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{{short description|British film director and writer}}
{{EngvarB|date=November 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Infobox writer
{{Infobox writer
| image            = Dick Clement.jpg
| image            = Dick Clement.jpg
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|OBE}}
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|OBE}}
| name            = Dick Clement
| name            = Dick Clement
| birth_date      = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1937|9|5}}
| birth_date      = {{Birth date and age|1937|09|05|df=y}}
| birth_place      = [[w:Westcliff-on-Sea|Westcliff-on-Sea]], [[w:Essex|Essex]], England
| birth_place      = [[Westcliff-on-Sea]], [[Essex]], England
| death_date      =  
| death_date      =  
| death_place      =  
| death_place      =  
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}}
}}


'''Dick Clement''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|OBE}} (born 5 September 1937) is an English writer, director and producer. He became known for his writing partnership with [[w:Ian La Frenais|Ian La Frenais]] for television series including ''[[The Likely Lads]]'', ''[[Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?]]'', ''[[Porridge (TV series)|Porridge]]'', ''[[Lovejoy]]'' and ''[[Auf Wiedersehen, Pet]]''.
'''Dick Clement''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|OBE}} (born 5 September 1937) is an English writer, director and producer. He became known for his writing partnership with [[Ian La Frenais|Ian La Frenais]] for television series including ''[[The Likely Lads]]'', ''[[Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?]]'', ''[[Porridge (TV series)|Porridge]]'', ''[[Lovejoy]]'' and ''[[Auf Wiedersehen, Pet]]''.


==Early life==
==Early life==
Born in [[w:Westcliff-on-Sea|Westcliff-on-Sea]], Essex, England, Clement was educated at [[w:Bishop's Stortford College|Bishop's Stortford College]], and then spent a year in the [[|USA|]] on an exchange visit. Upon his return, he completed his [[w:Conscription in the United Kingdom|National Service]] with the [[w:Royal Air Force|Royal Air Force]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Weight |first=Richard |title=Porridge (BFI TV Classics) |date=2019 |isbn=978-1844573349 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Gw-_DwAAQBAJ&dq=dick+clement+royal+air+force&pg=PT18}}</ref>
Born in [[Westcliff-on-Sea|Westcliff-on-Sea]], Essex, England, Clement was educated at [[Bishop's Stortford College|Bishop's Stortford College]], and then spent a year in the [[USA|USA]] on an exchange visit. Upon his return, he completed his [[Conscription in the United Kingdom|National Service]] with the [[Royal Air Force|Royal Air Force]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Weight |first=Richard |title=Porridge (BFI TV Classics) |date=2019 |isbn=978-1844573349 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Gw-_DwAAQBAJ&dq=dick+clement+royal+air+force&pg=PT18}}</ref>


He then joined the [[w:BBC|BBC]] as a studio manager and started writing scripts and comedy sketches.<ref name=Porridge>{{cite book|year=2001|author1=Richard Webster |author2=Dick Clement |author3=Ian la Frenais |isbn=0-7472-3294-6|title=Porridge The Inside Story|publisher=Headline Book Publishing}}</ref>
He then joined the [[BBC|BBC]] as a studio manager and started writing scripts and comedy sketches.<ref name=Porridge>{{cite book|year=2001|author1=Richard Webster |author2=Dick Clement |author3=Ian la Frenais |isbn=0-7472-3294-6|title=Porridge The Inside Story|publisher=Headline Book Publishing}}</ref>


==Writing partnership with Ian La Frenais==
==Writing partnership with Ian La Frenais==
Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais have enjoyed a long and successful career embracing films, television and theatre. Their partnership began in the mid-1960s with ''The Likely Lads'', and by the end of the decade they had also written three feature films: ''[[The Jokers]]'', ''[[Otley (film)|Otley]]'', (directed by Clement) and ''[[Hannibal Brooks]]''.  Clement also directed the BBC sketch show ''[[Not Only... But Also]]'', which starred [[Peter Cook]] and [[Dudley Moore]], and, for the big screen, [[Iris Murdoch]]'s ''[[A Severed Head (film)|A Severed Head]]''.
Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais have enjoyed a long and successful career embracing films, television and theatre. Their partnership began in the mid-1960s with ''The Likely Lads'', and by the end of the decade they had also written three feature films: ''[[The Jokers]]'', ''[[Otley (film)|Otley]]'', (directed by Clement) and ''[[Hannibal Brooks]]''.  Clement also directed the BBC sketch show ''[[Not Only... But Also]]'', which starred [[Peter Cook]] and [[Dudley Moore]], and, for the big screen, [[Iris Murdoch]]'s ''[[A Severed Head (film)|A Severed Head]]''.


In the early 1970s, two other features were scripted by Clement and La Frenais: ''[[Villain (1971 film)|Villain]]'', starring [[Richard Burton]], and ''[[Catch Me a Spy]]'', starring [[Kirk Douglas]]. In this same period, they created their award-winning series ''Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?'', followed by ''Porridge'', ''''[[Thick as Thieves (TV series)|Thick as Thieves]]'''' and a spin-off from ''Porridge'', ''[[Going Straight]]''.  There were big screen versions of both ''[[The Likely Lads (film)|The Likely Lads]]'' and ''[[Porridge (film)|Porridge]]'', the latter directed by Clement, and a '[[rockumentary]]', ''To Russia With Elton'', in 1979.
In the early 1970s, two other features were scripted by Clement and La Frenais: ''[[Villain (1971 film)|Villain]]'', starring [[Richard Burton]], and ''[[Catch Me a Spy]]'', starring [[Kirk Douglas]]. In this same period, they created their award-winning series ''Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?'', followed by ''Porridge'', ''[[Thick as Thieves (TV series)|Thick as Thieves]]'' and a spin-off from ''Porridge'', ''[[Going Straight]]''.  There were big screen versions of both ''[[The Likely Lads (film)|The Likely Lads]]'' and ''[[Porridge (film)|Porridge]]'', the latter directed by Clement, and a '[[rockumentary]]', ''To Russia With Elton'', in 1979.


During the same period, they adapted [[Keith Waterhouse]]'s ''[[Billy Liar]]'' into the stage musical ''[[Billy (musical)|Billy]]'', starring [[Michael Crawford]], which ran at London's [[Theatre Royal, Drury Lane|Drury Lane Theatre]] for two and a half years. By this time they were living in [[California]], where they wrote the American version of ''Porridge'', ''[[On the Rocks (U.S. TV series)|On the Rocks]]'', and the feature film, ''[[The Prisoner of Zenda (1979 film)|The Prisoner of Zenda]]'', starring [[Peter Sellers]].
During the same period, they adapted [[Keith Waterhouse]]'s ''[[Billy Liar]]'' into the stage musical ''[[Billy (musical)|Billy]]'', starring [[Michael Crawford]], which ran at London's [[Theatre Royal, Drury Lane|Drury Lane Theatre]] for two and a half years. By this time they were living in [[California]], where they wrote the American version of ''Porridge'', ''[[On the Rocks (U.S. TV series)|On the Rocks]]'', and the feature film, ''[[The Prisoner of Zenda (1979 film)|The Prisoner of Zenda]]'', starring [[Peter Sellers]].
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By the beginning of the 1990s, La Frenais had created the long running series, ''Lovejoy'', and co-created ''[[Spender]]'' with [[Jimmy Nail]]. In America, they were writers and supervising producers for [[HBO]]'s [[Emmy Award|Emmy]]-winning show, ''[[Tracey Takes On...]]'', for four years. They scripted the film adaptation of ''[[The Commitments (film)|The Commitments]]'', which won the [[Evening Standard British Film Awards|Evening Standard's Peter Sellers Award for Comedy]] and the [[BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay]], and also wrote the screenplays for ''[[Excess Baggage (1997 film)|Excess Baggage]]'' and ''[[Still Crazy]]''.  In addition, they did uncredited rewrites on ''[[The Rock (film)|The Rock]]'', starring Sean Connery, and ''[[Pearl Harbor (film)|Pearl Harbor]]'' for producers [[Jerry Bruckheimer]] and [[Michael Bay]] (who also directed the film).<ref>BBC 4, Mark Lawson Talks to Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, March 20th 2013, https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006mj91/episodes/guide</ref>
By the beginning of the 1990s, La Frenais had created the long running series, ''Lovejoy'', and co-created ''[[Spender]]'' with [[Jimmy Nail]]. In America, they were writers and supervising producers for [[HBO]]'s [[Emmy Award|Emmy]]-winning show, ''[[Tracey Takes On...]]'', for four years. They scripted the film adaptation of ''[[The Commitments (film)|The Commitments]]'', which won the [[Evening Standard British Film Awards|Evening Standard's Peter Sellers Award for Comedy]] and the [[BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay]], and also wrote the screenplays for ''[[Excess Baggage (1997 film)|Excess Baggage]]'' and ''[[Still Crazy]]''.  In addition, they did uncredited rewrites on ''[[The Rock (film)|The Rock]]'', starring Sean Connery, and ''[[Pearl Harbor (film)|Pearl Harbor]]'' for producers [[Jerry Bruckheimer]] and [[Michael Bay]] (who also directed the film).<ref>BBC 4, Mark Lawson Talks to Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, March 20th 2013, https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006mj91/episodes/guide</ref>


In 2005, Clement and La Frenais had two television adaptations of best-selling novels broadcast by the BBC: [[Jonathan Coe]]'s ''[[The Rotters' Club (TV series)|The Rotter's Club]]'' for [[BBC Two]], and [[Robert Harris (novelist)|Robert Harris]]'s [[Archangel (2005 film)|Archangel]], starring [[Daniel Craig]], for [[BBC One]]. That year also saw the UK release of ''[[Goal! (film)|Goal!]]'', a film they co-scripted. In 2006, they were credited as writers on the animated film ''[[Flushed Away]]'', whilst 2007 saw the release of the [[jukebox musical]] ''[[Across the Universe (film)|Across the Universe]]'', based around the songs of [[The Beatles]], which they scripted, and, with director [[Julie Taymor]], wrote the story for. The 2008 film ''[[The Bank Job]]'', starring [[Jason Statham]], is their last screenplay work to date.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}}
In 2005, Clement and La Frenais had two television adaptations of best-selling novels broadcast by the BBC: [[Jonathan Coe|Jonathan Coe]]'s ''[[The Rotters' Club (TV series)|The Rotter's Club]]'' for [[BBC Two|BBC Two]], and [[Robert Harris (novelist)|Robert Harris]]'s [[Archangel (2005 film)|Archangel]], starring [[Daniel Craig|Daniel Craig]], for [[BBC One]]. That year also saw the UK release of ''[[Goal! (film)|Goal!]]'', a film they co-scripted. In 2006, they were credited as writers on the animated film ''[[Flushed Away|Flushed Away]]'', whilst 2007 saw the release of the [[jukebox musical|jukebox musical]] ''[[Across the Universe (film)|Across the Universe]]'', based around the songs of [[The Beatles]], which they scripted, and, with director [[Julie Taymor|Julie Taymor]], wrote the story for. The 2008 film ''[[The Bank Job|The Bank Job]]'', starring [[Jason Statham]|], is their last screenplay work to date.


Two new television series written by them aired in 2017: a new version of ''[[Porridge (2016 TV series)|Porridge]]'', starring [[Kevin Bishop]], for the BBC, and ''[[Henry IX (TV series)|Henry IX]]'' for [[UKTV Gold]], starring [[Charles Edwards (English actor)|Charles Edwards]].{{citation needed|date=December 2018}} The duo have also written the book for two stage musicals in development, ''Juke Box Hero'' and ''Victoria's Secret''.
Two new television series written by them aired in 2017: a new version of ''[[Porridge (2016 TV series)|Porridge]]'', starring [[Kevin Bishop|Kevin Bishop]], for the BBC, and ''[[Henry IX (TV series)|Henry IX]]'' for [[UKTV Gold|UKTV Gold]], starring [[Charles Edwards (English actor)|Charles Edwards]]. The duo have also written the book for two stage musicals in development, ''Juke Box Hero'' and ''Victoria's Secret''.


Clement and La Frenais were awarded an [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]] in the Queen's [[2007 Birthday Honours]] list.
Clement and La Frenais were awarded an [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]] in the Queen's [[2007 Birthday Honours|2007 Birthday Honours]] list.


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
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{{Clement and La Frenais}}
{{Clement and La Frenais}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Awards for Dick Clement
| list =
{{Annie Award for Writing in a Feature Production 1996–2010}}
{{BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay 1983–1999}}
}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Clement, Dick}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clement, Dick}}

Latest revision as of 23:33, 17 February 2023

Dick Clement

OBE
Dick Clement.jpg
Born (1937-09-05) 5 September 1937 (age 86)
Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England
OccupationScreenwriter, director, producer
NationalityEnglish
Period1964–present
GenreTelevision
Spouse
Nancy Campbell Clement
​
​
(m. 1982)​

Dick Clement OBE (born 5 September 1937) is an English writer, director and producer. He became known for his writing partnership with Ian La Frenais for television series including The Likely Lads, Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?, Porridge, Lovejoy and Auf Wiedersehen, Pet.

Early life

Born in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England, Clement was educated at Bishop's Stortford College, and then spent a year in the USA on an exchange visit. Upon his return, he completed his National Service with the Royal Air Force.[1]

He then joined the BBC as a studio manager and started writing scripts and comedy sketches.[2]

Writing partnership with Ian La Frenais

Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais have enjoyed a long and successful career embracing films, television and theatre. Their partnership began in the mid-1960s with The Likely Lads, and by the end of the decade they had also written three feature films: The Jokers, Otley, (directed by Clement) and Hannibal Brooks. Clement also directed the BBC sketch show Not Only... But Also, which starred Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, and, for the big screen, Iris Murdoch's A Severed Head.

In the early 1970s, two other features were scripted by Clement and La Frenais: Villain, starring Richard Burton, and Catch Me a Spy, starring Kirk Douglas. In this same period, they created their award-winning series Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?, followed by Porridge, Thick as Thieves and a spin-off from Porridge, Going Straight. There were big screen versions of both The Likely Lads and Porridge, the latter directed by Clement, and a 'rockumentary', To Russia With Elton, in 1979.

During the same period, they adapted Keith Waterhouse's Billy Liar into the stage musical Billy, starring Michael Crawford, which ran at London's Drury Lane Theatre for two and a half years. By this time they were living in California, where they wrote the American version of Porridge, On the Rocks, and the feature film, The Prisoner of Zenda, starring Peter Sellers.

In the 1980s, Clement directed John Wells's hit stage play Anyone For Denis? He directed the films Bullshot and Water, which were produced by his writing partner La Frenais; the pair also scripted the latter film, and contributed extensive, uncredited writing work on the unofficial James Bond movie Never Say Never Again. In 1987, they wrote and produced Vice Versa. Their television work at the time included the ITV series Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, which was voted ITV's Favourite TV Programme of all Time in a Radio Times readers' poll in order to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the station.

By the beginning of the 1990s, La Frenais had created the long running series, Lovejoy, and co-created Spender with Jimmy Nail. In America, they were writers and supervising producers for HBO's Emmy-winning show, Tracey Takes On..., for four years. They scripted the film adaptation of The Commitments, which won the Evening Standard's Peter Sellers Award for Comedy and the BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, and also wrote the screenplays for Excess Baggage and Still Crazy. In addition, they did uncredited rewrites on The Rock, starring Sean Connery, and Pearl Harbor for producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay (who also directed the film).[3]

In 2005, Clement and La Frenais had two television adaptations of best-selling novels broadcast by the BBC: Jonathan Coe's The Rotter's Club for BBC Two, and Robert Harris's Archangel, starring Daniel Craig, for BBC One. That year also saw the UK release of Goal!, a film they co-scripted. In 2006, they were credited as writers on the animated film Flushed Away, whilst 2007 saw the release of the jukebox musical Across the Universe, based around the songs of The Beatles, which they scripted, and, with director Julie Taymor, wrote the story for. The 2008 film The Bank Job, starring [[Jason Statham]|], is their last screenplay work to date.

Two new television series written by them aired in 2017: a new version of Porridge, starring Kevin Bishop, for the BBC, and Henry IX for UKTV Gold, starring Charles Edwards. The duo have also written the book for two stage musicals in development, Juke Box Hero and Victoria's Secret.

Clement and La Frenais were awarded an OBE in the Queen's 2007 Birthday Honours list.

Personal life

Clement supports the football club Chelsea F.C.[4]

Writing credits (with Ian La Frenais)

References

  1. ^ Weight, Richard (2019). Porridge (BFI TV Classics). ISBN 978-1844573349.
  2. ^ Richard Webster; Dick Clement; Ian la Frenais (2001). Porridge The Inside Story. Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0-7472-3294-6.
  3. ^ BBC 4, Mark Lawson Talks to Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, March 20th 2013, https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006mj91/episodes/guide
  4. ^ "Footballers' lives".

External links

Retrieved from "https://www.thegoonshow.co.uk/wiki/index.php?title=Dick_Clement&oldid=39032"