Clarke was born in Austerfield, then in the West Riding of Yorkshire. He was, in the words of his Who's Who entry, educated "badly during World War II".[2] His jobs before becoming a writer included a teacher, a policeman, a taxi driver and a salesman, in addition to being a soldier in the Royal Corps of Signals of the British Army.[3]
Career
In the late 1960s, Clarke wrote thrillers for BBC Radio. The first in January 1968, The 17-Jewelled Shockproof Swiss-Made Bomb, featured Peter Coke, Ben Kingsley, Bob Grant and Anne Stallybrass. A couple of months later, Clarke wrote The Events at Black Tor, which was a police thriller which also featured Bob Grant, along with James Beck.
Clarke was the sole writer of the long-running Last of the Summer Wine, which at its peak had an audience of over 18 million viewers. It featured Bill Owen, Peter Sallis, Brian Wilde, Kathy Staff and Dame Thora Hird in leading roles. While Clarke was not involved in casting, he wrote the character named Clegg with Sallis specifically in mind.[4]
Clarke also wrote a prequel to the series, First of the Summer Wine.
Clarke has worked in film, penning the screenplay to Hawks (1988).[6] He also wrote the well-received drama A Foreign Field (1993).[7]
In 1994, Clarke was granted the Freedom of the Borough of Doncaster; the highest honour the Council can bestow.
In 2002, he received an OBE for his contribution to British comedy.
In 2003, Clarke adapted his Last of the Summer Wine chronicle The Moonbather for a world premiere performance at the Scunthorpe Little Theatre Club.[8]
