Maurice Bernard Gran (born 26 October 1949) is an English writer and one half of the scriptwriting duo Marks and Gran. He co-wrote the sitcoms The New Statesman, Birds of a Feather and Goodnight Sweetheart with Laurence Marks. Their theatre works include Dreamboats and Petticoats, Save the Last Dance for Me and Dreamboats and Miniskirts.
Biography Born to a Jewish family, Gran lived in Finsbury Park Road (in the area of the same name) as a child, and his father was the manager of a fabric shop in Soho.Laurence Marks & Maurice Gran, Writers He attended William Ellis School, a grammar school for boys in Highgate. He then rose to be the manager of the Jobcentre Plus in Tottenham, whilst writing scripts with Laurence Marks which they submitted to the BBC.
The duo had begun writing together after they met at a discussion group for writers that was held within the British Drama League.Marks & Gran at screenonline. Retrieved 30 January 2015 They were given the opportunity to write a radio show for Frankie Howerd after a chance meeting with Barry Took.Marks and Gran at Camden New Journal. Retrieved 29 January 2015 Gran is also the co-author of Prudence at Number 10, a satirical diary supposedly written by Gordon Brown's P.A.
Writing credits Production Notes BroadcasterThe Marti Caine Show5 episodes (1980)BBC2Roots6 episodes (co-written with Laurence Marks, 1981)ITVHolding the Fort20 episodes (co-written with Laurence Marks, 1980–1982)ITVShine on Harvey Moon25 episodes (1982, 1984–1985, 1995)ITVRoll Over Beethoven12 episodes (1985)ITVRelative Strangers3 episodes (co-written with Laurence Marks, 1985–1987)Channel 4The Bretts3 episodes (co-written with Laurence Marks, 1987)ITVAlan B'Stard Closes Down the BBCComic Relief special (co-written with Laurence Marks, 1988)BBC1Young, Gifted and Broke7 episodes (co-written with Laurence Marks, 1989)ITVSnakes and Ladders7 episodes (co-written with Laurence Marks, 1989)Channel 4Birds of a Feather129 episodes (co-written with Laurence Marks, 1989–1994, 1996–1998, 2014–2017, 2020)BBC1/ITVBullseye!Feature film (co-written with Leslie Bricusse, Laurence Marks, Nick Mead and Michael Winner, 1990)N/ASo You Think You've Got Troubles6 episodes (co-written with Laurence Marks, 1991)BBC1Screen One"Wall of Silence" (co-written with Laurence Marks, 1993)BBC1Get Back10 episodes (co-written with Laurence Marks, 1992–1993)BBC1Love Hurts30 episodes (co-written with Laurence Marks, 1992–1994)BBC1The New Statesman29 episodes (co-written with Laurence Marks, 1987–1992)ITVBBC1A. B'Stard ExposedTelevision film (co-written with Laurence Marks, 1994)BBC1Goodnight Sweetheart59 episodes (co-written with Laurence Marks, 1993–1999, 2016)BBC1Mosley4 episodes (co-written with Laurence Marks and Nicholas Mosley, 1998)Channel 4Unfinished Business12 episodes (co-written with Laurence Marks, 1998–1999)BBC OneStarting Out8 episodes (co-written with Laurence Marks, 1999)BBC OneBelieve Nothing6 episodes (co-written with Laurence Marks, 2002)ITVThe Last Laugh"Pilot" (co-written with Laurence Marks, 2005)BBC ThreeMumbai Calling"Pilot" (co-written with Laurence Marks and Sanjeev Bhaskar, 2007)ITV
Awards and nominations Year Award Work Category Result Reference1990British Academy Television AwardsThe New StatesmanBest Comedy Series (with Tony Charles, Geoffrey Sax and Laurence Marks)1991British Academy Television AwardsBest Comedy Series (with Tony Charles, Geoffrey Sax and Laurence Marks)
References
External links
Official Marks & Gran website: https://www.marksandgran.com