Kevin Laffan on AllMovie

Though he is primarily known as the creator of the long-running British soap opera Emmerdale Farm (later re-titled Emmerdale), screenwriter/playwright Kevin Laffan also penned numerous stage and television productions in addition to the 2001 novel Virgins Are in Short Supply. Born in Reading, Berkshire, England, in May of 1922, Laffan initially wrote for the stage under the name Kevin Barry during the 1950s. The success of such plays as 1969's Zoo, Zoo, Widdershins Zoo lead to television work on the series Bud (1963) and the made-for-television drama Decision to Burn, and Laffan was soon asked write an afternoon farming drama for ITV. Beginning its twice weekly run in 1972, Emmerdale Farm proved a success in its bid to bring rural matters to the small screen. Staying on with Emmerdale Farm until 1985, Laffan wrote 262 episodes, subsequently serving as a consultant as the series dropped the "Farm" from it's title and became more urbanized. In addition to his work on Emmerdale Farm, Laffan also wrote a trio of made-for-television efforts and worked on such U.K. series as Beryl's Lot and I Thought You's Gone. In early March of 2003, Kevin Laffan died of pneumonia following heart surgery. He was 80.