Simon Blackwell

Simon John Blackwell (born 27 May 1966) is an English comedy writer and producer. He is best known for his work on The Thick of It, In The Loop and Veep, and for his collaborations with Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain on Peep Show, Four Lions and The Old Guys. Blackwell is the creator of the comedy series Back, starring David Mitchell and Robert Webb, as well as Breeders, starring Martin Freeman and Daisy Haggard.

Simon Blackwell
Blackwell in 2010
Born
Simon John Blackwell

(1966-05-27) 27 May 1966
Battersea, London, England
Alma materChurchill College, Cambridge
OccupationScreenwriter
Years active1999–present

Career

After graduating from Churchill College, Cambridge as a mature student and then working as a sub-editor for magazines, Blackwell started writing TV comedy in 1999 on shows such as Have I Got News For You, The Kumars at No. 42, Alastair McGowan's Big Impression and The Armstrong and Miller Show, for which he created the duo's street-talking RAF pilot characters.[1][2][3] He first worked with Armando Iannucci in 2003 on the topical Channel 4 show Gash. He went on to write on all four series of Iannucci's political sitcom The Thick of It and co-wrote its spin-off film In The Loop, which was nominated for an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Other work with Iannucci includes 2004: The Stupid Version and Time Trumpet.

The two collaborated again on the HBO comedy Veep, with Blackwell co-writing the pilot episode and serving as writer and executive producer on the subsequent four seasons, for which he won two Primetime Emmy Awards.[4]

Blackwell wrote for Chris Morris's 2010 black comedy film Four Lions, alongside Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain. He had previously collaborated with them on the Channel 4 sitcom Peep Show and BBC One's The Old Guys.

In 2016, Blackwell created the sitcom Back starring David Mitchell and Robert Webb. It premiered on Channel 4 on 6 September 2017.[5]

In 2020, Blackwell created the dramedy Breeders, starring Martin Freeman and Daisy Haggard. The series premiered on the American cable network FX on 2 March 2020, and on Sky One on 12 March 2020.[6]

Filmography

Television
Title Year Functioned as Notes
Writer Producer Other
The Jim Tavaré Show 1999 Yes 7 episodes
The 11 O'Clock Show 1999–2000 Yes 5 episodes
Bremner, Bird and Fortune 1999–2003 Yes
The Big Impression 2000 Yes
Way to Go 2001 Yes
Aaagh! It's the Mr. Hell Show! 2001–2002 Yes 10 episodes
The Kumars at No. 42 2001–2002 Yes
Live Floor Show 2002 Yes Episode: #2.8
Dead Ringers 2002–2007 Yes
Life Beyond the Box: Norman Stanley Fletcher 2003 Yes Script advisor
Gash 2003 Yes 4 episodes
Bounty Hamster 2003 Yes 7 episodes
The Sketch Show 2003–2004 Yes Additional writer
Christmas Night with the Stars 2004 Yes Television special
The Impressionable Jon Culshaw 2004 Yes 6 episodes
2004: The Stupid Version 2004 Yes Television special
Monkey Trousers 2005 Yes 5 episodes
The Comic Side of 7 Days 2005 Yes
Graham Norton's Bigger Picture 2005 Yes
The Thick of It 2005–2012 Yes 21 episodes
Time Trumpet 2006 Yes 2 episodes
Hyperdrive 2007 Yes Script associate
Dogface 2007 Yes Episode: #1.2
Moving Wallpaper 2008 Yes 2 episodes
Mumbai Calling 2008 Yes 3 episodes
Peep Show 2008–2012 Yes 4 episodes
The Old Guys 2009–2010 Yes Associate Yes Also co-creator
The Armstrong & Miller Show 2009–2010 Yes 17 episodes
Whites 2010 Yes Script editor
Parents 2012 Yes Script editor
Veep 2012–2015 Yes Executive 13 episodes
Trying Again 2014 Yes Co-executive Yes Also co-creator
Back 2017–present Yes Executive Yes Also creator
Breeders 2020–present Yes Executive Also creator

Film
Title Year Functioned as Notes
Writer Producer Other
In the Loop 2009 Yes
Four Lions 2010 Yes Additional material
The Personal History of David Copperfield 2019 Yes

References
  1. Michael Segalov (29 February 2020). "Simon Blackwell: 'I nearly died in an old Smithfield meat market van'". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  2. Chortle Interview "The Telly Lot Are Never Going To Make Any Sketch Shows" 7 October 2009.
  3. "Simon Blackwell interview for Back". Channel 4. 22 August 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  4. Official Emmy Site "Simon Blackwell"
  5. Leo Barraclough (15 November 2016). "'Veep' Co-Writer Simon Blackwell Pens Comedy 'Back' for Channel 4". Variety. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  6. "Breeders". www.sky.com. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
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