Robert Thorogood

Robert Thorogood
Born 1972 (age 42–43)
Colchester, Essex
Nationality British
Occupation Writer

Robert Thorogood is an English screenwriter. He is best known as the creator of the BBC 1 Murder Mystery Series, Death in Paradise.[1]

Early life

Robert was educated at Uppingham School in Rutland and read History at Downing College, Cambridge. While at Cambridge, he toured with the university's student comedy troupe Footlights in 1993 and was elected President in 1994.[2] Soon after leaving Cambridge, Robert set up a theatre company that toured small theatres and schools, the highlight of which was a production of Molière's The Miser that he directed and acted in alongside Robert Webb, David Mitchell and Olivia Colman.[3]

Writing career

Robert wrote for many years - selling scripts to the BBC, ITV and independent film companies[4] - but before 2011 the only script of his that was actually broadcast was a Radio 4 afternoon play called From Abstraction about the life of Paul Wolfskehl.

In 2008, Robert entered the inaugural Red Planet Prize and was a chosen finalist, where he was able to pitch his 'Copper in the Caribbean' idea to Tony Jordan.[5] By 2011, when the show was finally broadcast - making it Robert's first TV broadcast credit at the age of 39 - Robert had become something of a poster boy for 'never giving up on the dream'.[6][7]

Death in Paradise

The TV Series

Robert screenwrote five episodes of the first series of Death in Paradise. The first episode aired in November 2011 to an overnight audience of nearly 6 million.[8] The first episode of the second series aired in 2013 to an overnight audience of nearly 7 million.[9] Robert also screenwrote two episodes on the second series, three of the third series, and one of the fourth series. The first episode of the third series aired in 2014 had its highest ever overnight ratings ever of over 7 million.[10]

The Novels

In January 2014, it was announced that Robert had signed a deal with MIRA / Harlequin to write three Richard Poole Murder Mystery novels. The first - A Meditation on Murder - was published in hardback in January 2015 and in paperback in May 2015.[11] The second - The Killing of Polly Carter - will be published in hardback in December 2015.

Speaking and Awards

Robert was a Guest Speaker at the 2012 London Screenwriters Festival.[12] He also won France Film's "En Route to France" award in 2012.[13] Since then, he has also spoken about creating international co-productions for European TV Drama Series Lab in Berlin[14] and also at the Totally Serialised TV Festival in London in 2014.[15]

References

  1. ↑ "BBC FT Create Death in Paradise". Variety Newspaper. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  2. ↑ "Cambridge Footlights". Cambridge Footlights website. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  3. ↑ Mitchell, David (2012). Back Story. Harper Collins. ISBN 0007351720.
  4. ↑ Thorogood, Robert. "Knight Hall Agency | Robert Thorogood". Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  5. ↑ "The series creator and lead writer shares his inspiration for new BBC One drama Death In Paradise". BBC Media Centre.
  6. ↑ "Write the next Death in Paradise yourself". Radio Times. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  7. ↑ "Rob Thorogood on Breaking in to TV in the UK". Chris Jones / London Screenwriters Festival. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  8. ↑ "Death in Paradise launches with nearly 6 million viewers". ATV Today. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  9. ↑ "Death in Paradise returns with nearly 7 million viewers". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  10. ↑ "Nigella Lawson's The Taste ratings turn sour as hungry viewers turn to Kris Marshall's Death in Paradise debut". The Mirror. 2014-01-15.
  11. ↑ "Harlequin Mira Signs 'Death In Paradise' Creator And Writer, Robert Thorogood, For Three-book Deal". Booktrade.info. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  12. ↑ "Speakers | Robert Thorogood". Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  13. ↑ "ROBERT THOROGOOD RÉCOMPENSÉ". Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  14. ↑ "Experts". Erich Pommer Institute. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  15. ↑ "Industry Event". Institut Français. Retrieved 19 January 2014.

External links

Cultural offices
Preceded by
Mark Evans		 Footlights President
1994–1995 		Succeeded by
Charlie Hartill
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