David Nicholls

David Nicholls was born in 1966 and studied English Literature and Drama at the University of Bristol, after which he studied acting at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York.

He returned to London in 1991 and worked as an actor for eight years. After three years at the Royal National Theatre, he joined BBC Radio Drama as a script editor and researcher, then continued working as a script editor for various TV companies.

His first script was an adaptation for the screen of Sam Shepherd's stage play, Simpatico, with director Matthew Warchus. His first original script was Waiting, later optioned by the BBC. His romantic comedy for television, I Saw You, won a BANFF Award (Best Single Play). He went on to write several pieces for television, including the BAFTA nominated, Much Ado About Nothing, an updated version of the Shakespearean comedy, starring Damian Lewis and Sarah Parrish; and an adaptation of Tess of the D'Urbevilles in 2008.

He is also the author of four novels: Starter for Ten (2003), the story of Brian Jackson, who arrives at University with the burning ambition of appearing on University Challenge; The Understudy (2005); One Day (2009), a love story spanning 20 years; and Us (2014), a picaresque about a couple travelling Europe in a bid to save their marriage. One Day won the Galaxy National Book Award (Book of the Year), and Us was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize.

Starter for Ten was made into a film in 2006, and One Day was released in 2011.  David Nicholls also adapted Blake Morrison's And When Did You Last See Your Father? for the screen, the film being released in 2007 starring Colin Firth and Jim Broadbent.

David Nicholls lives in North London.