James Mitchell

James William Mitchell (12 March 1926, in South Shields – 15 September 2002, in Newcastle-upon-Tyne) was a British writer, principally of crime fiction and spy thrillers.

The son of a shipyard worker, Mitchell also wrote under the pseudonyms James Munro and Patrick O. McGuire. He received bachelor's and master's degrees from Oxford. He married twice. His brother had two children who are still alive today; his daughter has two children, and 3 grandchildren.

James Mitchell created the British television series When the Boat Comes In (BBC) and Callan (Thames Television), and wrote many other television scripts, including episodes of The Troubleshooters, the legal drama Justice and The Avengers.

Mitchell died in Newcastle upon Tyne on 15 September 2002. He was 76.