Jim Cartwright

Jim Cartwright was born in Farnworth, Lancashire in 1958 and educated at Harper Green Secondary Modern School, Farnworth. His plays are consistently performed around the world, where they have won numerous awards, and been translated into 30 languages. His first play, Road (1986), opened at the Royal Court in 1986, and was subsequently revived that same year and again in 1987, before being taken on a nationwide tour. Road won the Samuel Beckett Award, Drama Magazine’s Best New Play Award, and was joint winner of the Plays And Players Award and The George Devine Award. Jim made his directorial debut with Road at The Royal Exchange Theatre in 1995. He also wrote and directed I Licked a Slag’s Deodorant (1996), for the Royal Court at The Ambassador’s Theatre in London’s West End in 1996; Prize Night for the Royal Exchange Theatre (1999), and Hard Fruit (2000) for the Royal Court Theatre in 2000. Jim’s radio work includes: Baths (BBC, 1987). His television work includes: Road (BBC, 1987, winner of The Golden Nymph Award for best film); Vroom (Channel 4, 1988, selected as centrepiece at The London Film Festival); Wedded (BBC, 1990), and June (BBC, 1990). Jim produced and wrote Village (Channel 4, 1996); two films, Strumpet and Vacuuming Completely Nude In Paradise (BBC, 2001); and wrote and directed Johnny Shakespeare (BBC, 2007).

Works

Safe House

Former police officer Robert and his wife Katy left city life behind them after Robert was injured, whilst trying to protect a witness in his care. The witness, Susan Reynolds was fatally shot. Robert has been struggling with the guilt he feels over the death of Susan. In a bid to put the past behind them, Robert and Katy now run a guest house, hidden away in the idyllic Lake District. A surprise visitor turns up, DCI Mark Maxwell, an ex-colleague and old friend. He suggests that the guest house is perfectly positioned to operate as a safe house, Robert is tempted but will Katy agree?

Release Date2015-04-20

Charactersd Barry Layton

Episode Count1

Vote Count27

WPC 56

Drama following WPC Gina Dawson, the first Woman Police Constable to join Brinford Constabulary, a fictional police force in the West Midlands, in 1956. The show focuses on WPC Gina Dawson's struggle to gain acceptance in the male-dominated police station whilst having to deal with the sexist attitudes that were commonplace at the time.

Release Date2013-03-18

Charactersd Wally King

Episode Count1

Vote Count14

Goodbye Christopher Robin

The behind the scenes story of the life of A.A. Milne and the creation of the Winnie the Pooh stories inspired by his son Christopher Robin.

Release Date2017-09-29

Charactersd Military Medic

Vote Count901

Stable

Unknown so far.

Charactersd Mick

ScreenPlay

Screenplay was a drama anthology television series, broadcast on BBC between 1986 and 1993. Numerous episodes were produced including one named "Boswell and Johnson's Tour of the Western Islands" starring Robbie Coltrane as English writer Samuel Johnson who in the autumn of 1773, visits the Hebrides off the north-west coast of Scotland. That episode was directed by John Byrne and co-starred John Sessions and Celia Imrie.

Release Date1986-07-09

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Episode Count2

Vote Count2

Performance

An anthology series of various plays and dramatic performances.

Release Date1991-10-05

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Episode Count1

Vote Count2

Playhouse Presents

Playhouse Presents is a series of self-contained TV plays, made by British broadcaster Sky Arts. The series started airing on 12 April 2012, on Sky Arts 1. Each episode is written by a different writer with a different cast.

Release Date2012-04-12

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Episode Count1

Vote Count1

The Afternoon Play

The Afternoon Play is a British television anthology series of standalone contemporary dramas aired during the afternoons of 2003–07 on BBC One, featuring well-known actors in one-off stories. A daytime drama strand showcasing a variety of genres, from comedy to mystery, it was part of a long tradition of afternoon plays on BBC Radio 4, which would go on to influence the television version.

Release Date2003-01-27

DepartmentDirecting

JobDirector

Episode Count1

Vote Count1

Alive from Off Center

An avant-garde omnibus that features works by off-the-wall artists in many different disciplines.

Release Date1985-07-01

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Episode Count1

Vote Count1

The Hairdresser Mysteries

High-end hairdresser Lily Petal opts out of the competitive city scene to buy a small village shop at the top of a cobbled street.

Release Date2026-07-17

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Episode Count6

Starlight

Spanning multiple generations and continents, Starlight follows the poignant journeys of four main characters as they traverse the bittersweet chapters of their lives, culminating in their ultimate struggles to overcome overwhelming obstacles relating to cancer. Yet, the heart of the film lies beyond the disease itself; it is a narrative of hope celebrating the power and perseverance of the human spirit, embodied and personified by these characters and their ability to triumph spectacularly against all odds.

Release Date2026-02-12

DepartmentCrew

JobCreative Consultant

Vroom

Two young men and a sultry divorcee flee their drab hometown existence, taking to the road in a bubblegum pink chevrolet.

Release Date1988-11-11

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Vote Count9

Little Voice

After the death of her father, Little Voice or LV becomes a virtual recluse, never going out and hardly ever saying a word. She just sits in her bedroom listening to her father's collection of old records of Shirley Bassey, Marilyn Monroe and various other famous female singers. But at night time, LV sings, imitating these great singers with surprising accuracy. One night she is overheard by one of her mother's boyfriends, who happens to be a talent agent. He manages to convince her that her talent is special and arranges for her to perform at the local night club, but several problems arise.

Release Date1998-11-05

DepartmentWriting

JobTheatre Play

Vote Count198

Vacuuming Completely Nude in Paradise

Tommy is a vacuum cleaner salesman gripped by the fever of closing the deal. He lives on puffa rice stored in his glove compartment, listens to motivation tapes of his own voice shouting 'Sell, sell, fucking sell' and his punters are up to their eyes in debt. Even Tommy admits his 'soul's in holes'. He's sure the Golden Vac (the holy grail of vacuum salesmanship) can be his - if only he hadn't been saddled with Pete, a meek sales trainee trying to help his girlfriend quit stripping.

Release Date2001-08-23

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Vote Count22

Bed

Surreal drama about seven old people living in the same bed, by Jim Cartwright.

Release Date1995-10-20

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Vote Count1

King of the Teds

Ron and Tina's lives are changed when long lost friend Nina calls, reawakening memories of when Ron was the charismatic 'King of the Teds' and both women loved him. A painful question carried for forty years will finally be answered.

DepartmentDirecting

JobDirector

Stjärnan i det blå

"The Rise and Fall of Little Voice" - Desperately missing her dead father, Little Voice spends her time locked in her bedroom listening to his old record collection and perfecting astonishing impersonations of famous divas including Shirley Bassey, Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland and Dusty Springfield. When her mother Mari starts dating small-time club agent Ray Say, she thinks he's her last chance for a better life.

Release Date1994-11-27

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Vote Count1

Wedded

A husband drives throughout the night on a voyage of self-discovery, while his wife waits at home, raking over the ashes of their marriage as their child sleeps in the next room.

Release Date1990-08-29

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Vote Count1

June

When June receives a cassette from her wartime GI lover it stirs up memories and feelings that she's been trying to suppress for 40 years. 'You made me feel I was in the movies, how was I supposed to get back to normal life after that?'

Release Date1990-01-18

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Road

A view of the inhabitants of a derelict road in Manchester, unsatisfied with their lives and routines. A young man locks himself away from the world. An older woman flirts with a soldier on leave. Two men invite two girls into an empty house.

Release Date1987-10-07

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Vote Count18

Strumpet

Strayman, a spontaneous poet, is landlord to a pack of stray dogs. Unable to resist another of life's strays, he hooks up with Strumpet, a shy, homeless girl with an extraordinary gift for music. After Strayman's neighbour overhears them singing, the three set off for London - Strayman's dogs in tow - in search of fame, fortune, and Top Of The Pops.

Release Date2001-08-23

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Vote Count15