Nigel Kneale

Nigel Kneale (born Thomas Nigel Kneale on April 18, 1922 in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England, UK) is a Manx television and film scriptwriter, who has worked mostly in the UK. He is best known for his creation of the character of Professor Bernard Quatermass, who has appeared in three serials for BBC Television, one for Thames Television and three feature film adaptations of the BBC serials for the Hammer company.

Early life and career

Although born in England, Kneale's family were from the Isle of Man and returned there shortly afterwards, where he was brought up in the capital, Douglas. His father was the editor of the local newspaper, and his brother Bryan is a renowned sculptor. Kneale enjoyed life on the island, but a skin condition meant that the weather there did not suit him and in 1947 he left for mainland Britain.

Related Topics:
England - Isle of Man - Douglas - Sculptor - 1947

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After initially pursuing a career as an actor, Kneale decided to switch to writing after "a season carrying spears at Stratford-upon-Avon" convinced him he would never make it very far as a performer. He began working in prose, in 1950 winning the Somerset Maugham Award for his collection of short stories, Tomato Cain.

Related Topics:
Stratford-upon-Avon - 1950 - Somerset Maugham Award

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He had first moved into broadcasting when he began writing plays for BBC Radio in 1948, subsequently concentrating on script work and becoming one of the first permanent staff drama writers for BBC Television. His first television work, on the play Arrow to the Heart, was broadcast in July 1952. He quickly forged a reputation as one of the premier scriptwriters of BBC Television, and in 1953 teamed up with noted television director Rudolph Cartier - who had written Arrow to the Heart before Kneale had been brought in to polish up the script - to create the legendary science-fiction serial The Quatermass Experiment.

Related Topics:
BBC Radio - 1948 - BBC Television - 1952 - 1953 - Rudolph Cartier - The Quatermass Experiment

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