Ashley Pharoah (born 13 September 1959) is a British screenwriter and television producer. He is best known as the co-creator/writer of the successful drama series Life on Mars, which began on BBC One in 2006, and creator/writer of the family drama Wild at Heart, which aired on ITV1 from 2006 until 2012.

Early life Born in Southampton in 1959 but soon moved to Nailsea in North Somerset. Attended Queen Elizabeth's Hospital School in Bristol where his classmates included the actor Hugo Weaving and the football commentator Jonathan Pearce. Studied English at the University of Sussex and screenwriting at the National Film and Television School, where his graduation film was nominated for a BAFTA. Played rugby for Wimbledon RFC.

Career Whilst still at the National Film & Television School, Pharoah co-wrote the film "White Elephant", which was directed by Werner Grusch and starred Peter Firth. It was shot in Ghana.

began his television writing career on the BBC soap opera EastEnders in 1991, on which he worked for four years and where he met co-writer Matthew Graham. He went on in 1994–1995 to contribute five episodes to the popular BBC One drama series Casualty and four episodes to Silent Witness (1996). Monastic Productions biography

For ITV he created the long-running series Where the Heart Is, for which he wrote episodes from 1997 to 2000, and created the BBC One TV programme Down to Earth in 2001. Among other work in the early 2000s he scripted an adaptation of Tom Brown's Schooldays, starring Stephen Fry, for ITV in 2005.

Meanwhile, , Matthew Graham and veteran Eastenders writer Tony Jordan spent years co-creating Life on Mars, which was first shown in 2006, and contributed episodes to both series of the show. Other work around this time included creating the series Wild at Heart (2006–2012) for Company Pictures and adapting Under the Greenwood Tree for Ecosse Films.

In 2006, he formed Monastic Productions with Matthew Graham. Monastic Productions is involved in the Life on Mars spin-off Ashes to Ashes and co-produced Bonekickers, a six-part drama series about archaeology, set in Bath, Somerset. Both series are productions for BBC One. He has won two International Emmys for Life on Mars, a series which was remade for ABC in America, starring Harvey Keitel.

In 2010, adapted Case Histories, the novel by Kate Atkinson, for the BBC. It stars Jason Isaacs and was a co-production between Monastic Productions and Ruby Television. Other work around this time include "Eternal Law" for ITV and an adaptation of Moonfleet for Sky, starring Ray Winstone. His series The Living and the Dead, starring Colin Morgan, was screened on BBC1 in the summer of 2016.

Pharaoh was co-creator, writer and executive producer on an adaptation of Jules Verne's Around the World in 80 Days, which starred David Tennant and was screened around the world in 2021.

In 2025, Pharaoh wrote his first work for the stage, Exe Men, the story of the rise of Exeter Chiefs and their European success, based on Rob Kitson's book of the same name. The play premiered at Exeter's Northcott Theatre and received four stars out of five from The Guardian'''s Mark Lawson.

Accolades In February 2011, was made an Honorary Fellow of the National Film and Television School; this is awarded "in recognition of outstanding contribution to the British film and television industry".

In a ceremony at Bath Abbey in 2016, was made a Doctor of Letters by Bath Spa University for his contribution to screenwriting and television production.

He was awarded the Hamilton Deane Award by the Dracula Society for The Living and the Dead'' in 2016.

Writing credits Production Notes BroadcasterWhite ElephantFeature film (co-written with Werner Grusch, 1984) N/AWater's EdgeShort film (1988) BBC2EastEnders25 episodes (1991–1994)BBC1Casualty"Crossing the Line" (1994) "Only the Lonely" (1994) "Not Waving But Drowning" (1995) "Outside Bulawayo" (1995) "Lost Boys" (1995)BBC1Silent Witness"Long Days, Short Nights" (1996) "Darkness Visible" (1996)BBC1Where the Heart Is11 episodes" (co-written with Vicky Featherstone, 1997–2000)ITVCity Central"Only Love Can Break Your Heart" (1998)BBC1Life Support"Trust" (1999) "The Price of Love" (1999) "Playing God" (1999) "Soul and Conscience" (1999) "The Undiscovered Country" (1999)BBC1Down to Earth13 episodes (2000–2001)BBC1Anchor MeTelevision film (2000)ITVParadise Heights6 episodes (2002)BBC1The Eustace Bros.6 episodes (2003)BBC1Hustle"A Touch of Class" (2004)BBC1Tom Brown's SchooldaysTelevision film (2005)ITVUnder the Greenwood TreeTelevision film (2005)ITVWild at Heart20 episodes (2006–2012)ITVLife on Mars16 episodes (co-written with Matthew Graham, 2006–2007)BBC1Bonekickers6 episodes (co-written with Matthew Graham, 2008)BBC1Ashes to Ashes24 episodes (co-written with Matthew Graham, 2008–2010)BBC1Case Histories"Case Histories, Part 1" (2011) "Case Histories, Part 2" (2011)BBC1Eternal Law6 episodes (co-written with Matthew Graham, 2012)ITVMoonfleetTelevision miniseries (2013)Sky OneThe Living and the Dead6 episodes (2016)BBC1Around the World in 80 DaysCo-creator, showrunner (2021-present)BBC1Journey to the Center of the EarthTelevision miniseries (TBA)BBC1Exe MenStage playNorthcott Theatre, Exeter

Awards and nominations Year Award Work Category Result Reference1989Gold HugoWater's EdgeBest Short Film (with Suri Krishnamma)2006TV Quick AwardsLife on MarsBest New Drama (with Matthew Graham and Tony Jordan)2007Broadcasting Press Guild AwardsWriter's Award (with Matthew Graham and Tony Jordan)2007TV Quick AwardsBest Loved Drama (with Matthew Graham and Tony Jordan)2007Edgar Allan Poe AwardsLife on Mars: "Episode 1"Best Television Episode Teleplay2007Writers' Guild of Great Britain AwardLife on Mars: Series 2Soap/Series (TV) (with Chris Chibnall, Mark Greig, Matthew Graham, Guy Jenkin, Tony Jordan and Julie Rutterford)2008Cinéma Tous EcransAshes to AshesAudience Award for Best International Television Series (with Matthew Graham)2008Writers' Guild of Great Britain AwardTelevision Drama Series (with Matthew Graham, Mark Greig, Julie Rutterford and Mick Ford)2010TRIC AwardsTV Crime Programme (with Matthew Graham and Tony Jordan)2010TV Quick AwardsBest Drama Series (with Matthew Graham)2010Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award Television Drama Series (with Matthew Graham, Julie Rutterford, Tom Butterworth, Chris Hurford, Jack Lothian and James Payne)2011TRIC AwardsTV Drama Programme of the Year (with Matthew Graham)

References

External links

at bbc.co.uk. British stars dominate Emmy TV awards http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8115817/Screenwriters-clash-over-state-of-TV-drama.html