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John Campbell Wells

(1936-1998), Writer, actor and director

Sitter in 6 portraits
In 1961, Wells began to contribute to the satirical magazine Private Eye and became co-editor in 1964. His contributions to the magazine included the 'diary' of Mrs Wilson and the 'Dear Bill' letters, the supposed correspondence of Denis Thatcher. In the 1990s he partnered John Fortune in a televised series of satirical political dialogues. His plays include Listen to the Knocking Bird (1965), Mrs Wilson's Diary (1968), Anyone for Denis? (1981) and A Brand from the Burning (1995), which he also directed. Wells was highly regarded as a translator of plays and opera from French and German, and in 1989 he directed a revival of The Mikado.

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'Private Eye', by Lewis Morley - NPG P512(23)

'Private Eye'

by Lewis Morley
bromide print, 1965
NPG P512(23)

John Campbell Wells; (Gladys) Mary Wilson (née Baldwin), Lady Wilson of Rievaulx, by Lord Snowdon - NPG P845

John Campbell Wells; (Gladys) Mary Wilson (née Baldwin), Lady Wilson of Rievaulx

by Lord Snowdon
vintage bromide print, 3 June 1980
NPG P845

John Campbell Wells, by Lewis Morley - NPG x87360

John Campbell Wells

by Lewis Morley
bromide fibre print, mid 1960s
NPG x87360

John Campbell Wells, by Lewis Morley - NPG x87361

John Campbell Wells

by Lewis Morley
bromide fibre print, mid 1960s
NPG x87361

The Staff of Private Eye, 1965, by Lewis Morley - NPG x135520

The Staff of Private Eye, 1965

by Lewis Morley
bromide print, 1965
NPG x135520

Private Eye, by Lewis Morley - NPG x38946

Private Eye

by Lewis Morley
bromide print, May 1965
NPG x38946

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