Simon John Blackwell (born 27 May 1966) is an English comedy writer and producer. He is best known for his work on The Thick of It, In The Loop and Veep, and for his collaborations with Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain on Peep Show, Four Lions and The Old Guys. Blackwell is the creator of the comedy series Back, starring David Mitchell and Robert Webb, as well as Breeders, starring Martin Freeman and Daisy Haggard.
Simon Blackwell | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Blackwell in 2010 | |
| Born | Simon John Blackwell 27 May 1966 Battersea, London, England |
| Alma mater | Churchill College, Cambridge |
| Occupation | Screenwriter |
| Years active | 1999–present |
Career
editAfter graduating from Churchill College, Cambridge as a mature student and then working as a sub-editor for magazines, Blackwell started writing TV comedy in 1999 on shows such as Have I Got News For You, The Kumars at No. 42, Alastair McGowan's Big Impression and The Armstrong and Miller Show, for which he created the duo's street-talking RAF pilot characters.[1][2][3] He first worked with Armando Iannucci in 2003 on the topical Channel 4 show Gash. He went on to write on all four series of Iannucci's political sitcom The Thick of It and co-wrote its spin-off film In The Loop, which was nominated for an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Other work with Iannucci includes 2004: The Stupid Version and Time Trumpet.
The two collaborated again on the HBO comedy Veep, with Blackwell co-writing the pilot episode and serving as writer and executive producer on the subsequent four seasons, for which he won two Primetime Emmy Awards.[4]
Blackwell wrote for Chris Morris's 2010 black comedy film Four Lions, alongside Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain. He had previously collaborated with them on the Channel 4 sitcom Peep Show and BBC One's The Old Guys.
In 2016, Blackwell created the sitcom Back starring David Mitchell and Robert Webb. It premiered on Channel 4 on 6 September 2017.[5]
In 2020, Blackwell created the dramedy Breeders, starring Martin Freeman and Daisy Haggard. The series premiered on the American cable network FX on 2 March 2020, and on Sky One on 12 March 2020.[6]
Filmography
editTelevision
edit| Title | Year | Functioned as | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Writer | Producer | Other | |||
| The Jim Tavaré Show | 1999 | Yes | 7 episodes | ||
| The 11 O'Clock Show | 1999–2000 | Yes | 5 episodes | ||
| Bremner, Bird and Fortune | 1999–2003 | Yes | |||
| The Big Impression | 2000 | Yes | |||
| Way to Go | 2001 | Yes | |||
| Aaagh! It's the Mr. Hell Show! | 2001–2002 | Yes | 10 episodes | ||
| The Kumars at No. 42 | 2001–2002 | Yes | |||
| Live Floor Show | 2002 | Yes | Episode: #2.8 | ||
| Dead Ringers | 2002–2007 | Yes | |||
| Life Beyond the Box: Norman Stanley Fletcher | 2003 | Yes | Script advisor | ||
| Gash | 2003 | Yes | 4 episodes | ||
| Bounty Hamster | 2003 | Yes | 7 episodes | ||
| The Sketch Show | 2003–2004 | Yes | Additional writer | ||
| Christmas Night with the Stars | 2004 | Yes | Television special | ||
| The Impressionable Jon Culshaw | 2004 | Yes | 6 episodes | ||
| 2004: The Stupid Version | 2004 | Yes | Television special | ||
| Monkey Trousers | 2005 | Yes | 5 episodes | ||
| The Comic Side of 7 Days | 2005 | Yes | |||
| Graham Norton's Bigger Picture | 2005 | Yes | |||
| The Thick of It | 2005–2012 | Yes | 21 episodes | ||
| Time Trumpet | 2006 | Yes | 2 episodes | ||
| Hyperdrive | 2007 | Yes | Script associate | ||
| Dogface | 2007 | Yes | Episode: #1.2 | ||
| Moving Wallpaper | 2008 | Yes | 2 episodes | ||
| Mumbai Calling | 2008 | Yes | 3 episodes | ||
| Peep Show | 2008–2012 | Yes | 4 episodes | ||
| The Old Guys | 2009–2010 | Yes | Associate | Yes | Also co-creator |
| The Armstrong & Miller Show | 2009–2010 | Yes | 17 episodes | ||
| Whites | 2010 | Yes | Script editor | ||
| Parents | 2012 | Yes | Script editor | ||
| Veep | 2012–2015 | Yes | Executive | 13 episodes | |
| Trying Again | 2014 | Yes | Co-executive | Yes | Also co-creator |
| Back | 2017–2021 | Yes | Executive | Yes | Also creator |
| Breeders | 2020–present | Yes | Executive | Also creator | |
Film
edit| Title | Year | Functioned as | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Writer | Producer | Other | |||
| In the Loop | 2009 | Yes | |||
| Four Lions | 2010 | Yes | Additional material | ||
| The Personal History of David Copperfield | 2019 | Yes | |||
References
edit- ^ Michael Segalov (29 February 2020). "Simon Blackwell: 'I nearly died in an old Smithfield meat market van'". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- ^ Chortle Interview "The Telly Lot Are Never Going To Make Any Sketch Shows" 7 October 2009.
- ^ "Simon Blackwell interview for Back". Channel 4. 22 August 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- ^ Official Emmy Site "Simon Blackwell"
- ^ Leo Barraclough (15 November 2016). "'Veep' Co-Writer Simon Blackwell Pens Comedy 'Back' for Channel 4". Variety. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
- ^ "Breeders". www.sky.com. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
