Colin
Bateman

Colin Bateman worked as a journalist in Ireland before becoming a full-time writer. His first novel, Divorcing Jack, was published in 1995 and won the Betty Trask Prize. Colin later adapted the novel for a film starring David Thewlis and Rachel Griffiths. Colin is the author of many critically acclaimed novels, including several that he has adapted for the screen. He has also written several children's books including Reservoir Pups and Bring Me The Head Of Oliver Plunkett.

In May 2010, Bateman won the Crimefest Last Laugh Award for his novel The Day of the Jack Russell, published by Headline. His latest book, Papercuts, was published by Head of Zeus in 2016.

For television Colin created and wrote the long-running crime series, Murphy’s Law, starring James Nesbitt, for the BBC. Colin also created the newspaper drama Scup and has written episodes on Rebus and Doc Martin. Colin's most recent film Driven, directed by Nick Hamm and starring Jason Sudeikis, closed the Venice Film Festival and also had special screening at the Toronto International Film Festival. He also co-wrote the film The Journey which premiered at Venice in 2016.

His plays for the stage, National Anthem and Bag for Life, were both critically acclaimed. He also wrote the musical Teenage Kicks for the Derry European City of Culture celebrations. Colin currently has several new commissions in the works.

In 2010 he was made an Honorary Doctor of Letters by the University of Ulster for his services to literature. 

He is currently working on new feature films about Fidel Castro and the spy George Blake.