Sheridan Morley was an English author, biographer, critic and broadcaster.
19 Facts About Sheridan Morley
1.
2.
Sheridan Morley was the official biographer of Sir John Gielgud and wrote biographies of many other theatrical figures he had known, including Noel Coward.
3.
Sheridan Morley was born in Ascot, Berkshire, in a nursing home opposite Ascot Racecourse, the eldest son of actor Robert Morley and grandson, via his mother Joan Buckmaster, of the actress Dame Gladys Cooper.
4.
Sheridan Morley was named after Sheridan Whiteside, the title role his father was playing in a long-running production of The Man Who Came to Dinner at the Savoy Theatre in London.
5.
Sheridan Morley had close family connections with stars of the stage: in addition to his father and his maternal grandmother, his uncle was the actor John Buckmaster, his aunt Sally Pearson married the actor Robert Hardy, and Joanna Lumley was a cousin.
6.
Sheridan Morley's godparents were the dramatist Sewell Stokes and the actor Peter Bull; Morley's son Hugo was one of Noel Coward's many godchildren.
7.
Sheridan Morley was well taught there in the full range of subjects.
8.
Sheridan Morley graduated with third-class honours, and then spent a year teaching drama at the University of Hawaii.
9.
Sheridan Morley worked as a late-night newscaster for ITN from 1965, before moving to the BBC to present Late Night Line-Up for BBC 2 from 1967 to 1971, alongside Joan Bakewell and Tony Bilbow.
10.
Sheridan Morley presented Film Night for BBC 2 in 1971 and 1972.
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Sheridan Morley presented Kaleidoscope for BBC Radio 4, and an innovatory arts programme for BBC Radio 2 from 1990 to 2004.
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Sheridan Morley had begun The Radio Two Arts Programme in April 1990.
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Sheridan Morley then moved to a new programme format of Melodies For You in 2004, again on BBC Radio 2.
14.
Sheridan Morley made frequent appearances as the guest in the Dictionary Corner for the Channel 4 game show Countdown.
15.
Sheridan Morley joined The Times as deputy features editor in 1973, and then joined Punch in 1975 as its drama critic and arts editor, remaining with the magazine until 1989.
16.
Sheridan Morley then worked as drama critic for The Spectator from 1990; he was replaced in 2001 by Toby Young.
17.
Sheridan Morley wrote a show based on the songs of Vivian Ellis, Spread a Little Happiness, which played in 1992.
18.
Sheridan Morley's life was posthumously celebrated on 22 May 2007 with a gala afternoon performance at the Gielgud Theatre, organised by his widow Ruth Leon, with contributions and performances by friends and colleagues, including Liz Robertson, Edward Fox, Jenny Seagrove, Cameron Mackintosh, Patricia Hodge, Michael Law and Annabel Leventon.
19.
Sheridan Morley had gone to Oxford to meet a friend who was attending the university, and was introduced to Morley.