Ian La Frenais, OBE (born 7 January 1936), is an English writer best known for his creative partnership with Dick Clement. They are most famous for television series including The Likely Lads, Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?, Porridge, Lovejoy and Auf Wiedersehen, Pet.
In 1975, set up independent production company WitzEnd with long-term writing partner Dick Clement and producer Allan McKeown. In 1988, it transmuted into SelecTV, which in 1996 became part of Thames Television.
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He was awarded the O.B.E. (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2007 Queen Elizabeth II Birthday Honors List for his services to screen writing.
TV Series writer - 24 episodes, 1996 - 1999 written by - 4 episodes, 1997 - 1998
Still Crazy
1998
written by
Excess Baggage
1997
screenplay
Shine on Harvey Moon
1995
TV Series written by - 3 episodes
Lovejoy
TV Series series created by - 63 episodes, 1991 - 1994 created for television by - 10 episodes, 1986 by - 9 episodes, 1986 - 1994 written by - 1 episode, 1992
Spender: The French Collection
1993
TV Movie creator
Tracey Takes on New York
1993
TV Movie
Over the Rainbow
1993
TV Series writer
Full Stretch
1993
TV Series writer - 6 episodes
Tracey Ullman: A Class Act
1993
TV Movie
The Old Boy Network
1992
TV Series writer - 6 episodes
Spender
TV Series 2 episodes, 1992 creator - 2 episodes, 1991 - 1992 writer - 1 episode, 1991
The Commitments
1991
screenplay
Freddie and Max
1990
TV Series writer - 6 episodes
Laat maar zitten
TV Series writer - 21 episodes, 1988 - 1990 idea - 1 episode, 1990 original scripts - 1 episode, 1988
Vice Versa
1988
written by
Lenny Henry Tonite
1986
TV Series
Mog
1985
TV Series
Water
1985
screenplay
Sunset Limousine
1983
TV Movie written by
Never Say Never Again
1983
uncredited
The New Adventures of Lucky Jim
1982
TV Series writer - 7 episodes
The Other 'Arf
1980-1981
TV Series developed for television by - 8 episodes
To Russia... With Elton
1979
Documentary short
Doing Time
1979
written by
The Prisoner of Zenda
1979
screenplay
The Rita Moreno Show
1978
TV Movie script by
Going Straight
1978
TV Series by - 6 episodes
Porridge
TV Series by - 19 episodes, 1974 - 1977 written by - 1 episode, 1974
Three Piece Suite
1977
TV Series
The Likely Lads
1976
concept
On the Rocks
1975-1976
TV Series written by - 2 episodes
Comedy Playhouse
TV Series 2 episodes, 1975 writer - 1 episode, 1965
Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?
TV Series by - 25 episodes, 1973 - 1974 written by - 2 episodes, 1973 - 1974
It's Not the Size That Counts
1974
additional dialogue
Thick as Thieves
1974
TV Series written by - 8 episodes
The Train Now Standing
1973
TV Series writer - 2 episodes
7 of 1
TV Series 1 episode, 1973 by - 2 episodes, 1973
The Two Ronnies
1972
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Catch Me a Spy
1971
Villain
1971
screenplay
The Virgin Soldiers
1969
additional dialogue
Hannibal Brooks
1969
screenplay - as Ian Lafrenais
Otley
1969
screenplay
The Touchables
1968
screenplay
The Jokers
1967
Vacant Lot
1967
TV Series written by - 1 episode
The Further Adventures of Lucky Jim
1967
TV Series
Mr. Aitch
1967
TV Series 1 episode
The Likely Lads
TV Series written by - 18 episodes, 1964 - 1966 by - 2 episodes, 1966
A Christmas Night with the Stars
1964
TV Series 1 episode
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
My Generation
2017
Documentary producer filming
Spies of Warsaw
2013
TV Mini-Series associate producer - 3 episodes
Honest
2000
co-executive producer
Tracey Takes On...
1996-1999
TV Series supervising producer - 21 episodes
Still Crazy
1998
executive producer
The Best of Tracey Takes On...
1996
TV Movie supervising producer
The Commitments
1991
co-producer
Vice Versa
1988
producer
Water
1985
producer
Bullshot Crummond
1983
producer
Harry Carpenter Never Said It Was Like This
1982
TV Movie executive producer
To Russia... With Elton
1979
Documentary short producer
Doing Time
1979
producer
Catch Me a Spy
1971
associate producer
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
Parents of the Band
2008-2009
TV Series script editor - 6 episodes
Life Beyond the Box: Norman Stanley Fletcher
2003
TV Movie script consultant
P.O.S.H
1982
TV Short script editor
Shine on Harvey Moon
1982
TV Series script editor - 8 episodes
Astronauts
1981
TV Series script editor
The Other 'Arf
1980-1981
TV Series script editor - 14 episodes
Billy
1979
TV Series story consultant - 1 episode
A Severed Head
1970
production associate
Music Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Billy
1979
TV Series composer - 1 episode
Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?
1973-1974
TV Series composer - 27 episodes
Composer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Thick as Thieves
1974
TV Series 8 episodes
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Still Crazy
1998
writer: "DIRTY TOWN", "A WOMAN LIKE THAT"
Water
1985
lyrics: "Freedom", "Cascara", "All As One", "Cascaran National Anthem", "Listen to My Song", "Black Gold", "Protest"
Auf Wiedersehen, Pet
1983
TV Series arranger: "Breaking Away", "Get it Right" / writer: "Breaking Away", "Get it Right"
The Other 'Arf
1980
TV Series writer: "The Other 'Arf"
Doing Time
1979
"FREE INSIDE"
The Likely Lads
1976
lyrics: "Remember When"
Director
Title
Year
Status
Character
To Russia... With Elton
1979
Documentary short
Assistant Director
Title
Year
Status
Character
Doing Time
1979
second unit director
Editorial Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Never Say Never Again
1983
additional editing - uncredited
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Stowaway
2014
Short thanks
Oh My God
2009
Documentary special thanks
The Commitments: Looking Back
2004
Video documentary special thanks - as Ian La Fernais
The Making of Alan Parker's Film 'The Commitments'
1991
TV Movie documentary special thanks
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
British Sitcom: 60 Years of Laughing at Ourselves
2016
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Britain's Best Loved Sitcoms
2015
TV Series documentary
Himself - Writer, The Likely Lads; Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads; Porridge
50 Years of BBC2 Comedy
2014
TV Movie documentary
Porridge: Inside Out
2014
TV Series
Himself
The Comedy Vaults: BBC2's Hidden Treasure
2014
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Back with the Boys Again - Auf Wiedersehen Pet 30th Anniversary Reunion
2013
Video
Himself
Living the Life
2013
TV Series
Himself
Mark Lawson Talks to...
2013
TV Series
Himself
Singin' in the Rain: Raining on a New Generation
2012
Documentary
Himself
Making of Never Say Never Again
2009
Video documentary short
Himself
The Comedy Map of Britain
2008
TV Series documentary
Himself
Legends
2008
TV Series documentary
Himself
50 Greatest Comedy Catchphrases
2008
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Movie Connections
2007
TV Series documentary
Himself
The World's Greatest Comedy Characters
2007
TV Movie
Himself
The 50 Greatest Television Dramas
2007
TV Movie documentary
Himself
The Ultimate Sitcom
2006
TV Movie documentary
Himself
And It's Goodnight from Him
2005
TV Movie
Himself - Interviewee
Film '72
2005
TV Series
Himself
Breakfast
2005
TV Series
Himself
Drama Connections
2005
TV Series documentary
Himself
The Comedians' Comedian
2005
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Porridge @ 30
2004
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Happy Birthday BBC Two
2004
TV Movie documentary
Himself
The Commitments: Looking Back
2004
Video documentary
Himself
Ronnie Barker: A BAFTA Tribute
2004
TV Movie
Himself
Comedy Connections
2003
TV Series documentary
Himself
Darkness at High Noon: The Carl Foreman Documents
2002
Documentary
Himself
Heroes of Comedy
2001
TV Series documentary
Himself
The Greatest
2001
TV Series documentary
Himself
Laughter in the House: The Story of British Sitcom
1999
TV Mini-Series documentary
Himself
Omnibus
1997
TV Series documentary
Himself
The Lively Arts
1976
TV Series documentary
Himself
Late Night Line-Up
1966
TV Series
Himself
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2007
Annie
Annie Awards
Best Writing in an Animated Feature Production
Flushed Away (2006)
1997
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series
Tracey Takes On... (1996)
1996
CableACE
CableACE Awards
Variety Special or Series
Tracey Takes On... (1996)
1995
WGA Award (TV)
Writers Guild of America, USA
Variety - Musical, Award, Tribute, Special Event
Tracey Takes on New York (1993)
1992
BAFTA Film Award
BAFTA Awards
Best Screenplay - Adapted
The Commitments (1991)
1992
Peter Sellers Award for Comedy
Evening Standard British Film Awards
The Commitments (1991)
1992
ALFS Award
London Critics Circle Film Awards
British Screenwriter of the Year
The Commitments (1991)
1970
Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award
Writers' Guild of Great Britain
Best British Comedy Screenplay
Otley (1969)
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2009
Edgar
Edgar Allan Poe Awards
Best Motion Picture Screenplay
The Bank Job (2008)
2003
BAFTA TV Award
BAFTA Awards
Best Drama Serial
Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (1983)
1999
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series
Tracey Takes On... (1996)
1998
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series
Tracey Takes On... (1996)
1997
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Writing for a Variety or Music Program
Tracey Takes On... (1996)
1997
WGA Award (TV)
Writers Guild of America, USA
Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) - Series
Tracey Takes On... (1996)
1996
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special
The Best of Tracey Takes On... (1996)
1996
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Writing for a Variety or Music Program
Tracey Takes On... (1996)
1995
CableACE
CableACE Awards
Writing an Entertainment Special
Tracey Takes on New York (1993)
1995
CableACE
CableACE Awards
International Dramatic or Comedy Special or Series/Movie or Miniseries
Tracey Ullman: A Class Act (1993)
1994
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing in a Variety or Music Program
Tracey Takes on New York (1993)
1994
CableACE
CableACE Awards
International Movie or Miniseries/Comedy or Dramatic Special or Series
Lovejoy (1986)
1992
WGA Award (Screen)
Writers Guild of America, USA
Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium