John Sullivan

Since the late 1970s, the TV force John Sullivan has created and written for some of England's most beloved sitcoms--not bad for a plumber's son who for years wrote comedy scripts on spec for the BBC with no success. Sullivan's luck changed, though, in 1977 when the BBC agreed to produce his script about a petty criminal, a ne'er-do-well revolutionary who dreams of becoming a Che Guevara-like figure in South London. The subsequent show, "Citizen Smith," was a hit and launched Sullivan's career as a writer. But his next program, called "Only Fools and Horses....," about another South London slacker, would solidify his new success. Ratings-wise, the show was a modest hit at first, though it eventually built up a loyal audience and would go on to become one of England's favorite long-running shows. "Dear John," starring Ralph Bates, did not do as well and was cancelled after only 14 episodes. However, it found bigger success in the U.S. when it was revamped as a Judd Hirsch sitcom. Stewart's other shows include "Over Here," "Roger Roger," "The Green Green Grass," and "Heartburn Hotel."