John Elliot (author)

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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. This too was written with Hoyle, and Elliot also produced and co-directed it.

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). This concerned the work of oilmen and the boardroom conflict of a fictitious corporation, though it was so realistic it was often thought to be real. John Elliot 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, Fall of Eagles, and A For Andromeda and The Andromeda Breakthrough (co-written with Fred Hoyle).