Tony Nicholson

I became an author quite late in life, although I have made a significant proportion of my living out of writing for 45 years. I had a very unorthodox career path, studying chemistry at university, and then working in middle management in the chemical industry for several years. It's too long a story to tell you how I got from there to writing jokes for The Two Ronnies, and other comedy shows, before becoming a TV producer, working mainly in light entertainment. I can't believe how lucky I have been, because I've loved every minute of it, and had a hugely satisfying career. It never seemed like work to me, so I was happy to put in the hours. All the time I was a busy freelance TV producer, I also continued as a TV and radio scriptwriter.

I'd always wanted to have a go at writing a book, but I was simply too busy making a living, paying a mortgage and bringing up a family. A few years ago I sort of reluctantly retired. TV producing is a young person's game. However that gave me the time and opportunity to write the book I'd always wanted to write. As a big fan and collector of entertainment biographies, I decided that's where I should start. Suddenly I find I'm an author, which has given me a second (third??) lease of life! I think I'm the living breathing proof that if you want something badly enough, you just might make it happen...