William Ivory Explained
William (Billy) Ivory (born 1964)[1] [2] is a British screenwriter, playwright and actor. He is a three-time BAFTA nominee.[3]
Early life and career
Ivory was born in Southwell,[4] Nottinghamshire and has set many of his works in Nottingham.[5] He was a pupil at the Minster School in Southwell.[6] He dropped out of his English degree at the University of London after three weeks, going on to work as a binman for nearly three years, writing in his spare time.[1] After he broke his arm, he wanted a less arduous job and so applied to be a stagehand at the Nottingham Playhouse,[1] eventually acting there.[2] He went on to play several roles in television adverts and drama series.[2] [3] Ivory's first television writing credit was Journey to Knock, in 1991,[2] and he has since created and written many television dramas. Ivory's first stage play, The Retirement of Tom Stevens, was produced in 2006.[2] He wrote the screenplay for Made in Dagenham (2010),[2] and for the 2023 film starring Michael Caine and Glenda Jackson, The Great Escaper.[7]
Ivory was nominated for a television BAFTA for Best Drama Series for Common As Muck in 1995 and 1998 and for Best Drama Series for The Sins in 2001. He won the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best TV Feature or Miniseries for The Sins in 2002.[8]
Ivory received an honorary doctorate from the University of Nottingham in 2009.[9] He is Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at Nottingham Trent University, a post he has held since 2022.[3]
Personal life
Ivory is the son of Bill and Edna Ivory; Bill was a local newspaper journalist with the Nottingham Evening Post. Ivory has two older sisters, Lorraine and Sally-Ann.[10] His mother Edna suffered from motor neurone disease, and Ivory's first television drama, Journey to Knock (1991), was inspired by her experience of the disease.[1] Ivory is a fan of Notts County football team.[11] In 2015 one of Nottingham Express Transit's trams, Tram 232, was named after Ivory.[12] [13]
Filmography
Film, as writer
Television, as writer/producer
Television, film and radio, as actor
Stage plays, as writer
- 2006 The Retirement of Tom Stevens[2]
- 2010 Bomber's Moon[4]
- 2012 Diary of a Football Nobody[11]
Stage plays, as actor
- 1985 Me Mam Sez (by Barry Heath; Nottingham Playhouse; Jack)[18]
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: A Picture of Nottinghamshire: William Ivory - Gritty Dramatist. BBC. 10 June 2005. 31 July 2023.
- Web site: Ivory, William (1964-). BFI Screen Online. 31 July 2023.
- Web site: William Ivory, Senior Lecturer, School of Arts & Humanities. Nottingham Trent University. 31 July 2023.
- Web site: Interview: Billy Ivory. Left Lion. Adrian. Bhagat. 23 March 2011. 31 July 2023.
- Web site: Truckers: interview with William Ivory. BBC. 31 July 2023.
- Web site: Billy Ivory. Southwell Town Council. 31 July 2023.
- News: The Great Escaper: release date and plot for Michael Caine and Glenda Jackson's upcoming film. Elizabeth. Gregory. The Evening Standard. 26 July 2023. 31 July 2023.
- Web site: Mystery Writers of America EdgarAwards.com All Winners. Edgar Awards. 31 July 2023.
- Web site: Adapting DH Lawrence's 'Women in Love'. University of Nottingham. 24 March 2011. 31 July 2023.
- Web site: Former Evening Post man Ivory has died, aged 84. Hold the Front Page. 18 February 2008. 31 July 2023.
- Web site: Diary of a Football Nobody. British Theatre Guide. Steve. Orme. 5 October 2012. 31 July 2023.
- Web site: Writer Recognised By Tram Network. Nottingham City Council: My Nottingham News. 19 November 2015. 31 July 2023.
- Web site: Tram Names. Tram 232 - William Ivory. thetram.net. 31 July 2023.
- Web site: The Closer You Get (2000). BBC. Ben. Falk. 8 September 2000. 31 July 2023.
- Web site: The Closer You Get USA/UK/Ireland 1999. https://web.archive.org/web/20120803095527/http://old.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/review/333. dead. August 3, 2012. BFI. Kevin. Maher. 31 July 2023.
- Web site: Programme Index. BBC. 29 January 1988. 31 July 2023.
- Web site: 20th-century Vampire. BBC. 31 July 2023.
- Web site: William Ivory . Theatricalia. 31 July 2023.