Harry Thompson

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Harry William Thompson (born 6 February 1960 – 7 November 2005) was an English radio and television producer, comedian writer, poet, and biographer.

He was the producer of the dark humour television series Monkey Dust, which was on display from 2003 to 2005. Thompson, a born in London, was educated at Highgate School and Brasenose College, Oxford University, before joining the BBC as a student in 1981.

He soon honed his attention on comedy, spending time as a researcher for Not the Nine O'Clock News and BBC Radio's The Mary Whitehouse Experience.

He produced the BBC radio shows The News Quiz and Lenin of Rovers, which is also on the rise to the level of producer.

Thompson was hired by Hat Trick Productions to produce Have I Got News For You, a critical and commercial success that Thompson produced for five years before moving onto other ventures. Thompson, a biographer and novelist, wrote six books: an investigation into the life of The Man in the Iron Mask; a biography of Hergé; biography of Peter Cook and Richard Ingrams; and the semi-autobiographical Penguins Stopped Play.

Panel shows and early writing: 1990–98

Many independent designers discovered that BBC Radio 4 had a number of comedies that could be converted to television in the 1980s. Hat Trick Productions, one of them, decided to remake The News Quiz for television in 1989. The company's managing director, Jimmy Mulville, asked Thompson to undertake this venture, which first appeared in 1990 as Have I Got News For You. Thompson selected Angus Deayton to host the exhibition, as the team's leaders, with Ian Hislop and Paul Merton as the show's hosts. He oversaw the show's development for 93 episodes in five series. Later, he said he was incredibly excited when the show first began, claiming it to be "the best comedy show on television." It never occurred to me that there could be more efficient... I know it sounds arrogant." Have I Got News For You? It was first broadcast on BBC2, but it was so popular that it had been moved to BBC1.

He began presenting other comedy panel shows in 1995, and appeared on BBC Sport's They Think It's All Over, a BBC sports show. Never Mind the Buzzcocks, a music quiz show, followed this in 1996. Cartoons, Lampoons, and Buffoons were among BBC Radio 4's five-part political satire programme Cartoons, Lampoons, and Buffoons.

In 1998, Thompson created and co-wrote the first series of Channel 4's The 11 O'Clock Show, where he was instrumental in the development of the comic character Ali G, played by Sacha Baron Cohen. Thompson wrote for spin-off Da Ali G Show later in the year. He defended the show's humour by boasting that "You'll never see anything PC or right-on in my shows." I'm sure that some of my bad taste has erupted, but I think you should have a laugh at almost every bit."

Thompson co-created and wrote Monkey Dust, an adult cartoon comedy created and published in 2003. The program was known for its humour and handling of taboctagons such as bestiality, suicide, and paedophilia. Following Thompson's death from lung cancer, there were three series on BBC Three between 2003 and 2005; no new series were produced. "The most subversive show on television" was named by the Observer as one of the 50 funniest or most influential figures in British comedy, citing Monkey Dust as proof: "the most subversive show on television." The subjectal animated series is dark and unafraid to tackle taboos such as paedophilia, taking us to Cruel Britannia, a frightening place where arrogant politicians and celebrities bully the people. This edgy show doesn't always work, but if it does, it's nothing like it." It's been described as "a fantastic program, perhaps the best thing in Thompson's stellar CV," a Guardian commentator said more recently.

Thompson's last broadcast work was on Channel 5's Respectable, on which he completed work the week before he died. Shaun Pye co-written the program, which was broadcast in a suburban brothel and aired in 2006. The Guardian slammed the program's "new-fashioned, juvenile outlook" and called it "drearily unscientific." In other quarters, the program was also chastised for denying prostitution because it was denying of prostitution.

Harry Thompson has also produced non-comedy documentaries for BBC Radio. Terence Pettigrew's career began with anniversary tributes to Hollywood celebrities James Dean (You're Tearing Me Apart) and Montgomery Clift (I Had The Misery Thursday). Pettigrew and Thompson began working together on a second series of documentaries, one on national service (Caught in the Draft), as well as the evacuation of children from major British cities during the Second World War (Nobody Cried When the Trains Pulled Out). Both programs were introduced by Michael Aspel.

Thompson also wrote for television, published biographies of Hergé (1991), Private Eye reporter Richard Ingrams (1994), "The issue is that Thompson simply worships Ingrams, and his biography decays gradually into hagiography," and Peter Cook (1997). In 2005, his book This Thing of Darkness, a historical romance about Charles Darwin and Robert FitzRoy, Beagle's captain, was longlisted for the Booker Prize. Fitzroy, rather than Darwin, was the book's hero, according to Thompson.

His last book, Penguins Stopped Play, was published in 2005; it concerned his amateur cricket team, Captain Scott XI, and was published posthumously in 2006.

Thompson was married to Fiona Duff. Betty and Bill were their two children. In 1997, Duff published an article about Thompson's affair with a 25-year-old woman (later revealed to be Victoria Coren) in the Daily Mail. Thompson began a friendship with Lisa Whadcock in 2003; they met after she wrote a fan letter about Monkey Dust to him.

Thompson was diagnosed with lung cancer in April 2005. He married Whadcock on Monday 7 November 2005 and died later that day after being treated in a London hospital. Michael Hurll, executive producer Michael Hurll, said that the British Comedy Awards had been planned to award him with a Jury's Award in December, but that the legacy of his enduringly popular series lives on. Thompson was "that rare breed in television" until he died, according to BBC One's Peter Fincham, who said that his death would "leave a big hole in the comedy world." "Harry was a truly democratic spirit and one of the funniest people I've ever known," Fincham's words were Roly Keating, BBC Two's chief, was echoed. Thompson had been described as "quite a genius" by his literary agent Bill Hamilton, according to BBC News.

A message stating "In Memory of Harry Thompson, the first producer of Have I Got News For You (1960-2005)" was included in a 2005 episode of Have I Got News For You, starring Alexander Armstrong as host and Fi Glover and Ian McMillan as guest panellists.

Personal life

Thompson was married to Fiona Duff. Betty and Bill had two children, Betty and Bill. When Duff wrote an article about Thompson's affair with a 25-year-old woman (later revealed to be Victoria Coren) in the Daily Mail, the breakdown of their marriage became public in 1997. Thompson began a relationship with Lisa Whadcock in 2003; they met after she wrote a fan letter about Monkey Dust to him.

Thompson was diagnosed with lung cancer in April 2005. He married Whadcock on Monday 7 November 5, 2005, before dying the next day. The British Comedy Awards had intended to award him with a Jury's Award in December, with executive producer Michael Hurll stating that "It's sad he won't be there to receive it." Thompson was "that rare breed in television," according to BBC One CEO Peter Fincham, who said he would "leave a huge hole in the comedy world" after learning of his death. "Harry was a completely independent spirit and one of the funniest people I've ever met," Fincham's words were echoed by BBC Two controller Roly Keating, who wrote, "Harry was one of the funniest people I've ever known." Thompson had been described as "plainly a genius," according to BBC News' literary agent Bill Hamilton.

A message announcing "In Memory of Harry Thompson, the first producer of Have I Got News For You (1960–2005)," was included in a 2005 episode of Have I Got News For You, with Alexander Armstrong as the host and Fi Glover and Ian McMillan as guest panelists.

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Early life and career: 1960–1989

Harry William Thompson was born in London on February 6th, 1960. His father, a marketing manager who worked for The Guardian, was a student tutor who advocated for higher education. Before going on to study History at Brasenose College, Oxford, he attended the private, fee-paying Highgate School. He became the editor of Cherwell University newspaper, alongside arts editor Roly Keating, the future controller of BBC2.

He began attending university and joined the BBC as a student in 1981. Here, he served on Newsnight's late-night news show, later saying it was "the most painful day of my life, full of people who barked into phones, specifically." He worked as a researcher on BBC Radio Two's Not the Nine O'Clock News and several comedy shows on BBC Radio, including BBC Radio 4's The Mary Whitehouse Experience, shifting his attention to comedies. He was involved in the development of long-established show The News Quiz, as well as Alexei Sayle's latest comedy film, Lenin of the Rovers (1988). The Guardian would note that he established himself as "a maverick" who broke boundaries with "outrageous humour."

Several independent designers discovered that BBC Radio 4 had a number of comedy shows that could be easily converted to television during the 1980s. Hat Trick Productions, one of them, was the company that converted The News Quiz for television in 1989. Jimmy Mulville, the company's managing director, requested Thompson to produce the venture, which first appeared in 1990 as Have I Got News For You. Thompson selected Angus Deayton to direct the program, alongside Ian Hislop and Paul Merton as the team's representatives. He oversaw the show's development for 93 episodes in lieu of five series. He later remarked that he was incredibly positive when the show first premiered, saying it to be "the best comedy show on television." It never occurred to me that anything else could be better...I know it's arrogant." Have I Got News For You premiered on BBC2, but it was enough of a success that by 2000 it had been moved to BBC1.

He began producing other comedy panel shows in 1995, when he appeared on BBC Sports' They Think It's All Over, a BBC sports show. Never Mind the Buzzcocks, a music quiz show, came after him in 1996. He appeared on BBC Radio 4's five-part political satire programme Cartoons, Lampoons, and Buffoons in 1998.

Thompson produced and co-wrote the first series of Channel 4's The 11 O'Clock Show, in which he was instrumental in the creation of the comedic character Ali G, portrayed by Sacha Baron Cohen. Thompson wrote for spin-off Da Ali G Show in the years. He openly stated that "You will never see anything PC or right-on in my shows." I get accused of a lot of snails in bad taste, but I think you should have a great time laughing at almost every single thing."

In 2003, Thompson and Shaun Pye created and wrote the adult cartoon comedy Monkey Dust, co-written by Kevin Coley. The program was known for its humour and treatment of taboobs such as bestiality, assassination, suicide, and paedophilia. Following Thompson's death from lung cancer, there were three series on BBC Three between 2003 and 2005; no new series were produced. In 2003, The Observer named him as one of the country's most popular people, quoting Monkey Dust as evidence: "The most subversive program on television." The emophilia and paedophilia taboos are taken to Cruel, a frightening place where the public is hoodwinked by obnoxious politicians and celebrities. This edgy show doesn't always work, but if it does, it's like it." More recently, a Guardian reporter characterized it as "a fantastic program, possibly the best thing in Thompson's formidable CV."

Thompson's last broadcasting work was on Channel 5's Respectable, which ended his service the week before he died. Shaun Pye co-wrote the program, which aired in 2006 in a suburban brothel. The Guardian slammed the program's "deeply old-fashioned, juvenile outlook" and called it "drearily ignorant." In other quarters, the program was also criticized on the grounds that it denied prostitution.

Harry Thompson has also produced non-comedy documentaries for BBC Radio. Terence Pettigrew's appearances, beginning with anniversary tributes to Hollywood celebrities James Dean (You're Tearing Me Apart) and Montgomery Clift (I Had the Misery Thursday). Pettigrew and Thompson collaborated on a second series of documentaries, one on national service (Caught in the Draft), and another on the evacuation of children from major British cities during the Second World War (Nobody Cried When the Trains Pulled Out). Michael Aspel introduced both programs.

Thompson wrote biographies of Hergé (1991), (of which The Independent said, "The issue is that Thompson simply worships Ingrams, and his biography fades into hagiography." (1998): Hergé (1994) and Peter Cook (1997). In 2005, his book This Thing of Shadow, a historical romance about Charles Darwin and Robert FitzRoy, Beagle's captain, was longlisted for the Booker Award. Fitzroy, rather than Darwin, was the book's hero, according to Thompson.

He wrote his last book, Stopped Play, in 2005; it was published posthumously in 2006.

Thompson was married to Fiona Duff. Betty and Bill were the two children's. When Duff wrote an article about Thompson's affair with a 25-year-old woman (later revealed to be Victoria Coren) in the Daily Mail, the breakdown of their marriage became public in 1997. Thompson began a friendship with Lisa Whadcock in 2003; they met after she wrote a fan letter about Monkey Dust.

In April 2005, Thompson was diagnosed with lung cancer. He married Whadcock on Monday 7 November 2005, before dying later the same day. The British Comedy Awards had intended to award him with a Jury's Award in December, with executive producer Michael Hurll stating that "It's sad he won't be there to receive it." Thompson, the gifted, single-minded, subordinate maverick," said after learning of his death, and that his death would "leave a big hole in the comedy world." Fincham's words were echoed by BBC Two controller Roly Keating, who wrote that "Harry was a truly free spirit and one of the funniest people I've ever encountered." Thompson had been "plainly a genius," his literary agent Bill Hamilton told BBC News.

A message stating "In Memory of Harry Thompson, the first producer of Have I Got News For You (1960-2005)" was included in a 2005 episode of Have I Got News For You (1960-2005).

Later comedy career: 1998–2005

Thompson created and co-wrote the first series of Channel 4's The 11 O'Clock Show in 1998, where he was instrumental in the development of the comic character Ali G, played by Sacha Baron Cohen. Thompson wrote an article about Da Ali G Show spin-offs later. He openly announced that "You'll never see anything PC or right-on in my shows." I'm guilty of a lot of bad taste, but I think you should have a laugh at almost every single thing."

Thompson co-created and wrote Monkey Dust, a juvenile cartoon series based in 2003. The program was known for its humour and handling of taboo topics such as bestiality, murder, suicide, and paedophilia. Following Thompson's death from lung cancer, there were three series on BBC Three between 2003 and 2005; no further series were produced. "The most subversive show on television" named him as one of the 50 funniest or most influential people in British comedy in 2003, citing Monkey Dust as proof: "the most subversive show on television." The thematic animated series is dark and unashamed to explore tabopinions such as paedophilia. We're headed to Cruel Britannia, a frightening destination where the public is hoodwinked by arrogant politicians and celebrities. This edgy show doesn't always work, but when it does, it looks just like it." It's been described as "a marvelous program, perhaps the best thing in Thompson's impressive CV," a Guardian writer said.

Thompson's last broadcasting gig was the Channel 5 sitcom Respectable, on which he ended work the week before he died. Shaun Pye wrote the program, which premiered in 2006 in a suburban brothel. The Guardian sluggishly old-fashioned, juvenile outlook" on the program, which was described as "drearily unashamed." In other quarters, the programme was also chastised because it dismissed prostitution.

For BBC Radio, Harry Thompson has also produced non-comedy documentaries. Terence Pettigrew's appearances began with anniversary tributes to Hollywood stars James Dean (You're Tearing Me Apart) and Montgomery Clift (I Had The Misery Thursday). Pettigrew and Thompson collaborated on a second series of documentaries, including national service (Caught in the Draft), and also about child evacuations from major British cities during the Second World War (Nobody Cried When the Trains Pulled Out). Michael Aspel introduced both programs.

Thompson, as well as writing for television, wrote biographies of Hergé (1991), Private Eye editor Richard Ingrams (1994) (of which The Independent said, "The issue is that Thompson simply worships Ingrams, and his biography gradually sinks into hagiography" and Peter Cook (1997). In 2005, his book This Thing of Darkness, a historical romance about Charles Darwin and Robert FitzRoy, Beagle's captain, was longlisted for the Booker Award. Fitzroy, rather than Darwin, was the book's hero, according to Thompson.

In 2005, his last book, Penguins Stopped Play, was published posthumously; it was written about his amateur cricket team, Captain Scott XI.

Thompson was married to Fiona Duff. Betty and Bill had two children, Betty and Bill. The breakdown of Thompson's marriage became public in 1997 when Duff wrote an article about him involving a 25-year-old woman (later revealed to be Victoria Coren) in the Daily Mail. Thompson began a relationship with Lisa Whadcock in 2003; they met after she wrote a fan letter about Monkey Dust to him.

Thompson was diagnosed with lung cancer in April 2005. He married Whadcock on Monday 7th November, 2005, before dying later that day. The British Comedy Awards had intended to award him with a Jury's Award in December, with executive producer Michael Hurll stating that "It's sad that he won't be there to receive it," he said. Thompson, "the gifted, single-minded, subversive maverick" who died on "leave a big hole in the comedy world," BBC One controller Peter Fincham said of his death. Roly Keating, the BBC Two controller, shared Fincham's words as "Harry was a true spirit and one of the funniest people I've ever met." Thompson had been described as a "plainly genius" by his literary agent Bill Hamilton, according to BBC News.

A note read "In Memory of Harry Thompson, the first producer of Have I Got News For You (1960–2005)" was included in a 2005 episode of Have I Got News For You, starring Alexander Armstrong as host and Fi Glover and Ian McMillan as guest panelists.

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