Edward J. Mason

Edward J. Mason (born May 8, 1912 in Birmingham, England, died February 3, 1971) was a scriptwriter for radio, television and movies for both the BBC and its rival Radio Luxembourg.

Edward J. Mason had his first major success in 1947 as a script writer when the BBC Home Service radio network began airing his British detective serial Dick Barton which he created with co-writer Geoffrey Webb. This was the first serial to air on the BBC and it continued to be aired until 1951. The BBC replaced Dick Barton with The Archers. Originally another creation of the Mason-Webb team, today it remains as the world's longest-running soap opera on radio.

In 1950 and prior to The Archers, Mason also created the radio serials The Lady Craved Excitement and What the Butler Saw, both of which were filmed in that year by Hammer Films.

In 1955, Edward J. Mason created another mystery series called Shadow Man for the BBC's English language commercial rival Radio Luxembourg. Shadow Man was sponsored by Stork margarine and it ran on 208 at 8:30 pm on Tuesday evenings.

That same year Mason also worked on scripts for two television series: Unheimliche Begegnungen and a year later (1956) on I'm Not Bothered.

In 1960, Mason wrote for the TV mini-series The Days of Vengeance and in 1961 Flower of Evil. In 1962 his TV work included Outbreak of Murder followed in 1964 by How to be an Alien.

Mason also created a string of panel game shows with producer Tony Shryane and these included Guilty Party, My Word!, and My Music.

Trivia

• The actor who played the part of Mason's Dick Barton on the BBC Home Service was also the voice of Dan Dare in the serial that ran on Radio Luxembourg's 208 wavelength.