Douglas Watkinson is an English novelist, playwright and screenwriter, specializing in crime and mystery. His books feature the hard-bitten, soft-centred Nathan Hawk, a police officer who was 'required to retire' and now works as a private detective. Known for his wit and fiery temper, Hawk is on his seventh case. The first six books are entitled ''Haggard Hawk'', ''Easy Prey'', ''Scattered Remains'', ''Evil Turn'', ''Jericho Road'', and ''White Crane''.

Career

Watkinson has written hundreds of scripts for television, contributing to ''

Lovejoy ''Lovejoy'' is a British television comedy-drama mystery series, based on the novels by John Grant under the pen name Jonathan Gash. The show, which ran to 71 episodes over six series, was originally broadcast on BBC1 between 10 January 19 ...

'', ''

Boon Boon may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Boon (game), a trick-taking card game * ''Boon'' (novel), a 1915 satirical work by H. G. Wells * ''Boon'' (TV series), a British television series starring Michael Elphick * The Ultimate Boon ...

'', ''

Juliet Bravo ''Juliet Bravo'' is a British television police procedural drama series, first broadcast on 30 August 1980, that ran for six series and a total of 88 episodes on BBC1. The theme of the series concerned a female police inspector who took over c ...

'', ''

Agatha Christie's Poirot ''Poirot'' (also known as ''Agatha Christie's Poirot'') is a British mystery drama television programme that aired on ITV from 8 January 1989 to 13 November 2013. David Suchet starred as the eponymous detective, Agatha Christie's fictional H ...

'' and ''

Midsomer Murders ''Midsomer Murders'' is a British crime drama television series, adapted by Anthony Horowitz and Douglas Watkinson from the novels in the '' Chief Inspector Barnaby'' book series (created by Caroline Graham), and broadcast on two channels of ...

''. He also wrote the daytime drama For Maddie with Love. In 1984 he created the short-lived sitcom '' The New Statesman'' starring

Windsor Davies Windsor Davies (28 August 1930 – 17 January 2019) was a British actor. He is best remembered for playing Battery Sergeant Major Williams in the sitcom '' It Ain't Half Hot Mum'' (1974–1981) over its entire run. The show's popularity resulted ...

. He has written four stage plays: ''Let's Do It My Way'', ''Caesar and Me'', ''The Dragon's Tail'' and ''The Wall''

Background and personal life

Watkinson was born into an army family and his father served throughout World War II and beyond. He was killed in Palestine by The Stern Gang in 1947. His death is the inspiration for Watkinson's play The Wall, in which a middle aged man visits a military cemetery in Ramleh, Israel and meets a young British soldier who turns out to be his father. Educated at Haberdashers' Aske's, Watkinson later attended East 15 Acting School, where his first plays were performed.

Writing

Watkinson began his career writing the backs of record sleeves for Decca and at the same time he bombarded television companies with plays. The first to be produced was a thirty-minute two-hander called ''Click'', starring Ray Brooks and John Paul. Since then, he has never been out of work. He was the script writer for several BBC series, most notably ''

Z-Cars ''Z-Cars'' or ''Z Cars'' (pronounced "zed cars") is a British television police procedural series centred on the work of mobile uniformed police in the fictional town of Newtown, based on Kirkby, near Liverpool. Produced by the BBC, it debut ...

'', '' Howard's Way'' and ''The Brothers''. His favourite work has been ''

'', ''

'' (for which he wrote the establishing episode), ''

'', ''

Forever Green ''Forever Green'' is a television programme originally broadcast on ITV in the United Kingdom from 26 February 1989 to 24 May 1992. It was made for London Weekend Television by Picture Partnership Productions, now named Carnival Films. Cast * ...

'' and ''

Maybury Maybury is an area on the western edge of Edinburgh, Scotland, near South Gyle and Ingliston, named after the road, which is itself named after the civil engineer Sir Henry Maybury (1864–1943). In 2021, residents have been undertaking comm ...

'' (which was Kenneth Branagh's first on-screen appearance).

References

External links

*
Midsomermurders.orgGoodreads.comCrimefictionbooks.comLondonbookfair.co.uk
{{DEFAULTSORT:Watkinson, Douglas Arthur British television writers British mystery writers Living people Place of birth missing (living people) 1945 births