Edward Henry Willis, Baron Willis (13 January 1914 – 22 December 1992) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

playwright A playwright or dramatist is a person who writes plays. Etymology The word "play" is from Middle English pleye, from Old English plæġ, pleġa, plæġa ("play, exercise; sport, game; drama, applause"). The word "wright" is an archaic English ...

novelist A novelist is an author or writer of novels, though often novelists also write in other genres of both fiction and non-fiction. Some novelists are professional novelists, thus make a living writing novels and other fiction, while others aspire to ...

and

screenwriter A screenplay writer (also called screenwriter, scriptwriter, scribe or scenarist) is a writer who practices the craft of screenwriting, writing screenplays on which mass media, such as films, television programs and video games, are based. ...

who was also politically active in support of the Labour Party. In 1941 he became the General Secretary of the

Young Communist League The Young Communist League (YCL) is the name used by the youth wing of various Communist parties around the world. The name YCL of XXX (name of country) originates from the precedent established by the Communist Youth International. Examples of Y ...

, the youth branch of the

Communist Party of Great Britain The Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB) was the largest communist organisation in Britain and was founded in 1920 through a merger of several smaller Marxist groups. Many miners joined the CPGB in the 1926 general strike. In 1930, the CPG ...

Early life and War service

Born in

Tottenham Tottenham () is a town in North London, England, within the London Borough of Haringey. It is located in the ceremonial county of Greater London. Tottenham is centred north-northeast of Charing Cross, bordering Edmonton to the north, Waltham ...

Middlesex Middlesex (; abbreviation: Middx) is a Historic counties of England, historic county in South East England, southeast England. Its area is almost entirely within the wider urbanised area of London and mostly within the Ceremonial counties of ...

, Willis described when he was leaving school at the age of fourteen: "I had a two-second 'career interview' with my Headmaster. He asked me what I wished to do for the future and I told him that I intended to become a writer. His response was a cackle followed by the remark: 'You will never make a writer in a hundred years. You haven't got the imagination for it or the intelligence. Go away and learn a good trade.'" Willis was elected Chairman of the Labour League of Youth as the candidate of the left in 1937. In 1939, along with much of the League of Youth leadership, he joined the Young Communist League. He was drama critic for the ''

Daily Worker The ''Daily Worker'' was a newspaper published in New York City by the Communist Party USA, a formerly Comintern-affiliated organization. Publication began in 1924. While it generally reflected the prevailing views of the party, attempts were m ...

''. Willis enlisted in the

Royal Fusiliers The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in continuous existence for 283 years. It was known as the 7th Regiment of Foot until the Childers Reforms of 1881. The regiment served in many wars ...

in 1939, subsequently serving in the

Army Kinematograph Service The Army Kinematograph Service (AKS) was established during the Second World War by the British government in August 1941 to meet the increasing training and recreational needs of the British Army. Created by the newly established Directorate of ...

. He often spoke at meetings during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

in favour of opening a second front, in order to help the Red Army, which was bearing the brunt of the Nazi onslaught.

Writing career

His passion for drama first manifested in plays he wrote for the Unity Theatre, based in a former chapel near St Pancras, during the war. He was best known for writing the television series ''

Dixon of Dock Green ''Dixon of Dock Green'' was a BBC police procedural television series about daily life at a fictional London police station, with the emphasis on petty crime, successfully controlled through common sense and human understanding. It ran from 19 ...

'', based on the stories of Gordon Snashall, a local

Chislehurst Chislehurst () is a suburban district of south-east London, England, in the London Borough of Bromley. It lies east of Bromley, south-west of Sidcup and north-west of Orpington, south-east of Charing Cross. Before the creation of Greater L ...

policeman with whom he was great friends; the series ran for more than twenty years. He was Chairman of the

Writers' Guild of Great Britain The Writers' Guild of Great Britain (WGGB), established in 1959, is a trade union for professional writers. It is affiliated with both the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and the International Affiliation of Writers Guilds (IAWG). History The un ...

from 1958 to 1964. Willis created several British television series such as '' Virgin of the Secret Service'', ''Hunter's Walk'', ''

The Adventures of Black Beauty ''The Adventures of Black Beauty'' is a British adventure family television series produced by London Weekend Television and shown by ITV in the United Kingdom between 1972 and 1974. It was distributed internationally by London Weekend Interna ...

'', ''Copper's End'', ''

Sergeant Cork ''Sergeant Cork'' is a British detective television series which first aired between 1963 and 1968 on ITV. It was a police procedural show that followed the efforts of two police officers and their battle against crime in Victorian London. In a ...

'' and ''

Mrs Thursday ''Mrs Thursday'' is a British television comedy-drama produced by Associated Television. It stars veteran British actress Kathleen Harrison as Alice Thursday, a Cockney charwoman who inherits £10 million and the controlling interest in a mult ...

''. Along with

Berkely Mather John Evan Weston-Davies (25 February 1909 – 7 April 1996), known as Berkely Mather, was a British writer who wrote fifteen published novels and a book of short stories. He also wrote for radio, television and film. Biography Shortly bef ...

, Willis was responsible for a huge proportion of scriptwriting for British television drama in the 1950s.Mike Ripley. ''Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang: The Boom in British Thrillers from Casino Royale to The Eagle Has Landed'' (2017), p. 397 He was listed in the ''

Guinness Book of Records ''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a reference book published annually, listing world ...

'' as the world's most prolific writer for television; he also wrote 34 stage plays and a number of feature films. In the 1970s he turned to novels, including a spy story, ''The Left-Handed Sleeper'', and a wartime thriller ''The Lions of Judah''.

Honours and awards

Announced on 23 December 1963 he was awarded a

life peerage In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the peerage whose titles cannot be inherited, in contrast to hereditary peers. In modern times, life peerages, always created at the rank of baron, are created under the Life Peerages Ac ...

, which was created on 21 January 1964 with the title Baron Willis, of

in the

County of Kent Kent is a county in South East England and one of the home counties. It borders Greater London to the north-west, Surrey to the west and East Sussex to the south-west, and Essex to the north across the estuary of the River Thames; it faces the ...

, on a Labour Party nomination. Willis was the subject of '' This Is Your Life'' in 1959 when he was surprised by

Eamonn Andrews Eamonn Andrews, (19 December 1922 – 5 November 1987) was an Irish radio and television presenter, employed primarily in the United Kingdom from the 1950s to the 1980s. From 1960 to 1964 he chaired the Radio Éireann Authority (now the RTÉ A ...

in the club at the BBC's

Lime Grove Studios Lime Grove Studios was a film, and later television, studio complex in Shepherd's Bush, West London, England. The complex was built by the Gaumont Film Company in 1915. It was situated in Lime Grove, a residential street in Shepherd's Bush, and ...

, in London's Shepherd's Bush.

Personal life

He married the actress Audrey Hale in 1944 and they had a son and a daughter. He died of a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which may tr ...

at his home in

Kent Kent is a county in South East England and one of the home counties. It borders Greater London to the north-west, Surrey to the west and East Sussex to the south-west, and Essex to the north across the estuary of the River Thames; it faces ...

in December 1992 aged 78, and was buried at

Tottenham Cemetery Tottenham Cemetery is a large burial ground in Tottenham in the London Borough of Haringey, in north London, England. It was opened in 1858 by the Tottenham Burial Board to replace the churchyard of All Hallows' Church, Tottenham which had clo ...

Credits

Selected plays

*''Buster'' (1943) * ''Doctor in the House'' (1957, from the novel by Richard Gordon) *'' Hot Summer Night'' (1958) *''

The Scent of Fear "The Scent of Fear" is television play written by Ted Willis. It was originally written for British anthology series ''Armchair Theatre'', adapted from the story "Stowaway" by Mary Higgins Clark which was reportedly based on a real story that happe ...

'' (1959) * ''Woman in a Dressing Gown'' (1964)

Films

*''

Holiday Camp A holiday camp is a type of holiday accommodation that encourages holidaymakers to stay within the site boundary, and provides entertainment and facilities for them throughout the day. Since the 1970s, the term has fallen out of favour with term ...

'' (1947) *''

Good-Time Girl ''Good-Time Girl'' is a 1948 British film noir- crime drama film directed by David MacDonald. A homeless girl is asked to explain her bad behaviour in the juvenile court, and says she’s run away from home because she’s unhappy there. They ex ...

'' (1948) *''

A Boy, a Girl and a Bike ''A Boy, a Girl and a Bike'' is a 1949 British romantic comedy film directed by Ralph Smart and starring John McCallum, Honor Blackman and Patrick Holt. The film's art direction was by George Provis. The film concerns the romantic escapades an ...

'' (1949) *''

The Huggetts Abroad ''The Huggetts Abroad'' is a 1949 British film starring Jack Warner, Kathleen Harrison, Petula Clark and Susan Shaw. It was the final film of The Huggetts. The film was less commercially successful than its predecessors. A sequel, ''Christmas ...

'' (1949) *''

The Blue Lamp ''The Blue Lamp'' is a 1950 British police procedural film directed by Basil Dearden and starring Jack Warner as PC Dixon, Jimmy Hanley as newcomer PC Mitchell, and Dirk Bogarde as criminal Tom Riley. The title refers to the blue lamps that ...

'' (original treatment, 1950) *''The Undefeated'' (1951, documentary about disabled war veterans) *''A Story of Achievement'' (1951, documentary about the development of

margarine Margarine (, also , ) is a spread used for flavoring, baking, and cooking. It is most often used as a substitute for butter. Although originally made from animal fats, most margarine consumed today is made from vegetable oil. The spread was orig ...

) *'' The Wallet'' (US ''Blueprint for Danger'', 1952) *'' Top of the Form'' (1953) *''

Trouble in Store ''Trouble in Store'' is a 1953 British comedy film directed by John Paddy Carstairs and starring Norman Wisdom as a department store clerk in his cinema debut. The film also featured Moira Lister, Margaret Rutherford, Jerry Desmonde and Lana ...

'' (1953) *''

The Large Rope ''The Large Rope'' (also known as ''The Long Rope'') is a 1953 British crime film directed by Wolf Rilla and starring Donald Houston, Susan Shaw and Robert Brown. Plot After his release from prison a man returns to his village, where he is acc ...

'' (US: ''The Long Rope'', 1953) *''

Burnt Evidence ''Burnt Evidence'' is a 1954 British thriller film directed by Daniel Birt and starring Jane Hylton, Duncan Lamont and Donald Gray. The film was produced by Ronald Kinnoch for ACT Films. It was made as a second feature. Shooting took place at ...

'' (1954) *''

Up to His Neck ''Up to His Neck'' is a 1954 British comedy film directed by John Paddy Carstairs and starring Ronald Shiner as Jack Carter, Hattie Jacques as Rakiki and Anthony Newley as Tommy. It was shot at Pinewood Studios near London with sets designed by ...

'' (1954) *'' One Good Turn'' (1955) *''

It's Great to Be Young ''It's Great to Be Young'' is a 1956 musical Technicolor comedy film about a school music teacher, starring Cecil Parker and John Mills. Plot Mr Dingle (John Mills) seeks to interest his pupils in music in order to enjoy life, while the new ...

'' (1956) *''

Woman in a Dressing Gown ''Woman in a Dressing Gown'' is a 1957 British drama film directed by J. Lee Thompson and starring Yvonne Mitchell, Anthony Quayle, Sylvia Syms, and Carole Lesley. The film won four awards at the 7th Berlin International Film Festival includin ...

'' (1957) *''

The Young and the Guilty ''The Young and the Guilty'' is a 1958 British drama film directed by Peter Cotes and starring Phyllis Calvert, Andrew Ray and Edward Chapman. The film's art direction was by Terence Verity. Premise Parents misconstrue the innocent nature of ...

'' (1958) *''

No Trees in the Street ''No Trees in the Street'' is a 1959 British crime thriller directed by J. Lee Thompson and written by Ted Willis, from his 1948 stage play of the same name. The film is set in the slums of London. It depicts the life of impoverished teenager To ...

'' (1959) *''

Flame in the Streets ''Flame in the Streets'' is a 1961 film directed by Roy Ward Baker and based on the 1958 play '' Hot Summer Night'' by Ted Willis. It opened at the Odeon Leicester Square in London's West End on 22 June 1961. The film depicts an interracial rom ...

'' (1961) *''

The Horsemasters ''The Horsemasters'' was a 2 part episode of the ''Disneyland'' TV show from 1961 which screened theatrically in some countries. The film was one of several Disney films that were shot in England. It was Annette Funicello's first co-starring ro ...

'' (1961) *'' Bitter Harvest (1963) *''

Our Miss Fred ''Our Miss Fred'' is a 1972 British comedy film starring Danny La Rue, set during World War II. The film was also known by its video release titles ''Beyond the Call of Duty'' (Canada) and ''Operation: Fred'' (US). In the 1960s, La Rue was one ...

'' (1972)

Selected TV

*'' The Pattern of Marriage'' (1953) *''

'' (1955–1976) *'' Hot Summer Night (

Armchair Theatre ''Armchair Theatre'' is a British television drama anthology series of single plays that ran on the ITV network from 1956 to 1974. It was originally produced by ABC Weekend TV. Its successor Thames Television took over from mid-1968. The Canadi ...

)'' (1959) *'' Tell It to the Marines'' (1959–1960) *''

Taxi! ''Taxi!'' is a 1932 American pre-Code film directed by Roy Del Ruth and starring James Cagney and Loretta Young. The film includes a famous, and often misquoted, line with Cagney speaking to his brother's killer through a locked closet: "Come ...

'' (1963–1964) * ''

The Sullavan Brothers ''The Sullavan Brothers'' is a British television series which originally aired on ITV between 1964 and 1965.Vahimagi p.132 One episode, "Insufficient Evidence", is believed to be lost. Cast Main * Hugh Manning as Robert Sullavan * Anthony ...

'' (1964–1965) *''

'' (1963–1969) *''

'' (1966–1967) *''

'' (1972–1974)

Novels

* ''Whatever Happened to Tom Mix? (1970) * ''Death May Surprise Us'' (1974) * ''Westminster One'' (1975) * ''The Churchill Commando'' (1977) * ''The Left-Handed Sleeper'' (1977) * ''The Naked Sun'' (1980) * ''The Buckingham Palace Connection'' (1980) * ''The Lions of Judah'' (1981) * ''The Most Beautiful Girl In The World'' (1982) * ''Spring at the Winged Horse'' (1985) * ''Problem for Mother Christmas'' (1986) * ''The Green Leaves of Summer'' (1989) * ''The Bells of Autumn'' (1991) * ''Plume of Feathers'' (1993)

References

External links

Bibliography

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Willis, Ted 1914 births 1992 deaths Military personnel from Middlesex English male screenwriters English television writers Labour Party (UK) life peers Communist Party of Great Britain members Young Communist League of Britain members 20th-century English novelists Royal Fusiliers soldiers British Army personnel of World War II People from Tottenham British male television writers 20th-century English male writers 20th-century English screenwriters Life peers created by Elizabeth II