Adrian Poynton

Adrian Poynton (born 29 January 1979) is a British screenwriter, playwright and stand up comedian. He is best known as the creator and writer of BBC Three comedy White Van Man and its American remake Family Tools.

Adrian Poynton
Born1979 (age 41–42)
Burton on Trent, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom
OccupationScreenwriter, Playwright, Producer, Stand Up Comedian
NationalityBritish
Notable worksWhite Van Man, Family Tools, A Very Naughty Boy, Trollied
Website
www.adrianpoynton.com

Biography

Born in Staffordshire in 1979, Poynton attended John Taylor High School at Barton-under-Needwood in Staffordshire in the early 1990s. He first began performing as a member of the Lichfield Youth Theatre.

For many years he toured as a stand up comedian regularly performing in comedy clubs and theaters across the UK and Europe. He was also one of the UK's most popular TV studio audience warm-ups.

Writing career

In 2003 his play, A Very Naughty Boy based on the life of Monty Python's Graham Chapman, won an Edinburgh Festival Fringe First award. It then had a national tour followed by a West End run at London's Soho Theatre.[1][2]

During this time he was also writing scripts for children's Television. His scripts having appeared on CBBC, CBeebies and The Disney Channel.

In 2011 he created and wrote the highly rated BBC Three sitcom, White Van Man. It held the record for being the highest rated launch of a comedy ever on the channel. He can be seen acting in two episodes, playing the role of Police Officer Martin Orsom. In 2012 White Van Man returned for a second series with Adrian once again writing all the scripts.

In 2012 he also worked on series two of supermarket sitcom Trollied for Sky One.

In 2013 White Van Man was remade in America as Family Tools for ABC with Poynton overseeing the show, writing episodes and serving as Co-Creator and Producer. Thirteen episodes were ordered on 11 May 2012, for the first season.[3] It was later reported on 10 November 2012, that ABC cut their order from 13 episodes to 10 because of scheduling conflicts.[4] Family Tools was canceled on 10 May 2013, after only two episodes had aired.[5] However, the remaining episodes aired over the summer.

He contributed audio plays for the Big Finish Doctor Who ranges, starting with the Fourth Doctor release, Dethras.[6] He also wrote for the spin-off Jenny - The Doctor's Daughter starring his friend and White Van Man actress Georgia Tennant.

Works

References
  1. Low, Lenny Ann (22 August 2003). "Hills tipped to hoist comedy prize". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
  2. Merritt, Stephanie (25 April 2004). "Pythons' bad boy uncoiled". The Observer. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
  3. Seidman, Robert (11 May 2012). "ABC Picks Up Comedies 'The Neighbors' and 'The Family Tools' and Dramas 'Nashville,' 'Red Widow' and 'Zero Hour' + More". TV by the Numbers. ZAP2it. Archived from the original on 14 May 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  4. Andreeva, Nellie (10 November 2012). "Order For ABC's Midseason Comedy 'Family Tools' Cut To 10 Episodes". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
  5. Kondolojy, Amanda (10 May 2013). "'Happy Endings', 'Family Tools', 'How to Live With Your Parents' & 'Malibu Country' Canceled by ABC". TV by the Numbers. ZAP2it. Archived from the original on 7 June 2013. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  6. "6.4. Doctor Who: Dethras". Big Finish. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
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