Ronnie Taylor (scriptwriter)

Ronnie Taylor
Ronnie Taylor in 1965 at an ABC TV recording of Just Jimmy
Born	(1921-06-28)June 28, 1921
Nationality	British
Occupation	Scriptwriter, producer, director

Ronnie Taylor (28 June 1921 - 9 September 1979) was an English television and radio comedy scriptwriter, producer and director.

Born in Leigh, Lancashire, Ronnie left school at 14 to join the family insurance broker's firm. He taught himself to play the piano and guitar and became involved with amateur dramatics/musicals. He formed a vocal group and wrote sketches and songs and became a founder member of "The Kordites". In 1941, he joined RAF Signals and served in North Africa and Italy where he also wrote and produced service entertainment.

After the war he auditioned at BBC Manchester for Bowker Andrews and was initially mistaken as the tuner for the studio Bechstein piano. He was offered a 13-week job writing continuity for Gracie Fields. Fields introduced Taylor to her protégé variety performer Norman Evans and Taylor was contracted to write the radio series Over the Garden Wall, for which Evans is best remembered. He wrote radio series for 'Old Mother Riley' (Arthur Lucan and Kitty McShane) and worked with comedians Jimmy James, Robb Wilton, Dave Morris and Albert Modley. In 1950, he began his long association with Al Read and the BBC Radio series Variety Fanfare recorded at Hulme Hippodrome which showcased new comedy talent including Ken Platt, Morecambe and Wise and Ken Dodd. In 1951, Taylor was appointed as BBC Producer with North Region Variety.

In 1952, he trained as a television director at BBC's Lime Grove Studios and brought Home James with Jimmy James and Club Night with Dave Morris/Variety Northern Showground to TV.

In 1959, he began Taylor-Vision, TV and Radio Production Company and in 1960 Taylor produced the British version of Candid Camera. He began a 19-year relationship as writer for Harry Worth through series with BBC Manchester and London and Thames Television.