Simon Nye

Simon Nye (born 29 July, 1958 in Burgess Hill, Sussex) is an English comic television writer, best known for creating the hit sitcom "Men Behaving Badly".

Career

Nye was educated at Bedford College, University of London, where he studied French and German. He started his writing career as a translator, publishing translations of books on Richard Wagner, Henri Matisse and Georges Braque before turning his hand to novel writing in 1989 with "Men Behaving Badly". This was followed in 1991 by "Wideboy", which he later adapted into the TV show "Frank Stubbs Promotes".

"Men Behaving Badly"

Nye's TV writing career began in 1990 when he was persuaded by producer Beryl Vertue to adapt his first novel for the small screen. The first series of "Men Behaving Badly" was broadcast on ITV in 1991. The show soon went on to achieve critical and commercial success, winning the Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award for Best Situation Comedy in 1995, and the Royal Television Society Award for Best Situation Comedy/Comedy Drama in 1996. The show became the most-repeated comedy show in the 1990s.

Other work

Nye has written for over 20 different TV shows. Though best known for sitcoms - such as "Is It Legal?" (starring Kate Isitt), "How Do You Want Me?" (starring Charlotte Coleman and Dylan Moran), and "Hardware" (starring Martin Freeman) - he has also written comedy dramas such as "Frank Stubbs Promotes" (1993-1994), as well as literary adaptations such as "The Railway Children" (2000). In addition, he has written a number of comic adaptations of pantomimes including "Jack and the Beanstalk" (1998), "Cinderella" (2000) and "Dick Whittington" (2002). He also wrote the short-lived 2001 sitcom, "The Savages".

Nye also continues to write translations, focusing in recent years on dramatic works. His translation of Molière's "Don Juan" was first performed at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield in 2001, and his translation of Dario Fo's "Accidental Death of an Anarchist" premiered at the Donmar Warehouse in London in 2003.

Filmography

* "Hardware" (2003-2004)
* "Is It Legal?" (1995-1998)
* "Frank Stubbs Promotes" (1993-1994)
* "Men Behaving Badly" (1992-1998)

Bibliography

Novels

* "Wideboy" (1991) ISBN 0-670-83254-5
* "Men Behaving Badly" (1989) ISBN 0-06-016069-1

Translations

* "Accidental Death of an Anarchist" (2003) ISBN 0-413-77342-6
* "Matisse: The Graphic Work" (1988) ISBN 0-8478-0932-3
* "Georges Braque: Life and Work" (1988) ISBN 0-8478-0986-2
* "Vienna Opera" (1987) ISBN 0-8478-0811-4

External links

*
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/talent/n/nye_simon.shtml Simon Nye entry on the BBC Comedy Guide]
* [http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~master02/htm/interview_1_simon_nye.htm Interview with Simon Nye]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2004/08_august/20/cb_nye.shtml BBC Press Office biography]
* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,4267408-103675,00.html Nobleman Behaving Badly] ("Guardian" profile)