Jonathan Lynn

Jonathan Lynn created and wrote with Antony Jay the multi-award-winning series Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister. Lynn authored the best-selling books The Complete Yes Minister and The Complete Yes Prime Minister, which have sold millions of copies, have been translated into numerous languages and have never been out of print.

Most recently, in London, he directed two of his plays, Yes, Prime Minister (Gielgud Theatre and then Apollo Theatre) and The Patriotic Traitor (Park Theatre).

Lynn’s West End theatre debut, aged 23, was as Motel the Tailor in the original London cast of Fiddler on the Roof.

London directing credits include: The Glass Menagerie; Songbook (Olivier and Evening Standard Awards for Best Musical); Anna Christie (RSC); Joe Orton’s Loot, with Leonard Rossiter; Pass the Butler by Eric Idle; Shaw’s Arms and the Man; Feydeau’s A Little Hotel on the Side, translated by John Mortimer; and Three Men on a Horse (Olivier Award for Best Comedy) (National Theatre).

He also wrote the novels Mayday, Samaritans and a sort-of memoir, Comedy Rules.

Lynn has directed ten films, including Clue, for which he wrote the screenplay; Nuns on the Run (also written by Mr Lynn); My Cousin Vinny and The Whole Nine Yards.

Numerous awards include the BAFTA Writers Award, Writers Guild (twice), Broadcasting Press Guild (twice), NAACP Image Award, Environmental Media Award, Ace Award – Best Comedy Series on US cable, and a Special Award from the Campaign for Freedom of Information.