Peter Gibbs (cricketer)

Peter John Keith Gibbs (born 17 August 1944) is an English television script writer, and a former cricketer who played first-class cricket for Oxford University from 1964 to 1966, and for Derbyshire from 1966 to 1972.

Early life and career

Gibbs was born at Buglawton, Cheshire, and attended Hanley High School before going up to Oxford University.^[1] He represented Staffordshire in Minor Counties cricket from the age of 16, making his debut against Cheshire in 1961. He continued to play regularly for Staffordshire until 1965.

First-class cricket

His first-class career began with Oxford University, where he played from 1964 to 1966, playing three times in the annual match against Cambridge. His highest score for Oxford was 126 against Warwickshire in 1964.

Gibbs made his debut for Derbyshire in 1966 after the end of the university cricket season. He played his first County Championship match in a draw against Middlesex, and played five matches for Derbyshire that season.

He established himself in the Derbyshire first team during the 1967 season and was a regular there until the 1972 season. He scored over 1000 runs in each season from 1968 to 1972, his most productive season being 1970, when he scored 1441 runs at 41.17.^[2] His highest score was 138 not out against Somerset at Chesterfield in 1969.^[3]

Gibbs was a right-handed opening batsman, "a fluent, well-organised player",^[4] who mostly partnered David Smith or Ian Hall during his time with Derbyshire. He was also an occasional right-arm off-break bowler.

He rejoined Staffordshire in 1973, playing throughout the season and scoring 617 runs at 36.29 and taking 15 wickets at 18.60.^[5]

Writing career

After his cricketing career, Gibbs wrote a number of short plays and comedies for television, many with cricketing themes, and then progressed to writing scripts for major series.^[6] He has also written plays for BBC radio, including "Supersaver" (1981, with Richard Briers) and "Taking us up to Lunch" (1991), which was set in the Test Match Special commentary box.

In 2012 he published his debut novel, Settling the Score, set in the County Championship in the 1960s.^[7]

TV Scripts

• Benefit of the Doubt (1983) (TV)
• Arthur's Hallowed Ground (1984) (TV)
• "Yesterday's Dreams" (1987) TV series
• "Matlock" (1986) TV series
• "Kinsey" (1990) TV series
• "The Bill" (4 episodes, 1990)
• "Hetty Wainthropp Investigates" (3 episodes, 1998)
• "Down to Earth" (2 episodes, 2004)
• "Heartbeat" (53 episodes, 1996–2009)

References

External links

• Peter Gibbs' website
• Peter Gibbs at Cricinfo
• Peter Gibbs at Cricket Archive