Colin Bateman (known mononymously as Bateman) is a novelist, screenwriter and former journalist from Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland.
Biography
Born on 13 June 1962, Bateman attended Bangor Grammar School leaving at 16 when he was hired by
Annie Roycroft
Annie Roycroft (2 May 1926 – 11 January 2019), was Ireland's first female newspaper editor, working for the County Down Spectator.
Biography
Born Annie Roslyn Roycroft in Bangor, County Down, in May 1926 Roycroft was the fifth of six childr ...
to join the ''
County Down Spectator
The ''County Down Spectator and Ulster Standard'' is a weekly tabloid-sized newspaper based in Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland, UK. It generally serves the area covered by the North Down and Ards council areas. It is published by Spectato ...
'' as a "cub" reporter, then columnist and deputy editor. A collection of his columns was published as ''Bar Stool Boy'' in 1989.
Bateman has been writing novels since his debut, '' Divorcing Jack'', in 1994. ''Divorcing Jack'' won a
Betty Trask Award
The Betty Trask Prize and Awards are for first novels written by authors under the age of 35, who reside in a current or former Commonwealth nation. Each year the awards total £20,000, with one author receiving a larger prize amount, called the ...
in the same year and was adapted into a
1998 film
The year 1998 in film involved many significant films, including
'' Shakespeare in Love'' (which won the Academy Award for Best Picture), '' Saving Private Ryan'','' Armageddon'' (which was the top grossing film of the year in the United States) ...
starring
David Thewlis
David Wheeler (born 20 March 1963), better known as David Thewlis (), is a British actor, author, director and screenwriter.
Thewlis rose to prominence when he starred in the film '' Naked'' (1993), for which he won the Cannes Film Festival Aw ...
. Several of Bateman's novels featured the semi-autobiographical
Belfast
Belfast ( , ; from ga, Béal Feirste , meaning 'mouth of the sand-bank ford') is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingd ...
journalist, Dan Starkey.
His book ''Murphy's Law'' was adapted from the BBC television series '' Murphy's Law'' (2001–2007), featuring James Nesbitt. Bateman explains on his website that "''Murphy's Law'' was written specifically for James Nesbitt, a local actor who became a big TV star through ''
Cold Feet
Cold feet is a phrase that refers to a person not going through with an action, particularly one which requires long term commitment, due to fear, uncertainty, and doubt. A person is said to be "getting cold feet" when, after previously committin ...
''. The ninety-minute pilot for ''Murphy's Law'' on BBC 1 was seen by more than seven million people, and led to three TV series, on which I was the chief writer."
His 8 part series '' Scúp'' was written in English and translated into Irish. It was produced by Sterling Films & BBC Northern Ireland. A second series has since been commissioned.
His children's book ''Titanic 2020'' was shortlisted for the 2008 Salford Children's Book Award.
Much of his work is produced under the name "Bateman" (rather than his full name); his 2007 novel ''I Predict a Riot'' bears (among others) the dedication: "For my Christian name, gone but not forgotten".
Since 2016 Bateman has moved increasingly into film, writing the screenplays for 'The Journey', starring Timothy Spall and Colm Meaney, and 'Driven' starring Jason Sudeikis and Lee Pace. Both films were premiered at the Venice Film Festival and selected for the Toronto Film Festival.the author) He is currently writing films about Fidel Castro in New York, 'The Hotel Theresa' and the British double agent George Blake.
Novels
For children
''
Eddie & the Gang with No Name
The ''Eddie & the Gang with No Name'' series is a trilogy of young-adult novels, written by Northern Irish author Colin Bateman. The trilogy surrounds a twelve-year-old Eddie and his affiliation with a local gang, the "Reservoir Pups". The trilo ...
''
*''
Reservoir Pups
''Reservoir Pups'' (also known as ''Running with the Reservoir Pups'') is the first novel of the '' Eddie & the Gang with No Name'' trilogy by Northern Irish author, Colin Bateman, published on 13 November 2003 through Hodder Children's Books. I ...
The Seagulls Have Landed
The ''Eddie & the Gang with No Name'' series is a trilogy of young-adult novels, written by Northern Irish author Colin Bateman. The trilogy surrounds a twelve-year-old Eddie and his affiliation with a local gang, the "Reservoir Pups". The trilo ...
SOS Adventure
The ''SOS Adventures'' series is a trilogy of young adult novels written by Northern Irish author Colin Bateman, released between June 2010 and March 2011. The novels surround teenager Michael Monroe and his adventures with a team of internation ...
Tusk
Tusks are elongated, continuously growing front teeth that protrude well beyond the mouth of certain mammal species. They are most commonly canine teeth, as with pigs and walruses, or, in the case of elephants, elongated incisors. Tusks share ...
Of Wee Sweetie Mice and Men
''Of Wee Sweetie Mice and Men'' is the second novel of the ''Dan Starkey'' series by Northern Irish author, Colin Bateman, released on 25 April 1996 through HarperCollins. The name of the novel is a reference to the John Steinbeck novella Of M ...
'' (1996)
*''
Turbulent Priests
''Turbulent Priests'' is the third novel of the Dan Starkey (series), ''Dan Starkey'' series by Northern Irish author, Colin Bateman, released on 6 December 1999 through HarperCollins. Bateman's usage of Rathlin Island (which he renamed "Wrathli ...
The Horse with My Name
''The Horse with My Name'' is the fifth novel of the ''Dan Starkey'' series by Northern Irish author, Colin Bateman, released on 5 August 2002 through Headline Publishing Group. Bateman wrote the novel while staying at the Fairyhouse Racecourse ...
'' (2002)
*''
Driving Big Davie
''Driving Big Davie'' is the sixth novel of the ''Dan Starkey'' series by Northern Irish author, Colin Bateman, released on 5 April 2004 through Headline Publishing Group. Bateman started the novel in response to the death of Joe Strummer, lead ...
Murphy's Revenge
''Murphy's Revenge'' is the second novel of the ''Martin Murphy'' series by Northern Irish author, Colin Bateman, published on 4 April 2005 through Headline Publishing Group.
Plot
Martin Murphy is an undercover policeman currently working in Lo ...
'' (2005)
Mystery Man
*''Mystery Man'' (2009)
*''The Day of the Jack Russell'' (2009)
*''Dr. Yes'' (2010)
*''The Prisoner of Brenda'' (2012)
Non-Series
*''
Turbulent Priests
''Turbulent Priests'' is the third novel of the Dan Starkey (series), ''Dan Starkey'' series by Northern Irish author, Colin Bateman, released on 6 December 1999 through HarperCollins. Bateman's usage of Rathlin Island (which he renamed "Wrathli ...
(Unproduced – Bateman having written the screenplay)'' (2000)
* ''
Watermelon
Watermelon (''Citrullus lanatus'') is a flowering plant species of the Cucurbitaceae family and the name of its edible fruit. A scrambling and trailing vine-like plant, it is a highly cultivated fruit worldwide, with more than 1,000 var ...