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Interviews » Film Interviews » Candy Denman Interview

Candy Denman Interview

Posted on 30 January 2004. © Copyright 2004-2024 WriteWords
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WriteWords talks to Candy Denman, screenwriter for The Bill, Doctors, Heartbeat, and many other primetime soaps and series

What have you written?

I have had one novel published, some short stories on the radio, but for the last twelve years I have written exclusively for television- my natural medium, I suppose. I have had produced: 28 episodes of The Bill (Thames TV), 9 of Doctors (BBC), 7 of Heartbeat (Yorkshire TV), 2 of London Bridge (Carlton), 1 of Crossroads (Carlton) and was a storyline consultant on Peak Practice.

How did you start writing?

I have always kept diaries, written short stories etc, but it wasn’t until I had a difficult pregnancy which meant I had to rest for several months that I started writing fiction. My first effort was a synopsis and first chapter of a novel. I sent it to a publisher who advertised in a magazine and was shocked when they asked for the rest of the novel by return of post- it meant I had to write it very quickly

Who are your favourite writers and why?

Paul Abbott for Clocking Off, State of Play.Jack Rosenthal for the original London’s Burning, and many others. Alan Plater for The Beiderbecke Affair. Dick Clement and Ian Le Frenais for the early Auf Wiedersehn Pet series, and Alan Bleasedale for Boys from the Black Stuff.

How did you feel when you first sent your writing out?

Anxious- I still do.



A longer version of this interview is available to WriteWords Full and Community Members.
Click here to learn more about becoming a member.






Comments by other Members



Zigeroon at 17:28 on 31 January 2004  Report this post

The more of these interviews I read the more I realise that writers who are published, etc., are just like the rest of us, only more so, and published!

It was interesting to note that Candy suggested that you should attempt to write in the medium and take a course subsequently, presumably to determine if that medium suited your interest, temperament and/or style.

The source of the ideas proves their is no magic well somewhere that you have to locate to discover themes for stories. No need to go a-hunting then, they are all around you if you look.
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