John Sullivan

Career Sullivan's first paid employment was as a messenger boy for Reuters. He then worked in the second-hand car trade, in a brewery, as a window cleaner, and as a carpet layer in the House of Commons.

BBC Sullivan got his break into television after submitting scripts to the BBC. He admired Steptoe and Son, Till Death Us Do Part, Phil Silvers' US show Bilko, and "anything by Neil Simon". He was warned not to pester or approach the stars of the corporation. He eventually approached television producer Dennis Main Wilson with a script about a young Marxist. This led to a pilot for Comedy Special in 1977 which, following a positive reaction, was commissioned for a full series, Citizen Smith (1977–80).

Through Ray Butt, a BBC producer and director whom Sullivan had met and befriended when they were working on Citizen Smith, a draft script was shown to the corporation's Head of Comedy, John Howard Davies. Davies commissioned Sullivan to write a full series under an alternative title Only Fools and Horses, which had also been the name of a Citizen Smith episode. Sullivan believed the key factor in it being accepted was the success of ITV's new drama Minder, a series with a similar premise and also set in 1980s London.

Much of Sullivan's material for Only Fools and Horses scripts came from his real-life experiences; falling through a raised bar flap, the chandelier falling, his father's poker sessions, his niece working in the police force, and his grandfather falling down holes to claim money. It is possible that the poverty of the Trotter family, and their eventual rise to wealth, is based on Sullivan's own background. He grew up in a poor household and noted in an interview that he and his friends seemingly had no opportunities after leaving school apart from becoming, as Sullivan put it, "factory fodder". The success of Only Fools and Horses made him very rich. Just Good Friends ran for three series and a feature-length special between 1983 and 1986. Other sitcoms included Dear John (1986–1987) and Sitting Pretty (1992–1993). On 2 September 2008, he was awarded an Honorary Fellowship at Goldsmiths, University of London.

On 22 July 2012, a blue plaque was unveiled by David Jason at Teddington Studios in Middlesex, England, to celebrate Sullivan's contribution to British comedy. Nicholas Lyndhurst and John Challis also attended among other cast members.

Death

Sullivan died on 22 April 2011, in a Surrey hospital, after having viral pneumonia for six weeks. He was 64. Six days after his death, the third episode of Rock & Chips aired on BBC One. Due to Sullivan's death, this was to be the final episode. Sullivan was survived by his wife Sharon, whom he married on 23 February 1974, two sons Dan and Jim, a daughter, Amy, and three grandchildren.

Writing credits

Sullivan wrote the theme tunes for Only Fools and Horses, Just Good Friends, Dear John and The Green Green Grass. Sullivan also performed lead vocals on the theme tunes for Only Fools and Horses and The Green Green Grass.

Awards and nominations