Helen Black (writer)
Helen Black | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation(s) | Screenwriter, author |
| Known for | Life and Death in the Warehouse |
Helen Black is a British screenwriter and novelist, best known for her work on the BBC drama Time[1] and the film Life and Death in the Warehouse.
Career
[edit]Black grew up in Pontefract, West Yorkshire. She studied Law at Hull University and worked as a solicitor for many years, with a specialty in childcare. Her experiences would inspire her to write a series of legal thriller novels, centering on lawyer Lily Valentine, beginning with Damaged Goods (2005).[2] In 2017, Black won the Kudos North Award, for her television script Galaxy. This success led to her acquiring an agent and then writing on series such as Clink, Death in Paradise and Grantchester.
In 2022, BBC Three aired Black's film Life and Death in the Warehouse, about a pair of women working exploitative conditions in a distribution centre. Black had met Aysha Rafaele and Marco Crivellari at BBC Studios, at first developing a legal drama series. Subsequently, she was asked to work on a factual drama with director Joe Bullman, drawing from his research into the lives and mistreatment of British warehouse employees.[3] The film was nominated at the 2022 BAFTA Cymru Awards for Television Drama.[4]
Black co-wrote the second series of Time with Jimmy McGovern, set in a women's prison. On Nov 6, 2023, it was announced that Black would adapt her 'Lily Valentine' books for television.[5] On Nov 27, 2023, it was announced that Black would write the mystery-thriller The Wives for Channel 5.[6]
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Notes | Broadcaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Clink | 1 episode | 5Star |
| 2021 | Death in Paradise | 1 episode | BBC One |
| 2022 | Life and Death in the Warehouse | TV Movie | BBC Three |
| 2023 | Grantchester | 1 episode | ITV |
| 2023 | Time | 3 episodes | BBC One |
| 2024 | Joan | 1 episode | ITV |
| TBA | The Wives | Creator, all episodes | Channel 5 |
| TBA | Lilly Valentine | Creator | TBA |
Novels
[edit]| Series | Year | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Lilly Valentine[7][8] | 2008 | Damaged Goods |
| 2008 | Place of Safety | |
| 2009 | Dishonour | |
| 2011 | Blood Rush | |
| 2013 | Dark Spaces | |
| 2015 | Friendless Lane | |
| – | 2012 | Twenty Twelve |
| Liberty Chapman | 2017 | Taking Liberties |
| 2018 | Bang to Rights | |
| 2019 | Playing Dirty | |
| 2020 | Hard as Nails |
References
[edit]- ^ Kahn, Ellie (2023-04-11). "Life and Death in the Warehouse writer joins BBC1's Time". Broadcast.
- ^ "Helen Black". Rochelle Stevens. March 5, 2018.
- ^ "Writing 'Life and Death in the Warehouse'". BBC. 3 March 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
- ^ "BAFTA Cymru Awards: Nominations 2022". www.bafta.org. 7 September 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
- ^ Ramachandran, Naman (November 6, 2023). "'Time 2' Writer Helen Black's 'Lilly Valentine' Book 'Damaged Goods' Set for Series Adaptation From Studio Crook (EXCLUSIVE)".
- ^ "C5 orders six-part drama from Gaumont UK". November 27, 2023.
- ^ "Helen Black". www.fantasticfiction.com. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ "Helen Black". Book Series in Order. 30 April 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2024.