Ian La Frenais's Biography

Ian La Frenais was born in Whitley Bay, near Newcastle–upon-Tyne in the North-East of England on 7 January 1937.

His father Cyril was a French immigrant.

Ian La Frenais attended Dame Allan's School, Northumberland. His first job was as an insurance salesman.

Ian La Frenais and his writing partner Dick Clement are responsible for some highly successful character-led comedies in British television.

La Frenais said of himself and Dick Clement to The Telegraph:

"We're one sort of people really and we write about another sort. Everything we've done is a complete fraud!"

La Frenais and Clement's credits and more details of their connection can be found in the biography of Dick Clement.

In addition, Ian La Frenais adapted ‘Lovejoy’ and wrote ‘Spender’ for TV.

La Frenais married American artist Doris Vartan in 1984.

Ian La Frenais and Dick Clement were both awarded the OBE in the 2007 Queen’s Birthday Honours.

In October 2017, Porridge returned to BBC One once again written by Clement and La Fresnais.