Ronnie Taylor (scriptwriter)

Ronnie Taylor (28 June 1921 - 9 September 1979) was an English television and radio comedy scriptwriter, producer and director.

Early life

Born in Leigh, Lancashire, Ronnie left school at 14 to join the family insurance broker's firm. He taught himself to play the piano and guitar and became involved with amateur dramatics/musicals. He formed a vocal group and wrote sketches and songs and became a founder member of "The Kordites". In 1941 he joined RAF Signals and served in North Africa and Italy where he also wrote and produced service entertainment.

BBC

After the war he auditioned at BBC Manchester for Bowker Andrews and was initially mistaken as the tuner for the studio Beckstein. He was offered a 13 week job writing continuity for Gracie Fields. Gracie introduced Ronnie to her protégé Norman Evans and he was contracted to write radio series 'Over the Garden Wall'. Wrote radio series for 'Old Mother Riley' (Arthur Lucas and Kitty McShane) and worked with Jimmy James, Robb Wilton, Dave Morris and Albert Modley. In 1950 he began his long association with Al Read[1] and the BBC Radio series 'Variety Fanfare' recorded at Hulme Hippodrome which showcased new comedy talent including Ken Platt, Morecambe and Wise and Ken Dodd. In 1951 Ronnie was appointed as BBC Producer with North Region Variety.[2][3]

In 1952 he trained as a TV director at BBC Lime Grove studios and brought 'Home James' with Jimmy James/'Club Night' with Dave Morris/Variety Northern Showground to TV.

Freelance and ABC TV

In 1959 he started Taylor-Vision, TV and Radio Production Company and in 1960 Ronnie Produced 'Candid Camera'.[4] He began a 19 year relationship as writer for Harry Worth through series with BBC Manchester and London and Thames TV.[5]

In 1961 Ronnie was appointed Supervisor of Light Entertainment ABC (Later to become Thames TV) again working with Jimmy Clitheroe and Al Read and on programmes, 'Blackpool Night Out' and 'Comedy Bandbox'.[6]

Freelance in London and ATV

In 1962 Ronnie moved to the London studios continuing as writer with Harry Worth. He was writer for the 'Val Doonican' series and wrote words and music routines for 'Cilla'.

In the 1970s he wrote for ATV 'My Good Woman' with Leslie Crowther and Sylvia Sims (number 1 in ratings), 'It's All in Life' Al Read now issued on DVD, 'Cilla's Comedy Six' and 'Cilla's World of Comedy' Cilla Black (winner of Pye Comedy Award),[7] 'Big Boy Now' series - Leslie Crowther with Fabia Drake, 'A Sharp Intake of Breath' writer of series - David Jason and Richard Wilson,[8] 'The Masterspy' game show (Producer/Format writer with William Franklyn. He was also Comedy Consultant for ATV throughout the 1970s.

The Archive

In 2014 Ronnie's archive of scripts, recordings, documents, photographs and letters was donated to The Victoria and Albert Museum, Theatre and Performance Collection, London by Irene, Susan and Diane Taylor. The archive will be available to view from 2015/2016.

References

  1. ↑ READ, AL. IT'S ALL IN THE BOOK. WH Allen. p. 62. ISBN 049103590X.
  2. ↑ AMOS, WILLIAM. "'County Scope'". LANCASHIRE LIFE. NOVEMBER 1979: page 27.
  3. ↑ BARFE, LOUIS. TURNED OUT NICE AGAIN, THE STORY OF BRITISH LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT. ATLANTIC BOOKS. pp. 49, 138, 144, 147. ISBN 978-1-84354-381-7.
  4. ↑ MONKHOUSE, BOB 'Crying With Laughter' Published by Arrow Books ISBN 0099255812 page 62
  5. ↑ POWELL, VINCE 'RAGS TO GAGS' 'MEMOIRS OF A COMEDY WRITER' APEX PUBLISHERS ISBN 1906358079 page 54
  6. ↑ "Manchester Evening News, Ronnie Taylor now ABC Head of Light Entertainment". December 1962.
  7. ↑ Black, Cilla. What's It All About. Ebury Press. pp. 228, 234, 263. ISBN 0-09189035-7.
  8. ↑ Jason, David. My Life. Century. pp. 256, 258–9. ISBN 978 0 09 958116 1.

External links