Brian Finch

Brian Finch (25 July 1936 – 27 June 2007) was a British television scriptwriter and dramatist. His longest relationship was with the ITV1 soap opera, Coronation Street, for which he wrote 150 scripts between 1970 and 1989. He also helped the development of All Creatures Great and Small, The Tomorrow People, and Heartbeat. He contributed several episodes to the British detective programmes The Gentle Touch, Hetty Wainthropp Investigates, Bergerac and The Bill. It was for his work as a writer on Goodnight Mr Tom, a bittersweet drama starring John Thaw, for which he received a BAFTA.

Early life and education Brian Finch was born in Standish, Lancashire, a descendant of Charles Dickens

Career His National Service was with the RAF at NATO's Fontainebleau headquarters in France, after which he worked on the Manchester Evening News. In 1968 his first episode of Z-Cars was recorded.

In 1972 Finch wrote An Arrow for Little Audrey a Thirty-Minute Theatre production starring Geoffrey Hughes. He wrote for the Hunter's Walk series from 1973 to 1974 a police series set in Rushden Northamptonshire starring Ruth Madoc and Ewan Hooper. In 1974 Finch wrote a six-part children's adventure series, The Chinese Puzzle broadcast on BBC1

Finch wrote the original version of Leviathan for Doctor Who, which was initially for season 22. His script was later adapted by his son Paul Finch for audio release by Big Finish.

Personal life Finch married Margaret Moran in 1963 and was the father of the horror author and scriptwriter Paul Finch.