Vince Powell

Vincent Joseph Powell (6 August 1928 – 13 July 2009) was a British television scriptwriter. Known for writing television sitcoms, he collaborated with a writing partner, Harry Driver, until his death in 1973.

Early life Powell was born as Vincent Joseph Smith to Roman Catholic parents in Miles Platting, Manchester. When he was five, his mother died; two years later, his father remarried. Powell began a career as a tailor following the lead of his father, while performing as a comedian in the evenings. He met Harry Driver on the local club circuit. Their performing partnership, under the name Hammond and Powell, lasted until 1955 when Driver's health and physical mobility became severely impaired by the onset of polio.

Career With his writing partner, Harry Driver, the partnership was hired to write material for comedian Harry Worth in Manchester for the BBC in 1960. The show, Here's Harry (co-written with Frank Roscoe) ran for five years. The partnership was better known for writing for ITV franchise holders from the early-1960s, beginning with Coronation Street from 1961; Powell ceased writing for the programme in 1964, but Driver's involvement continued until he died in 1973. Mind Your Language (1977–1979, 1986), starring Barry Evans (previously in the Doctor... series) as the English-Foreign Language teacher Mr Jeremy Brown, set in an adult education college of foreign characters in late-1970s London. Young at Heart (1977–1982) Father Charlie (1982), starring Lionel Jeffries as a chaplain sent to a convent inhabited by nuns. Co-written with Myles Rudge, the series ran for six episodes. Bottle Boys (1984–85), starring Robin Askwith as Dave Deacon, a football-obsessed milkman.

Powell also penned a number of scripts for the popular 1980s sitcom Never the Twain (1981–1991) starring Windsor Davies and Donald Sinden, also for Thames Television, writing all of the final episodes from 1989 to 1991. Plus he wrote three series (20 episodes) of the Radio 2 sitcom For Better Or For Worse, starring Gorden Kaye and Su Pollard, between 1993 and 1996.

Powell contributed material to the Cilla Black vehicles Blind Date (224 episodes) and Surprise, Surprise (130 episodes). He published his autobiography, From Rags to Gags: The Memoirs of a Comedy Writer, in 2008.

Death Powell died aged 80 in Guildford, Surrey. His first marriage ended in divorce; as did his second marriage, to Judi Smith. His third marriage, to Geraldine Moore, ended when he died. He had a son from his second marriage, and a son and daughter from his third.

Writing credits "The Mascot" (co-written with Frank Roscoe, 1963) "The Village of Evil" (co-written with Harry Driver, 1966) "Conspiracy of Death" (co-written with Harry Driver, 1967) "The Survivors" (co-written with Harry Driver, 1967) "Spring and Autumn" (mini-episode, 1973)ITVFor the Love of AdaFeature film (co-written with Harry Driver, 1972)Tigon British Film ProductionsCheap at Half the PriceTelevision film (co-written with Harry Driver, 1972)ITVNever Mind the Quality, Feel the WidthFeature film (co-written with Harry Driver, 1973)EMI-MGMLove Thy NeighbourFeature film (co-written with Harry Driver, 1973)Hammer Films Video GarantFather Charlie"The New Chaplain" (1982) "Miracles Take a Little Longer" (1982) "Halfway to Heaven" (1982) "Better the Devil You Know" (1982)ITVAn Age Apart"A Log Way from Home" (1983) "Don't Rock the Boat" (1983) "Out of the Frying Pan" (1983) "TV or Not TV" (1985) "The Facts of Life" (1986) "If at First You Don't Succeed" (1986)ITVSlinger's Day6 episodes (1986-1987)ITVSuperfrank!Television film (co-written with Andrew Nickolds and Miles Tredinnick, 1987)Channel 4