Creator of television series such as Shameless, Clocking Off, State of Play, Reckless, Linda Green and Children's Ward, Paul Abbott is a British 'showrunner' and writer whose name and reputation for edgy, intelligent, successful and socio-political programmes holds significant weight both in the contemporary television industry and with the public. This is the first book-length academic study of the television programmes created, written by, and/or executive-produced, by Abbott. It is also the first academic study to attempt to consider his complete oeuvre.

Within a broadly chronological structure this book elucidates, decodes and evaluates key examples of Abbott's output, exhibiting a vital evaluation of Abbott's work over the past three decades and assessing his contribution to British television. Engaging with thematic and ideological notions of the personal, the autobiographical, the honest, the shameless, the pleasurable and the painful recourse of the specificity of 'ordinary life', the volume seeks to combine close textual analysis of Abbott's work with archival research and specially commissioned interviews with Abbott and other important industry practitioners.

About the Author
Beth Johnson is a Lecturer in Television and Film Studies at Keele University

Reviews
...Johnson whose excellent book should be read both by those interested in Abbott's work specifically and those interested in television screenwriting and constructions of Northernness in contemporary British television drama more generally. -- .



Book Information
ISBN 9780719086298
Author Beth Johnson
Format Hardback
Page Count 192
Imprint Manchester University Press
Publisher Manchester University Press