Dennis Potter (1935 - 1994)

Dennis Christopher George Potter was a world renowned English television dramatist, screenwriter and journalist. 

Dennis is perhaps best known for his BBC TV serials Pennies from Heaven (1978), The Singing Detective (1986), and the television plays Blue Remembered Hills (1979) and Brimstone and Treacle (1976).

Born and raised in the Forest of Dean until the age of thirteen, he then moved with his family to London; but his family returned to Berry Hill, where Dennis spent all his holidays. He used the Forest people and their environment as inspiration for a large body of his work.

His television dramas mixed fantasy and reality, the personal and the social, and often explored themes and images from popular culture.  Potter is widely regarded as one of the most influential and innovative dramatists to have worked in British television. 

The ‘Dennis Potter Award’ was set up in 1995, to nurture the work of new writers of talent and personal vision. The BBC said of the award:  "Its spirit is that of the writer who provides its name, probably the greatest writing talent to have worked in television." 

Local historian, John Belcher, says: 

“Raised in the Forest of Dean until the age of 13, he then moved with his family to London, but his family returned to Berry Hill, where Dennis spent all his holidays. He used the Forest people and their environment as inspiration for a large body of his work. Dennis Potter was a world famous playwright for TV and film, including Hollywood.  From film scriptwriter to ground-breaking plays on BBC.”  

The plaque is on display on a cottage found on Joyford Hill, Forest of Dean

Image credit: As far as we have been able to ascertain, this image is within the public domain.