Waterhouse, Keith Spencer CBE FRSL

1929

The prolific writer and journalist Keith Waterhouse was born in Hunslet (Leeds), Yorkshire, on 6 February 1929, the fourth son of Ernest and Elsie Waterhouse. He left school at the age of 15, worked at odd jobs and became a newspaperman in Leeds. Then he came to London as a journalist, eventually obtaining positions as a columnist with the “Daily Mirror” (1970-1986) and the “Daily Mail” (beginning in 1986). He is a regular contributor to “Punch” and other periodicals. He is also a playwright, screenwriter and novelist with great skill at creating comedy and satire ‘out of depressing conditions.’ His first novel, in 1957, “There is a Happy Land”, was followed by the very successful “Billy Liar” in 1959 (made into a play in 1960, a film in 1963 and a musical in 1974). Together with Willis Hall, his collaborator on the production of “Billy Liar”, Waterhouse wrote several other plays and revues, including “All Things Bright and Beautiful” (1962), “They Called the Bastard Stephen” (1964) and “Whoops-a-Daisey” (1968). His play “Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell” was produced in 1991, and had a successful revival in 2000 with Peter O’Toole in the title role. Waterhouse is a recipient of a number of prizes and awards for his writings, including television series. He was honoured with a CBE in 1991. He became a member of the Garrick Club in 1977.