Keith Strachan
Encyclopedia
Keith Strachan is a British composer and theatre director. He co-wrote the song "Mistletoe and Wine
", which got Cliff Richard
the 1988 Christmas number one. His TV work includes the theme music for Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
.
After reading maths and science at Queen Elizabeth College
, London University, Strachan became a maths teacher. He left teaching an became a musical director of theatre productions in London. In 1976 he co-wrote his first musical, Shoot Up at Elbow Creek. He also wrote The Little Match Girl, based on Hans Christian Andersen
's short story
, for the Orange Tree, which contained the song "Mistletoe and Wine." HTV
produced the play for television in 1986. Two years later, he received an Ivor Novello award for the song, which Cliff Richard released it as a single.
Throughout the eighties and nineties he directed a series of pop and rock compilation musicals
for Bill Kenwright
.
In 1998, television production company Celador
, for whom he had written the themes for The Detectives
and Talking Telephone Numbers
, called upon him to supply some music at short notice for a quiz show called Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
. They needed someone to rearrange the pop song that Pete Waterman
had written for it. Celador's brief required "something dramatic and full of tension", so Strachan set upon composing a new piece altogether. Working with his son Matthew
, he based the piece on "Mars" from Holst
’s The Planets
suite. The show's huge domestic and international success means that the composition has made them millionaires. In 2002, Keith and Matthew Strachan were given an award by ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) for the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? theme.
He also created the West End hit Dancing in the Streets.
Mistletoe and Wine
"Mistletoe and Wine" is a popular single by Cliff Richard.Written by Jeremy Paul, Leslie Stewart and Keith Strachan, it was originally performed as part of the musical Scraps at the Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond, London in 1976...
", which got Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
the 1988 Christmas number one. His TV work includes the theme music for Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? is a television game show which offers large cash prizes for correctly answering a series of multiple-choice questions of increasing difficulty. The format is owned and licensed by Sony Pictures Television International. The maximum cash prize is one million pounds...
.
After reading maths and science at Queen Elizabeth College
Queen Elizabeth College
Queen Elizabeth College had its origins in the Ladies' Department of King's College London, England, opened in 1885. The first King's 'extension' lectures for ladies were held at Richmond in 1871, and from 1878 in Kensington, with chaperones in attendance.In 1881, the Council resolved 'to...
, London University, Strachan became a maths teacher. He left teaching an became a musical director of theatre productions in London. In 1976 he co-wrote his first musical, Shoot Up at Elbow Creek. He also wrote The Little Match Girl, based on Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author, fairy tale writer, and poet noted for his children's stories. These include "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Snow Queen," "The Little Mermaid," "Thumbelina," "The Little Match Girl," and "The Ugly Duckling."...
's short story
The Little Match Girl
The Little Match Girl is a short story by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen. The story is about a dying child's dreams and hope, and was first published in 1845. It has been adapted to various media including animated film, and a television musical.-Plot summary:On a cold New Year’s...
, for the Orange Tree, which contained the song "Mistletoe and Wine." HTV
HTV
HTV, now legally known as ITV Wales & West, is the ITV contractor for Wales and the West of England, which operated from studios in Cardiff and Bristol. The company provided commercial television for the dual-region 'Wales and West' franchise, which it won from TWW in 1968...
produced the play for television in 1986. Two years later, he received an Ivor Novello award for the song, which Cliff Richard released it as a single.
Throughout the eighties and nineties he directed a series of pop and rock compilation musicals
Jukebox musical
A jukebox musical is a stage or film musical that uses previously released popular songs as its musical score. Usually the songs have in common a connection with a particular popular musician or group — either because they were written by, or for, the artists in question, or were at least...
for Bill Kenwright
Bill Kenwright
Bill Kenwright CBE is a leading West End theatre producer and film producer.He is also the Chairman of Everton Football Club, an English professional football club from the city of Liverpool....
.
In 1998, television production company Celador
Celador
Celador is a global light entertainment company originally formed as an independent production company in 1983. It has produced a number of popular light entertainment shows and is probably best known for Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and co-producing the film Slumdog Millionaire which collected...
, for whom he had written the themes for The Detectives
The Detectives
The Detectives is a British comedy television series, starring Jasper Carrott, Robert Powell, and George Sewell. It was a spoof of police dramas, which were numerous in the 1990s, and it was aired on BBC One...
and Talking Telephone Numbers
Talking Telephone Numbers
Talking Telephone Numbers was a British game show that was produced by Celador and Carlton Television and aired on ITV from 28 February 1994 to 22 December 1997, hosted by Phillip Schofield and Emma Forbes, then later Claudia Winkleman, with Cash Peters appearing in filmed inserts .The programme...
, called upon him to supply some music at short notice for a quiz show called Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? is a television game show which offers large cash prizes for correctly answering a series of multiple-choice questions of increasing difficulty. The format is owned and licensed by Sony Pictures Television International. The maximum cash prize is one million pounds...
. They needed someone to rearrange the pop song that Pete Waterman
Pete Waterman
Peter Alan Waterman OBE is an English record producer, occasional songwriter, radio and club DJ, television presenter, president of Coventry Bears rugby league club and a keen railway enthusiast. As a member of the Stock Aitken Waterman songwriting team he wrote and produced many hit singles...
had written for it. Celador's brief required "something dramatic and full of tension", so Strachan set upon composing a new piece altogether. Working with his son Matthew
Matthew Strachan
Matthew Strachan is an English composer and songwriter.His best known work is the music for the television game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? with his father Keith...
, he based the piece on "Mars" from Holst
Gustav Holst
Gustav Theodore Holst was an English composer. He is most famous for his orchestral suite The Planets....
’s The Planets
The Planets
The Planets, Op. 32, is a seven-movement orchestral suite by the English composer Gustav Holst, written between 1914 and 1916. Each movement of the suite is named after a planet of the Solar System and its corresponding astrological character as defined by Holst...
suite. The show's huge domestic and international success means that the composition has made them millionaires. In 2002, Keith and Matthew Strachan were given an award by ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) for the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? theme.
He also created the West End hit Dancing in the Streets.