Alan Simpson | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Simpson in 1964 | |
| Born | Alan Francis Simpson (1929-11-27)27 November 1929 Brixton, London, England |
| Died | 8 February 2017(2017-02-08) (aged 87) |
| Occupation | Scriptwriter |
| Period | 1954–1979 |
| Genre | Television |
| Notable works | Hancock's Half Hour,Hancock (1954–1961) Comedy Playhouse (1961–63, 1974) Steptoe and Son (1962–74) |
| Spouse | Tessa Le Bars |
Alan Francis Simpson (27 November 1929 – 8 February 2017) was an English scriptwriter. He was best known as part of theGalton and Simpson comedy writing partnership withRay Galton. Together they devised and wrote theBBCsitcomHancock's Half Hour (1954–1961), the first two series ofComedy Playhouse (1961–1963), andSteptoe and Son (1962–1974).
Simpson was born inBrixton,South London, and was educated atMitcham County Grammar School for Boys. He was afootball fan and supportedBrentford andHampton & Richmond Borough where Simpson was honorary club president.[1][2] After leaving school he worked as a shipping clerk and was a member of a church concert party. He contractedtuberculosis aged 17 in 1947 and was admitted toMilford Sanatorium nearGodalming in Surrey, where he spent 13 months.[3][4][5]
While at the Milford Sanatorium, Simpson was housed with fellow patientRay Galton, also 17 at the time. The two found they shared similar tastes in comedy, and quickly became friends. After leaving the sanatorium, they jointly applied and got jobs at theBBC, writing sketches for its various comedians.[3] One of the plotlines inLinda Grant's 2016 novelThe Dark Circle was based on Simpson's experience of broadcasting on hospital radio with Galton during their time at the sanatorium and its role in their subsequent careers.[6]
Following their break with theDerek Roy vehicleHappy Go Lucky,[7] they became writers forTony Hancock, including theHancock's Half Hour radio show and Hancock's later television specials.[3] Subsequently, the pair wrote several comedy series for television, includingComedy Playhouse andSteptoe and Son.[8] The latter became the basis for the American seriesSanford and Son[9] and the Swedish seriesAlbert & Herbert.[10] Many of their works were re-adopted for later production, such as thePaul Merton revival of theHancock's Half Hour forITV,[8] and the 2009 audio playsGalton and Simpson's Half Hour broadcast onBBC Radio 2 to celebrate the team's 60th anniversary.[11]
Galton and Simpson continued to write for other one-off comedies and series until Simpson's retirement in 1978,[12] after which the two remained in contact.[3]
Simpson was married twice, first to Kathleen (Kate) Phillips (1958-1978) until her death and then to his Manager Tessa Le Bars until his death in 2017.[13]
Simpson retired from scriptwriting in 1978 around the time Kathleen, his first wife, died. He then concentrated on business interests and becoming an after dinner speaker.[14] He was appointed anOBE in 2000, and he and Galton received aBAFTA Fellowship on 8 May 2016 for their comedic contributions.[12]
Simpson died on 8 February 2017, as a result oflung disease, at the age of 87. After his death, his wife Tessa Le Bars said: "Having had the privilege of working with Alan and Ray for over 50 years, the last 40 as agent, business manager and friend, and latterly as Alan's companion and carer, I am deeply saddened to lose Alan after a brave battle with lung disease."[15]
On 11 February 2017BBC Two broadcast theSteptoe and Son episode "Divided We Stand" in his memory.[16]
