The Blog from John Finch, television, writing and life experiences that define a writer
A piece from John’s autobiography CHAPTER TWENTY THREE – GROUP NORTH Group North was the name devised by Harry Kershaw for the small group of writers who kept Coronation Street on the screen in the very early days. It was a small group chosen mainly by Harry from Northern writers …
Few writers, I suspect, would disagree with the statement by the late David Lean, director of many of the outstanding British films of the 90s (Dr.Zhivago, Lawrence of Arabia etc) that the hardest job in television/film production is that of the writer. Very close to this, I believe, is the …
For fathers day John received a membership for a family tree website, which brought to mind some poems from his book of poetry. Johns poetry book is held by the British Poetry Library in London and is available on Amazon Portrait in Sepia He belongs to the world of …
While being isolated due to coronavirus John has been busy adding to the blog on his website – and finishing his Autobiography in the hope that a publisher may take it on. Looking out of the window on the best summer we have had in many-a-year has reminded him of …
Listen to the Made in Manchester PodCast interview with John about the early days of Coronation Street https://distinctnostalgia.buzzsprout.com/650596/4117385-corrie-at-60-we-speak-to-early-street-writer-john-finch
John was recently interviewed by ITV about his role as one of the founding writers for Coronation Street. John wrote 140 episodes of ‘The Street’ Read more about Johns time on ‘The Street here’>> [addthis tool=addthis_horizontal_follow_toolbox]
The Curriculum Memories from John’s childhood, some of which you will find reflected in his Television and Published work – SAM and Cuddon Return/Shaft of Light A reader’s letter in a Yorkshire newspaper gives a brief picture of part of my education in the mid-thirties. It was written by someone …
I served as radio officer on two Dutch ships during the Second World War. The first of these, the New Holland was a large Dutch liner, previously registered in Indonesia but during the war was partly manned by Dutchmen and served the allies as a troopship. The second was a …
At the age of 95 in the midst of the Corona-virus emergency, John reflects on ‘Working From Home’ [addthis tool=addthis_horizontal_follow_toolbox] WORK at HOME seems to be the current slogan on the television and on the media generally. In fact, for more than sixty years, I always mostly worked at home.. …
While developing his autobiography John Finch recalled how the worlds longest running drama nearly ended in its early years. [addthis tool=addthis_horizontal_follow_toolbox] This is a Blog in 2 parts: Part 2 See Part One It was two o’clock in the morning. The building that housed what has since been christened …
