Trix Worrell
Encyclopedia
Trix Worrell writer, composer and director, was born in St. Lucia in the West Indies in 1960, and came to England at the age of five. As a teenager he worked with the Albany Theatre in South London
, where he wrote and directed his first play, School's Out, in 1980. Worrell was educated at the National Film and Television School
, where he took up writing, because there were so few good parts for black actors to play.
In 1984, he won Channel Four Television's "Debut New Writers" with his play Mohicans, which was broadcast as Like a Mohican in 1985. In the late 1980's, Channel Four was interested in commissioning a new sitcom, and Worrell contacted producer Humphrey Barclay
to discuss possible ideas. On his way to the meeting, he saw a barber shop, with three barbers looking out the window ogling the women who were walking past. From this idea the popular series Desmond's
was born.
Desmond's, starring Norman Beaton
and Carmen Munroe
, was one of Channel Four's most successful comedy programmes, producing seven series in five years, from 1989 to 1994. The setting of the programme was unique in that it was a Black sitcom based in the workplace. The comedy appealed to both black and white audiences.
Worrell received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Royal Television Society
in 1998. His TV writing credits include: Desmonds, The Cosby Show
, What You Lookin' At? and Porkpie
, an off-shoot from Desmond's, starring Ram John Holder
. His writing for film includes For Queen and Country
(1989), starring Denzel Washington
. He also wrote the script for Puff Daddy when he was the presenter for the MTV Europe Music Awards
. In recent years Worrell has been working on an album and setting up a production company both entitled A Box Of Trix. They will showcase new musical and writing talent.
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
, where he wrote and directed his first play, School's Out, in 1980. Worrell was educated at the National Film and Television School
National Film and Television School
The National Film and Television School was established in 1971 and is based at Beaconsfield Studios in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, and it is located close to Pinewood Studios.-History:...
, where he took up writing, because there were so few good parts for black actors to play.
In 1984, he won Channel Four Television's "Debut New Writers" with his play Mohicans, which was broadcast as Like a Mohican in 1985. In the late 1980's, Channel Four was interested in commissioning a new sitcom, and Worrell contacted producer Humphrey Barclay
Humphrey Barclay
Humphrey Barclay is a comedy executive and producer.-Career:His first foray into show business was via Cambridge Footlights revues where he appeared alongside Tim Brooke-Taylor, Bill Oddie, John Cleese, Graham Chapman, David Hatch, Jonathan Lynn, Jo Kendall and Miriam Margolyes...
to discuss possible ideas. On his way to the meeting, he saw a barber shop, with three barbers looking out the window ogling the women who were walking past. From this idea the popular series Desmond's
Desmond's
Desmond's is a British television situation comedy broadcast by Channel 4 from 1989 to 1994. The first series was shot in 1988, with the first episode broadcast in January 1989...
was born.
Desmond's, starring Norman Beaton
Norman Beaton
Norman Lugard Beaton was a Guyanese actor long resident in the United Kingdom....
and Carmen Munroe
Carmen Munroe
Carmen Munroe OBE is a British actress, born in Berbice, Guyana. Since the early 1950s she has been a resident of the UK. She made her West End stage debut in 1962 and has since played an instrumental role in the development of black British theatre and representation on small screen...
, was one of Channel Four's most successful comedy programmes, producing seven series in five years, from 1989 to 1994. The setting of the programme was unique in that it was a Black sitcom based in the workplace. The comedy appealed to both black and white audiences.
Worrell received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Royal Television Society
Royal Television Society
The Royal Television Society is a British-based educational charity for the discussion, and analysis of television in all its forms, past, present and future. It is the oldest television society in the world...
in 1998. His TV writing credits include: Desmonds, The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show is an American television situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, which aired for eight seasons on NBC from September 20, 1984 until April 30, 1992...
, What You Lookin' At? and Porkpie
Porkpie (TV series)
Porkpie was a British sitcom on Channel 4 television starring Ram John Holder as Augustus 'Porkpie' Grant. It was a spinoff from Desmond's...
, an off-shoot from Desmond's, starring Ram John Holder
Ram John Holder
Ram John Holder is a British actor. He began his performing career as a folk singer in New York. In 1962 he came to London and worked with Pearl Connor's Negro Theatre Workshop initially as a musician, and later as an actor...
. His writing for film includes For Queen and Country
For Queen and Country
For Queen and Country is a 1989 crime drama film produced by Working Title Films and Zenith, starring Denzel Washington. Washington stars as Reuben James, a Black British former paratrooper, who joined the British Army to escape the poverty of inner city London.-Plot synopsis:Reuben , although...
(1989), starring Denzel Washington
Denzel Washington
Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. is an American actor, screenwriter, director, and film producer. He first rose to prominence when he joined the cast of the medical drama, St. Elsewhere, playing Dr...
. He also wrote the script for Puff Daddy when he was the presenter for the MTV Europe Music Awards
MTV Europe Music Awards
The MTV Europe Music Awards were established in 1994 by MTV Networks Europe to celebrate the most popular music videos in Europe. Originally beginning as an alternative to the American MTV Video Music Awards, the MTV Europe Music Awards is today a popular celebration of what MTV viewers consider...
. In recent years Worrell has been working on an album and setting up a production company both entitled A Box Of Trix. They will showcase new musical and writing talent.
External links
- Trix Worrell and 100 Great Black Britons
- Trix Worrell on The Museum of Broadcast Communications
- http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0941610/Worrell on Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
] - Trix Worrell's entry in the British Film Institute