Biografi
Born in London in 1961, Chris Lang is a British screenwriter, producer, and actor known for creating several British drama series, including the award-winning Unforgotten (2015), the four-part thriller Innocent (2018), and the Netflix series The Hookup Plan (2018).
Lang began his writing career in 1993, contributing to British TV shows such as The Bill (1984-2010)—which earned him a Writer's Guild nomination—Soldier Soldier (1991-1997), and The Knock (1994). In 2000, he penned his first original drama, The Glass (2001), and has since written numerous successful and critically acclaimed TV movies and dramas, including Sirens (2002), Unconditional Love (2003), Lawless (2004), The Reckoning (2011), and Undeniable (2014). He has also written episodes for ongoing series like Hustle (2004–) and Sky Atlantic's The Tunnel (2013).
Lang is best recognized as the writer, creator, and executive producer of the critically acclaimed Unforgotten (2015). The series starred Nicola Walker—who received a Press Guild Award nomination for best actress—alongside Sanjeev Bhaskar, Trevor Eve, Sir Tom Courtenay (nominated for an RTS award for best actor and winner of the BAFTA for best supporting actor), Sanjeev Bhaskar, and Bernard Hill. The first season aired in Autumn 2015, with ITV renewing the show for subsequent seasons: Season 2 aired in February 2017, Season 3 in July 2018, and Season 4 in 2020. The fourth season earned a BAFTA nomination for Best Drama Series.
Dark Heart (2016), adapted by Lang from Adam Creed’s novel, premiered in November 2016. He also co-wrote the four-part thriller Innocent (2018), starring Lee Ingleby, which aired in May 2018. The series was adapted for German television as Unschuldig (2018) and broadcast in December 2019.
A second series of Innocent, co-written with Matthew Arlidge and starring Katherine Kelly, was broadcast in May 2021.
Lang co-created The Hookup Plan (2018) (Plan Coeur) with Noémie Saglio for Netflix, which was renewed for a second season in 2019.
He wrote the four-part drama The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe (2022), starring Eddie Marsan and Monica Dolan. The series is based on the true story of prison officer John Darwin, who faked his own death to claim life insurance and avoid bankruptcy without his two sons’ knowledge.
Unforgotten has been renewed for a fifth season, which is currently in production.
As an actor, Lang appeared in British TV series including Drop the Dead Donkey, Outside Edge, A Dance to the Music of Time, and All Along the Watchtower. He has also worked as a voice actor in films like A Monkey's Tale and the children's TV series Kipper the Dog.
He co-founded the production company TXTV alongside Matthew Arlidge and Jeremy Gwilt, which produces much of his work and develops original projects for British broadcasters. Lang resides in London with his wife and their children.
