Biography
Simon W. Golding is a multi best-selling and award-winning novelist, screenwriter and producer. Simon started writing for national magazines (Reader's Digest, Cosmopolitan, FHM, The Great Outdoors etc.) and radio, including News Huddlines and Week Ending (BBC Radio 4 & 2). The publication of Manquito (Minerva Press) in 1995 launched Simon as a fictional novel writer. The Birth of Manquito will be released in late 2023 (DB Publishing). Other publications followed, including Tally (USA only)and Badged! A move into non-fiction saw the publication of the revised edition of the world best seller Killing Time (Lion publishing) - Foreword by Ludovic Kennedy. Simon's last book surrounds Ken Loach gritty northern classic Kes - Life After Kes (GET Publishing 2007) - Foreword by Michael Winner. The book has received national praise on TV and radio. Simon's next book, which will be launched in winter 2020, is an authorized account of the late Brian Glover, Wrestler, Actor, Writer (GET Publishing) - Foreword by Darren Day. Another new commission is a book surrounding all movies and TV projects made in the county of Shropshire - On Screen Shropshire (GET Publishing) - Foreword by John Challis Boycie from 'Only Fools and Horses'.
One of Simon's main productions at the moment is writing a big budget crime thriller screenplay, The Athena Syndrome, with filming taking place in 2023. It is being produced by Simon. Filming will take place in London, however, most of the location filming will be shot in Malta. The very talented and multi-award winning director, Jason Figgis, is directing and there are some very big names attached to the production. Confirmed names so far are Patrick Bergin, Rita Tushingham, Ian Ogilvy, Gabriella Wright and Jamie Foreman. The production offices are based at Elstree Studios.
Simon is working on a new project with actor/writer Norman Eshley. The screenplay, written by Norman, is called The Dreamtime of The Artful Dodger and the author will be representing him through his new literary agency; Scriptura UK. Another new works-in-progress production is a 10-part comedy series called Joan - working with his new writing partner - actress/writer/impressionist; Francine Lewis.
The author's latest project is a biography surrounding the French cinematic icon Jacques Tati called The Quiet Man.
In summer 2023 Golding will be translating, from Spanish to English, Icíar Bollaín best selling book (published by El Pais Aguilar in 1997), A Quixotic Observer (surrounds Ken Loach Carla's Song (1996), for the UK national market, but more importantly he is working on a volume which includes all of Loach's movies - Ken Loach - Real to Reel.
Golding is also working on a documentary surrounding his book, Life After Kes, with a filmed Screentalk included on a Kes Special Blu-Ray DVD together with Sony BMG. This will tie-in with the paperback addition of Life After Kes, - foreword by Melanie Sykes- the book is now available on Kindle (Amazon).
Simon is selling a comedy/drama script to a main-stream television company, co-written with his long-term writing partner; TV presenter Melanie Sykes. The writing pair are also working on a new fictional novel.
The author has been filmed, for the BBC Inside Out series, for a TV special celebrating 40 years since the release of Kes. Also appearing in the program will be Ken Loach, and Golding has also appeared in shows Saturday Night Live (with Lenny Henry, Tellystacks hosted by Paul Ross and The Time, The Place, presented by John Stapleton.
Simon's workload included two non-fiction novels. The first one, called Thursday's Child, is a true adventure novel surrounding entrepreneur extraordinaire and aviation record holder, Mike Kendrick. Mike's long term business partner and close friend, Richard Branson, has kindly written the foreword - and was launched with national media praise by DB Publishing in October 2014. The second is a controversial book surrounding the murder of 13-year-old newspaper boy Carl Bridgewater in 1978 - Scapegoat for Murder: The Truth About the Killing of Carl Bridgewater - and brings new evidence to the table. DB Publishing launched the book in June 2016 - the delay due to the book being adapted into a Channel 4 documentary - Interview With a Murderer (broadcast 12th June 2016) by ITN Productions - presented by top criminologist; Professor David Wilson. The author has appeared on national TV and written articles about the book for The Sunday Mercury, Birmingham Mail and Reader's Digest.The author was rewarded with a Broadcast Award in 2017 for the documentary, adapted from his book, Interview With a Murderer on Channel 4 - Best Documentary Programme. Interview With a Murder also won a Royal Television Award at the RTS Television Journalism Awards 2017. A three-hour series has been launched internationally and the extended documentary again includes the author - it has received excellent reviews in the USA and Canada. And updated edition of the novel, with new evidence, will be available in 2023 (DB Publishing)
Simon collaborated on a West End show with actress/comedienne Helen Lederer- called; Helen Lederer ask...WTF (Why The Fuss) - the show opened on 9th May this year at the St James Theatre, Westminster - to great reviews. The sell-out show also included special guest Kimberly J. Walsh from Girls Aloud.
Simon has written and co-producing a comedy pilot script called, For the Love of Ella, and a further 5 treatment episodes for a 6-part series for TV. Filming started on October 21st 2013. The comedy stars Ewen MacIntosh (Big Keith in The Office) with actress Lucy Drive playing the other lead, Ella. The film will also include ex-cage fighter and actor/presenter Alex Reid, actor 'Danny Peacock (I)' (Comic Strip, film and TV), Bobby Ball (Cannon and Ball & actor), actress Françoise Pascal (Mind your Language plus TV and film), Bruce Jones (Coronation Street, film and TV), Vicki Michelle Allo Allo!, film and TV), Valerie Leon (film and TV), Darren Day (You Bet, presenter & actor), TV presenter Melanie Sykes, comedian and entertainer Billy Pearce, actress/producer/writer Hazel D'Jan and actress Patricia Ryder. The project is being directed, edited and co-produced by James Farina. The cinematographer is the respected Simon Rowling.
The author launched his own production company - Plan B Media Productions. Simon will be Director of Productions, together with presenter Nikki Brown (Business & Finance Director) and John Harris (Technical, Audio & Visual Director). They are already working on a documentary about comedians called Standing Up!
Hopefully during the summer of 2023 the author will direct a world premiere of his comedic one act trilogy under the title of The Film Audition. This will included The Son (act 1), The Mother (act 2) and The Father (act 3).
Simon Golding is also a director and organizer of the established prestigious Bridgnorth Music and Arts Festival, which raises money for many local and national charities. Simon is also a presenter and chairman for the soon-to-be-launched radio station; The Valley Radio. Simon will present various art shows. The author is also a seasoned campaigner for miscarriages of justice and works for free for several campaigns.
