Jane Fallon

Born as the youngest of five children in Harrow, northwest London, Fallon's family moved to Buckinghamshire when she was a child, and she grew up in a flat above her parents' newsagent's shop.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/my-secret-life-jane-fallon-author--tv-producer-49-1919242.html|title=My Secret Life: Jane Fallon, author & TV producer, 49|website=The Independent|date=13 March 2010|access-date=28 August 2014}}

She was educated at St Bernard's Convent School in Slough, Berkshire, and University College London, where she studied history, graduating with a bachelor of arts in 1982.{{cite web|url=http://www.janefallon.co.uk/about.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150827062506/http://www.janefallon.co.uk/about.html|title=Jane Fallon|archive-date=27 August 2015|access-date=8 August 2020|author=www.janefallon.co.uk}} Alongside her studies, she started writing for the history department's magazine, for the university newspaper, London Student, and for Pi Magazine.[https://www.ucl.ac.uk/campaign/news/2020/feb/top-novelist-and-television-producer-jane-fallon-awarded-ucl-honorary-fellowship UCL 11 February, 2020, "Top novelist and television producer Jane Fallon awarded UCL Honorary Fellowship"]

After her studies, she began working for a theatrical literary agency. After a few years there, she decided to become a freelance script reader and script editor for different theatrical productions and television, and in 1994, she advanced to become a producer on the series EastEnders. This was followed by a number of awarded series, such as This Life, 20 Things to Do Before You're 30, and Teachers.

By 2006, Fallon had decided to leave television and become a full-time novelist. A year later, she debuted with her first national bestseller, Getting Rid of Matthew. She has followed this with Got You Back, Foursome, The Ugly Sister, Skeletons, Strictly Between Us, My Sweet Revenge, Faking Friends, Tell Me a Secret, Queen Bee, Worst. Idea. Ever. and Just Got Real.[https://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/client/jane-fallon/cv Curtis Brown, "Jane Fallon books"] Her books have been translated into more than 20 languages.

Her 2008 novel, Got You Back, was made into a musical titled Joyride, with music by the Swedish pop group Roxette. The world premiere took place in Sweden at Malmö Opera on 6 September 2024.{{cite web|title=Joyride the Musical |url=https://www.malmoopera.se/forestallningar/joyride-the-musical-en |website=malmoopera.se |date=15 November 2023 |access-date=7 September 2024}}

In 2011, Foursome was nominated for the Melissa Nathan Award for Romantic Comedy Fiction and in 2018, Faking Friends was nominated in the popular fiction category of the National Book Awards.[https://www.thebookseller.com/news/two-pan-mac-melissa-nathan-shortlist The Bookseller, 4 February, 2011, "Two Pan Mac on Melissa Nathan shortlist"][https://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/news/specsavers-national-book-awards-2018-shortlist-announced Curtis Brown, 30 October, 2018, "Specialers National Book Awards 2018 shortlist announced"] In 2019, it was longlisted for the Comedy Women in Print Prize.[https://www.comedy.co.uk/pro/inside_track/comedy_women_in_print_prize_2019_longlists/ British Comedy Guide, 1 April, 2019, "Comedy Women in Print Prize 2019 linguists"] In 2020 she was awarded an honorary fellowship of University College London.

Fallon has been in a relationship with comedian Ricky Gervais since 1982; they met while studying at University College London. The couple have lived together since 1984 and reside in Hampstead.{{cite web |url=http://www.wmagazine.com/people/celebrities/2008/06/ricky_gervais |title=Tricky Ricky |work=W Magazine |date=June 2008|access-date=3 February 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204081012/http://www.wmagazine.com/people/celebrities/2008/06/ricky_gervais |archive-date=4 February 2015}}{{Cite tweet |author=Jane Fallon |user=JaneFallon |date=10 March 2020 |title=I have awful news |number=1237343328577994754|accessdate=8 August 2020}}{{cite web |url=http://www.yourcat.co.uk/Your-Cat/talking-cats-with-ricky-gervais.html |title=Talking cats with... Ricky Gervais |work=Your Cat |date=7 November 2014|access-date=3 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204071105/http://www.yourcat.co.uk/Your-Cat/talking-cats-with-ricky-gervais.html |archive-date=4 February 2015 |url-status=dead}}{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HR4k5LMsqHA&t=73 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/HR4k5LMsqHA |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=Ricky Gervais—Friday Night with Jonathan Ross—14/11/2003 Part 2 of 2 |work=Put The Telly On |publisher=YouTube|date=27 July 2010 |accessdate=8 August 2020 }}{{cbignore}} Fallon's niece, Elsie Fallon, is an actress.{{Cite tweet |author=Jane Fallon |user=JaneFallon |date=11 August 2016 |title=Proud auntie :) |number=763781218546642944|accessdate=8 August 2020}}

• EastEnders (1985–1994)
• This Life (1996–1997){{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/adele-parks-jane-fallon-i-was-worried-i-d-be-scared-of-her-because-of-the-way-the-heroines-are-in-her-books-ballsy-arsey-in-your-face-a6803401.html |title=Adele Parks & Jane Fallon: 'I was worried I'd be scared of her because of the way the heroines are in her books: ballsy, arsey, in your face' |author=Adam Jacques |website=independent.co.uk |date=10 January 2016 |access-date=9 December 2023}}
• Undercover Heart (1998)
• Massive Landmarks of the 20th Century (1999)
• Teachers (2001)
• 20 Things to Do Before You're 30 (2002)
• Single (2003)

All published by Penguin, unless otherwise stated:

• Getting Rid of Matthew (2007) {{ISBN|0141025298}} featured in the 2007 Richard and Judy Book Club
• Got You Back (2008) {{ISBN|0141034408}}
• Foursome (2010) {{ISBN|1782920307}}
• The Ugly Sister (2011) Pub. CB Creative Books {{ISBN|1782920323}}
• Skeletons (2014) {{ISBN|1444825232}}
• Strictly Between Us (2016) {{ISBN|1405917679}}
• My Sweet Revenge (2017) {{ISBN|9781405917759}}
• Faking Friends (2018) {{ISBN|9781405933094}}
• Tell Me a Secret (2019) {{ISBN|1405933127}}
• Queen Bee (2020) {{ISBN|1405943343}} featured in the 2020 Richard and Judy Book Club
• Worst. Idea. Ever. (2021) {{ISBN|0241515335}} shortlisted for the British Book Awards "Page Turner of the Year" award in May 2022
• Just Got Real (2022) {{ISBN|1405951117}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{official}}
• {{IMDb name|id=0266420|name=Jane Fallon}}

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Category:Living people

Category:1960 births

Category:Alumni of University College London

Category:BBC television producers

Category:English women television producers

Category:English women novelists

Category:People educated at St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School

Category:People from Harrow, London

Category:Writers from Buckinghamshire

Category:Writers from the London Borough of Harrow

Category:21st-century English women writers

Category:21st-century English writers

Category:Television producers from London