Simon Nye has two TV drama series in production – FINDING ALICE (co- written with Roger Goldby) starring Keeley Hawes, and THE LARKINS: DARLING BUDS OF MAY, both for ITV.
In 2018 he started (with Sophie Clarke-Jervoise) indie GENIAL PRODUCTIONS, and is developing a number of TV projects for Genial and as co-productions. He also has two stage plays in the works.
His adaptation of the writings of Gerald Durrell, THE DURRELLS, for Sid Gentle Ltd, recently finished its 4 th and last series and has been BAFTA- and RTS-nominated.
Simon has written two episodes of Sky Arts’ Urban Myths series – THE SEX PISTOLS VS. BILL GRUNDY and, in 2019, PAUL McCARTNEY, the story of how Yesterday was written.
He translated books on Wagner, Matisse and Braque before turning in his late 20s to fiction, publishing two novels. He started writing for TV in 1990, adapting his first novel MEN BEHAVING BADLY into a situation comedy. MEN BEHAVING BADLY has won numerous awards and was the most-repeated comedy show in the 1990s. Simon Nye also won the 1995 Writers’ Guild of Great Britain’s award for Best Situation Comedy.
His comedy drama series, FRANK STUBBS PROMOTES, starring Timothy Spall as a low-life wheeler-dealer cum-ticket tout, was based on his second novel WIDEBOY.
Three series of Simon’s situation comedy IS IT LEGAL? were broadcast in 1995-98. It won the Best ITV Sitcom award at the British Comedy Awards. TRUE LOVE, a one-hour romantic comedy film produced by Granada TV was aired in 1996. Simon adapted it into the comedy-drama MY WONDERFUL LIFE, which ran for three series to 1999.
Simon’s critically acclaimed BBC2 series HOW DO YOU WANT ME? starring Dylan Moran debuted in 1998 and ran for twelve episodes. He wrote four pantomimes for ITV, two series of veterinary sitcom BEAST on BBC1 in 1999-2000, and family comedy THE SAVAGES in 2001.
Simon adapted THE RAILWAY CHILDREN for ITV. The 2-hour film was broadcast in 2001. His adaptation of POLLYANNA was shown on New Year’s Day 2003.
Simon translated DON JUAN for a production at the Sheffield Crucible in 2001, later revived at the Theatre Royal Bath. His translation of ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF AN ANARCHIST took London’s Donmar Warehouse by storm in 2003.
Simon’s half-hour comedy WILD WEST starring Dawn French, filmed in Cornwall, ran for two series on BBC1 in 2002/03. His Bafta-nominated HARDWARE did the same on ITV, appearing in 2003/04. And two series of CARRIE & BARRY, a sitcom produced by Hartswood Films, were broadcast on BBC1 in 2004/05.
He has written several one-off dramas. BEAUTY, based on Beauty & The Beast starring Martin Clunes, on ITV in 2003. The following year saw TUNNEL OF LOVE, a 90-minute film featuring Jack Dee. PRIDE, a film featuring real lions and computer animation, was one of the BBC’s major productions in Christmas 2004. It was nominated for an Emmy. OPEN WIDE, an ITV film starring Alexander Armstrong, was broadcast over Christmas 2005. As was Simon’s adaptation of Gerald Durrell’s MY FAMILY & OTHER ANIMALS. His most recent TV film was CATWALK DOGS.
With David Nobbs, he wrote two series of a new version of REGGIE PERRIN.
Simon’s episode of DOCTOR WHO, AMY’S CHOICE was broadcast in May 2010. Channel 4 broadcast Simon’s Comedy Showcase FELIX & MURDO, an Edwardian sitcom, starring Alexander Armstrong and Ben Miller in 2011. His four part adaptation of JUST WILLIAM for the BBC aired in 2011, and won him a Bafta.
Simon’s TV biopic TOMMY COOPER: NOT LIKE THAT, LIKE THIS (produced by Left Bank Pictures and starring David Threlfall) was broadcast on ITV1 in 2014.
