Shameless creator Paul Abbott interview

During #KeeleGraduation Winter 2015 screenwriter and producer Paul Abbott was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters in recognition of his national and international contribution to screen-writing and production for television drama.

His creations include Touching Evil, Linda Green, and in 2003 the acclaimed political thriller State of Play brought him to the attention of Hollywood, where it was remade as a movie, starring Russell Crowe. Then came the multi-award winning, semi-autobiographical series Shameless, which ran for eleven series in the UK and was remade in the US.

Following the award of his honorary degree, Paul took part in an hour long Question and Answer session in the Chancellor's Building.

Attended by 100 people and hosted by Dr Beth Johnson who has carried out extensive research into Abbott's televisual oeuvre, the Q&A was open to Keele staff and students, as well as members of the public.

Arrestingly honest, Paul answered a multitude of questions about his work, inspirations, processes of writing, autobiographical elements of his shows, as well as his favourite characters, future television and literary projects and his success writing as a single author and working in writing teams in the UK and the USA.

Closing the session, he offered the following advice to writers: "The best writing is re-writing. If you think you have written a great piece, be patient. Leave it a few weeks and go back to it. If it doesn't blow you away, do it again - but better."

Видео Shameless creator Paul Abbott interview канала Keele University