Tony Sarchet
Encyclopedia
Tony Sarchet is a British
television and radio writer for alternative comedy
shows.
Sarchet studied chemistry
at University College Oxford
, where he was a member of the University College Players
and wrote a review called Gargoyles at the Oxford Playhouse with John Albery
and Graham Wall in 1978.
He started his professional career writing for hit shows including Three of a Kind and Spitting Image
, and for comedians such as Lenny Henry
and Jasper Carrott
.
In 1984, his Sony Award winning BBC Radio 4
satire Delve Special
begun, a comedic parody of Roger Cook
's investigative journalism series 'Checkpoint'. This time starring Stephen Fry
as investigative journalist David Lander. When Roger Cook moved to television, so did his parody, in the Tony Sarchet written series This is David Lander
and This is David Harper (this last series with Tony Slattery
in the main role).
Sarchet went on to write the Screen One
TV film Trust Me starring Alfred Molina
and in 2001 the ITV
sitcom High Stakes
with Richard Wilson.
Tony Sarchet is married to the writer Andrea Solomons.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
television and radio writer for alternative comedy
Alternative comedy
Alternative comedy is a term that originated in the 1980s for a style of comedy that makes a conscious break with the mainstream comedic style of an era, and typically avoids relying on a standardised structure of a sequence of jokes with punch lines. Patton Oswalt defines it as "comedy where the...
shows.
Sarchet studied chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
at University College Oxford
, where he was a member of the University College Players
University College Players
The University College Players are the theatrical society of University College, Oxford.The first production was in May 1941 when Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors was performed in cooperation with Merton College. Peter Bayley was the senior member from the start till the 1960s...
and wrote a review called Gargoyles at the Oxford Playhouse with John Albery
John Albery
Wyndham John Albery FRS is a British chemist and academic.John Albery was educated at Winchester College and Balliol College, Oxford. He undertook his D.Phil. with Ronnie Bell, starting in 1960...
and Graham Wall in 1978.
He started his professional career writing for hit shows including Three of a Kind and Spitting Image
Spitting Image
Spitting Image is a British satirical puppet show that aired on the ITV network from 1984 to 1996. It was produced by Spitting Image Productions for Central Television. The series was nominated for 10 BAFTA Awards, winning one for editing in 1989....
, and for comedians such as Lenny Henry
Lenny Henry
Lenworth George "Lenny" Henry, is a British actor, writer, comedian and occasional television presenter.- Early life :...
and Jasper Carrott
Jasper Carrott
Jasper Carrott OBE is a British comedian, actor, television presenter and personality.-Early life:...
.
In 1984, his Sony Award winning 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...
satire Delve Special
Delve Special
Delve Special was a UK BBC Radio 4 comedy starring Stephen Fry as investigative reporter David Lander. It ran for four series from 1984 to 1987, each series being four episodes long. It was written by Tony Sarchet and produced by Paul Mayhew-Archer...
begun, a comedic parody of Roger Cook
Roger Cook (journalist)
Roger Cook is an investigative presenter, reporter and broadcaster.- Early life :His parents were New Zealanders, but he was was brought up in Australia, and began his career with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation as a reporter and newsreader on both radio and television.In 1968, he moved to...
's investigative journalism series 'Checkpoint'. This time starring Stephen Fry
Stephen Fry
Stephen John Fry is an English actor, screenwriter, author, playwright, journalist, poet, comedian, television presenter and film director, and a director of Norwich City Football Club. He first came to attention in the 1981 Cambridge Footlights Revue presentation "The Cellar Tapes", which also...
as investigative journalist David Lander. When Roger Cook moved to television, so did his parody, in the Tony Sarchet written series This is David Lander
This is David Lander
This is David Lander was a TV show that parodies Roger Cook style door-stepping investigative journalism shows, starring Stephen Fry as David Lander and written by Tony Sarchet....
and This is David Harper (this last series with Tony Slattery
Tony Slattery
Anthony Declan James "Tony" Slattery is an English actor and comedian who has appeared on British television regularly since the mid 1980s, most notably as a regular on the Channel 4 improvisation show Whose Line Is It Anyway? As a film actor, both comedic and serious, his credits include The...
in the main role).
Sarchet went on to write the Screen One
Screen One
Screen One is a British television anthology drama series, produced by the BBC and transmitted on BBC1 between 1989 to 1993.Following the demise of the BBC's Play For Today which ran from 1970 to 1984, producer Kenneth Trodd was asked to formulate a new series of one-off television dramas...
TV film Trust Me starring Alfred Molina
Alfred Molina
Alfred Molina is a British-born American actor. He first came to public attention in the UK for his supporting role in the 1987 film Prick Up Your Ears...
and in 2001 the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
sitcom High Stakes
High Stakes
High Stakes is a British sitcom starring Richard Wilson that aired in 2001. It was written by Tony Sarchet. The second series remains unaired.-Plot:...
with Richard Wilson.
Tony Sarchet is married to the writer Andrea Solomons.