Jez Simons

© Kev Ryan

His winning entries to the Royal Court and Royal Shakespeare emerging writers' initiatives led to a commission for Battersea Arts Centre, which subsequently became resident at the Soho Poly Theatre.

Simons was then contracted by the BBC to write for what was then a relatively new series: Eastenders. His first episode was watched by 19 million people and he became a regular visitor to Albert Square. He was also a writer on Emmerdale for four years.

Reluctant to leave Leicester, the theatre or his department, he combined all three. This led to eleven successful, professionally-produced stage commissions and the creation of his own company, now an Independent Pearson/Edexcel Centre.