My Hero creator Paul Mendelson busy with films, new series development

My Hero creator Paul Mendelson is keeping himself busy. He has several original movie projects in development in the UK and Los Angeles: A Meeting in Seville, The McKenzie Friend, Despicable/ Mom and Dad Must Die, (with Alan Moscowitz) GSOH' (with Keith Farnan) and Powercut (with Paul Alexander).

He is also developing comedy and drama series through his company, Full Moon Films, and writing original drama for BBC Radio 4. His credits for the station include four afternoon radio plays, three comedy series and he's adapted five Chief Inspector Dover novels by Joyce Porter.

Kenneth Cranham as
Chief Inspector Dover.
Photo © BBC

His  first 'original' Dover play starring Kenneth Cranham - Dover and the Smoking Gun - was broadcast last October.

Of interest to fans of his comedy work is the news that both May to December and So Haunt Me are in development as change format in the US, the latter with a major star.

He's also created The Glugs (www.theglugs.com) to promote a healthier lifestyle for kids. 

Fireworks at the Villa Lucia!

My Hero script writer Paul Mendelson's radio comedy Fireworks at the Villa Lucia!, starring Sammantha Bond, will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on New Year's Eve.

Described as an original Neapolitan radio comedy, the Radio Times selected Mendelson's story as a Pick of the Day for Christmas. "If you can only watch one TV show, listen to one radio programme or see one film on television each day this festive season, this is what you must tune in for."

When Pete (played by Philip Whitchurch, who played Tyler in My Hero), a jobbing TV scriptwriter who's jobbing less and less, goes on holiday to get away from the downward spiral of his career and breathe some fresh life into his marriage.

Finding himself booked into the same hotel in the Bay of Naples as a cult Hollywood director, who's on holiday to get away from movies and writers, Peter tries to pitch his cherished movie idea.

Knowing any director would run a mile from a struggling TV writer brandishing a dog-eared movie script, Pete hits on a ruse to "sell" his script – he'll intrigue the guy by pretending his fiction is the true story of how he and Julie (Bond) met.

Farcical misunderstandings ensue as Julie is forced to pass herself off as the script's main character – a fiery Venezuelan ex-soap star – with Pete masquerading as her psychoanalyst. And, as Julie gets into playing the role, she begins to re-write the script on the hoof giving the character a third split in her personality.

• Fireworks at the Villa Lucia! will be broadcast on Thursday 31st December on BBC Radio 4 at 2.15pm