Clive Coleman

Clive Coleman presents Law In Action, having already been a barrister, a principal lecturer in law and a comedy writer.

Clive was called to the Bar in 1986 and practised in a mix of civil and criminal law. In his criminal work he both defended and prosecuted for the Crown Prosecution Service. In 1990 he lectured on the Bar Vocational Course and helped to pioneer skills training (advocacy, negotiation) for prospective barristers. During this time he was also busy establishing himself as a comedy writer.

He regularly contributed to Weekending and The News Huddlines. He also wrote the panel game Wordly Wise and the sit-com Hair In The Gate, which starred Allistair McGowan. In 1992, he won the BBCRadio Light Entertainment Contract Writers Award.

Clive's television comedy work includes Spitting Image, Smith and Jones, and Dead Ringers, though he is perhaps best known for Chambers, a sit-com about barristers starring John Bird and Sarah Lancashire, which started out on Radio 4 and moved to BBC One. In 1998 Clive won the BBC's inaugural Frank Muir Award, for comedy writing.

Clive's television drama work includes The Bill (for whom he has also acted as legal consultant), and Crossroads. He also writes columns for The Times and The Independent.

He regularly writes for, and pops up on radio with credits including co-writing and performing in Radio 4's Control Group 6, (nominated for the 1996 Writer's Guild Award for Best Radio Comedy), Radio Five Live's The Game's Up, with Allistair McGowan; and You Cannot Be Serious, with Kevin Day. Other regular guest appearances include Radio 4's The Motion Show, Quote Unquote and Loose Ends.