John Elliot (author)

John Herbert Elliot (4 July 1918 – 14 August 1997) was a British novelist, screenwriter and television producer. 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 astronomer 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 the drama series Mogul (renamed 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 Duel, Blood Upon the Snow, and A For Andromeda and The Andromeda Breakthrough (also co-written with Fred Hoyle).

Writing credits

Awards and nominations

Books by John Elliot

• A for Andromeda (1962), Souvenir Press, ISBN 978-0-285-63588-3
• MOGUL: The Making of a Myth (1970), Barrie & Jenkins, SBN 214-65078-2

Further reading

• MacKenzie, S. (2006), "War in the Air : Churchill, the Air Ministry and the BBC response to Victory at Sea", Contemporary British History

References

• Obituary: John Elliot The Independent

External links

• John Elliot at the Internet Movie Database