Mark Tavener
Encyclopedia
Mark Tavener was a British novelist who also wrote for radio and television. Born and brought up in Plymouth
, educated at Plymouth College
and Peterhouse Cambridge. His 1989 satirical novel In the Red was adapted for radio (with Peter Baynham
) in 1995, and television in 1998. Further radio shows using the same characters followed: In the Red, In the Balance
, In the Chair, and In the End.
A spin-off
series, Absolute Power appeared in 2000 and after four series on BBC Radio 4
was transferred to television.
Other radio show credits include High Table, Lower Orders
and His Master's Voice
.
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, educated at Plymouth College
Plymouth College
Plymouth College is a co-educational independent school in Plymouth, Devon, England, for day and boarding pupils from the ages of 11 to 18...
and Peterhouse Cambridge. His 1989 satirical novel In the Red was adapted for radio (with Peter Baynham
Peter Baynham
Peter Baynham is a screenwriter and a British comedian, writer, and performer. He often collaborates with Armando Iannucci and Chris Morris and has worked with Stewart Lee and Richard Herring. He is first heard on Morris' early radio DJ slots, often going out to places...
) in 1995, and television in 1998. Further radio shows using the same characters followed: In the Red, In the Balance
In the Balance
In the Balance is a BBC Radio 4 black comedy written by Mark Tavener. It is the sequel to In the Red, a book, radio and television series, also by Tavener. The producer was Paul Schlesinger...
, In the Chair, and In the End.
A spin-off
Spin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
series, Absolute Power appeared in 2000 and after four series on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
was transferred to television.
Other radio show credits include High Table, Lower Orders
High Table, Lower Orders
High Table, Lower Orders is a BBC Radio 4 comedy-drama murder mystery written by the late Mark Tavener and set in a fictional Cambridge college in crisis. The first series was broadcast in six episodes from 18th February to 25th March 2005 at RadioListings.co.uk, and the second series was...
and His Master's Voice
His Master's Voice (radio series)
His Master's Voice is a satirical comedy series on BBC Radio 4. It is written by both Mark Tavener, who also wrote the satirical novel In The Red and the satirical radio series Absolute Power, and Steve Punt. Their writing satirises both the hard-right Conservatism and "caring Conservatism",...
.