Maurice Wiltshire: Difference between revisions

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| birth_date      = 1918 <!-- {{Birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} for living people supply only the year with {{Birth year and age|YYYY}} unless the exact date is already widely published, as per [[WP:DOB]]. For people who have died, use {{Birth date|YYYY|MM|DD}}. -->
| birth_date      = {{Birth date|1916|09|19|df=y}}
| birth_place      =
| birth_place      = [[w:Broxburn|Broxburn]], [[w:Scotland|Scotland]], UK
| death_date      = {{Death date and age|1991|01|<!--Not Known -->|1918|<!--Not Known -->|<!--Not Known -->}}} (DEATH date then BIRTH date) -->
| death_date      = {{Death date and age|1991|01|26|1916|09|19|df=y}}}
| death_place      = Australia
| death_place      = [[w:Sydney|Sydney]], [[w:New South Wales|New South Wales]], [[w:Australia|Australia]]
| resting_place    =  
| resting_place    =  
| occupation      = BBC Radio producer, scriptwriter
| occupation      = BBC Radio producer, [[w:Screenwriter|scriptwriter]], newspaper editor
| education        =  
| education        =  
| alma_mater      =  
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| period          = 1948 – 1973
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| spouses          = {{plainlist|
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*{{marriage|Pauline Willson|1949|<!-- Not Known -->|end=div}}
*{{marriage|Elizabeth Hickson|1959|1991}}  <!-- or: | spouses = -->
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| years_active    = 1948 – 1973
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'''Maurice Wiltshire''' was born on {{date|19 September 1916}} in [[w:Broxburn|Broxburn]], [[w:Scotland|Scotland]], UK. Wiltshire was a writer, known for [[w:My Brother's Keeper|My Brother's Keeper]] (1948), [[The Army Game]] (1957) and [[w:Douglas Fairbanks Presents|Rheingold Theatre]] (1953).
 
Wiltshire was a professional script writer, focusing mainly on television comedy.
Often-times was script writing partner with [[Larry Stephens]] during the late 1950s and early 1960s.
 
He left the [[BBC]] and moved permanently to Australia around 1968, where he wrote and edited scripts for [[w:Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] (channels 7 and 9) until 1973.


}}
After his time at ABC, he returned to his old profession of sub-editing newspapers, at which point he no longer worked in television.
Maurice Wiltshire was a versatile and accomplished English television script writer who left behind a very broad collection of work that spans 25 years, from 1948 to 1973.
b. 1918, UK
d. Jan 1991, Australia.


General:
Maurice was previously married to Elizabeth Hickson and Pauline Willson. Maurice died on {{date|26 January 1991}} in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Professional script writer, focusing mainly on television comedy.
Often-times was script writing partner with Larry Stephens during the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Left the BBC and moved permanently to Australia round about 1968, where he wrote and edited scripts for ABC (ch. 7 and 9) until 1973.
After his stint at ABC, he returned to his old profession of sub-editing newspapers, at which point he dropped off the television map.


Partial Scriptography:
==Partial Scriptography==
(Based on information in the Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy, The Goon Show Companion by Wilmut & Grafton, and other sources)
(Based on information in the Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy, The Goon Show Companion by Wilmut & Grafton, and other sources)
"Australia A to Z" (1970-71) (TV comedy sketch series, 14 episodes, 30 mins, videotape, B&W, ABC) ...co-writer with John O'Grady.  (Note: A follow-up to The Greater Illustrated History of the Glorious Antipodes)
*[[w:My Brother's Keeper|My Brother's Keeper]] (1948) (Feature film, B&W, 96 mins, drama) ...author (Script was by Frank Harvey Jr. from a short story by Maurice Wiltshire)
"The Comedy Game" (1971 and 1973) (TV comedy sketch series, ABC) ...co-writer with John O'Grady. (Goons-inspired surrealist humour)
*"[[Two's Company (British TV series)|Two's Company]]" (1956-7) (TV comedy sketch series, 23 episodes, 30 mins, B&W, Granada) ...writer (alongside Len Fincham, Lawrie Wyman, Johnny Speight, Dick Barry. (Directed by Peter Eton of Goon Show fame)
"The Greater Illustrated History of the Glorious Antipodes" (1969) (TV comedy sketch series, B&W, 6 episodes, 30 mins, ABC) ...co-writer with John O'Grady.
*''Dearth of a Salesman'' (1957) (Short) ...co-wrote screenplay with Lewis Greifer.
"I've Married a Bachelor" (1968-69) (TV series, sitcom, 14 episodes, 30 min, ABC) ...script editor
*''Insomnia Is Good For You'' (1957) (Short) ...co-wrote screenplay with Lewis Greifer.
"I'm Alright Now" (1967) (TV series, all 20 episodes, ABC) ...writer.
*''Cold Comfort'' (1957) (Short) ...co-wrote screenplay with Lewis Greifer.
"The Lance Percival Show" (1966) (TV series, 2nd season, 6 episodes, 25 mins, B&W, BBC1) ...co-writer with Lew Schwarz.
*"[[Early to Braden]]" (1957-8) (TV comedy sketch series, 19 episodes, 30 mins, B&W, BBC) ...writer (many other well known writers also contributed.
Porterhouse - Private Eye (1965) (TV comedy, 1 pilot episode, 30 mins) ...writer.
*"[[The Army Game]]" (1957–61) (TV comedy series, more than 41 episodes, 30 mins, B&W, ITV) ...co-writer with Larry Stephens
"HMS Paradise" (1964) (TV comedy series, 13 episodes) ...writer. (Note: TV version of radio's The Navy Lark)
"The Dick Emery Show" (1963-1981 ) (TV comedy series, additional material) ...writer (many other well known writers also contributed)
"The Telegoons" (1963-4) (TV puppet comedy series, all 26 episodes) ...script editor.
"Ghost Squad" (1965) (TV crime series, 52 episodes, 60 mins, B&W, ATV) ...writer
  ...aka “G.S.5” (UK: 3rd season title)
"The Dickie Henderson Show" (1960) (TV comedy sketch series, 1 episode, B&W, ATV) ...co-writer.
"The Goon Show" (1958) (Radio comedy series, co-wrote four episodes with Larry Stephens, when Spike Milligan was indisposed [Series 8: #15 The Thing on the Mountain, #17 The Moriarty Murder Mystery, and #19 The White Neddie Trade. Series 9: #7 The Seagoon Memoirs] ...writer
Notes: The Seagoon Memoirs was Larry Stephens' final Goon Show script. It is interesting that even though Maurice Wiltshire was script editor for The Telegoons, none of the Goon Show scripts he co-wrote with Larry Stephens were used for The Telegoons. I don't think that this was a coincidence; rather I think that Spike wanted to have his name firmly enshrined as script author, and was probably a measure of his high expectations for the puppets.
"Early to Braden" (1957-8) (TV comedy sketch series, 19 episodes, 30 mins, B&W, BBC) ...writer (many other well known writers also contributed.
"The Army Game" (1957-61) (TV comedy series, more than 41 episodes, 30 mins, B&W, ITV) ...co-writer with Larry Stephens
Note: Together with Larry Stephens, Maurice Wiltshire co-wrote 5 out of 13 shows in 1st series, 9 out of 26 shows in 2nd series, an unspecified number of shows out of 39 shows in 3rd series). Due to Larry Stephens' death in 1959, halfway through the 3rd series, Wiltshire went on to write 27 shows in the 4th and 5th series, out of a total of 76 shows.  
Note: Together with Larry Stephens, Maurice Wiltshire co-wrote 5 out of 13 shows in 1st series, 9 out of 26 shows in 2nd series, an unspecified number of shows out of 39 shows in 3rd series). Due to Larry Stephens' death in 1959, halfway through the 3rd series, Wiltshire went on to write 27 shows in the 4th and 5th series, out of a total of 76 shows.  
"Drake's Progress" (1957-8) (TV series, 12 episodes, 30 mins, two seasons) ...co-writer.
*"[[Drake's Progress]]" (1957-8) (TV series, 12 episodes, 30 mins, two seasons) ...co-writer.
Dearth of a Salesman (1957) (Short) ...co-wrote screenplay with Lewis Greifer.
*"[[The Goon Show]]" (1958) (Radio comedy series, co-wrote four episodes with Larry Stephens, when Spike Milligan was indisposed [Series 8: #15 The Thing on the Mountain, #17 The Moriarty Murder Mystery, and #19 The White Neddie Trade. Series 9: #7 The Seagoon Memoirs] ...writer
Insomnia Is Good For You (1957) (Short) ...co-wrote screenplay with Lewis Greifer.
The Seagoon Memoirs was Larry Stephens' final Goon Show script. It is interesting that even though Maurice Wiltshire was script editor for The Telegoons, none of the Goon Show scripts he co-wrote with Larry Stephens were used for The Telegoons. I don't think that this was a coincidence; rather It's probable that Spike wanted to have his name firmly enshrined as script author, and was probably a measure of his high expectations for the puppets.
Cold Comfort (1957) (Short) ...co-wrote screenplay with Lewis Greifer.
*"[[The Dickie Henderson Show]]" (1960) (TV comedy sketch series, 1 episode, B&W, ATV) ...co-writer.
"Two's Company" (1956-7) (TV comedy sketch series, 23 episodes, 30 mins, B&W, Granada) ...writer (alongside Len Fincham, Lawrie Wyman, Johnny Speight, Dick Barry. (Directed by Peter Eton of Goon Show fame)
*"The Dick Emery Show" (1963-1981 ) (TV comedy series, additional material) ...writer (many other well known writers also contributed)
My Brother's Keeper (1948) (Feature film, B&W, 96 mins, drama) ...author (Script was by Frank Harvey Jr. from a short story by Maurice Wiltshire)
*"[[HMS Paradise]]" (1964) (TV comedy series, 13 episodes) ...writer. (Note: TV version of radio's The Navy Lark)
*"[[The Telegoons]]" (1963-4) (TV puppet comedy series, all 26 episodes) ...script editor.
*''Porterhouse - Private Eye'' (1965) (TV comedy, 1 pilot episode, 30 mins) ...writer.
*"[[w:Ghost Squad (TV series)|Ghost Squad]]" (1965) aka “G.S.5” (UK: 3rd season title)(TV crime series, 52 episodes, 60 mins, B&W, ATV) ...writer
*"''The Lance Percival Show''" (1966) (TV series, 2nd season, 6 episodes, 25 mins, B&W, BBC1) ...co-writer with Lew Schwarz.
*"''[[w:I'm Alright Now|I'm Alright Now]]''" (1967) (TV series, all 20 episodes, ABC) ...writer.
*"''[[w:I've Married a Bachelor|I've Married a Bachelor]]''" (1968–69) (TV series, sitcom, 14 episodes, 30 min, ABC) ...script editor
*"''The Greater Illustrated History of the Glorious Antipodes''" (1969) (TV comedy sketch series, B&W, 6 episodes, 30 mins, ABC) ...co-writer with John O'Grady.
*"''Australia A to Z''" (1970–71) (TV comedy sketch series, 14 episodes, 30 mins, videotape, B&W, ABC) ...co-writer with John O'Grady.<br>(Note: A follow-up to The Greater Illustrated History of the Glorious Antipodes)
*"''[[w:The Comedy Game|The Comedy Game]]''" (1971 and 1973) (TV comedy sketch series, ABC) ...co-writer with John O'Grady. (Goons-inspired surrealist humour)
 
{{Goons|state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wiltshire, Maurice}}
[[Category:The Goon Show]]
[[Category:1916 births]]
[[Category:1991 deaths]]

Latest revision as of 18:48, 21 January 2023

Maurice Wiltshire circa 1960
Maurice Wiltshire circa 1960
Born(1916-09-19)19 September 1916
Broxburn, Scotland, UK
Died26 January 1991(1991-01-26) (aged 74)}
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
OccupationBBC Radio producer, scriptwriter, newspaper editor
Years active1948 – 1973
Spouses
Pauline Willson
​
​
(m. 1949, divorced)​
Elizabeth Hickson
​
​
(m. 1959⁠–⁠1991)​

Maurice Wiltshire was born on 19 September 1916 in Broxburn, Scotland, UK. Wiltshire was a writer, known for My Brother's Keeper (1948), The Army Game (1957) and Rheingold Theatre (1953).

Wiltshire was a professional script writer, focusing mainly on television comedy. Often-times was script writing partner with Larry Stephens during the late 1950s and early 1960s.

He left the BBC and moved permanently to Australia around 1968, where he wrote and edited scripts for ABC (channels 7 and 9) until 1973.

After his time at ABC, he returned to his old profession of sub-editing newspapers, at which point he no longer worked in television.

Maurice was previously married to Elizabeth Hickson and Pauline Willson. Maurice died on 26 January 1991 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Partial Scriptography

(Based on information in the Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy, The Goon Show Companion by Wilmut & Grafton, and other sources)

  • My Brother's Keeper (1948) (Feature film, B&W, 96 mins, drama) ...author (Script was by Frank Harvey Jr. from a short story by Maurice Wiltshire)
  • "Two's Company" (1956-7) (TV comedy sketch series, 23 episodes, 30 mins, B&W, Granada) ...writer (alongside Len Fincham, Lawrie Wyman, Johnny Speight, Dick Barry. (Directed by Peter Eton of Goon Show fame)
  • Dearth of a Salesman (1957) (Short) ...co-wrote screenplay with Lewis Greifer.
  • Insomnia Is Good For You (1957) (Short) ...co-wrote screenplay with Lewis Greifer.
  • Cold Comfort (1957) (Short) ...co-wrote screenplay with Lewis Greifer.
  • "Early to Braden" (1957-8) (TV comedy sketch series, 19 episodes, 30 mins, B&W, BBC) ...writer (many other well known writers also contributed.
  • "The Army Game" (1957–61) (TV comedy series, more than 41 episodes, 30 mins, B&W, ITV) ...co-writer with Larry Stephens

Note: Together with Larry Stephens, Maurice Wiltshire co-wrote 5 out of 13 shows in 1st series, 9 out of 26 shows in 2nd series, an unspecified number of shows out of 39 shows in 3rd series). Due to Larry Stephens' death in 1959, halfway through the 3rd series, Wiltshire went on to write 27 shows in the 4th and 5th series, out of a total of 76 shows.

  • "Drake's Progress" (1957-8) (TV series, 12 episodes, 30 mins, two seasons) ...co-writer.
  • "The Goon Show" (1958) (Radio comedy series, co-wrote four episodes with Larry Stephens, when Spike Milligan was indisposed [Series 8: #15 The Thing on the Mountain, #17 The Moriarty Murder Mystery, and #19 The White Neddie Trade. Series 9: #7 The Seagoon Memoirs] ...writer

The Seagoon Memoirs was Larry Stephens' final Goon Show script. It is interesting that even though Maurice Wiltshire was script editor for The Telegoons, none of the Goon Show scripts he co-wrote with Larry Stephens were used for The Telegoons. I don't think that this was a coincidence; rather It's probable that Spike wanted to have his name firmly enshrined as script author, and was probably a measure of his high expectations for the puppets.

  • "The Dickie Henderson Show" (1960) (TV comedy sketch series, 1 episode, B&W, ATV) ...co-writer.
  • "The Dick Emery Show" (1963-1981 ) (TV comedy series, additional material) ...writer (many other well known writers also contributed)
  • "HMS Paradise" (1964) (TV comedy series, 13 episodes) ...writer. (Note: TV version of radio's The Navy Lark)
  • "The Telegoons" (1963-4) (TV puppet comedy series, all 26 episodes) ...script editor.
  • Porterhouse - Private Eye (1965) (TV comedy, 1 pilot episode, 30 mins) ...writer.
  • "Ghost Squad" (1965) aka “G.S.5” (UK: 3rd season title)(TV crime series, 52 episodes, 60 mins, B&W, ATV) ...writer
  • "The Lance Percival Show" (1966) (TV series, 2nd season, 6 episodes, 25 mins, B&W, BBC1) ...co-writer with Lew Schwarz.
  • "I'm Alright Now" (1967) (TV series, all 20 episodes, ABC) ...writer.
  • "I've Married a Bachelor" (1968–69) (TV series, sitcom, 14 episodes, 30 min, ABC) ...script editor
  • "The Greater Illustrated History of the Glorious Antipodes" (1969) (TV comedy sketch series, B&W, 6 episodes, 30 mins, ABC) ...co-writer with John O'Grady.
  • "Australia A to Z" (1970–71) (TV comedy sketch series, 14 episodes, 30 mins, videotape, B&W, ABC) ...co-writer with John O'Grady.
    (Note: A follow-up to The Greater Illustrated History of the Glorious Antipodes)
  • "The Comedy Game" (1971 and 1973) (TV comedy sketch series, ABC) ...co-writer with John O'Grady. (Goons-inspired surrealist humour)
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