Gordon Frank Newman (born 22 May 1947)[1][2] is an English writer and television producer. In addition to his two earlier series Law & Order and The Nation's Health, each based on his books, he is known for more recent TV series including Judge John Deed and New Street Law.
Newman's first book, Sir, You Bastard, was a bestseller on publication in 1970. It was to become the first in a series of three works featuring the character of Terry Sneed, an unscrupulous Scotland Yard inspector. The second of these is You Nice Bastard and the third You Flash Bastard/The Price. Other books he has written include Billy, The List, The Men with the Guns, Charlie and Joanna, Three Professional Ladies, Trading the Future / Circle of Poison, Law and Order, The Nation's Health, and his 2009 novel Crime and Punishment, which was adapted for radio and broadcast as The Corrupted.
Together with screenwriter and novelist Matthew Hall he owns and runs the production company One Eyed Dog Ltd.
Newman's partner Rebecca (Hughes) Hall is also a creative writer.[5] She has scripted plays[citation needed] and films[6] and is an author of books on animal rights.[7][8][9]
Newman has very strong and sometimes controversial views on a variety of subjects, and these are reflected in his work.[5] He takes an interest in animal rights and is a staunch vegan.[5][10] When producing or directing television programmes he insists that no meat at all is consumed on the sets.[5][11] He has compared the slaughter of animals to the holocaust.[5] Newman is a believer in reincarnation and takes influence from the vegetarian John Todd Ferrier.[5]
Newman has no political allegiance to either left or right wing and does not vote.[5]
The BBC's Feedback programme on 27/01/2017 included discussion on Series 3 of The Corrupted, including talking "to Radio 4's Commissioning Editor for Drama, Jeremy Howe, about why he felt The Corrupted was worth 7 hours of airtime over just two weeks" and the assessment that "many loved it, though some were not so keen on the venal themes".[36]
Describing the series as 'fiction in a factual world', Feedback went on to note the suggestion in The Corrupted storyline, that, after the character Joseph Oldman had deployed some of his wealth to bankroll the Conservative Party, Margaret Thatcher (ignorant of his gangster background) expressed interest in appointing him to the post of chancellor of the exchequer. It also discussed the murder of Airey Neave, which - although claimed by the INLA - by juxtaposition of themes in the series, it was implied, might have had some level of involvement of the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), or MI5, who might have desired to silence him to avoid exposure of others with influence.[36]
In May 1994 Newman gave a half-hour Opinions lecture televised on Channel 4 and subsequently published in The Independentas"Wisdom Needs No Votes".[37]
Trading The Future was initially published by Macdonald in the UK in a hardcover edition in 1991. It was subsequently re-released as Circle of Poison, in 1995.[38] See the related topic, Circle of Poison.
A three-part Whitehall drama series, with the titles (Member, Mandarin, Minister) reflecting the perspectives of the three principal protagonists (a British Member of Parliament, a Whitehall Civil Servant, and a Government Minister, respectively). It was first aired on the BBC in 1991.[17][39][40] Theme music was by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark.[41]
The Nation's Health is a 4 episode series written by G.F.Newman based on his book of the same name, originally broadcast on the fledgling Channel 4 UK TV channel in 1983. The series consists of four episodes titled Acute, Decline, Chronic, and Collapse.[42]
Sherryl Wilson[43] writes: "Although the series is a negative critique of the NHS staff in general, it does also offer a damning insight into the policies that were seen to be disabling the NHS."[42]
In a BMJ abstract[44] one can read: "How 'little relation to reality' these programmes bore to the NHS in the early 1980s is up for debate, but something in these programmes smacks of truth, raising questions that still need to be asked of the NHS and its staff." Sherryl Wilson draws a comparison with conclusions from the 2009 enquiry into Stafford Hospital.[42] The BMJ abstract continues "These programmes make fascinating if difficult watching, because they do not show the deference towards the medical profession and the NHS shown by previous British dramas such as Doctor Finlay’s Casebook, General Hospital, and Emergency Ward 10. Their gritty influence on later British medical dramas, such as Casualty can be seen clearly."[44]
