John Campbell Wells
(1936-1998), Writer, actor and directorSitter 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.
John Campbell Wells; (Gladys) Mary Wilson (née Baldwin), Lady Wilson of Rievaulx
by Lord Snowdon
vintage bromide print, 3 June 1980
NPG P845
by Lewis Morley
bromide fibre print, mid 1960s
NPG x87360
by Lewis Morley
bromide fibre print, mid 1960s
NPG x87361
The Staff of Private Eye, 1965
by Lewis Morley
bromide print, 1965
NPG x135520
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