Colin Bateman

Colin Bateman (known mononymously as Bateman) is a novelist, screenwriter and former journalist from Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland.

This article is about the writer. For the Watford footballer, see Colin Bateman (footballer).

Colin Bateman
Born (1962-06-13) 13 June 1962
Newtownards, Northern Ireland
Pen nameBateman
OccupationNovelist
LanguageEnglish
EducationJournalism
GenreCrime, Dark comedy, Thriller
Notable worksDan Starkey, Murphy's Law & Mystery Man novels
Notable awardsBetty Trask Award (1994)[1]
Crimefest Last Laugh (2009)[2]
Website
colinbateman.com

Biography

Born on 13 June 1962, Bateman attended Bangor Grammar School leaving at 16 when he was hired by Annie Roycroft to join the County Down Spectator as a "cub" reporter, then columnist and deputy editor.[3][4] A collection of his columns was published as Bar Stool Boy in 1989.

Bateman has been writer novels since his debut, Divorcing Jack, in 1994.[4] Divorcing Jack won a Betty Trask Award in the same year and was adapted into a 1998 film starring David Thewlis.[5][6] Several of Bateman's novels featured the semi-autobiographical Belfast journalist, Dan Starkey.[6]

His book Murphy's Law was adapted from the BBC television series Murphy's Law (2001–2007), featuring James Nesbitt. Bateman explains on his website that "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."[4]

He has just completed the 8 part series Scúp, which he wrote in English but has been translated into Irish. It is in production by Sterling Films & BBC Northern Ireland. A second series has since been commissioned.[7]

His children's book Titanic 2020 has been shortlisted for the 2008 Salford Children's Book Award.[8][9]

Much of his work is produced under the name "Bateman" (rather than his full name); his 2007 novel I Predict a Riot bears (among others) the dedication: "For my Christian name, gone but not forgotten".[10] Since 2016 Bateman has moved increasingly into film, writing the screenplays for 'The Journey', starring Timothy Spall and Colm Meaney, and 'Driven' starring Jason Sudeikis and Lee Pace. Both films were premiered at the Venice Film Festival and were also selected for the Toronto Film Festival.[11] He is currently writing films about Fidel Castro in New York, 'The Hotel Theresa' and the British double agent George Blake.

Novels

Film and TV

See also
  • List of Northern Irish writers

References
  1. "Betty Trask Past Winners | Society of Authors – Protecting the rights and furthering the interests of authors". Society of Authors. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  2. "Colin Bateman wins Last Laugh Award". Curtisbrown.co.uk. 24 May 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  3. Unknown (8 February 2016). "'I've high hopes for my Paisley and McGuinness film... some will love it and others will just hate it'". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  4. "Biography". colinbateman.com. Colin Bateman. Archived from the original on 13 May 2008. Retrieved 18 September 2008.
  5. "Betty Trask Award: Past winners". Society of Authors. Archived from the original on 20 May 2008. Retrieved 18 September 2008.
  6. "Mohammed Maguire: The author". Nerve Centre Productions. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2008.
  7. "SCUP". filmbase.ie.com. Filmbase.ie. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
  8. "2008 Book Award – Salford City Council". Salford.gov.uk. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  9. Colin (16 January 2009). "All the latest...: In the shadow of Old Trafford". Batemansnewblog.blogspot.com. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  10. "Colin Bateman: Last Book!". Colinbatemansblog.blogspot.com. 10 October 2006. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  11. the author)
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