Geoff McQueen

{{Short description|British television screenwriter (1947–1994)}}{{More citations needed|date=March 2026}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}} {{Use British English|date=March 2012}} {{Infobox writer  | name = Geoff McQueen | image = | birth_name = Geoffrey McQueen | birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1947|07|24}} | birth_place = [[Dalston]], London, England | death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1994|07|06|1947|07|24}} | death_place = England | occupation = [[Screenwriter]] | nationality = [[British people|British]] | notableworks = ''[[The Bill]] <small>(1984–2010)</small>'' | period = 1982–94 | spouse = {{marriage|Jan Reeve|1967|1994}}<br/>(his death) }} '''Geoffrey McQueen''' (24 July 1947 – 6 July 1994) was a British television screenwriter and creator of the long-running [[police procedural]] ''[[The Bill]].''<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Jeffery |first=Morgan |date=1 May 2024 |title=An oral history of The Bill: Looking back with the cast of Britain's most iconic cop show |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a835213/oral-history-of-the-bill/ |access-date=2026-03-15 |work=[[Digital Spy]]}}</ref>{{Additional citation needed|date=March 2026|reason=Need source for birth date and death date}} He also wrote the popular comedy-dramas ''[[Give Us a Break (TV series)|Give Us a Break]]'', ''[[Big Deal (TV series)|Big Deal]]'' and ''[[Stay Lucky]]''.{{Citation needed|date=March 2026}}

Early in his career, he worked as a [[carpenter]] and [[joiner]], building British-style pubs around the world.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Benson |first=Andrew |date=19 July 1994 |title=Personal: Television's popular pen Obituary: Geoff McQueen |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/293440495/C1E5E39A067A40E3PQ/1 |access-date=2026-03-15 |work=[[The Guardian]] |via=[[ProQuest]]}}</ref> He began writing for television in his early thirties.<ref name=":1" /> His first success was in 1982 when an episode of ''[[The Gentle Touch]]'' he had written was broadcast.{{Citation needed|date=March 2026}} He originally conceived of ''The Bill'' as a one-off television drama which first aired on August 16, 1983.<ref name=":0" />

He wrote for other shows, including ''[[Boon (TV series)|Boon]]'', and two [[Jim Davidson]] [[sitcoms]].

== Personal life and death == He was married to his wife Jan, and they had two children.{{Citation needed|date=March 2026}} His son Greg McQueen is the editor of the book ''100 Stories for Haiti''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Holmes |first=Jeff |date=18 March 2010 |title=Mum Rosemary pens story to help Haiti earthquake victims: WRITER'S MESSAGE OF COMPASSION GOES INTO PRINT |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/237634341/fulltext/C1E5E39A067A40E3PQ/2 |access-date=2026-03-15 |work=Paisley Daily Express |via=[[ProQuest]]}}</ref>

He died on 6 July 1994, aged 46, from an [[aneurysm]].

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * {{IMDb name|id=0574341|name=Geoff McQueen}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McQueen, Geoff}} [[Category:1947 births]] [[Category:1994 deaths]] [[Category:British television writers]] [[Category:The Bill]] [[Category:20th-century British dramatists and playwrights]] [[Category:British male dramatists and playwrights]] [[Category:20th-century British male writers]] [[Category:British male television writers]] [[Category:People from Dalston]] [[Category:Writers from the London Borough of Hackney]] [[Category:20th-century British screenwriters]] [[Category:Deaths from aneurysm]]