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G.F. Newman
Born(1947-05-22)22 May 1947(age 77)
Kent,England
OccupationWriter and television producer
NationalityBritish
Period1970s–present
GenreCrime fictionand politics

Gordon Frank Newman(born 22 May 1947)[1][2]is an English writer and television producer. In addition to his two earlier seriesLaw & OrderandThe Nation's Health,each based on his books, he is known for more recent TV series includingJudge John DeedandNew Street Law.

Newman's first book,Sir, You Bastard,was a bestseller on publication in 1970. It was to become the first in aseries of three worksfeaturing the character of Terry Sneed, an unscrupulous Scotland Yard inspector. The second of these isYou Nice Bastardand the thirdYou Flash Bastard/The Price.Other books he has written includeBilly,The List,The Men with the Guns,Charlie and Joanna,Three Professional Ladies,Trading the Future / Circle of Poison,Law and Order,The Nation's Health,and his 2009 novelCrime and Punishment,which was adapted for radio and broadcast asThe Corrupted.

Together with screenwriter and novelistMatthew Hallhe owns and runs the production company One Eyed Dog Ltd.

Biography

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Gordon Newman was born inKentin 1947. He attended aStanislavskyacting school inChislehurst,and wrote a script when he was 18 for the ITV police seriesNo Hiding Place(1959–67).[3][4]

Newman's partner Rebecca (Hughes) Hall is also a creative writer.[5]She has scripted plays[citation needed]and films[6]and is an author of books onanimal rights.[7][8][9]

Writings in relation to personal views

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Newman has very strong and sometimes controversial views on a variety of subjects, and these are reflected in his work.[5]He takes an interest inanimal rightsand is a staunchvegan.[5][10]When producing or directing television programmes he insists that no meat at all is consumed on the sets.[5][11]He has compared the slaughter of animals to theholocaust.[5]Newman is a believer inreincarnationand takes influence from the vegetarianJohn Todd Ferrier.[5]

Newman has no political allegiance to either left or right wing and does not vote.[5]

Bibliography

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Terry Sneed trilogy

  1. Sir, You BastardakaRogue Cop(1970)ISBN9780491002547- Adapted as a 1974 film,The Take[12]
  2. You Nice Bastard(1972)ISBN9780450011993
  3. You Flash BastardakaThe Price(1974)ISBN9780450021114

Law & Order

Main article:Law & Order (British TV series)

TV Series:

  1. Detective's Tale(1977)
  2. Villain's Tale(1977)
  3. A Brief's Tale(1977)
  4. Prisoner's Tale(1977)

Books: A trilogy of works consisting of

  1. 'A Detective's Tale'ISBN9780722163498
  2. 'A Villain's Tale'ISBN978-0722163634
  3. 'A Prisoner's Tale'ISBN978-0722163641

An omnibus edition including all three was published in 1984 by HarperCollinsISBN9780586057834.[13]

The Nation's HealthPublished in the UK by HarperCollins,ISBN978-0586052303,[14]and broadcast on Channel 4 in 1983.[15]

  1. Acute
  2. Decline
  3. Chronic
  4. Collapse

Number One(1984, 1985 according to IMDB),[16]about the exploitation of a snooker player by a professional promoter[3]

Screen One

Main article:Screen One

Series One

  • Nineteen 96(1989)[3]

Series Four

  • Black and Blue(1992)

Screen Two

Main article:Screen Two

Series Five

  • Here is the News(1989)[3]

For the Greater Good(3 Episodes, BBC, 1991):[3][17]

  • Member(1991)
  • Mandarin(1991)
  • Minister(1991)

The Healer

  • The Healer(2 Part TV Movie, BBC, 1994)[18][19]-The Healerreceived a Bafta award in 1996.[20]

10x10

Series Eight, Episode 9[21]

  • Woe to the Hunter(1996)[22]

Judge John Deed

Main article:Judge John Deed

TV series:

  1. Pilot(2001)
  2. Series 1(2001)
  3. Series 2(2002)
  4. Series 3(2003–2004)
  5. Series 4(2005)
  6. Series 5(2006)
  7. Series 6(2007)

Books:

  1. Guilty - Until Proven Otherwise(2020)ISBN978-1853982002

New Street Law(2006-2007)

Main article:New Street Law
  1. Series 1(2006)
  2. Series 2(2007) NB IMDB credits Newman as 'co-creator' of 4 of the 6 episodes of Series 2.[23]

The Corrupted(2013/2015/2017/2018/2020/2021)[24][25][26]

The Corruptedis an adaption of Newman's novelCrime and Punishment;it was broadcast onBBC Radio 4's afternoon play slot.

Other Novels

Plays

Genre Fiction

The Corrupted

[edit]

The Corruptedis an adaption of his novelCrime and Punishment.It starsToby Jonesas Joseph Olinska.[30]

Series 1,[24]a 10 part radio drama, was broadcast onBBC Radio 4's 'afternoon play' slot in 2013.[31][32]

Series 2,a further 10 part radio drama, formed the second part, first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 starting 19 January 2015.[25]

Series 3began airing on Radio 4 on Monday 9 January 2017.[26]

Series 4began broadcasting on Radio 4 on Monday 25 June 2018.[33]

Series 5began airing on Radio 4 on Monday 20 April 2020.[34]

Series 6began airing on Radio 4 on Monday 10 May 2021.[35][The final series]

Reception

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The BBC's Feedback programme on 27/01/2017 included discussion on Series 3 ofThe Corrupted,including talking "to Radio 4's Commissioning Editor for Drama, Jeremy Howe, about why he feltThe Corruptedwas worth 7 hours of airtime over just two weeks "and the assessment that" many loved it, though some were not so keen on the venal themes ".[36]

Describing the series as 'fiction in a factual world', Feedback went on to note the suggestion inThe Corruptedstoryline, that, after the character Joseph Oldman had deployed some of his wealth to bankroll theConservative Party,Margaret Thatcher(ignorant of his gangster background) expressed interest in appointing him to the post ofchancellor of the exchequer.It also discussed the murder ofAirey Neave,which - although claimed by theINLA- by juxtaposition of themes in the series, it was implied, might have had some level of involvement of theSecret Intelligence Service(SIS), orMI5,who might have desired to silence him to avoid exposure of others with influence.[36]

Opinions

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In May 1994 Newman gave a half-hourOpinionslecture televised on Channel 4 and subsequently published inThe Independentas"Wisdom Needs No Votes".[37]

Trading The Future

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Trading The Futurewas initially published by Macdonald in the UK in a hardcover edition in 1991. It was subsequently re-released asCircle of Poison,in 1995.[38]See the related topic,Circle of Poison.

For the Greater Good

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A three-part Whitehall drama series, with the titles (Member,Mandarin,Minister) reflecting the perspectives of the three principal protagonists (a British Member of Parliament, a Whitehall Civil Servant, and a Government Minister, respectively). It was first aired on the BBC in 1991.[17][39][40]Theme music was byOrchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark.[41]

The Nation's Health

[edit]

The Nation's Health is a 4 episode series written by G.F.Newman based on his book of the same name, originally broadcast on the fledglingChannel 4UK TV channel in 1983. The series consists of four episodes titled Acute, Decline, Chronic, and Collapse.[42]

Reception

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Sherryl Wilson[43]writes: "Although the series is a negative critique of the NHS staff in general, it does also offer a damning insight into the policies that were seen to be disabling the NHS."[42]

In a BMJ abstract[44]one can read: "How 'little relation to reality' these programmes bore to the NHS in the early 1980s is up for debate, but something in these programmes smacks of truth, raising questions that still need to be asked of the NHS and its staff." Sherryl Wilson draws a comparison with conclusions from the 2009enquiry into Stafford Hospital.[42]The BMJ abstract continues "These programmes make fascinating if difficult watching, because they do not show the deference towards the medical profession and the NHS shown by previous British dramas such asDoctor Finlay’s Casebook,General Hospital,andEmergency Ward 10.Their gritty influence on later British medical dramas, such asCasualtycan be seen clearly. "[44]

References

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  1. ^"MR-GORDON-FRANK-NEWMAN listing at companycheck.co.uk/director/913086726".companycheck.co.uk.Retrieved11 July2024.ONE-EYED DOG LIMITED
  2. ^"MR-GORDON-FRANK-NEWMAN listing at companycheck.co.uk/director/903014292".companycheck.co.uk.Retrieved11 July2024.Inactive... Dramax Ltd.
  3. ^abcde"Screenonline page for Newman, G.F."www.screenonline.org.uk.Retrieved27 March2018.
  4. ^"The cop drama that rewrote TV history".independent.co.uk.24 March 2009.Retrieved2 August2018.
  5. ^abcdefgHattenstone, Simon (30 December 2000)."Natural lawman".The Guardian.Saturday Review.Retrieved21 September2007.
  6. ^Eddie Cockrell (20 September 1999)."The Volcano (screenplay credited to Rebecca Hughes)".variety.com.Retrieved31 July2022.
  7. ^Rebecca Hall: Fruits of Paradise: A Vegetarian Yearbook.ISBN9780671713232.
  8. ^Rebecca HALL: Animals are equal: an exploration of animal consciousness.ISBN978-0712619301.
  9. ^Rebecca Hall: Voiceless Victims.ISBN978-0704505001.
  10. ^"My space: G F Newman, screenwriter and novelist".The Telegraph (Paywall).28 October 2013.Retrieved7 March2020.
  11. ^"Carnivores enjoy the same pleasure as child murderers': G F Newman speaks".The Independent.Retrieved7 March2020.
  12. ^"IMDB page about 'The Take'".IMDB.Retrieved27 March2018.
  13. ^"Law and Order (Law and Order omnibus 1-3) by G.F. Newman".goodreads.com.Retrieved14 May2018.
  14. ^"The Nation's Health".fantasticfiction.com.Retrieved27 March2018.
  15. ^"Screenonline page re the Nation's Health".www.screenonline.org.uk.Retrieved27 March2018.
  16. ^"Number One (1985)".imdb.com.Retrieved27 March2018.
  17. ^ab"IMDB page re 'For the Greater Good'".IMDB.Retrieved27 March2018.
  18. ^"IMDB page re 'The Healer'".IMDb.Retrieved27 March2018.
  19. ^"The Healer".bbc.co.uk/programmes.Retrieved25 May2018.
  20. ^"Cymru: Drama: English in 1996- Winner The Healer: Clive Brill, GF Newman".awards.bafta.org.Retrieved25 May2018.
  21. ^"IMDB page re '10x10' Series 8".IMDB.Retrieved27 March2018.
  22. ^"BFI page re 'Woe to the Hunter'".ftvdb.bfi.org.uk.Archived fromthe originalon 17 January 2009.Retrieved27 March2018.
  23. ^"IMDB page re G.F. Newman mentioning New Street Law".IMDB.Retrieved27 March2018.
  24. ^ab"BBC page coveringThe CorruptedSeries 1 ".Retrieved27 March2018.
  25. ^ab"Radio Times Listing including first episode of Series 2 ofThe Corrupted".radiotimes.com.
  26. ^ab"Episodes guide for Series 3 ofThe Corrupted".bbc.co.uk/programmes.Retrieved10 January2017.
  27. ^"IMDB Page for Billy on Play for Today".IMDB.Retrieved27 March2018.
  28. ^"The Streetfighter".Goodreads.Retrieved1 July2024.
  29. ^Newman, G. F. (7 January 2014)."Guardian Article re GFN, 'Dark Heart', and Self-Publishing".The Guardian.Retrieved14 May2018.
  30. ^"Eight dramas to escape with]".www.bbc.co.uk.Retrieved2 June2020.
  31. ^"Goodreads page with Series 1 ofThe Corruptedavailable as an AudioBook ".goodreads.com.Retrieved14 May2018.
  32. ^"The Stage page with preliminary review ofThe CorruptedSeries 1 ".Archived fromthe originalon 7 April 2014.Retrieved2 April2014.
  33. ^"First episode of Series 4 ofThe Corruptedas scheduled ".radiotimes.com.Retrieved25 June2018.
  34. ^"BBC Sounds Listing including first episode of Series 5 ofThe Corrupted".bbc.co.uk/schedules.Retrieved28 April2020.
  35. ^"BBC Sounds Listing including first episode of Series 6 ofThe Corrupted".bbc.co.uk/schedules.Retrieved10 May2021.
  36. ^ab"BBC's Feedback programme on 27/01/2017".bbc.co.uk/programmes.Retrieved31 January2017.
  37. ^"Wisdom needs no votes: We are kidding ourselves if we think our views matter, says GF Newman, in the second of this week's three essays on democracy. But tinkering will not help: we must opt for a more radical course".The Independent.3 May 1994.Retrieved17 January2022.
  38. ^"Trading The Future".slightlybetterbooks.com.Retrieved19 March2018.
  39. ^Lez Cooke."Screenonline page re 'for the Greater Good'".www.screenonline.org.uk.Retrieved11 July2024.
  40. ^"Judicial Images page re GFN".judicialimages.org.[dead link]
  41. ^"For the Greater Good (1991– ) Full Cast & Crew".imdb.com.Retrieved27 March2018.
  42. ^abcSherryl Wilson."Sherryl Wilson Paper referencing The Nation's Health".www.nosuch-research.co.uk.[dead link]
  43. ^"Sherryl Wilson staff page at UWE website".people.uwe.ac.uk.Retrieved14 May2018.
  44. ^abCarter, Sally (11 May 2011)."BMJ 2011;342:d2682 -BMJ Article Referring to 'The Nation's Health'".BMJ.342:d2682.doi:10.1136/bmj.d2682.Retrieved14 May2018.
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