Alan Plater facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alan Plater
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Plater (right) with actor Malcolm Hebden in 1972
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| Born | Alan Frederick Plater 15 April 1935 Jarrow, England |
| Died | 25 June 2010 (aged 75) London, England |
| Occupation | Scriptwriter |
| Period | 1962–2010 |
| Genre | Television |
| Notable works | Oh No It's Selwyn Froggitt (1976–1977) The Beiderbecke Trilogy (1985–1988) A Very British Coup (1988) |
| Spouse | Shirley Johnson (1958–1985) Shirley Rubinstein (1986–2010) |
Alan Frederick Plater (15 April 1935 – 25 June 2010) was a famous English writer. He wrote many plays and screenplays for television. He worked in British TV from the 1960s all the way to the 2000s.
He is best known for the funny TV show Oh No It's Selwyn Froggitt. He also wrote the comedy-drama series The Beiderbecke Trilogy.
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Alan Plater's Career in Writing
Alan Plater was born in Jarrow, England, in 1935. His family moved to Hull when he was three years old. He went to Kingston High School.
Jarrow was a very poor area before World War II. Alan joked that his family left Jarrow just after a tough economic time. They moved to Hull just before the city was heavily bombed.
He first studied to become an architect at King's College, Newcastle. But he only worked as an architect for a short time. He once said he left the job after having to stop pigs from eating his tape measure! That's when he decided to become a full-time writer. He lived in Hull for many years, even after he became a well-known writer.
Early TV Work and Popular Shows
Alan Plater started as a scriptwriter for the TV show Z-Cars (1962–65). He also wrote for its spin-off shows, Softly, Softly and Softly, Softly: Task Force.
He wrote many other popular TV shows and plays. Some of his famous works include:
- Shoulder to Shoulder (1974)
- The Stars Look Down (1975)
- Trinity Tales (1975)
- Oh No It's Selwyn Froggitt (a sitcom)
- Get Lost! (1981)
- The Beiderbecke Trilogy (1985–1988)
- A Very British Coup (1988)
- Oliver's Travels (1995)
He also adapted books for TV, like Fortunes of War. He helped create the TV version of Flambards. He also wrote for the BBC series Dalziel and Pascoe.
Jazz music was often a part of Alan Plater's work. He loved jazz and used it in his stories. He also supported the Hull City A.F.C. football team. He even wrote a play about his love for the club called Confessions of a City Supporter.
Alan Plater's Thoughts on His Writing
Alan Plater once talked about his writing style. He said he didn't want to write wild, action-packed stories. He didn't like TV shows with lots of car crashes.
Instead, he wanted to write about normal people. He liked to show how their everyday lives changed when something unexpected happened.
He said two of his most famous characters, Trevor Chaplin and Jill Swinburne from the Beiderbecke series, were based on himself. Trevor showed his interests, like jazz, football, and snooker. Jill showed his beliefs, like caring for nature and the environment.
His Life and Awards
Alan Plater was married to Shirley Johnson from 1958 to 1985. They had two sons and a daughter. Later, he married Shirley Rubinstein in 1986. He gained three stepsons from this marriage.
He was the head of the Writers' Guild of Great Britain from 1991 to 1995. He also received special degrees from the University of Hull and Northumbria University.
In 2004, he was given a special award called a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). This award recognized his great work in drama. There is also a green plaque in Hull that remembers him.
His Passing
Alan Plater passed away from cancer in London. He was 75 years old. His death was announced on June 25, 2010.
