Stephen Poliakoff

Biography

Stephen Poliakoff (born in London in 1952) is a British playwright, screenwriter and director, and one of the leading dramatists in British television since the 1970s. He began in the theatre, with plays staged in London, before establishing himself on the small screen with titles such as Stronger Than the Sun and Caught on a Train.

His first feature film was Runners (1983), directed by Charles Sturridge, but his directorial debut came with Hidden City (1988), which premiered at the Venice Film Festival. He then made Close My Eyes (1991), a reworking of the incest theme first explored in Hitting Town. His cinema work received less attention than his television drama, which includes Perfect Strangers and The Lost Prince, the latter earning an Emmy. His work often portrays contemporary Britain and the moral conflicts of powerful people. He has collaborated with actors such as Bill Nighy, Miranda Richardson and Michael Gambon.

His legacy lies in reshaping British television drama. In 2019 he wrote and directed Summer of Rockets, a semi-autobiographical series, and in 2026 his next project, a miniseries based on Peter Portelli's novel The Order, was announced. He is married to the screenwriter Sandy Welch.

Key films

• Hidden City (1988), his directorial debut, premiered in Venice.
• Close My Eyes (1991), a reworking of the incest theme with Clive Owen and Alan Rickman.
• Perfect Strangers (2001), a family drama with Matthew Macfadyen and Michael Gambon.
• The Lost Prince (2003), a single drama about the British royal family with Miranda Richardson.
• Glorious 39 (2009), a political thriller with Romola Garai, Bill Nighy and Julie Christie.