Bill Dare
{{Short description|English comedy writer (1960–2025)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Bill Dare
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1960|05|16}}
| birth_place = London, England
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2025|03|02|1960|05|16}}
| death_place =
| known_for = Dead Ringers
The Now Show
| occupation = Author, director, writer, producer
| parents = Peter Jones and Jeri Jones
| alma_mater = University of Manchester
}}
William Dare Jones (16 May 1960 – 2 March 2025), known professionally as Bill Dare, was an English writer and producer of radio and television comedy programmes.{{Cite web |date=2019-04-02 |title=How to get producers and agents to read your scripts – BCG Pro |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/pro/inside_track/getting_your_script_seen_video/ |access-date=2023-08-31 |website=British Comedy Guide |language=en}}
Early life and career
Bill Dare Jones was born in London on 16 May 1960,{{cite news |title=Bill Dare, creative force behind comedy shows from Spitting Image to Dead Ringers |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2025/03/05/bill-dare-spitting-image-dead-ringers-bbc-comedy-culshaw/ |access-date=5 March 2025 |publisher=The Telegraph |date=5 March 2025}} as the son of actor, screenwriter and broadcaster Peter Jones. He attended Manchester University.{{cite news |last=Young |first=Graham |date=1993-06-05 |title=Spitting Image celebrates its 100th edition next week – but producer Bill Dare admits the Royal Family's antics have now upstaged the famous show itself! |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-evening-mail/131170635/ |newspaper=Birmingham Evening Mail |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=2023-09-04 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230904000036/https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-evening-mail/131170635/ |archivedate=2023-09-04 }}
Dare was an author and producer/devisor of various (mainly comedy) programmes mainly for BBC Radio and television, including The Mary Whitehouse Experience, Dead Ringers, The Now Show, The Late Edition, I've Never Seen Star Wars and The Secret World, and Brian Gulliver's Travels. He was also the producer of eight series of ITV's Spitting Image.{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Andrew |date=1993-06-12 |title=Puppet masters |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-journal/131171471/ |newspaper=The Journal |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=2023-09-04 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230904001525/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-journal/131171471/ |archivedate=2023-09-04 }} A notable feature of the radio version of Dead Ringers was Jon Culshaw imitating the voice of Tom Baker at the end of the credits, saying Dare's name in an exaggerated fashion.
Personal life and death
Dare had a daughter from a relationship with Mary Downes. Dare married Lucy Jagger in 2020.{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2025/mar/07/bill-dare-obituary | title=Bill Dare obituary | work=The Guardian | date=7 March 2025 | last1=Hayward | first1=Anthony }}
Dare died in an accident abroad on 2 March 2025. His death was announced by his agent two days later.{{Cite news |last=Muir |first=Ellie |date=4 March 2025 |title=Bill Dare death: Spitting Image star dies after overseas accident |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/bill-dare-death-dead-ringers-spitting-image-b2708521.html |access-date=4 March 2025 |work=The Independent |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Duff |first1=Seamus |title=Spitting Image and Radio 4 comedy genius Bill Dare dies in accident abroad |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/breaking-spitting-images-bill-dare-34789084 |access-date=3 March 2025 |work=Daily Mirror |date=3 March 2025}} He was 64.{{Cite news |last=Rawnsley |first=Jessica |date=2025-03-04 |title=Bill Dare: Spitting Image and Dead Ringers creator dies |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm2yme20rypo |access-date=2025-03-04 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} He received tributes from several comedians and industry colleagues.{{Cite web |last=Crabbe |first=Ellie |date=2025-03-04 |title=Dead Ringers creator Bill Dare dies after accident overseas, says agent |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/bill-dare-death-dead-ringers-bbc-spitting-image-b1214494.html |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=The Standard |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Tributes paid to 'wisest comedy alchemist' as Spitting Image star and Dead Ringers producer dies in tragic 'accident' |url=https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/entertainment/spitting-image-dead-ringers-star-and-dead-ringers-bill-dare/ |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=LBC |language=en}} Dead Ringers star Jon Culshaw remembered Dare as the "wisest comedy alchemist and the dearest, dearest friend."
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|1124238}}
- {{discogs artist|Bill Dare}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dare, Bill}}
Category:British radio writers
Category:British comedy writers
Category:British television writers
Category:British television producers
Category:British radio show creators
Category:British television show creators
Category:People educated at St John's School, Leatherhead
Category:Place of birth missing