George Fenton

George Richard Ian Howe Fenton (born 19 October 1949 ), known professionally as George Fenton, is an English composer. Best known for his work writing film scores and music for television, he has received five Academy Award nominations, several Ivor Novello, BAFTA, Golden Globe, Emmy and BMI Awards, and a Classic BRIT. He is one of 18 songwriters and composers to have been made a Fellow of the Ivors Academy (formally BASCA).

He has frequently collaborated with the directors Richard Attenborough, Nora Ephron, Alastair Fothergill, Stephen Frears, Nicholas Hytner, Ken Loach, Andy Tennant, Neil Jordan and Terry Gilliam.

Early life and career George Fenton was born in 1949 in Bromley, Kent, one of five siblings. He was educated at Carn Brea School and St. Edward's School, Oxford. He began learning the guitar at the age of 8 and at St. Edwards studied the organ with Peter Whitehouse. He did not attend music college but continued to study with Pete Whitehouse and subsequently with the ethnomusicologist and composer, John Leach.

In 1968 he appeared in Alan Bennett's first West End play Forty Years On. The following year he was offered a place at the Central School of Speech and Drama but had by then decided to continue with his music and had a record contract with MCA Records. For the next few years, he continued to work in theatre playing small parts and playing and writing music. In 1969, his cover of the Beatles "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" was released and became a large hit in Sweden, reaching number six on Kvällstoppen and number one for two weeks on Tio i Topp in late January 1970.

Theatre In 1974, Fenton received his first major commission, as composer and musical director for Peter Gill's theatre production of Twelfth Night by the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon. Beat The Devil and Racing Demon.

In 1992, George Fenton was credited with the soundtrack to Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show at Disneyland, Paris.

Television drama Fenton wrote his first television score in 1976. This was a continuation of his collaboration with Peter Gill and it was for Gill's production of Hitting Town written by Stephen Poliakoff.

By the late 1970s, Fenton was working regularly in television. His television work has included the regular role of soldier Martin Gimbel in Emmerdale Farm (1975–1976), LWT's Six Plays by Alan Bennett, Objects Of Affection, An Englishman Abroad, Talking Heads (2003), Bloody Kids, Going Gently, Walter, Saigon: Year of The Cat, Fox, Out, Telling Tales, The History Man, Shoestring, The Monocled Mutineer and the multi-BAFTA winning The Jewel In The Crown.

Wildlife television documentaries Fenton has composed for a number of notable wildlife television programmes, often collaborating with the wildlife broadcaster David Attenborough and the nature documentary filmmaker Alastair Fothergill. He started on the BBC's long-running series Wildlife on One and Natural World.

Since 1990, he has written the music for a number of wildlife series including The Trials of Life, Life in the Freezer, The Blue Planet, Planet Earth, and Frozen Planet. Other documentaries include Beyond The Clouds, Shanghai Vice and Between Clouds and Dreams (for Director Phil Agland).

In 2003, he composed and conducted the music for the feature documentary film Deep Blue. It was performed by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra – the first film score the orchestra had recorded in its history. In 2007 they repeated the collaboration for the feature documentary film Earth.

In 2022 George partnered up with Alastair Fothergill and David Attenborough again, this time for BBC One’s Wild Isles series.

Television and radio themes Fenton has composed the jingles or theme music to dozens of British television and radio programmes,

Feature films Fenton has written the music for over one hundred feature films.

His first major break came in 1982

Fenton's long-standing collaboration with Stephen Frears has not been limited to television productions. Fenton has scored four of Frear's feature films: Dangerous Liaisons, Hero, Mary Reilly and Mrs Henderson Presents. He also worked with the director Neil Jordan, scoring The Company of Wolves, High Spirits and We're No Angels.

Fenton has scored more feature films for Ken Loach than for any other filmmaker, by 2023, a total of 18. This started in 1994 with Ladybird, Ladybird followed by Land and Freedom, Carla's Song, My Name Is Joe, Bread and Roses, The Navigators, Sweet Sixteen, Ae Fond Kiss..., The Wind That Shakes the Barley which won the Palme d'Or at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival, It's a Free World..., Looking for Eric, The Angels' Share, the documentary film The Spirit of '45, Jimmy's Hall, I, Daniel Blake and, most recently, Sorry We Missed You and The Old Oak.

Fenton has developed other long-standing collaborations with filmmakers, scoring several films each for directors as diverse as Harold Ramis, Nora Ephron, Phil Joanou and Andy Tennant, including Multiplicity, Groundhog Day, Mixed Nuts, You've Got Mail, Final Analysis, The Fisher King, Heaven's Prisoners, Ever After: A Cinderella Story, Sweet Home Alabama, Anna and the King, Hitch, Bewitched and The Secret: Dare to Dream and Andy Tennant's new thriller Unit 234.

Live Fenton won an Ivor Novello Award, BAFTA and Emmy Award for Best Television Score for The Blue Planet and, in October 2002, he created "The Blue Planet in Concert" which was premiered at the Royal Festival Hall in London. He subsequently created Planet Earth In Concert and Frozen Planet In Concert and took these concerts to venues such as Hollywood Bowl, Sydney Opera House, Wembley Arena and the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam.

In 2003, he scored and conducted the music for the documentary film Deep Blue, which was performed by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, the first film score the orchestra had recorded in its history. In 2007, they repeated the collaboration for the documentary film, Earth. With the producer Jane Carter, Fenton turned each of the scores into concert works. His live film scores continue to be performed by orchestras worldwide.

Honours Fenton was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2023 New Year Honours for services to music.

Discography Films Year Title Director Studio(s) Notes 1971 Private Road Barney Platts-Mills 1977 A Lustful Lady Hal E. Woode Short film 1978 Me! I'm Afraid of Virginia WoolfStephen FrearsTelevision film Doris and Doreen The Waterloo Bridge Handicap Ross Cramer Short film 1979 Afternoon OffStephen Frears Television film1980 Bloody Kids Hussy Matthew Chapman First Run Features Rain on the Roof Alan Bridges Pennies From Heaven Ltd. Television film The Tumour Principle Arthur Ellis NFTS Short film Dead End Alan Birkinshaw 1981 No Country for Old Men Tristram Powell Television film1982 Gandhi Richard Attenborough Columbia Pictures Walter Stephen Frears Television film Parole Michael Tuchner 1983 Walter and June Stephen Frears Runners Charles Sturridge Saigon: Year of the Cat Stephen Frears Television film An Englishman Abroad John Schlesinger 1984 The Company of Wolves Neil Jordan ITC Entertainment 1985 Past Caring Richard Eyre Television film 1986 Clockwise Christopher Morahan Universal Pictures 1987 84 Charing Cross Road David Jones Columbia Pictures Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire Alan Clarke ITC Entertainment Cry Freedom Richard Attenborough Universal Pictures White Mischief Michael Radford Columbia Pictures 1988 A Handful of Dust Charkes Sturridge New Line Cinema High Spirits Neil Jordan Palace Pictures Dangerous Liaisons Stephen Frears Warner Bros. Pictures The Dressmaker Jim O'Brien Euro American Pictures 1989 We're No Angels Neil Jordan Paramount Pictures 1990 Memphis Belle Michael Caton-Jones Warner Bros. Pictures The Long Walk Home Richard Pearce Miramax Films White Palace Luis Mandoki Universal Pictures 1991 The Fisher King Terry Gilliam TriStar Pictures 1992 Final Analysis Phil Joanou Warner Bros. Pictures Hero Stephen Frears Columbia Pictures 1993 Groundhog Day Harold Ramis Born Yesterday Luis Mandoki Hollywood Pictures Shadowlands Richard Attenborough Savoy Pictures 1994 China Moon John Mailey Orion Pictures Ladybird, Ladybird Ken Loach Samuel Goldwyn Company Mixed Nuts Nora Ephron TriStar Pictures 1995 Land and Freedom Ken Loach Gramercy Pictures 1996 Mary Reilly Stephen Frears TriStar Pictures Heaven's Prisoners Phil Joanou New Line Cinema Multiplicity Harold Ramis Columbia Pictures Carla's Song Ken Loach Universal Pictures The Crucible Nicholas Hytner 20th Century Fox In Love and War Richard Attenborough New Line Cinema 1997 The Woodlanders Phil Agland 1998 Dangerous Beauty Marshall Herskovitz Warner Bros. Pictures20th Century Fox The Object of My Affection Nicholas Hytner 20th Century Fox My Name Is Joe Ken Loach Artisan Entertainment Ever After Andy Tennant 20th Century Fox Living Out Loud Richard LaGravenese New Line Cinema You've Got Mail Nora Ephron Warner Bros. Pictures 1999 Entropy Phil Joanou Grey Owl Richard Attenborough 20th Century Fox Anna and the King Andy Tennant 2000 Bread and Roses Ken Loach Lionsgate Center Stage Nicholas Hytner Columbia Pictures Lucky Numbers Nora Ephron Paramount Pictures 2001 Summer Catch Mike Tollin Warner Bros. Pictures The Navigators Ken Loach 2002 Sweet Sixteen Icon Film Distribution Sweet Home Alabama Andy Tennant Touchstone Pictures 2003 Imagining Argentina Christopher Hampton Arenas Entertainment Deep Blue Alastair FothergillAndy Byatt Miramax Films 2004 Ae Fond Kiss... Ken Loach Icon Film Distribution Stage Beauty Richard Eyre Lionsgate2005 Hitch Andy Tennant Columbia Pictures Tickets Ermanno OlmiAbbas KiarostamiKen Loach Valiant Gary Chapman Buena Vista Pictures Bewitched Nora Ephron Columbia Pictures Mrs Henderson Presents Stephen Frears PathéThe Weinstein Company 2006 Last Holiday Wayne Wang Paramount Pictures The Wind That Shakes the Barley Ken Loach PathéIFC First Take The History Boys Nicholas Hytner Fox Searchlight Pictures 2007 Earth Alastair FothergillMark Linfield Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures It's a Free World... Ken Loach 2008 Fool's Gold Andy Tennant Warner Bros. Pictures 2009 Looking for Eric Ken Loach Icon Film Distribution 2010 The Bounty Hunter Andy Tennant Columbia Pictures Route Irish Ken Loach Sixteen Films Why Not Productions Wild Bunch 2011 One Life Michael GuntonMartha Holmes Magic Light Pictures 2012 The Angels' Share Ken Loach Entertainment One 2013 The Spirit of '45 Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight Stephen Frears HBO Films The Zero Theorem Terry Gilliam Stage 6 Films 2014 Bears Alastair FothergillKeith Scholey Disneynature Jimmy's Hall Ken Loach Entertainment One 2015 Absolutely Anything Terry Jones Lionsgate The Lady in the Van Nicholas Hytner TriStar Pictures 2016 I, Daniel Blake Ken Loach eOne Films Wild Oats Andy Tennant The Weinstein CompanyRADiUS-TWC 2017 Woman Walks Ahead Susanna White A24DirecTV Cinema 2018 Red Joan Trevor Nunn Lionsgate 2019 Cold Pursuit Hans Petter Moland Summit Entertainment Sorry We Missed You Ken Loach 2020 The Secret: Dare to Dream Andy Tennant 2021 The United Way Mat Hodgson Ad Hoc Films Cantilever Media Embankment Films Ingenious Media Maddem Films The Duke Roger Michell Pathé Ingenious Media Neon Films Screen Yorkshire 2022 Allelujah Richard Eyre Pathé Ingenious Media BBC Films DJ Films Redstart Media Elizabeth: A Portrait in Parts Roger Michell Ingenious Media Free Range Films 2023 The Old Oak Ken Loach Le Pacte StudioCanal 2024 Unit 234 Andy Tennant Brainstorm Media 2025 The Choral Nicholas Hytner Sony Pictures Classics TBA Up Against It Trudie Styler

Awards and nominations Academy Awards 1983 Nominated Best Original Score for Gandhi (shared with Ravi Shankar) 1988 Nominated Best Original Score and Best Original Song both for Cry Freedom (both shared with Jonas Gwangwa) 1989 Nominated Best Original Score for Dangerous Liaisons 1992 Nominated Best Original Score for The Fisher King

BAFTA Awards 1981 Nominated BAFTA TV Award Best Original Television Music for Shoestring (Also for: Bloody Kids, Fox) 1982 Won BAFTA TV Award Best Original Television Music for Bergerac (also for The History Man, Going Gently, the BBC News theme) 1983 Nominated BAFTA Film Award for Best Score for Gandhi 1985 Nominated BAFTA TV Award Best Original Television Music for The Jewel in the Crown 1987 Won BAFTA TV Award Best Original Television Music for The Monocled Mutineer 1988 Nominated BAFTA Film Award for Best Score for Cry Freedom 1989 Nominated BAFTA TV Award Best Original Television Music for Talking Heads 1990 Nominated BAFTA Film Award for Best Original Film Score for Dangerous Liaisons 1991 Nominated BAFTA Film Award for Best Original Film Score for Memphis Belle 1991 Nominated BAFTA TV Award Best Original Television Music for The Trials of Life 1994 Nominated BAFTA TV Award Best Original Television Music for Life in the Freezer 1996 Nominated BAFTA Film Award for Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music for The Madness of King George 2002 Won BAFTA TV Award Best Original Television Music for The Blue Planet 2006 Nominated BAFTA Film Award for Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music for Mrs Henderson Presents 2007 Nominated BAFTA TV Award Best Original TV Music for Planet Earth 2012 Nominated BAFTA TV Award Best Original Tv Music for Frozen Planet

Emmy Awards 2002 Won Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore) for The Blue Planet - Seas of Life: Ocean World 2005 Nominated Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Music Composition for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special (Dramatic Underscore) for Pride 2007 Won Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score) for Planet Earth – From Pole to Pole

Golden Globes 1988 Nominated Golden Globe for Best Original Score - Motion Picture for Cry Freedom (shared with Jonas Gwangwa) 2000 Nominated Golden Globe for Best Original Score - Motion Picture for Anna and the King 2000 Nominated Golden Globe for Best Original Song - Motion Picture for Anna and the King

Grammy Awards 1984 Nominated Grammy for Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special for Gandhi (shared with Ravi Shankar) 1989 Nominated Grammy for Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television for Cry Freedom (shared with Jonas Gwangwa)

Ivor Novello Awards 1980 Nominated Best Best Theme from A TV or Radio production for Shoestring 1981 Nominated Best Best Theme from A TV or Radio production for Fox 1983 Nominated Best Best Theme from A TV or Radio production for Omnibus 1983 Won Best Film Theme or Song for Gandhi (shared with Ravi Shankar) 1985 Won Best Theme from A TV or Radio production for The Jewel in the Crown 1985 Nominated Best Theme or Song for The Company of Wolves 1987 Won Best Best Theme from A TV or Radio production for The Monocled Mutineer 1988. Won Best Film Score for Cry Freedom (shared with Jonas Gwangwa) 1993 Nominated Best Film Theme or Song for Final Analysis 1995 Nominated for Best Theme from A TV or Radio production for Beyond The Clouds 1995 Won Best Film Score for Shadowlands 1999 Nominated Best Film Score for Ever After 2000 Nominated Best Film Score for Anna and the King 2002 Nominated Best Original TV Music for The Blue Planet 2005 Nominated Best Original Film Score for Deep Blue 2010 Nominated Best TV Soundtrack for Life

Classical Brit Awards 2007 Winner Best Soundtrack for Planet Earth

EFA Awards (European Film Awards) 2012 Nominated European Composer for The Angels' Share

IFMCA Awards (Film Music Critics) 1998 Nominated Film Score of the Year for Dangerous Beauty 1998 Nominated Best Original Score for a Drama Film for Dangerous Beauty 1998 Nominated Film Composer of the Year 1998 Nominated Best Original Score for a Drama Film for Ever After: A Cinderella Story 1999 Nominated Film Composer of The Year 2007 Winner Best Original Score for Television for Planet Earth 2008 Winner Best Original Score for a Documentary for Earth 2009 Nominated Best Original Score for a Comedy Film for Fool’s Gold 2010 Nominated Best Original Score for a Television Series for Life 2012 Nominated Best Original Score for a Documentary for Frozen Planet 2015 Nominated Best Original Score for a Documentary for Bears 2016 Nominated Best Original Score for a Comedy Film for The Lady in the Van

World Soundtrack Awards 2015 Winner Lifetime Achievement

BMI Awards 1994 Winner Film Music for Groundhog Day 1999 Winner Film Music for You’ve Got Mail 2003 Winner Film Music for Sweet Home Alabama 2005 Winner Film Music for Hitch 2010 Winner Film Music for The Bounty Hunter

Other work Fenton founded the Association of Professional Composers which later amalgamated with the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors and with the Composers' Guild of Great Britain to become the British Academy of Composers & Songwriters. He is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and is a visiting professor at the Royal College of Music and the University of Nottingham.

In 2020, he and Simon Chamberlain released the album, The Piano Framed. Available digitally and on CD and vinyl, it has solo piano arrangements by Chamberlain of many of Fenton's scores including The Blue Planet, Dangerous Liaisons, The Lady in the Van and Groundhog Day.