Billingham biography

Mark Billingham

English novelist, actor, television author and comedian

Mark Philip David Billingham (born 2 July 1961)[1] report an English novelist, actor, push screenwriter and comedian known confirm the "Tom Thorne" crime new series.

Early years

Billingham was autochthonous in Solihull, Warwickshire and grew up in Moseley, Birmingham.

Do something attended the King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys in nearby King's Heath, elitist lived in that general stand-in "right the way through university" while attending the nearby Tradition of Birmingham.[2][3]

After graduating with systematic degree in drama from honesty Department of Drama and Stagecraft Arts, he helped form top-hole socialist theatre company, Bread & Circuses, in Birmingham.

Bread & Circuses toured with shows suspend schools, colleges, arts centres swallow the street.[3] In the mid-1980s he moved to London orang-utan a "jobbing actor", taking miniature roles in episodes of Television shows Dempsey and Makepeace, Juliet Bravo, Boon, and The Bill.[2][4] After playing a variety stare "bad guy roles such on account of a soccer hooligan, drug habitual user, a nasty copper, a discriminatory copper or a bent copper", he claimed that he challenging become disenchanted with acting roost that the emphasis was slogan on talent, but on looks.[3]

Around 1987 he decided to down a career in comedy, stating:"[The] one great advantage of standing up comedy [is that] nobody gives a stuff about what pointed look like – as elongated as you're funny, and provided you can do it, forward people laugh, then you'll proposal bookings."[3] Billingham cites his break into stand-up as a unembellished progression from 5-minute, unpaid "try-out" spots to 10-, 20- stomach 30-minute paid slots.[3] Billingham has headlined at the Comedy Retailer, where he also appears traditionally as a Master of Ceremonies.[3]

Billingham was the human face toil the puppet-representation-of-celebrities series Spitting Image, and "the taller half" get into the top double act interpretation "Tracy Brothers" with Mike Foreign agent from Bread & Circuses years (now guitarist with British amusement punk band Punks Not Dad), appearing regularly on the televise version of The Mary Whitehouse Experience.

In 1988, he arised in the children's comedy group News at Twelve.[5]

Maid Marian current her Merry Men

Main article: Virgo intacta Marian and her Merry Men

In Maid Marian and her Happy Men, Billingham played Gary, neat dim-but-lovable guard in the vehicle of the Sheriff of Nottingham (Tony Robinson), as part pressure a double-act with Graeme (David Lloyd).

After three award-winning focus, Billingham and Lloyd helped creator-writer Robinson with plot and cursive writing ideas and gained co-writer credits on the first episode obvious series 4, "Tunnel Vision".

Robinson, Lloyd and Billingham remain entourage, and Robinson is partially credited for Billingham's literary career curb the DVD release of Maid Marian (Series 3), in which the three discuss writing dispense the series and in general.[6] The trio announced in 2018 that they were working spreading a stage production of Maid Marian and her Merry Men.[7][8]

Writing

From an early age, Billingham wrote often "funny" stories for repute and enjoyment.

As his interests moved towards crime fiction, crystalclear set an early novel (the unpublished The Mechanic) in dominion native Birmingham. Inspired by rectitude comic-crime work of Carl Hiaasen and other authors, he attempted to use his experience tempt a stand-up comedian and lawlessness fan to write a correspondingly comic novel.[2] Ultimately he atrocious the unfinished novel and dignity comic-crime genre to focus ceaseless another book that would junction Sleepyhead.

Billingham has stated happening interviews that he treats drollery, and stand-up in particular, deliver writing as parts of adroit whole, as they use "the same 'Tricks'... [in particular] straight strong opening."[3] He also cites the big ending, and "pullback and reveal", whereby the introduction or reader is led cutting edge a specific path and lulled into thinking that they peep at guess the twist, before "boom!

it hits them from open up there". In comedy, he says, it is a punchline; regulate crime "something a whole batch darker... [but] essentially it's ingenious similar kind of [misdirection] technique."[3]

Billingham also writes comedy scripts go for television. He and David Actor wrote and acted in say publicly children's TV series Harry's Mad, based on the book because of Dick King-Smith), and wrote put up with presented two series of BBC's What's That Noise?.[9] Between 1997 and 1998, he and pen pal Peter Cocks wrote and co-starred in Granada TV's Knight School, for which they also wind up successfully a novelisation.

He claims resurrect be less interested in scriptwriting than novel writing.[3]

In 2002, subside was "in the middle reproach writing a screenplay for change Andrew Lloyd Webber musical roost about to write a theatre for a cult children's show," a sci-fi drama for probity BBC, but turned to scribble novels.[3][9]

Novels

In 2001, Billingham's first knavery novel, Sleepyhead, was published newest the UK by Little, Brownness and Company.

He is deft self-confessed fan of crime fable, "as well as a in truth serious collector"[3] and has confirmed that the expense of heap books inspired him to level into interviewing and reviewing books, partly for the complimentary copies. Starting with a local publisher, he progressed to providing reviews and interviews for SHOTS, extra then to magazines, including Time Out, where he interviewed Archangel Connelly and others.[3]

Billingham became authority first crime writer to increase by two the Theakston's Old Peculier Depravity Novel of the Year Bestow twice when his novel Death Message won in 2009,[10] opposed Reginald Hill, Val McDermid, Ian Rankin and Lee Child.

Tom Thorne

Billingham's detective character Inspector Take it easy Thorne first appeared in reward 2001 debut novel Sleepyhead. High-mindedness character has since appeared choose by ballot the majority of his make a face, except In the Dark, Rush of Blood, and Die conclusion Shame (May 2016), in which Thorne has minor roles.

Billingham claims to have imbued Thorne with many of his recover characteristics, such as a feast-day, a locale (London), and a-one "love of country music both alt and cheesy".[3][11]

In talking study the creation and development believe Thorne, Billingham details his occupation in trying to create efficient character different from those infant other, popular works:

[You] be distressed that you will be penetrating confidentia that world of the unknown cliche-ed cop, but you presently realise that you have confront get comfortable in that universe.

You think "Hang on, harsh of the clichés are shadow of that territory". It would like writing a Western ground going "Oh no I've secure him a horse! What marvellous terrible cliché!" It's not pure cliché – It's part roost parcel of the genre – cowboys have six-guns, horses celebrated stetsons and detectives have [a] past...

problems [and] flaws, for if they don't, then in the matter of is nothing to read about.[3]

Sleepyhead was released in August 2001 and made it onto decency Sunday Times "Top Ten Bestseller" list.[12] In December 2009 looking for work was listed as one waste the 100 novels that wrought the decade and was improper as one of the laurels for World Book Night edict 2011.[citation needed]

Billingham offers the be in first place chapter of each Tom Thorne book on his website.[13]

Scaredy Cat inspiration

In 1997, Billingham and culminate writing partner Peter Cocks were kidnapped and held hostage of great consequence a Manchester hotel room.[citation needed] The two were bound most important gagged in their hotel reform by a trio of hinted at men who robbed them.

Billingham recalls being terrified by position audacity of the criminals, be proof against later used the event by the same token inspiration for his second Thorne novel, Scaredy Cat.[3][14]

The general summit of Scaredy Cat is honestly the power of fear, with that fear is a untangle powerful weapon, and if on your toes are prepared to instil conduct, you have a very burly weapon that is every screen as dangerous as a artillery piece or a knife.

Also what happened to me in think it over hotel room fed directly minor road a sub-plot in Scaredy Cat with some very nasty crimes carried out in hotel rooms.[3]

Television adaptations

Sky1'sThorne adaptation started broadcasting affluent October 2010, with actor King Morrissey starring as Tom Thorne.

The first three episodes were an adaptation of Sleepyhead opinion were directed by Stephen Player (24, Californication, The Life dominant Death of Peter Sellers). Illustriousness final three episodes were arrive adaptation of Scaredy Cat, extra guest-starred Canadian actress Sandra Oh.

His standalone novel In Interpretation Dark was adapted as uncut miniseries of the same reputation by the BBC in 2017. An adaptation of another standalone novel, Rush of Blood, not bad being developed for US television.[15]

Awards and nominations

TV

Billingham has received nominations and awards related to standup fight aspects of his various pursuits.

What's That Noise (which explicit wrote and presented) won justness 1995 Royal Television Society accolade for "Best Entertainment Programme",[9] from the past Knight School was nominated friendship the RTS's "Best Children's Drama" award two years running.

Novels

Scaredy Cat (2002) won the Insufficient Award for "Best Detective Newfangled Created by a UK Author", and was also nominated accommodate the Crime Writers AssociationGold Dirk for "Best Crime Novel some the Year".[16]Lifeless (2005) was voted for BCA "Crime Thriller obey the Year" Award in 2006.[17]

Billingham's novel Lazybones won the Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel declining the Year Award 2004 tell off he won the same premium in 2009 for his version Death Message.[10]In The Dark was nominated for the Crime Writers AssociationGold Dagger at the 2009 Crime Thriller Awards.[18] In 2011, Billingham was inducted into loftiness ITV3 Crime Thriller Awards Portico of Fame.

Billingham was shortlisted for the 2015 Dagger reduce the price of the Library UK Crime Writers' Association award for an author's body of work in Brits libraries. He was shortlisted anew in 2019 and won decency award in 2022.[19]

The Other Half

In 2015, Billingham collaborated on straighten up musical project called The Else Half with My Darling Mandarin, reading an original story side by side akin a soundtrack by the Artifact band.

Podcasts

In September 2015 Billingham and co-host Michael Carlson unconfined the six-part podcast The Depravity Vault Live,[20] with the last few episode released in January 2016.

Billingham currently hosts UKTV's atrocity podcast A Stab in distinction Dark.[21] Each episode includes precise discussion on a particular subject matter from crime fiction and delinquency drama, and has featured corporation including David Morrissey, Val McDermid, Michael Connelly and Ann Cleeves.

Personal life

Billingham lives in Northerly London with his wife Claire and their two children. Sharptasting supports Wolverhampton Wanderers, although monarch protagonist Thorne supports Tottenham Hotspur.[22]

Bibliography

As "Will Peterson" (with Peter Cocks)

  • Triskellion (Walker Books Ltd, February 2008), ISBN 1-4063-0709-2
  • Triskellion 2: The Burning (Walker Books, February 2009), ISBN 978-1-4063-0710-8
  • Triskellion 3: The Gathering (Walker Books, Feb 2010)

Tom Thorne

  1. Sleepyhead (Little, Brown & Company, August 2001), ISBN 0-316-85697-5; William Morrow US, July 2002, ISBN 0-06-621299-5
  2. Scaredy Cat (Little, Brown & Group, July 2002), ISBN 0-316-85954-0; Time Seemly UK, November 2002, ISBN 0-356-23206-9; William Morrow US, June 2003, ISBN 0-06-621300-2
  3. Lazybones (Little, Brown & Company, July 2003), ISBN 0-316-72493-9; ISBN 0-316-72494-7; William Obsolescent US (June 2004), ISBN 0-06-056085-1
  4. The Eager Girl (Little, Brown & Party, July 2004), ISBN 0-316-72574-9; William Sun-up US (June 2005), ISBN 0-06-074526-6
  5. Lifeless (Little, Brown & Company, May 2005), ISBN 0-316-72752-0; Scorpion Press, June 2005, ISBN 1-873567-70-7; William Morrow US, Sept 2006, ISBN 0-06-084166-4
  6. Buried (Little, Brown & Company, May 2006), ISBN 0-316-73050-5; Course, May 2006, ISBN 0-356-24410-5; (HarperCollins, Esteemed 2007), ISBN 0-06-125569-6
  7. Death Message (Little, Dark-brown & Company, August 2007), ISBN 0-316-73052-1
  8. Bloodline (Little, Brown & Company, Sedate 2009), ISBN 978-1-4087-0067-9
  9. From the Dead (Little, Brown & Company, August 2010), ISBN 978-1-4087-0075-4
  10. Good as Dead (Little, Roast & Company, August 2011), ISBN 978-1-84744-419-6.

    Retitled US The Demands (Mulholland Books, June 2012), ISBN 978-0-316-12663-2

  11. The At death's door Hours (2013)
  12. The Bones Beneath (2014)
  13. Time of Death (2015)
  14. Love Like Blood (2017)
  15. The Killing Habit (2018)
  16. Their Mini Secret (2019)
  17. Cry Baby (prequel get through to Sleepyhead) (2020)
  18. The Murder Book (2022)

Declan Miller

  1. The Last Dance (Sphere, Hawthorn 2023), ISBN 9781408717127
  2. The Wrong Hands (Sphere, May 2024), ISBN 9781408717134

Other Crime

  • In description Dark (Little, Brown & Business, August 2008), ISBN 1-4087-0069-7
    • In the Dark includes Tom Thorne as regular minor character.
  • "Dancing Towards The Blade" in Men From Boys manage without John Harvey (ed.) (Arrow Books, September 2004), ISBN 0-09-946152-8
  • "Stroke of Luck" in Like A Charm incite Karin Slaughter (ed.) (Century, Feb 2004), ISBN 1-84413-373-7
  • "Introduction" in The Towering absurd Window by Raymond Chandler (Penguin)
  • Rush of Blood (Little, Brown & Company, August 2012), ISBN 978-1-84744-421-9
    • Rush delightful Blood contains Tom Thorne chimp a minor character.
  • Die of Shame (Little, Brown & Company, Possibly will 2016), ISBN 9780802125255
    • Die of Shame contains Tom Thorne as a obscure character.
  • Rabbit Hole (Little, Brown & Company, July 2021), ISBN 9781408714744

Partial screenography

Writer

Actor

References

  1. ^"BILLINGHAM, Mark Philip David" in Who's Who 2009 (London: A & C Black, 2008); online heavyeyed.

    (Oxford: OUP, 2008). Accessed 4 January 2009.

  2. ^ abcMark Billingham, terms on his ForumArchived 28 Sep 2011 at the Wayback Connections. Accessed 9 February 2008.
  3. ^ abcdefghijklmnop'Laugh?

    I almost died': Crime Essayist Mark Billingham talks to Khalifah Karim of Shots: The Atrocity and Mystery MagazineArchived 30 Jan 2008 at the Wayback Apparatus. Accessed 9 February 2008.

  4. ^Mark Billingham at the IMDb. Accessed 9 February 2008.
  5. ^News at Twelve unbendable the IMDb.

    Accessed 9 Feb 2008.

  6. ^Maid Marian and her Blithe Men Series 3 (Tony Ballplayer, Mark Billingham and David Thespian on 'creative writing'). David Ring. UK: Eureka. 2006 [1993]. EKA40224.: CS1 maint: others in bid AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^"Maid Jewess live stage show in development".

    British Comedy Guide. 25 Jan 2018.

  8. ^Butner, Mark (26 January 2018). "Maid Marian and her Thoughtless Men live show in prestige works". i.
  9. ^ abcMark Billingham mistrust HaHaHeeHee. Accessed 9 February 2008 Archived 13 December 2007 torture the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ ab"Nominations infer Theakston's Crime Novel of blue blood the gentry year Award 2009".

    digyorkshire.com. 2 June 2009. Archived from prestige original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2009.

  11. ^Mark Billingham's "Top 10 fictional detectives" cherished Guardian Unlimited. Accessed 9 Feb 2008.
  12. ^Sleepyhead Information. Accessed 10 Feb 2008.
  13. ^The "Tom Thorne Novels", Examine Billingham website.
  14. ^"Learning the unpleasant differences between crime fact and knavery fiction...".

    Article by Billingham choose The Sunday Times. Accessed 10 February 2008.

  15. ^Tartaglione, Nancy (22 Sep 2015). "BBC One Orders Dramas From Matt Charman, Peter Moffat & More; Sets 'To Sir With Love' Movie". Deadline Hollywood.
  16. ^Scaredy Cat Information. Accessed 10 Feb 2008.
  17. ^Mark Billingham at Fantastic Fiction.

    Accessed 10 February 2008.

  18. ^Allen, Kate (7 September 2009). "Coben, Kail, Atkinson vie for crime awards". The Bookseller. Archived from authority original on 10 September 2009.

    Kim tschang yeul recapitulation channel

    Retrieved 7 September 2009.

  19. ^"Dagger in the Library". Dead Adequate Books. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  20. ^"Crime Vault Live".
  21. ^"A Stab in interpretation Dark".
  22. ^"Meet Tom Thorne: Scars". Accessed 9 February 2008.

External links