John Elliot (author)

John Elliot (1918-1997), British literary artist capable of delivering gripping novels and highly entertaining and popular television scripts. Between 1954 and 1960 he scripted a succession of one-off television plays including War In The Air and A Man From The Sun. In 1961 he joined with Fred Hoyle (to ensure scientific authenticity) to write the ground-breaking science fiction serial A for Andromeda which set the tone for all which was to follow in its stead. The success of A For Andromeda prompted a sequel, The Andromeda Breakthrough, in 1962.

Following Andromeda, Elliot wrote more one-off plays, but his talents were underused by the BBC. He resigned from the BBC in 1963 but, as a parting gift, offered an option on his concept for a drama series - Mogul (re-named The Troubleshooters from the second series) for which he wrote much of the seven series.

His other works include programmes such as Fall of Eagles and Survival as well as novels including Dual, Blood Upon The Snow, and A For Andromeda and The Andromeda Breakthrough (also co-written with Fred Hoyle).

Books by John Elliot

*"A for Andromeda" (1962), Souvenir Press, ISBN 978-0285635883

Further reading

*MacKenzie, S. (2006), "War in the Air" Churchill, the Air Ministry and the BBC response to Victory at Sea", "Contemporary British History"': [http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a757750008~jumptype=rss]