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The 39 Steps: Part One
I see that Patrick Barlow’s energetic stage adaptation of The 39 Steps is about to begin a national tour, in a production directed by Maria Aitken (whom I met once at the Hay festival; I was on a panel with her husband Patrick McGrath and was happy to be introduced). The original Criterion Theatre production…
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Perspective
First published as a guest editorial in Kimota magazine, 2014 I couldn’t be an editor. There are so many stories. I don’t mean the kind of stories an editor actually looks for. I mean some of the stuff they have to deal with. Stories of writers, invariably new to the game, demanding that you sign…
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The Day I was Offered The Prisoner
It was back in the early 90’s. I was at a meeting with Debra Allanson down in Soho Square. Her boss at the time was David Cunliffe, and he did a drop-by. He said they had access to The Prisoner TV rights and would I be interested in tackling a new version? I didn’t even…
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On Adaptation
Adapting is not a matter of reformatting. Adaptation is re-imagination. When you’re reading prose, the incidents may run as vividly in your head as when you’re watching a movie, but don’t let that mislead you into thinking that there can’t be that much difference between them. Back in 1997, Pumpkin Books published the full text…
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Horrocks, Capaldi, and the Rain That Never Fell
The first time that he saw her was across the parking lot of a motorway service area. It was about a quarter to midnight, and it had been raining. He could see that she was tired and cold and that she’d probably been on her feet for some time. She didn’t look much more than…
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Faustine in the Stores
With new titles coming and the initial Kickstarter fulfilment well under way, Cutaway’s Gods and Monsters series will soon be available at comic book stores worldwide. Which means you can order and pick up locally with no postal charges, especially important when you consider the hefty sums levied for delivery to the US and overseas.…
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Granada Days
Kill transmission! Lime Grove? Fill in, will you. I’ll be back as soon as possible. Tell Presentation… My first steady TV job in 1975—my only steady job, ever—was with Granada Television’s Presentation Department. Prior to that I’d put in a few weeks as a researcher for John Willis in Yorkshire TV Documentaries, but I took…
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Doctor Who at 60
As part of the 60th Anniversary celebrations The Guardian is running a series of soundbite interviews with people closely associated with the show throughout its long run. My anecdote’s in there, in the first group of a dozen. I gave a little more than was needed… I could say it was to give flexibility in…
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A To-Do List
Busy, busy
Hauling Like A Brooligan
Stephen Gallagher
