBE]] in 2005. His last work was ''[[Rock & Chips]]'', a comedy drama prequel to ''Only Fools and Horses''. The final episode of Sullivan's last comedy series aired six days after his death from [[pneumonia]] on 22 April 2011.<ref name=deathannouncement/>

	To remember Sullivan's work, the BBC broadcast "[[A Touch of Glass]]", the episode of ''Only Fools and Horses'' in which the Trotters drop a [[chandelier]] while cleaning it for an upper-class family. They also showed "Top 40 ''Only Fools and Horses'' Moments". The episode, "[[A Touch of Glass]]", was voted number 2, losing to when [[Del Boy]] ([[David Jason]]) falls through an open bar in "[[Yuppy Love]]".		To remember Sullivan's work, the BBC broadcast "[[A Touch of Glass]]", the episode of ''Only Fools and Horses'' in which the Trotters drop a [[chandelier]] while cleaning it for an upper-class family. They also showed "Top 40 ''Only Fools and Horses'' Moments". The episode, "[[A Touch of Glass]]", was voted number 2, losing to when [[Del Boy]] ([[David Jason]]) falls through an open bar in "[[Yuppy Love]]".
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	==Awards and honours==		==Awards and honours==
	''Only Fools and Horses'' won the [[w:BAFTA\|BAFTA]] award for best comedy series in 1986, 1989 and 1997, as well as the [[w:Royal Television Society\|RTS]] best comedy award in 1997, best sitcom at the 1990 [[w:British Comedy Awards\|British Comedy Awards]], and two [[w:Television and Radio Industries Club\|Television and Radio Industries Club Awards]] for comedy programme of the year in 1984 and 1997. Sullivan won the [[w:Writers' Guild of Great Britain\|Writers' Guild of Great Britain]] comedy award for the 1996 ''Only Fools and Horses'' Christmas trilogy and another from the [[w:Heritage Foundation\|Heritage Foundation]] in 2001.		''Only Fools and Horses'' won the [[BAFTA\|BAFTA]] award for best comedy series in 1986, 1989 and 1997, as well as the [[Royal Television Society\|RTS]] best comedy award in 1997, best sitcom at the 1990 [[British Comedy Awards\|British Comedy Awards]], and two [[Television and Radio Industries Club\|Television and Radio Industries Club Awards]] for comedy programme of the year in 1984 and 1997. Sullivan won the [[Writers' Guild of Great Britain\|Writers' Guild of Great Britain]] comedy award for the 1996 ''Only Fools and Horses'' Christmas trilogy and another from the [[Heritage Foundation\|Heritage Foundation]] in 2001.

	In the [[w:2005 New Year Honours\|2005 New Year Honours]], Sullivan was appointed an [[w:Officer of the Order of the British Empire\|OBE]] for services to drama.<ref>{{London Gazette\|issue=57509 \|supp=y\|page=13\|date=31 December 2004}}</ref> On 2 September 2008, he was awarded an Honorary Fellowship at [[w:Goldsmiths, University of London\|Goldsmiths]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.gold.ac.uk/staff/feature1/title,3964,en.php\|title=Honorary Fellowship at Goldsmiths, University of London\|website=Gold.ac.uk\|access-date=26 April 2018\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080928102510/http://www.gold.ac.uk/staff/feature1/title,3964,en.php\|archive-date=28 September 2008}}</ref>		In the [[2005 New Year Honours\|2005 New Year Honours]], Sullivan was appointed an [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire\|OBE]] for services to drama.<ref>{{London Gazette\|issue=57509 \|supp=y\|page=13\|date=31 December 2004}}</ref> On 2 September 2008, he was awarded an Honorary Fellowship at [[Goldsmiths, University of London\|Goldsmiths]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.gold.ac.uk/staff/feature1/title,3964,en.php\|title=Honorary Fellowship at Goldsmiths, University of London\|website=Gold.ac.uk\|access-date=26 April 2018\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080928102510/http://www.gold.ac.uk/staff/feature1/title,3964,en.php\|archive-date=28 September 2008}}</ref>

	On 22 July 2012 a blue plaque was unveiled by [[David Jason]] at Teddington Studios, Middlesex, England, to celebrate Sullivan's contribution to British comedy. [[w:Nicholas Lyndhurst\|Nicholas Lyndhurst]] and [[w:John Challis\|John Challis]] also attended among other cast members.		On 22 July 2012 a blue plaque was unveiled by [[David Jason]] at Teddington Studios, Middlesex, England, to celebrate Sullivan's contribution to British comedy. [[Nicholas Lyndhurst\|Nicholas Lyndhurst]] and [[John Challis\|John Challis]] also attended among other cast members.

	==Death==		==Death==
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	==External links==		==External links==
	*[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3562-1742024,00.html "A shire thing"], ''[[w:The Times\|The Times]]'', 21 August 2005		*[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3562-1742024,00.html "A shire thing"], ''[[The Times\|The Times]]'', 21 August 2005
	*{{IMDb name\|id=0838153\|name=John Sullivan}}		*{{IMDb name\|id=0838153\|name=John Sullivan}}
	*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3575689.stm BBC: Only Fools & Horses voted "Best Sitcom"]		*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3575689.stm BBC: Only Fools & Horses voted "Best Sitcom"]

Kurt: /* Awards and honours */

2023-01-10T19:03:09Z

Awards and honours

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:03, 10 January 2023
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	==Awards and honours==		==Awards and honours==
	''Only Fools and Horses'' won the [[BAFTA]] award for best comedy series in 1986, 1989 and 1997, as well as the [[Royal Television Society\|RTS]] best comedy award in 1997, best sitcom at the 1990 [[British Comedy Awards]], and two [[Television and Radio Industries Club\|Television and Radio Industries Club Awards]] for comedy programme of the year in 1984 and 1997. Sullivan won the [[Writers' Guild of Great Britain]] comedy award for the 1996 ''Only Fools and Horses'' Christmas trilogy and another from the [[Heritage Foundation]] in 2001.		''Only Fools and Horses'' won the [[w:BAFTA\|BAFTA]] award for best comedy series in 1986, 1989 and 1997, as well as the [[w:Royal Television Society\|RTS]] best comedy award in 1997, best sitcom at the 1990 [[w:British Comedy Awards\|British Comedy Awards]], and two [[w:Television and Radio Industries Club\|Television and Radio Industries Club Awards]] for comedy programme of the year in 1984 and 1997. Sullivan won the [[w:Writers' Guild of Great Britain\|Writers' Guild of Great Britain]] comedy award for the 1996 ''Only Fools and Horses'' Christmas trilogy and another from the [[w:Heritage Foundation\|Heritage Foundation]] in 2001.

	In the [[2005 New Year Honours]], Sullivan was appointed an [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire\|OBE]] for services to drama.<ref>{{London Gazette\|issue=57509 \|supp=y\|page=13\|date=31 December 2004}}</ref> On 2 September 2008, he was awarded an Honorary Fellowship at [[Goldsmiths, University of London]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.gold.ac.uk/staff/feature1/title,3964,en.php\|title=Honorary Fellowship at Goldsmiths, University of London\|website=Gold.ac.uk\|access-date=26 April 2018\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080928102510/http://www.gold.ac.uk/staff/feature1/title,3964,en.php\|archive-date=28 September 2008}}</ref>		In the [[w:2005 New Year Honours\|2005 New Year Honours]], Sullivan was appointed an [[w:Officer of the Order of the British Empire\|OBE]] for services to drama.<ref>{{London Gazette\|issue=57509 \|supp=y\|page=13\|date=31 December 2004}}</ref> On 2 September 2008, he was awarded an Honorary Fellowship at [[w:Goldsmiths, University of London\|Goldsmiths]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.gold.ac.uk/staff/feature1/title,3964,en.php\|title=Honorary Fellowship at Goldsmiths, University of London\|website=Gold.ac.uk\|access-date=26 April 2018\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080928102510/http://www.gold.ac.uk/staff/feature1/title,3964,en.php\|archive-date=28 September 2008}}</ref>

	On 22 July 2012 a blue plaque was unveiled by [[David Jason]] at Teddington Studios, Middlesex, England, to celebrate Sullivan's contribution to British comedy. [[Nicholas Lyndhurst]] and [[John Challis]] also attended among other cast members.~~{{citation needed\|date=February 2020}}~~		On 22 July 2012 a blue plaque was unveiled by [[David Jason]] at Teddington Studios, Middlesex, England, to celebrate Sullivan's contribution to British comedy. [[w:Nicholas Lyndhurst\|Nicholas Lyndhurst]] and [[w:John Challis\|John Challis]] also attended among other cast members.

	==Death==		==Death==

Kurt: /* External links */

2023-01-10T18:59:21Z

External links

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:59, 10 January 2023
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	==External links==		==External links==
	*[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3562-1742024,00.html "A shire thing"], ''[[The Times]]'', 21 August 2005		*[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3562-1742024,00.html "A shire thing"], ''[[w:The Times\|The Times]]'', 21 August 2005
	*{{IMDb name\|id=0838153\|name=John Sullivan}}		*{{IMDb name\|id=0838153\|name=John Sullivan}}
	*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3575689.stm BBC: Only Fools & Horses voted "Best Sitcom"]		*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3575689.stm BBC: Only Fools & Horses voted "Best Sitcom"]
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	{{The Green Green Grass}}		{{The Green Green Grass}}
	{{Rock & Chips}}		{{Rock & Chips}}

	~~{{Authority control}}~~

	{{DEFAULTSORT:Sullivan, John}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Sullivan, John}}
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	[[Category:English television writers]]		[[Category:English television writers]]
	[[Category:English people of Irish descent]]		[[Category:English people of Irish descent]]
	~~[[Category:Deaths from pneumonia in England]]~~
	[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]		[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
	[[Category:People from Balham]]		[[Category:People from Balham]]
	[[Category:English male writers]]		[[Category:English male writers]]
	[[Category:British male television writers]]		[[Category:British male television writers]]

Kurt at 19:40, 17 August 2022

2022-08-17T19:40:30Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:40, 17 August 2022
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	{{short description\|English television scriptwriter}}		{{short description\|English television scriptwriter}}
	~~{{For\|other men with this name\|John Sullivan (disambiguation)}}~~
	{{Use British English\|date=August 2011}}		{{Use British English\|date=August 2011}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=September 2021}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=September 2021}}
	{{Infobox writer		{{Infobox writer
	\|name = John Sullivan <br /> <small>[[Order of the British Empire\|OBE]]</small>		\|name = John Sullivan <br /> <small>[[w:Order of the British Empire\|OBE]]</small>
	\|birth_name = {{nowrap\|John Richard Thomas Sullivan}}		\|birth_name = {{nowrap\|John Richard Thomas Sullivan}}
	\|image = JohnSullivan1.jpg		\|image = JohnSullivan1.jpg
	\|caption = Sullivan in 2010		\|caption = Sullivan in 2010
	\|birth_date = {{Birth date\|df=y\|1946\|12\|23}}<ref name=BFI>{{cite web\|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/578834\|title=BFI Screenonline: Sullivan, John (1946–2011) Biography\|website=Screenonline.org.uk\|access-date=26 April 2018\|url-status=live\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222162606/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/578834/\|archive-date=22 February 2017}}</ref>		\|birth_date = {{Birth date\|df=y\|1946\|12\|23}}<ref name=BFI>{{cite web\|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/578834\|title=BFI Screenonline: Sullivan, John (1946–2011) Biography\|website=Screenonline.org.uk\|access-date=26 April 2018\|url-status=live\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222162606/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/578834/\|archive-date=22 February 2017}}</ref>
	\|birth_place = [[Balham]], [[South London]], England<ref name=BFI/>		\|birth_place = [[w:Balham\|Balham]], [[w:South London\|South London]], England<ref name=BFI/>
	\|death_date = {{Death date and age\|df=y\|2011\|4\|22\|1946\|12\|23}}		\|death_date = {{Death date and age\|df=y\|2011\|4\|22\|1946\|12\|23}}
	\|death_place = [[Surrey]], England		\|death_place = [[w:Surrey\|Surrey]], England
	\|period = 1977–2011		\|period = 1977–2011
	\|notableworks = <div class="plainlist nowrap">		\|notableworks = <div class="plainlist nowrap">
	* {{Smaller\|2010–2011}} ''[[Rock & Chips]]''		* {{Smaller\|2010–2011}} ''[[w:Rock & Chips\|Rock & Chips]]''
	* {{Smaller\|2005–2009}} ''[[The Green Green Grass]]''		* {{Smaller\|2005–2009}} ''[[w:The Green Green Grass\|The Green Green Grass]]''
	* {{Smaller\|1996–2003}} ''[[Roger Roger]]''		* {{Smaller\|1996–2003}} ''[[w:Roger Roger\|Roger Roger]]''
	* {{Smaller\|1986–1987}} ''[[Dear John (UK TV series)\|Dear John]]''		* {{Smaller\|1986–1987}} ''[[Dear John (UK TV series)\|Dear John]]''
	* {{Smaller\|1983–1986}} ''[[Just Good Friends]]''		* {{Smaller\|1983–1986}} ''[[Just Good Friends]]''
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	\|occupation = Screenwriter		\|occupation = Screenwriter
	\|spouse = {{marriage\|Sharon Usher\|1974}}		\|spouse = {{marriage\|Sharon Usher\|1974}}
	\|children = 3, including [[Jim Sullivan (writer)\|Jim]]		\|children = 3, including [[w:Jim Sullivan (writer)\|Jim]]
	}}		}}
	'''John Richard Thomas Sullivan''' [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire\|OBE]] (23 December 1946 – 22 April 2011) was an English television scriptwriter responsible for several [[British sitcom]]s, including ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]'', ''[[Citizen Smith]]'' and ''[[Just Good Friends]]''.		'''John Richard Thomas Sullivan''' [[w:Officer of the Order of the British Empire\|OBE]] (23 December 1946 – 22 April 2011) was an English television scriptwriter responsible for several [[w:British sitcom\|British sitcom]]s, including ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]'', ''[[Citizen Smith]]'' and ''[[Just Good Friends]]''.

	==Biography==		==Biography==
	John Sullivan was born at 35 Zennor Road, Balham, London, on 23 December 1946.<ref name="ODNB">{{Cite ODNB\|id=103877\|title=Sullivan, John Richard Thomas (1946–2011)}}</ref> His Irish-born father was John Patrick Sullivan, (17 March 1908 – September 1993), a plumber, and his mother was Hilda Clara May, née Parker (23 December 1907 – December 1992), a cleaner.<ref name="ODNB"/>		John Sullivan was born at 35 Zennor Road, Balham, London, on 23 December 1946.<ref name="ODNB">{{Cite ODNB\|id=103877\|title=Sullivan, John Richard Thomas (1946–2011)}}</ref> His Irish-born father was John Patrick Sullivan, (17 March 1908 – September 1993), a plumber, and his mother was Hilda Clara May, née Parker (23 December 1907 – December 1992), a cleaner.<ref name="ODNB"/>

	From working-class [[South London]], Sullivan worked in a variety of low-paid jobs for 15 years before getting his first break writing sketches for ''[[The Two Ronnies]]'', which led to writing the sitcom ''[[Citizen Smith]]'' (1977–1980). However, it was the sitcom ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]'' (1981–2003) that he is best known for. Other sitcoms include ''[[Dear John (UK TV series)\|Dear John]]'', ''[[Just Good Friends]]'', ''[[Sitting Pretty (TV series)\|Sitting Pretty]]'', ''[[Roger Roger]]'', and ''[[The Green Green Grass]]''.<ref name=BFI/> In addition, he wrote the comedy drama serial ''Over Here'' and the drama series ''[[Micawber (television)\|Micawber]]'' for ITV, and co-wrote the comedy ''[[Heartburn Hotel]]''. His work won him a number of comedy awards, including the [[British Academy Television Awards\|BAFTA]] for best sitcom on three occasions, and he was made an [[Order of the British Empire\|OBE]] in 2005. His last work was ''[[Rock & Chips]]'', a comedy drama prequel to ''Only Fools and Horses''. The final episode of Sullivan's last comedy series aired six days after his death from [[pneumonia]] on 22 April 2011.<ref name=deathannouncement/>		From working-class [[w:South London\|South London]], Sullivan worked in a variety of low-paid jobs for 15 years before getting his first break writing sketches for ''[[The Two Ronnies]]'', which led to writing the sitcom ''[[Citizen Smith]]'' (1977–1980). However, it was the sitcom ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]'' (1981–2003) that he is best known for. Other sitcoms include ''[[Dear John (UK TV series)\|Dear John]]'', ''[[Just Good Friends]]'', ''[[Sitting Pretty (TV series)\|Sitting Pretty]]'', ''[[Roger Roger]]'', and ''[[The Green Green Grass]]''.<ref name=BFI/> In addition, he wrote the comedy drama serial ''Over Here'' and the drama series ''[[Micawber (television)\|Micawber]]'' for ITV, and co-wrote the comedy ''[[Heartburn Hotel]]''. His work won him a number of comedy awards, including the [[British Academy Television Awards\|BAFTA]] for best sitcom on three occasions, and he was made an [[Order of the British Empire\|OBE]] in 2005. His last work was ''[[Rock & Chips]]'', a comedy drama prequel to ''Only Fools and Horses''. The final episode of Sullivan's last comedy series aired six days after his death from [[pneumonia]] on 22 April 2011.<ref name=deathannouncement/>

	To remember Sullivan's work, the BBC broadcast "[[A Touch of Glass]]", the episode of ''Only Fools and Horses'' in which the Trotters drop a [[chandelier]] while cleaning it for an upper-class family. They also showed "Top 40 ''Only Fools and Horses'' Moments". The episode, "[[A Touch of Glass]]", was voted number 2, losing to when [[Del Boy]] ([[David Jason]]) falls through an open bar in "[[Yuppy Love]]".		To remember Sullivan's work, the BBC broadcast "[[A Touch of Glass]]", the episode of ''Only Fools and Horses'' in which the Trotters drop a [[chandelier]] while cleaning it for an upper-class family. They also showed "Top 40 ''Only Fools and Horses'' Moments". The episode, "[[A Touch of Glass]]", was voted number 2, losing to when [[Del Boy]] ([[David Jason]]) falls through an open bar in "[[Yuppy Love]]".

Kurt: 1 revision imported

2022-07-22T00:27:56Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 19:27, 21 July 2022
(No difference)

en>Rlink2: /* Early life */Adding archives to assist with Wikipedia:Verifiability, WP:SOURCEACCESS

2022-06-14T01:36:28Z

Early life: Adding archives to assist with Wikipedia:Verifiability, WP:SOURCEACCESS

New page

{{short description|English television scriptwriter}}
{{For|other men with this name|John Sullivan (disambiguation)}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox writer
|name = John Sullivan <br /> <small>[[Order of the British Empire|OBE]]</small>
|birth_name = {{nowrap|John Richard Thomas Sullivan}}
|image = JohnSullivan1.jpg
|caption = Sullivan in 2010
|birth_date = {{Birth date|df=y|1946|12|23}}<ref name=BFI>{{cite web|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/578834|title=BFI Screenonline: Sullivan, John (1946–2011) Biography|website=Screenonline.org.uk|access-date=26 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222162606/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/578834/|archive-date=22 February 2017}}</ref>
|birth_place = [[Balham]], [[South London]], England<ref name=BFI/>
|death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2011|4|22|1946|12|23}}
|death_place = [[Surrey]], England
|period = 1977–2011
|notableworks = <div class="plainlist nowrap">
* {{Smaller|2010–2011}} ''[[Rock & Chips]]''
* {{Smaller|2005–2009}} ''[[The Green Green Grass]]''
* {{Smaller|1996–2003}} ''[[Roger Roger]]''
* {{Smaller|1986–1987}} ''[[Dear John (UK TV series)|Dear John]]''
* {{Smaller|1983–1986}} ''[[Just Good Friends]]''
* {{Smaller|1981–2003}} ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]''
* {{Smaller|1977–1980}} ''[[Citizen Smith]]''
</div>
|occupation = Screenwriter
|spouse = {{marriage|Sharon Usher|1974}}
|children = 3, including [[Jim Sullivan (writer)|Jim]]
}}
'''John Richard Thomas Sullivan''' [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire|OBE]] (23 December 1946 – 22 April 2011) was an English television scriptwriter responsible for several [[British sitcom]]s, including ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]'', ''[[Citizen Smith]]'' and ''[[Just Good Friends]]''.

==Biography==
John Sullivan was born at 35 Zennor Road, Balham, London, on 23 December 1946.<ref name="ODNB">{{Cite ODNB|id=103877|title=Sullivan, John Richard Thomas (1946–2011)}}</ref> His Irish-born father was John Patrick Sullivan, (17 March 1908 – September 1993), a plumber, and his mother was Hilda Clara May, née Parker (23 December 1907 – December 1992), a cleaner.<ref name="ODNB"/>

From working-class [[South London]], Sullivan worked in a variety of low-paid jobs for 15 years before getting his first break writing sketches for ''[[The Two Ronnies]]'', which led to writing the sitcom ''[[Citizen Smith]]'' (1977–1980). However, it was the sitcom ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]'' (1981–2003) that he is best known for. Other sitcoms include ''[[Dear John (UK TV series)|Dear John]]'', ''[[Just Good Friends]]'', ''[[Sitting Pretty (TV series)|Sitting Pretty]]'', ''[[Roger Roger]]'', and ''[[The Green Green Grass]]''.<ref name=BFI/> In addition, he wrote the comedy drama serial ''Over Here'' and the drama series ''[[Micawber (television)|Micawber]]'' for ITV, and co-wrote the comedy ''[[Heartburn Hotel]]''. His work won him a number of comedy awards, including the [[British Academy Television Awards|BAFTA]] for best sitcom on three occasions, and he was made an [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]] in 2005. His last work was ''[[Rock & Chips]]'', a comedy drama prequel to ''Only Fools and Horses''. The final episode of Sullivan's last comedy series aired six days after his death from [[pneumonia]] on 22 April 2011.<ref name=deathannouncement/>

To remember Sullivan's work, the BBC broadcast "[[A Touch of Glass]]", the episode of ''Only Fools and Horses'' in which the Trotters drop a [[chandelier]] while cleaning it for an upper-class family. They also showed "Top 40 ''Only Fools and Horses'' Moments". The episode, "[[A Touch of Glass]]", was voted number 2, losing to when [[Del Boy]] ([[David Jason]]) falls through an open bar in "[[Yuppy Love]]".

==Early life==
Sullivan was from a working-class background,<ref name="auto">The ''Only Fools and Horses Story'', ibid.</ref> and grew up in [[Balham, London|Balham]], [[South London]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ofah.net/immediacy-478|title=John Sullivan OBE|website=Ofah.net|access-date=26 April 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090703105246/http://www.ofah.net/immediacy-478|archive-date=3 July 2009}}</ref> His father, John, Sr., was a [[plumber]] and his mother, Hilda, occasionally worked as a [[charwoman]].<ref>The ''Only Fools and Horses Story'' by Steve Clark</ref> It was in Balham where he observed the sort of [[market trader]] that would later appear in ''Only Fools and Horses''. Both of his parents were Irish. He failed his [[eleven-plus]] and attended Telferscot [[Secondary Modern School]], where he had an inspirational English teacher named Jim Trowers, who sparked an interest in reading the novels of [[Charles Dickens]] and discovered his talent for writing stories.<ref name="Britain's favourite">{{cite book|last= McCann|first= Graham|title= Only Fools and Horses. The story of Britain's favourite comedy|publisher= Canongate|year= 2011|isbn = 978-0-85786-054-5|page=13}}</ref> Sullivan left the school at Christmas 1961 with no qualifications. He did, however, attend evening classes in German and English, and read Teach Yourself books after leaving school.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/tv-radio-obituaries/8471344/John-Sullivan.html|title=John Sullivan|date=24 April 2011|access-date=26 April 2018|website=Telegraph.co.uk|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731102653/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/tv-radio-obituaries/8471344/John-Sullivan.html|archive-date=31 July 2017}}</ref> His first paid employment was as a messenger boy for [[Reuters]]. He then worked in the second-hand car trade, in a brewery, as a window cleaner and as a carpet layer in the [[House of Commons]].<ref name="independent.co.uk">{{Cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/lovely-jubbly-john-1282831.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220613/http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/lovely-jubbly-john-1282831.html |archive-date=13 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Lovely jubbly, John|date=12 January 1997|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|access-date=9 August 2020}}</ref><ref name=BFI/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.televisionheaven.co.uk/johnsullivan.htm|title=JOHN SULLIVAN – A TELEVISION HEAVEN BIOGRAPHY|website=Televisionheaven.co.uk|access-date=26 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015144457/http://televisionheaven.co.uk/johnsullivan.htm|archive-date=15 October 2012}}</ref>

==Career==
During this time, Sullivan continued to submit scripts to the BBC. Sullivan admired Steptoe and Son, Till Death us do Part and Phil Silvers' US show, Bilko, and "anything by Neil Simon"<ref name="independent.co.uk"/> before in November 1974<ref>Only Fools and Horses: The Story of Britain's Favourite Comedy – Graham McCann</ref> getting a job in the BBC props department. He was warned not to pester or approach the stars of the corporation.<ref name=BFI/> He eventually approached television producer [[Dennis Main Wilson]] with a script about a young [[Marxism|Marxist]]. This led to a pilot for ''Comedy Special'' in 1977 which, following a positive reaction, was commissioned for a full series, ''Citizen Smith'' (1977–80).<ref name=BFI/> ''Citizen Smith'' ran for four series, after which Sullivan was asked to submit another idea. An initial idea for a comedy set in the world of [[association football|football]] was rejected, so he proposed an alternative idea for a sitcom centring on a [[cockney]] market trader in working-class, modern-day London called ''Readies''.<ref>{{cite book|author=Clark, Steve|title=The Only Fools and Horses Story|publisher=BBC Books|year=1998|isbn=0-563-38445-X|pages=10–11}}</ref>

Through Ray Butt, a BBC producer and director whom Sullivan had met and befriended when they were working on ''Citizen Smith'', a draft script was shown to the Corporation's Head of Comedy, [[John Howard Davies]]. Davies commissioned Sullivan to write a full series under an alternative title ''Only Fools and Horses'', which had also been the name of a ''Citizen Smith'' episode. Sullivan believed the key factor in it being accepted was the success of [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]'s new drama ''[[Minder (TV series)|Minder]]'', a series with a similar premise and also set in modern-day London.<ref name="Clark15">{{cite book|author=Clark|year=1998|title=Only Fools and Horses Story|page=15}}</ref>

Much of Sullivan's material for ''Only Fools and Horses'' scripts came from his real-life experiences; falling through a raised bar flap,<ref name="bbc frow">{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00wr6sc|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110103012040/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00wr6sc|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 January 2011|title=BBC - BBC Radio 4 Programmes - Front Row, Prequels and Sequels, with Bret Easton Ellis and Scott Turow|date=3 January 2011|access-date=9 August 2020}}</ref> the chandelier falling, his father's poker sessions, his niece working in the police force, and his grandfather falling down holes to claim money. It is arguable that the poverty of the Trotter family, and their eventual rise to wealth, is based on Sullivan's background. He grew up in a poor household and noted in an interview that he and his friends seemingly had no opportunities after leaving school apart from becoming, as Sullivan put it, "factory fodder". The success of ''Only Fools and Horses'' made him very rich.<ref name="auto"/>

With the success of ''Only Fools...'', at the suggestion of his wife he decided to write a [[romantic comedy]] series featuring a strong female lead character. His source of inspiration was a letter in a magazine read to him by his wife, written by a woman who had been jilted by her fiancé on the day of her wedding.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/j/justgoodfriends_1299001757.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514035616/http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/j/justgoodfriends_1299001757.shtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 May 2011|title=BBC - Comedy - Collections - Classic British comedy from the BBC Archive|date=14 May 2011|access-date=9 August 2020}}</ref> ''[[Just Good Friends]]'' ran for three series and a feature-length special between 1983 and 1986. Other sitcoms included ''[[Dear John (UK TV series)|Dear John]]'' (1986–1987) and ''Sitting Pretty'' (1992–1993).<ref name=BFI/> Later in his career, he moved towards writing comedy drama series such as [[Over Here (miniseries)|''Over Here'']] (1996), ''Roger Roger'' (1996) and ''Micawber'' (2001). His last work, ''Rock and Chips'' (2010), was the second spin-off of ''Only Fools...''.<ref name=BFI/>

==Awards and honours==
''Only Fools and Horses'' won the [[BAFTA]] award for best comedy series in 1986, 1989 and 1997, as well as the [[Royal Television Society|RTS]] best comedy award in 1997, best sitcom at the 1990 [[British Comedy Awards]], and two [[Television and Radio Industries Club|Television and Radio Industries Club Awards]] for comedy programme of the year in 1984 and 1997. Sullivan won the [[Writers' Guild of Great Britain]] comedy award for the 1996 ''Only Fools and Horses'' Christmas trilogy and another from the [[Heritage Foundation]] in 2001.

In the [[2005 New Year Honours]], Sullivan was appointed an [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire|OBE]] for services to drama.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=57509 |supp=y|page=13|date=31 December 2004}}</ref> On 2 September 2008, he was awarded an Honorary Fellowship at [[Goldsmiths, University of London]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gold.ac.uk/staff/feature1/title,3964,en.php|title=Honorary Fellowship at Goldsmiths, University of London|website=Gold.ac.uk|access-date=26 April 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080928102510/http://www.gold.ac.uk/staff/feature1/title,3964,en.php|archive-date=28 September 2008}}</ref>

On 22 July 2012 a blue plaque was unveiled by [[David Jason]] at Teddington Studios, Middlesex, England, to celebrate Sullivan's contribution to British comedy. [[Nicholas Lyndhurst]] and [[John Challis]] also attended among other cast members.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}

==Death==
[[File:Teddington Riverside, John Sullivan, Heritage Foundation plaque.jpg|thumb|Plaque, Teddington]]
Sullivan died on 22 April 2011, at the age of 64 in a [[Surrey]] hospital, after having viral [[pneumonia]] for six weeks.<ref name=deathannouncement/> BBC Director-General [[Mark Thompson (television executive)|Mark Thompson]] paid tribute, saying: "John had a unique gift for turning everyday life and characters we all know into unforgettable comedy."<ref name=deathannouncement>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13176198|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223063331/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13176198|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 February 2012|title=BBC News - Only Fools and Horses writer John Sullivan OBE dies|date=23 February 2012|access-date=9 August 2020}}</ref>

[[Gareth Gwenlan]], a producer of ''Only Fools and Horses'' and a close friend of Sullivan, paid tribute to the writer: "The sudden death of John Sullivan has deprived the world of television comedy of its greatest exponent. John was a writer of immense talent and he leaves behind him an extraordinary body of work which has entertained tens of millions of viewers and will continue to do so for many decades to come."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20110423/ten-only-fools-and-horses-creator-dies-a-8a3eada.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110428103350/http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20110423/ten-only-fools-and-horses-creator-dies-a-8a3eada.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 April 2011|title=Only Fools And Horses Creator Dies At 64 - Yahoo! News UK|date=28 April 2011|access-date=9 August 2020}}</ref> Sullivan is survived by his wife Sharon, whom he married on 23 February 1974, two sons Dan and [[Jim Sullivan (writer)|Jim]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ofah.net/blog/only-fools-and-horses-quiz-book/|title=Only Fools and Horses Quiz Book|website=Ofah.net|access-date=26 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126185140/http://www.ofah.net/blog/only-fools-and-horses-quiz-book/|archive-date=26 January 2018}}</ref> a daughter, Amy and three grandchildren.<ref name=deathannouncement/>

==Writing credits==
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! Production
! Notes
! Broadcaster
|-
|''[[Citizen Smith]]''
|
*30 episodes (1977–1980)
|[[BBC1]]
|-
|''[[The Two Ronnies]]''
|
*13 episodes (sketch contributor, 1977–1982)
|BBC1
|-
|''[[Only Fools and Horses]]''
|
*64 episodes (1981–2003)
|BBC One
|-
|''[[Just Good Friends]]''
|
*22 episodes (1983–1986)
|BBC1
|-
|''[[Dear John (UK TV series)|Dear John]]''
|
*14 episodes (1986–1987)
|BBC1
|-
|''[[Dear John (U.S. TV series)|Dear John USA]]''
|
*90 episodes (1988–1992)
|[[NBC]]
|-
|''[[Sitting Pretty (TV series)|Sitting Pretty]]''
|
*13 episodes (1992–1993)
|BBC1
|-
|''[[Over Here (miniseries)|Over Here]]''
|
*Television film (1996)
|BBC1
|-
|''[[Roger Roger#Pilot: 1996|Roger Roger]]''
|
*Television film (1996)
|BBC1
|-
|''[[Roger Roger]]''
|
*16 episodes (1998–1999, 2003)
|BBC One
|-
|''[[Heartburn Hotel]]''
|
*13 episodes (co-written with Steve Glover, 1998–2000)
|BBC One
|-
|''[[Micawber (TV series)|Micawber]]''
|
*4 episodes (2001–2002)
|ITV
|-
|''[[The Green Green Grass]]''
|
*32 episodes (wrote first series only, and select later episodes, 2005–2009)
|BBC One<br />[[BBC HD]]
|-
|''[[Rock & Chips]]''
|
*3 episodes (2010–2011)
|BBC One<br />BBC HD<br />BBC One HD
|}

Sullivan wrote (and in two cases sang) the [[theme tune]]s for ''Only Fools and Horses'', ''Just Good Friends'', ''Dear John'' and ''The Green Green Grass''.

==Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%"
|- style="text-align:center;"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Award
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Work
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Category
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Result
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Reference
|-
|1989
|[[British Academy Television Awards]]
|rowspan="3"|''[[Only Fools and Horses]]''
|Best Comedy Series (with Gareth Gwenlan and Tony Dow)
|{{won}}
|
|-
|1990
|British Academy Television Awards
|Best Comedy Series (with Gareth Gwenlan and Tony Dow)
|{{nom}}
|
|-
|1991
|British Academy Television Awards
|Best Comedy Series (with Gareth Gwenlan and Tony Dow)
|{{nom}}
|
|-
|1991
|ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards
|''[[Dear John (British TV series)|Dear John]]''
|Top TV Series
|{{won}}
|
|-
|1991
|[[British Comedy Awards]]
|
|WGGB Top Comedy Writer
|{{won}}
|
|-
|1992
|British Academy Television Awards
|rowspan="3"|''Only Fools and Horses''
|Best Comedy (Programme or Series) (with Gareth Gwenlan and Tony Dow)
|{{nom}}
|
|-
|1997
|British Academy Television Awards
|Best Comedy (Programme or Series) (with Gareth Gwenlan and Tony Dow)
|{{won}}
|
|-
|1997
|[[Writers' Guild of Great Britain|Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award]]
|TV – Situation Comedy
|{{won}}
|
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3562-1742024,00.html "A shire thing"], ''[[The Times]]'', 21 August 2005
*{{IMDb name|id=0838153|name=John Sullivan}}
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3575689.stm BBC: Only Fools & Horses voted "Best Sitcom"]
*[https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2011/apr/24/john-sullivan-obituary Obituary in ''The Guardian'']
*[http://www.televisionheaven.co.uk/johnsullivan.htm ''Television Heaven: "John Sullivan"'']

{{John Sullivan (writer)}}
{{Only Fools and Horses}}
{{The Green Green Grass}}
{{Rock & Chips}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sullivan, John}}
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:2011 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century English writers]]
[[Category:21st-century English writers]]
[[Category:English television composers]]
[[Category:English male composers]]
[[Category:English television writers]]
[[Category:English people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:Deaths from pneumonia in England]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:People from Balham]]
[[Category:English male writers]]
[[Category:British male television writers]]