Dennis Christopher George Potter (17 May 1935 – 7 June 1994) was an English television dramatist, screenwriter and journalist. He is best known for his BBC TV serials Pennies from Heaven (1978),The Singing Detective (1986),and the television plays Blue Remembered Hills (1979) and Brimstone and Treacle (1976). His television dramas mixed fantasy and reality, the personal and the social, and often used themes and images from popular culture. Potter is widely regarded as one of the most influential and innovative dramatists to have worked in British television. Born in Gloucestershire and graduating from Oxford University, Potter initially worked in journalism. After standing for parliament as a Labour candidate at the 1964 general election, his health was affected by the onset of psoriatic arthropathy which necessitated Potter changing careers and led to him becoming a television dramatist. His new career began with contributions to the BBC's Wednesday Play anthology series in 1965, and he continued to work in the medium for the rest of his life. He also wrote screenplay adaptations for the Hollywood studios. He died of pancreatic cancer in 1994.
Personal Details
Biography
Career
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1979
Play for Today as Narrator
{"id":173797,"title":"Between Two Rivers","year":"1960","character":"Narrator","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/between-two-rivers","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_173797.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_173797.jpg"},"released":1}
1960
Between Two Rivers as Narrator
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2020
{"id":158138,"title":"An Interview with Dennis Potter","year":"1994","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/an-interview-with-dennis-potter","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_158138.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_158138.jpg"},"released":1}
1994
{"id":2322,"title":"The Singing Detective","year":"2003","job":"Screenplay","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/the-singing-detective","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/3llj0du64cdg.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/3llj0du64cdg.jpg"},"released":1}
2003
The Singing Detective as Screenplay
{"id":58075,"title":"Mesmer","year":"1994","job":"Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/mesmer","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_58075.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_58075.jpg"},"released":1}
1994
Mesmer as Writer
{"id":58416,"title":"Screen Two","year":"1994","job":"Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/screen-two-1994-3","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_58416.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_58416.jpg"},"released":1}
Screen Two as Writer
{"id":158060,"title":"Performance","year":"1994","job":"Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/performance-1994","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_158060.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_158060.jpg"},"released":1}
Performance as Writer
{"id":103834369,"title":"Blackeyes","year":"1989","job":"Writer, Screenplay","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/show\/blackeyes","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_103834369.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_103834369.jpg"},"released":1}
1989
Blackeyes as Writer, Screenplay
{"id":8803,"title":"Track 29","year":"1988","job":"Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/track-29","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_8803.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_8803.jpg"},"released":1}
1988
Track 29 as Writer
{"id":160994,"title":"Brimstone and Treacle","year":"1987","job":"Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/brimstone-and-treacle","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_160994.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_160994.jpg"},"released":1}
1987
Brimstone and Treacle as Writer
{"id":161270,"title":"Screen Two","year":"1987","job":"Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/screen-two-1987-6","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_161270.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_161270.jpg"},"released":1}
Screen Two as Writer
{"id":8407,"title":"Dreamchild","year":"1985","job":"Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/dreamchild","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_8407.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_8407.jpg"},"released":1}
1985
Dreamchild as Writer
{"id":103834451,"title":"Tender Is the Night","year":"1985","job":"Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/show\/tender-is-the-night","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_103834451.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_103834451.jpg"},"released":1}
Tender Is the Night as Writer
{"id":6674,"title":"Gorky Park","year":"1983","job":"Screenplay","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/gorky-park","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/6a45d5tvodn0.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/6a45d5tvodn0.jpg"},"released":1}
1983
Gorky Park as Screenplay
{"id":63270,"title":"Brimstone & Treacle","year":"1982","job":"Screenplay","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/brimstone-treacle-1982","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_63270.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_63270.jpg"},"released":1}
1982
Brimstone & Treacle as Screenplay
{"id":7171,"title":"Pennies from Heaven","year":"1981","job":"Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/pennies-from-heaven","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_7171.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_7171.jpg"},"released":1}
1981
Pennies from Heaven as Writer
{"id":63816,"title":"Blade on the Feather","year":"1980","job":"Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/blade-on-the-feather","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_63816.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_63816.jpg"},"released":1}
1980
Blade on the Feather as Writer
{"id":63982,"title":"Cream in My Coffee","year":"1980","job":"Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/cream-in-my-coffee","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_63982.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_63982.jpg"},"released":1}
Cream in My Coffee as Writer
{"id":63998,"title":"Rain on the Roof","year":"1980","job":"Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/rain-on-the-roof","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_63998.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_63998.jpg"},"released":1}
Rain on the Roof as Writer
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1979
Play for Today as Writer
{"id":103834565,"title":"The Mayor of Casterbridge","year":"1978","job":"Screenplay","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/show\/the-mayor-of-casterbridge","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_103834565.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_103834565.jpg"},"released":1}
1978
The Mayor of Casterbridge as Screenplay
{"id":86117,"title":"Where Adam Stood","year":"1976","job":"Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/where-adam-stood","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_86117.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_86117.jpg"},"released":1}
1976
Where Adam Stood as Writer
{"id":164813,"title":"Play for Today","year":"1974","job":"Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/play-for-today-1974-2","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_164813.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_164813.jpg"},"released":1}
1974
Play for Today as Writer
{"id":164861,"title":"Play for Today","year":"1974","job":"Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/play-for-today-1974-5","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_164861.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_164861.jpg"},"released":1}
Play for Today as Writer
{"id":165622,"title":"Play for Today","year":"1971","job":"Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/play-for-today-1971-3","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_165622.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_165622.jpg"},"released":1}
1971
Play for Today as Writer
{"id":165980,"title":"ITV Saturday Night Theatre","year":"1970","job":"Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/itv-saturday-night-theatre-1970","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_165980.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_165980.jpg"},"released":1}
1970
ITV Saturday Night Theatre as Writer
{"id":186285,"title":"Play for Today","year":"1970","job":"Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/play-for-today-1970-6","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_186285.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_186285.jpg"},"released":1}
Play for Today as Writer
{"id":166141,"title":"ITV Saturday Night Theatre","year":"1969","job":"Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/itv-saturday-night-theatre-1969","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_166141.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_166141.jpg"},"released":1}
1969
ITV Saturday Night Theatre as Writer
{"id":166263,"title":"The Wednesday Play","year":"1969","job":"Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/the-wednesday-play-1969-2","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_166263.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_166263.jpg"},"released":1}
The Wednesday Play as Writer
{"id":166510,"title":"The Company of Five","year":"1968","job":"Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/the-company-of-five","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_166510.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_166510.jpg"},"released":1}
1968
The Company of Five as Writer
{"id":166979,"title":"The Wednesday Play","year":"1966","job":"Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/the-wednesday-play-1966-1","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_166979.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_166979.jpg"},"released":1}
1966
The Wednesday Play as Writer
{"id":167064,"title":"The Wednesday Play","year":"1965","job":"Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/the-wednesday-play-1965","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_167064.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_167064.jpg"},"released":1}
1965
The Wednesday Play as Writer
{"id":167988,"title":"The Wednesday Play","year":"1965","job":"Screenplay","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/the-wednesday-play-1965-4","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_167988.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_167988.jpg"},"released":1}
The Wednesday Play as Screenplay
{"id":186380,"title":"The Wednesday Play","year":"1965","job":"Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/the-wednesday-play-1965-6","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_186380.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_186380.jpg"},"released":1}
The Wednesday Play as Writer
{"id":59862,"title":"Secret Friends","year":"1991","job":"Director, Screenplay","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/secret-friends","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_59862.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_59862.jpg"},"released":1}
1991
Secret Friends as Director, Screenplay
{"id":173797,"title":"Between Two Rivers","year":"1960","job":"Director","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/between-two-rivers","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_173797.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_173797.jpg"},"released":1}
1960
Between Two Rivers as Director
{"id":103831126,"title":"Lipstick on Your Collar","year":"1993","job":"Creator","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/show\/lipstick-on-your-collar","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_103831126.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_103831126.jpg"},"released":1}
1993
Lipstick on Your Collar as Creator
{"id":9907,"title":"The Singing Detective","year":"1986","job":"Creator","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/show\/the-singing-detective","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_9907.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_9907.jpg"},"released":1}
1986
The Singing Detective as Creator
{"id":103831253,"title":"Pennies from Heaven","year":"1978","job":"Creator","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/show\/pennies-from-heaven","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_103831253.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_103831253.jpg"},"released":1}
1978
Pennies from Heaven as Creator
{"id":103834654,"title":"Casanova","year":"1971","job":"Creator, Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/show\/casanova","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_103834654.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_103834654.jpg"},"released":1}
1971
Casanova as Creator, Writer