Contact
I’m a freelance journalist and scriptwriter – often (but not always!) writing about the world I know: I’m partially deaf and grew up in a deaf family.
Journalism
As a journalist, I’ve written over 25 articles for the Guardian, including a piece for G2 revealing the world’s funniest live subtitling mistake. I’ve contributed to Radio 4 programmes and appeared on BBC BreakfastNews giving my verdict on some revolutionary subtitled glasses.
I wrote a humorous column on deaf culture for the BBC’s Ouch website for three years, have written about fatherhood for Yano and the Guardian, and I’ve have also worked in TV for the BBC and Channel 4. To read my work, check out the Journalism section above.
I’m the editor of a website offering news, features and opinion on deaf issues and culture in the UK – called The Limping Chicken. Along with publishing a range of writers, I write a regular column about being a deaf stay-at-home dad, and other news and opinion articles too. Since it was set up in February 2012, it’s had over 500,000 hits. Check it out! I’m also now the editor of a monthly magazine for the Deaf community, British Deaf News.
Filmmaking/scriptwriting
As a scriptwriter, I’ve created a series of award-winning dramas about deaf characters, in sign language.
My latest script was for the short play Mine (directed by Jeni Draper) for Deafinitely Theatre’s 4Play showcase in May 2013. This was a return to theatre, having written the play Lipstick and Lollipops for the company in 2008.
In film, I wrote the half-hour drama My Song, about a girl stuck between the deaf and hearing worlds (broadcast in 2011 on digital TV and online). In 2012 the film it was shown, along with Hands Solo (funded by UK Film Council and very very rude) at Brighton International Festival.
Other credits include hospital drama Departure Lounge, mini-series The Fingerspellers, the award-winning comedy Coming Out and my directing debut, Four Deaf Yorkshiremen.
My latest film, The Kiss is now in post production. To watch all my films in full, read reviews of them and find out about the directors, cast and crew, go to the Films section.
Other work
I currently work on a freelance basis and as well as being a journalist and scriptwriter, have also worked as a consultant (for the South Bank Centre, Royal Court Theatre, and the BBC), a copywriter (for the NDCS and STAGETEXT), a speechwriter, photographer, project manager and teacher.
Loved the movie made me cry. I am also caught in between. It is very lonely not to be accepted by either the hearing or the deaf. Thank you for making My Song.
That is me definitely, caught between deaf and hearing world, I have suffered for years so I know it only too well.