Screenwriting career started with Brookside and The Street

Jul 25 2008 by Peter Elson, Liverpool Daily Post

ONE of Britain’s top screenwriting talents, Frank Cottrell Boyce, 47, was brought up in Rainhill, where his parents still live.

After attending St Bartholomew’s RC Primary School, Rainhill, then West Park Grammar School, St Helens, he studied at Keble College, Oxford, and is a doctor of philosophy.

With his wife, Denny, his family comprises seven sons and daughters, with the youngest Xavier, aged four, and his eldest, Joe, 23.

His television writing started with Brookside (including its spin-off Damon and Debbie) and Coronation Street. On film, he is best known for 24-Hour Party People, about the late Tony Wilson and the Manchester pop music scene, starring Steve Coogan and Peter Kay.

His other credits include the award-winning screenplay Hilary and Jackie, about the cellist Jacqueline du Pré, and the Bosnian war drama, Welcome to Sarajevo.

In the film, Millions, two brothers find a million pounds. The film’s director, Danny Boyle, suggested turning it into a children’s novel and the resulting book was published to great acclaim, winning the Carnegie Medal.

Encouraged by this critical reception, he wrote another novel for youngsters called Framed (currently in BBC production) and his third, Cosmic, is out now.