Andrew Marshall (writer)

Andrew Marshall (1960- ) is a British comedy writer, most noted for the domestic sitcom 2point4 children. He was also the inspiration for Marvin the Paranoid Android in The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Although he had also previously adapted stories for Agatha Christie's Poirot ,in 2002 he made a further move into writing 'straight' drama , with the fantasy/horror-based Strange. He has also written several screenplays.

Related Topics:
British - Comedy - Sitcom - 2point4 children - Marvin the Paranoid Android - The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Agatha Christie's Poirot - 2002 - Strange

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Born in Lowestoft, he passed the 11+ somewhat early, due to being placed in a school year several years ahead of his age and attended Lowestoft Grammar School, and afterwards Borough Road College where he studied Mathematics and Psychology. Around the same time, he worked regularly on Radio4's Week Ending, together with David Renwick, Douglas Adams, Alistair Beaton, John Lloyd, Simon Brett and others, shortly afterwards beginning The Burkiss Way with David Renwick and John Mason (who later dropped out to go to acting school).

Related Topics:
Week Ending - David Renwick - Douglas Adams - John Lloyd - Simon Brett - The Burkiss Way

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Brought by Humphrey Barclay to LWT, originally to repeat his "nursery slopes comedy" Do Not Adjust Your Set with End Of Part One, Andrew and David went on to write a series of TV Satires, including Whoops Apocalypse, Hot Metal and If You See God Tell Him- the latter originally for 4, but postponed for several years when the Channel refused to let them direct it, and finally ending up at the BBC later.

Related Topics:
Humphrey Barclay - End Of Part One - Whoops Apocalypse - Hot Metal - If You See God Tell Him

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They also experimented with a kind of Neo-Vaudeville style in The Steam Video Company for Thames, ultimately ending up at the BBC, writing, with Alexei Sayle, Alexei Sayle's Stuff. Along the way they also wrote the screenplays for Whoops Apocalypse and Wilt.

Related Topics:
The Steam Video Company - Alexei Sayle's Stuff - Whoops Apocalypse - Wilt

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After a tentative and unsuccessful try at solo writing with Sob Sisters at CentralTV, Andrew found long-lasting success with BBC's 2point4 children, adding to it Health & Efficiency and later, Dad. He also found time to adapt Alexei Sayle's short story "Lose Weight, Ask Me How" for the series Spinechillers, in which Alexei also starred.

Related Topics:
Sob Sisters - 2point4 children - Health & Efficiency - Dad - Spinechillers

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Having earlier contributed to Agatha Christie's Poirot, he next made an attempt at re-inventing British telefantasy with Strange.

Related Topics:
Agatha Christie's Poirot - Strange

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A characteristic of his writing style, perhaps consistant with his study of Mathematics and Psychology is an apparant simplicity of content, concealing, after careful examination, symbolic and/or sometimes unsettling psychological or philosophical underpinnings.

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He was recently quoted as saying his next project is adapting "Oedipus Rex" into a Sitcom.

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Although Gay, the only character he has so far created that reflects this is "Charlie" in Sob Sisters, possibly the first accurate gay character in primetime comedy, preferring to persue instead a fascinating insight into family life, although he did once memorably term awards ceremonies as "tedious heterosexual bonding displays".

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Until recently he has always avoided publicity of any kind, explaining that "its very bad for you", and cites his major influences as "Alfred Hitchcock and Walt Disney...which explains a lot."

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