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{{short description|British producer}}
{{short description|British producer}}
{{Other people|Dennis Wilson}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name        = Dennis Main Wilson
| name        = Dennis Main Wilson
| image      =  
| image      = dennis_main_wilson_bw_young_phone.jpg
| image_size  =  
| image_size  =  
| caption    =  
| caption    =  
| birth_name  = Dennis Geoffrey William Wilson<ref name="oxforddnb.com">{{Cite ODNB|url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-64701|isbn = 978-0-19-861412-8|doi = 10.1093/ref:odnb/64701|title = The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography|year = 2004}}</ref>
| birth_name  = Dennis Geoffrey William Wilson<ref name="oxforddnb.com">{{Cite ODNB|url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-64701|isbn = 978-0-19-861412-8|doi = 10.1093/ref:odnb/64701|title = The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography|year = 2004}}</ref>
| birth_date  = {{birth date|1924|05|01|df=y}}
| birth_date  = {{birth date|1924|05|01|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Dulwich]], [[London]], England<ref>''Only Fools and Horses'', Author: Graham McCann, Canongate Books 2011, p.21</ref>
| birth_place = [[w:Dulwich|Dulwich]], London, England<ref>''Only Fools and Horses'', Author: Graham McCann, Canongate Books 2011, p.21</ref>
| death_date  = {{death date and age|1997|01|20|1924|05|01|df=y}}<ref>{{cite news |last1=Took |first1=Barry |title=Obituary: Dennis Main Wilson |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-dennis-main-wilson-1284641.html |accessdate=4 October 2020 |work=[[The Independent]] |date=23 January 1997}}</ref>
| death_date  = {{death date and age|1997|01|20|1924|05|01|df=y}}<ref>{{cite news |last1=Took |first1=Barry |title=Obituary: Dennis Main Wilson |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-dennis-main-wilson-1284641.html |accessdate=4 October 2020 |work=[[w:The Independent|The Independent]] |date=23 January 1997}}</ref>
| death_place = [[Surrey]], England
| death_place = Surrey, England
| resting_place =
| known_for  = [[The Goon Show]]
| resting_place_coordinates =
| nationality =
| other_names =
| known_for  =  
| education  =  
| education  =  
| employer    =  
| employer    = [[w:BBC|BBC]]
| occupation  = [[Radio producer|Radio]] and [[television producer]]
| occupation  = [[w:Radio producer|Radio]] and [[w:television producer|television producer]]
| title      =  
| title      =  
| networth    =
| spouse     = {{marriage|Sylvia Harkin|1955}}
| height      =
| children    = 2
| term        =
| predecessor =
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| spouse      =
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| website    =
| footnotes  =
}}
}}


'''Dennis Geoffrey William Wilson''', known as '''Dennis Main Wilson'''<ref name="oxforddnb.com">{{Cite ODNB|url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-64701|isbn = 978-0-19-861412-8|doi = 10.1093/ref:odnb/64701|title = The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography|year = 2004}}</ref> (1 May 1924 &ndash; 20 January 1997)<ref>GRO Register of Deaths: JAN 1997 A1B 212 WEST SURREY - Dennis Main Wilson, DoB = 1 May 1924, aged 72</ref> was a [[British people|British]] producer of radio and television programmes, mainly for the [[BBC]]. Main Wilson has been described by ''[[Screenonline]]'' as "arguably the most important and influential of all comedy producers/directors in British radio and television".<ref>[http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/874431/ BFI screenonline, Wilson, Dennis Main (1924-1997)] Retrieved 2 October 2016.</ref>
'''Dennis Geoffrey William Wilson''', known as '''Dennis Main Wilson'''<ref name="oxforddnb.com">{{Cite ODNB|url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-64701|isbn = 978-0-19-861412-8|doi = 10.1093/ref:odnb/64701|title = The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography|year = 2004}}</ref> (1 May 1924 &ndash; 20 January 1997)<ref>GRO Register of Deaths: JAN 1997 A1B 212 WEST SURREY - Dennis Main Wilson, DoB = 1 May 1924, aged 72</ref> was a British producer of radio and television programmes, mainly for the [[w:BBC|BBC]]. Main Wilson has been described by ''Screenonline'' as "arguably the most important and influential of all comedy producers/directors in British radio and television".<ref>[http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/874431/ BFI screenonline, Wilson, Dennis Main (1924-1997)] Retrieved 2 October 2016.</ref>


==Life and career==
==Life and career==
Dennis Geoffrey William Wilson was born at [[Dulwich]], London, the son of mechanical engineer George Arthur Main Wilson and Violet Rose (née Bayley). He was educated at [[Colfe's School]].<ref name="oxforddnb.com">{{Cite ODNB|url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-64701|isbn = 978-0-19-861412-8|doi = 10.1093/ref:odnb/64701|title = The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography|year = 2004}}</ref>
Dennis Geoffrey William Wilson was born at Dulwich, London, the son of mechanical engineer George Arthur Main Wilson and Violet Rose (née Bayley). He was educated at Colfe's School.<ref name="oxforddnb.com">{{Cite ODNB|url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-64701|isbn = 978-0-19-861412-8|doi = 10.1093/ref:odnb/64701|title = The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography|year = 2004}}</ref>


After wartime work for the German service of the BBC, he worked in comedy. He was producer of ''[[The Goon Show]]''{{'}}s first two series. [[Spike Milligan]], aware of Main Wilson's predilection for consuming alcohol, affectionately nicknamed him "Dennis Main Drain".<ref name="Fry">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zTA0pqmLlz8C&q=%22Dennis+Main+Wilson%22.+%22Dennis+Main+Drain%22&pg=PT237|title=The Fry Chronicles|first=Stephen|last=Fry|date=August 25, 2011|page=237|publisher=Penguin Books Limited|isbn=9780141039800|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=biKazcH-dXoC&q=%22Dennis+Main+Wilson%22.+%22Dennis+Main+Drain%22&pg=PA196|title=The Life and Death of Peter Sellers|first=Roger|last=Lewis|date=August 25, 1995|page=196|publisher=Arrow|isbn=9780099747000|via=Google Books}}</ref> Subsequently he produced the first four series of ''[[Hancock's Half Hour]]''<ref name="Stevens">{{cite book
After wartime work for the German service of the BBC, he worked in comedy. He was producer of ''[[The Goon Show]]''{{'}}s first two series. [[Spike Milligan]], aware of Main Wilson's predilection for consuming alcohol, affectionately nicknamed him "Dennis Main Drain".<ref name="Fry">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zTA0pqmLlz8C&q=%22Dennis+Main+Wilson%22.+%22Dennis+Main+Drain%22&pg=PT237|title=The Fry Chronicles|first=Stephen|last=Fry|date=August 25, 2011|page=237|publisher=Penguin Books Limited|isbn=9780141039800|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=biKazcH-dXoC&q=%22Dennis+Main+Wilson%22.+%22Dennis+Main+Drain%22&pg=PA196|title=The Life and Death of Peter Sellers|first=Roger|last=Lewis|date=August 25, 1995|page=196|publisher=Arrow|isbn=9780099747000|via=Google Books}}</ref> Subsequently he produced the first four series of ''[[Hancock's Half Hour]]''<ref name="Stevens">{{cite book
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}}<!--|accessdate=4 July 2012--></ref> on radio, before leaving to train in television. ''[[Till Death Us Do Part]]'', also for the BBC, is his best remembered television work.
}}<!--|accessdate=4 July 2012--></ref> on radio, before leaving to train in television. ''[[Till Death Us Do Part]]'', also for the BBC, is his best remembered television work.


Other shows he produced include ''[[Sykes and a...]]'' with [[Eric Sykes]] and [[Hattie Jacques]], ''Here's Harry'' with [[Harry Worth]], ''[[It's Marty]]'' starring [[Marty Feldman]] and ''[[The Rag Trade]]'' (which he also directed). He had less success with ''[[Private Eye TV]]'', an attempt to turn the magazine ''[[Private Eye]]'' into a television programme.
Other shows he produced include ''[[Sykes and a...]]'' with [[Eric Sykes]] and [[Hattie Jacques]], ''Here's Harry'' with [[Harry Worth]], ''[[It's Marty]]'' starring [[Marty Feldman]] and ''[[The Rag Trade]]'' (which he also directed). He had less success with ''[[Private Eye TV]]'', an attempt to turn the magazine ''[[w:Private Eye|Private Eye]]'' into a television programme.


In 1976, a scene-shifter at the BBC handed him a script he had written. Main Wilson turned it into ''[[Citizen Smith]]''. The scene-shifter was [[John Sullivan (writer)|John Sullivan]], who later wrote ''[[Just Good Friends]]'', ''[[Dear John (UK TV series)|Dear John]]'' and ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]''. Main Wilson gave TV breaks to [[Stephen Fry]],<ref name="Fry"/> [[Hugh Laurie]], [[Griff Rhys Jones]] and [[Emma Thompson]].
In 1976, a scene-shifter at the BBC handed him a script he had written. Main Wilson turned it into ''[[Citizen Smith]]''. The scene-shifter was [[John Sullivan (writer)|John Sullivan]], who later wrote ''[[Just Good Friends]]'', ''[[Dear John (UK TV series)|Dear John]]'' and ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]''. Main Wilson gave TV breaks to [[w:Stephen Fry|Stephen Fry]],<ref name="Fry"/> [[w:Hugh Laurie|Hugh Laurie]], [[w:Griff Rhys Jones|Griff Rhys Jones]] and [[w:Emma Thompson|Emma Thompson]].


Main Wilson died of [[lung cancer]] at the age of 72.
Main Wilson died of lung cancer at the age of 72.


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
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==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/874431/index.html Screenonline on Dennis Main Wilson]
*{{Screenonline name|874431|Dennis Main Wilson}}
*[https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/talent/w/wilson_dennis_main.shtml BBC Comedy Guide on Dennis Main Wilson]
*[https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/talent/w/wilson_dennis_main.shtml BBC Comedy Guide on Dennis Main Wilson]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070222002808/http://www.tonyhancock.org.uk/ham5art3.html Daily Telegraph obituary]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070222002808/http://www.tonyhancock.org.uk/ham5art3.html Daily Telegraph obituary]
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[[Category:1924 births]]
[[Category:1924 births]]
[[Category:1997 deaths]]
[[Category:1997 deaths]]
[[Category:British radio producers]]
[[Category:British television producers]]
[[Category:British television producers]]
[[Category:Deaths from lung cancer]]
[[Category:English radio producers]]
[[Category:People educated at Colfe's School]]
[[Category:People educated at Colfe's School]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in England]]
[[Category:Goon Show producers]]
[[Category:20th-century British businesspeople]]

Latest revision as of 14:57, 24 January 2023

Dennis Main Wilson
Dennis main wilson bw young phone.jpg
Born
Dennis Geoffrey William Wilson[1]

(1924-05-01)1 May 1924
Dulwich, London, England[2]
Died20 January 1997(1997-01-20) (aged 72)[3]
Surrey, England
Occupation(s)Radio and television producer
EmployerBBC
Known forThe Goon Show
Spouse
Sylvia Harkin
​
(m. 1955)​
Children2

Dennis Geoffrey William Wilson, known as Dennis Main Wilson[1] (1 May 1924 – 20 January 1997)[4] was a British producer of radio and television programmes, mainly for the BBC. Main Wilson has been described by Screenonline as "arguably the most important and influential of all comedy producers/directors in British radio and television".[5]

Life and career

Dennis Geoffrey William Wilson was born at Dulwich, London, the son of mechanical engineer George Arthur Main Wilson and Violet Rose (née Bayley). He was educated at Colfe's School.[1]

After wartime work for the German service of the BBC, he worked in comedy. He was producer of The Goon Show's first two series. Spike Milligan, aware of Main Wilson's predilection for consuming alcohol, affectionately nicknamed him "Dennis Main Drain".[6][7] Subsequently he produced the first four series of Hancock's Half Hour[8] on radio, before leaving to train in television. Till Death Us Do Part, also for the BBC, is his best remembered television work.

Other shows he produced include Sykes and a... with Eric Sykes and Hattie Jacques, Here's Harry with Harry Worth, It's Marty starring Marty Feldman and The Rag Trade (which he also directed). He had less success with Private Eye TV, an attempt to turn the magazine Private Eye into a television programme.

In 1976, a scene-shifter at the BBC handed him a script he had written. Main Wilson turned it into Citizen Smith. The scene-shifter was John Sullivan, who later wrote Just Good Friends, Dear John and Only Fools and Horses. Main Wilson gave TV breaks to Stephen Fry,[6] Hugh Laurie, Griff Rhys Jones and Emma Thompson.

Main Wilson died of lung cancer at the age of 72.

Personal life

In 1955, Main Wilson married Sylvia Harkin; the couple had a son and a daughter.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b c "The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/64701. ISBN 978-0-19-861412-8. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. ^ Only Fools and Horses, Author: Graham McCann, Canongate Books 2011, p.21
  3. ^ Took, Barry (23 January 1997). "Obituary: Dennis Main Wilson". The Independent. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  4. ^ GRO Register of Deaths: JAN 1997 A1B 212 WEST SURREY - Dennis Main Wilson, DoB = 1 May 1924, aged 72
  5. ^ BFI screenonline, Wilson, Dennis Main (1924-1997) Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  6. ^ a b Fry, Stephen (August 25, 2011). The Fry Chronicles. Penguin Books Limited. p. 237. ISBN 9780141039800 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ Lewis, Roger (August 25, 1995). The Life and Death of Peter Sellers. Arrow. p. 196. ISBN 9780099747000 – via Google Books.
  8. ^ Stevens, Christopher (2010). Born Brilliant: The Life Of Kenneth Williams. John Murray. p. 360. ISBN 978-1-84854-195-5.
  9. ^ "Obituary: Dennis Main Wilson". 23 October 2011.

External links

Retrieved from "https://www.thegoonshow.co.uk/wiki/index.php?title=Dennis_Main_Wilson&oldid=32955"