John O'Farrell
Film, TV & Theatre
Film, TV & Theatre
JOHN O’FARRELL (Book) is an award winning author and comedy writer. Novels include The Best a Man Can Get, May Contain Nuts, and The Man Who Forgot His Wife. Non-fiction includes An Utterly Impartial History of Britain, the political memoir Things Can Only Get Better and its recent sequel, plus three collections of his satirical columns for The Guardian. His books have been translated into over 30 languages and adadpted for TV and BBC Radio. He was a scriptwriter (and later panellist) on BBC’s Have I Got News For You, and a lead writer on 10 series of ITV’s Spitting Image. Other credits include Chicken Run, Murder Most Horrid, Smith & Jones and has co-written the book for the hit Broadway musical Something Rotten! (10 Tony nominations) and MRS DOUBTFIRE. Co-host of the comedy history podcast We Are History, he is currently writing a third musical, his sixth novel and the sequel to Chicken Run. @mrjohnofarrell
Film
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
CHICKEN RUN 2 2023 | Aardman Productions/Netflix | Co-writer with Karey Kirkpatrick. |
EARLY MAN UNITED 2015 | Aardman | Co-writing screenplay with Nick Park. |
THE BEST A MAN CAN GET 2008 | Paramount | Co-adapted his own novel with Karey Kirkpatrick for Paramount (Kennedy/Marshall Prods) |
TORTOISE AND THE HARE 2001 | Aardman | Consultant on Aardman screenplay |
CHICKEN RUN 2000 | Aardman | Additional dialogue |
Radio
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
LOOK BACK AT THE FUTURE | Co-writer. Winner of UK Comedy Award, Sony Gold and Premios Ondas | |
LOOK BACK AT THE 90'S | Co-writer. Winner of UK Comedy Award, Sony Gold and Premios Ondas | |
MCKAY THE NEW | BBC Radio 2 | Co-writer on 2 Series |
LITTLE BLIGHTLY ON THE DOWN | BBC Radio 4 | Co-writer |
WEEK ENDING | BBC Radio 4 | Lead-writer |
Television
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
THE PETER PRINCIPLE | Hat Trick Productions | Sit-com starring Jim Broadbent. (US pilot titled 'The Boss') co-written with Mark Burton and Dan Paterson (13 eps) |
MURDER MOST HORRID | TalkBack Productions | Comedy drama starring Dawn French. One episode co-written with Mark Burton |
SMITH AND JONES | TalkBack Productions | Co-writer of 'Heads to Heads' |
ROOM 101 | Hat Trick Productions | Writer on three series |
HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU | Hat Trick Productions | BAFTA nominated |
CLIVE ANDERSON TALKS BACK | Hat Trick Productions | BAFTA nominated |
SPITTING IMAGE | One of four lead writers. BAFTA nominated |
Theatre
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
UNTITLED JUKEBOX MUSICAL 2022 | Jamie Wilson Productions | Jukebox musical currently workshopping. |
MRS DOUBTFIRE THE MUSICAL 2021 - 2022 | Alchemation | Producer (US) Kevin McCollum, (UK) Jamie Wilson. Co-written with Karey Kirkpatrick and Wayne Kirkpatrick. Broadway 2021, Korea 2022, Manchester 2022. |
SOMETHING ROTTEN 2015 | Alchemation | Co-writing book for musical 'Something Rotten'. Broadway run at St James Theatre. 10 Tony Nominations including best book for John. |
Podcast
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
WE ARE HISTORY 2019 - 2022 | Co-hosted with comedian Angela Barnes |