Timothy "Tim" Sullivan (born 21 February 1958) is a German-born British film and television director, screenwriter and novelist known for his work with Granada Television and his feature film Jack and Sarah (1995). More recently, he is better known as a crime fiction writer, with a series of novels featuring an autistic detective, DS George Cross.

Early life and education Tim Sullivan was born in Germany, where his father was stationed with the Royal Air Force. He attended Clifton College in Bristol, England, before gaining an exhibition scholarship to read English and Law at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge.Summers, Sue (18 June 1995). "Cinema/ The British are coming (again)". The Independent (Independent Newspapers): p. 32."Tripos results: English, Education", The Times, 5 July 1978, p. 12. While at Cambridge, Sullivan was a member of the Cambridge University Amateur Dramatic Club, and partnered with writer Richard Maher on the play Klev, which ran at the Crown Theatre, Hill Place in 1978.Staff (17 August 1978). "Current Production". The Stage and Television Today: p. 48. He also supplied extras to Chariots of Fire (1981).

Career After leaving Cambridge Sullivan got a summer job as a chauffeur to Anthony Andrews on the production of Brideshead Revisited. The producer Derek Granger learned that Sullivan was writing a screenplay with Derek Jarman (Bob Upadown), and encouraged him to get a job as a researcher with Granada Television.

After working as a researcher on the first series of Alfresco, Sullivan and Richard Maher partnered to write their first television series, a sitcom entitled The Train Now Leaving, set in the dining carriage of an InterCity train running between London and Manchester. Granada commissioned seven 30-minute scripts for development.Staff (6 October 1983). "Granada takes on cartoon and BR for new comedies". The Stage and Television Today: p. 19.

Sullivan stayed at Granada for several more years, directing episodes of series such as Busman's Holiday, Stop That Laughing at the Back, Coronation Street and The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes, as well as adapting A Handful of Dust as a feature film for London Weekend Television (1988) and directing Thatcher: The Final Days (1991).Staff (16 June 2008). "In the right direction". The Independent (Independent News & Media): p. 8. In 1995, Sullivan wrote and directed his first feature film, Jack and Sarah, starring Richard E. Grant and Samantha Mathis. The film was inspired by the attention a male colleague at Granada received when his childcare arrangements broke down and he had to bring his child into work.

Into the 2000s, Sullivan worked freelance on many television and film projects, including directing the final episode of Cold Feet for Granada, and the one-off comedy drama Catwalk Dogs for Shed Productions. In 2005, having worked on the film Flushed Away, Sullivan was hired by DreamWorks to write an initial script draft for Shrek 4,Staff (6 March 2005). "DreamWorks plans 'Shrek 4'". Variety.com (Reed Business Information). Retrieved on 29 August 2010. though his script was abandoned by the time production on the film began.

Sullivan wrote the film Letters to Juliet, starring Amanda Seyfried, which was released in the United States in 2010, taking over $80 million worldwide. He has been developing a film based on the London Marathon and another The Wedding Dress. He has worked with many notable directors and producers in the US including Ron Howard, Scott Rudin and Jeffrey Katzenberg.

In 2020, Sullivan self-published two crime novels centring on the neurodivergent detective DS George Cross, 'The Dentist' and 'The Cyclist', within four months the two titles achieved over 200,000 downloads and he was signed by British publisher Head of Zeus. Further novels in the DS Cross series, 'The Patient', 'The Politician', 'The Monk', 'The Teacher' and 'The Bookseller' have now been published. The eighth in the series 'The Tailor' was published in July 2026.

In June 2023 he was awarded an MLitt with distinction in Crime Fiction and Forensic investigation at the University of Dundee. He also won the Val McDermid dissertation prize.

In 2026 he won the Dagger in the Library by the Crime Writers' Association. This is given to an author whose work is popular with borrowers and is a supporter of libraries.

Filmography Year(s) Title Role 1988 A Handful of Dust Screenwriter 1991 Where Angels Fear to Tread 1995 Jack and Sarah Director and screenwriter 2006 Flushed Away Additional screenplay material 2010 Letters to Juliet Screenwriter2015The von Trapp Family: A Life of Music 2021 My Little Pony: A New Generation WriterCo-producer

Television +YearTitleRoleNotes1983AlfrescoResearcher2 episodes1985Wild WinterDirector1 episodeHank Wangford at StrangewaysTelevision specialOur Backyard2 episodesTX 1 episodeHold Tight1 season1986i Feel Fine6 episodesBusman's Holiday14 episodes1987Stop That Laughing at the Back5 episodes1988Coronation Street17 episodes1990–1992El C.I.D.2 episodes1990Made in Heaven1991Thatcher: The Final DaysTelevision film1993–1995The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes3 episodes 2003Cold Feet2 episodes2007Catwalk DogsTelevision film

Bibliography

The Dentist (Head of Zeus, 2021) The Cyclist (Head of Zeus, 2021) The Patient (Head of Zeus, 2022) The Politician (Head of Zeus, 2022) The Monk (Head of Zeus, 2023) The Teacher (Head of Zeus, 2024) The Bookseller (Head of Zeus, 2025) The Tailor (Head of Zeus 2026)

References

External links at RCW literary agents

"Lights, camera, action" – Profile of Sullivan in Optima, the Fitzwilliam College alumni newsletter (p. 10). Tim Sullivan filmography". British Film Institute. Retrieved on 17 April 2010. https://timsullivanusa.com/