Colin Bateman

Born in 1962 in County Down, Northern Ireland, Colin Bateman began his career as a journalist before transitioning to novel writing. His debut novel, 'Divorcing Jack,' published in 1994, received a Betty Trask Award and was later adapted into a film. Bateman has often featured a semi-autobiographical journalist character, Dan Starkey, in his works. He also penned the screenplay for the BBC television series 'Murphy's Law,' which was initially written with actor James Nesbitt in mind and evolved into a successful TV show.

Bateman's writing extends to children's literature, with 'Titanic 2020' being shortlisted for an award. He frequently publishes under the mononym 'Bateman.' In recent years, he has focused more on screenwriting, contributing to films like 'The Journey' and 'Driven,' both of which premiered at prestigious film festivals. He is currently developing screenplays for projects involving historical figures like Fidel Castro and George Blake.

Colin Bateman, born in 1962 in Bangor, County Down, started his professional life in journalism. After leaving school at 16, he joined the County Down Spectator, progressing from a junior reporter to a columnist and deputy editor. A compilation of his newspaper columns was published in 1989 under the title 'Bar Stool Boy.' His transition to fiction began with the publication of his first novel, 'Divorcing Jack,' in 1994. This novel not only garnered a Betty Trask Award in the same year but also served as the basis for a 1998 film adaptation starring David Thewlis.

Several of Bateman's novels have been adapted for screen, with 'Divorcing Jack' being a notable example. His novel 'Murphy's Law' was the inspiration for a BBC television series of the same name, which ran from 2001 to 2007 and starred James Nesbitt. Bateman has stated that 'Murphy's Law' was specifically written for Nesbitt, a local actor who gained significant fame through the series 'Cold Feet.' The pilot episode of 'Murphy's Law' attracted over seven million viewers, leading to three subsequent television series for which Bateman served as the primary writer. He also wrote the eight-part series 'Scúp,' which was created in English and translated into Irish.

Beyond his adult fiction and television work, Bateman has also written for younger audiences. His children's book, 'Titanic 2020,' was recognized by being shortlisted for the 2008 Salford Children's Book Award. In recent years, Bateman has increasingly dedicated his efforts to film screenwriting. He has written scripts for films such as 'The Journey,' featuring Timothy Spall and Colm Meaney, and 'Driven,' starring Jason Sudeikis and Lee Pace. Both of these films made their debut at the Venice Film Festival and were subsequently selected for the Toronto Film Festival. Bateman is currently engaged in writing screenplays for upcoming films focusing on figures like Fidel Castro and the British double agent George Blake.

“Murphy's Law was written specifically for James Nesbitt, a local actor who became a big TV star through Cold Feet. The ninety-minute pilot for Murphy's Law on BBC 1 was seen by more than seven million people, and led to three TV series, on which I was the chief writer”

“For my Christian name, gone but not forgotten”