Crew

Andy Dale is the author of 'Just 14', the novel on which Generation Game is based. He has spent more than 30 years building a successful career as a Microsoft consultant, but his real ambition was always to become, in the words of The Beatles, a "Paperback Writer". After finally publishing the novel he'd started writing as a teenager, he discovered that some dreams are worth the wait. His debut comedy Piranhas in the Bedroom launched a series of nostalgic, laugh-out-loud novels following the exploits of Jonathan Stadler, an Aston Villa-obsessed everyman with a talent for finding himself in the world's most embarrassing situations. The standout success of Just 14 struck a chord with readers who remembered a simpler, pre-internet Britain of playground friendships, first loves, football stickers and endless adventures. The book sold strongly, attracted interest from film producers and inspired what is now becoming the feature film Generation Game. Its sequel, Just 15: It Could Be Rotterdam, followed in 2024. Influenced by the wit and warmth of Mike Gayle and Nick Hornby, Andy's books have sold more than 60,000 copies, winning readers with their humour, heart and affectionate nostalgia for growing up in Britain during the 1970s and 1980s. When not writing about football-mad teenagers, family chaos and life's awkward moments, Andy has also ventured into children's fiction with his magical King Derek and the Wonder Wizards series. Today he is an author, screenwriter and storyteller who continues to prove that it's never too late to follow a dream.

Claire Bennett is one of those rare writers who had the courage to walk away from the corporate world and bet on her creative talent. That leap paid off spectacularly. Armed with the inspiration, confidence and craft she gained from The Arvon Foundation's renowned Writing for Radio course in 1995, Claire launched a career that has spanned television, radio, theatre, screenwriting, short fiction and performance poetry. Her professional journey began at Birmingham's legendary Pebble Mill Studios, where she wrote audio drama for the BBC. Long before podcasts became a global phenomenon and bite sized audio storytelling was fashionable, Claire was already ahead of the curve, creating a quirky and innovative One Minute Soap for Radio 2's Mo Dutta Show. She went on to write acclaimed dramas for BBC Radio 4, including The Afternoon Play and two serials for Woman's Hour. Claire's talent soon made its mark on British television. As a core writer on the hit BBC daytime drama Doctors, she helped shape hundreds of hours of award winning television, collecting an impressive array of honours along the way, including a Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award, a National Television Award and a Royal Television Society Award. Her writing credits also include some of the biggest names in British drama, including EastEnders, Holby City and Crossroads. Today, Claire writes across television, theatre, prose and poetry, and is returning to her first love of audio storytelling. With decades of award winning experience, a wonderfully sharp sense of humour and a gift for finding the humanity in every character, she remains one of Birmingham's most accomplished and versatile writers.