Al Hunter Ashton
Encyclopedia
Al Hunter Ashton born Alan Hunter, was an English actor
and script writer
.
He acted under the name "Al Ashton", choosing this to ensure he appeared high up in any alphabetical credits. He wrote under the name "Al Hunter". He later combined the two acting and writing under the name "Al Hunter Ashton".
, Leicestershire, and he was subsequently cast in Willy Russell plays such as Breezeblock Park (at Liverpool Playhouse
) and Blood Brothers (at Derby Playhouse
). Russell also later commissioned him to write the BBC Schools television play Teaching Matthew (in which Hunter also had a small role as a policeman, 1985), a satire on Russell's own Educating Rita.
Al worked very closely with the Stage 22 School of Arts Network in the UK and upon his death, children from the school made their own version of the Queen
hit Only the Good Die Young which was dedicated to him and his three young children.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and script writer
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
.
Life
Al came from a working class background. Born Alan Hunter (he later changed his name by deed poll to Al Hunter), he wrote scripts for his own amusement from the age of 15. He worked in his spare time as a stand-up comedian in clubs for £15 a night but became a stripper on discovering that he could earn the same amount for shedding his clothes every evening. "My stripping routine was actually funnier than my stand-up one," he said.He acted under the name "Al Ashton", choosing this to ensure he appeared high up in any alphabetical credits. He wrote under the name "Al Hunter". He later combined the two acting and writing under the name "Al Hunter Ashton".
Work
His first professional acting work was with a Theatre In Education company in Melton MowbrayMelton Mowbray
Melton Mowbray is a town in the Melton borough of Leicestershire, England. It is to the northeast of Leicester, and southeast of Nottingham...
, Leicestershire, and he was subsequently cast in Willy Russell plays such as Breezeblock Park (at Liverpool Playhouse
Liverpool Playhouse
The Liverpool Playhouse is a theatre in Williamson Square in the city of Liverpool, Merseyside, England. It originated in 1866 as a music hall, and in 1911 developed into a repertory theatre. As such it nurtured the early careers of many actors and actresses, some of which went on to achieve...
) and Blood Brothers (at Derby Playhouse
Derby Playhouse
Derby Theatre is a theatre situated in Derby, England. Formerly known as the Derby Playhouse, it was operated by Derby Playhouse Ltd from its opening in 1975 until 2008, when the company ceased operating after a period in administration...
). Russell also later commissioned him to write the BBC Schools television play Teaching Matthew (in which Hunter also had a small role as a policeman, 1985), a satire on Russell's own Educating Rita.
Al worked very closely with the Stage 22 School of Arts Network in the UK and upon his death, children from the school made their own version of the Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
hit Only the Good Die Young which was dedicated to him and his three young children.
List of acting roles (incomplete)
- Wire in the BloodWire in the BloodWire in the Blood was a British crime drama television series, devised and produced by Coastal Productions for the ITV network that ran from 2002 to 2009. The series is based on characters created by Val McDermid; a university clinical psychologist, Dr Anthony "Tony" Valentine Hill , is teamed with...
. Darren Toynton. ITV. Dir: Robson GreenRobson GreenRobson Green is an English actor, singer–songwriter and presenter.-Biography:Robson Golightly Green was born in Hexham, Northumberland, and baptised in Bethel Chapel, , and named in Northeast tradition as first son after family surnames: Robson is his grandmother's maiden surname, while Golightly... - London's BurningLondon's BurningLondon's Burning was a British television drama programme produced by London Weekend Television for the ITV network that focused on the lives of members of the London Fire Brigade, principally those of the Blue Watch at a fictional fire station called Blackwall.It was broadcast between 1986 and...
. LWT's drama series about Firefighters. Played "Pitbull" the loud mouthed station bully. - Crossroads. Soap. Played Ray Grice. 108 Episodes. Central TV.
- AngelsAngels (TV series)Angels was originally a British television seasonal drama series dealing with the subject of student nurses and was broadcast by the BBC between 1975 and 1978. The show's format then switched to a twice weekly soap opera format from 1979 to 1983. The show's title derived from the name of the...
. Played Mike Hathaway in the long running BBC TV Drama Series. - The 10th KingdomThe 10th KingdomThe 10th Kingdom is an American epic fantasy miniseries written by Simon Moore and produced by Britain's Carnival Films, Germany's Babelsberg Film und Fernsehen, and the USA's Hallmark Entertainment...
A TV mini-series. As a prisoner alongside Jimmy NailJimmy NailJames Bradford "Jimmy" Nail is an English singer-songwriter, actor, musician, film producer, film score composer and television writer....
(Clayface the Goblin) - Mr In-BetweenMr In-BetweenMr In-Between is a 2001 British crime drama film based on the novel of the same title by English novelist Neil Cross...
. Film. Played Fat Dave. - Jekyll. Serial drama. Played bodyguard
- Jack & the BeanstalkJack and the BeanstalkJack and the Beanstalk is a folktale said by English historian Francis Palgrave to be an oral legend that arrived in England with the Vikings. The tale is closely associated with the tale of Jack the Giant-killer. It is known under a number of versions...
. PantomimePantomimePantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
. Playing Fireman Sampson in the Stage 22 production at the Towngate Theatre, Basildon - Christmas 2006
List of writing credits (incomplete)
- Pieces of a Silver Lining. BBC Afternoon Theatre with Martin Jameson
- EastEndersEastEndersEastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
. BBC TV soap. Regular contributor since 1987. Writer/Storyliner. - Teaching MatthewTeaching MatthewTeaching Matthew was a television drama written by Al Hunter Ashton for BBC Education Drama series Scene BBC.Adrian Lester played the eponymous lead character. Al acted in the film appearing as Sergeant Conway. Al also wrote and directed Alison for Scene which was also produced by Andy Rowley and...
BBC TV Scene Writer and Actor - AlisonAlison- Music:*"Alison" , 1994 single by Slowdive*"Alison" , song by Elvis Costello*"Alison", song by French former child pop star Jordy Lemoine*"Alison Hell", song by Annihilator...
BBC TV screenplay Scenewriter - Holby CityHolby CityHolby City, stylised as Holby Ci+y, is a British medical drama television series that airs weekly on BBC One.The series was created by Tony McHale and Mal Young as a spin-off from the established BBC medical drama Casualty, and premiered on 12 January 1999...
. Lead Core Writer, Storyliner, Producer. - The Broker's Man. Creator and Writer. (with Tim O'Mara).
- Safe. Bafta winner. Best Single Drama. see External links below
- The FirmThe Firm (1988 film)The Firm is a 1989 British drama film directed by Alan Clarke and written by Al Ashton for the BBC, starring Gary Oldman as Clive 'Bex' or 'Bexy' Bissel. The film is based on the activities of the Inter City Firm, football firm of West Ham United during the 1970s and 1980s although in the film the...
. Screen Two. Gary Oldman. Director Alan Clarke. Winner Best Film Czech Film Festival & Prix Europa.
Death
In April 2007, Al Hunter Ashton died of heart failure at the age of 49. Episode eight Mad Dogs of series five of New Tricks was dedicated to his memory.Awards
- Safe (1993), a harrowing tale of homelessness. Won the 1994 Bafta TV Award as Best Single Drama. Al Ashton, writer.
External links
- Al Hunter Ashton Homepage (web archive 21 Aug 2007)
- Safe (1993) at ScreenonlineScreenonlineScreenonline is a Web site devoted to the history of British film and television, and to social history as revealed by film and television. The project has been developed by the British Film Institute and funded by a £1.2 million grant from the National Lottery New Opportunities Fund.Reviews...
- BBC Comedy Roles BBC Comedy Guide