Charlotte Bingham obit

Charlotte Bingham, best-selling author and TV writer, dies aged 83

The celebrated writer penned more than 40 novels and wrote for numerous hit television shows in her decades-spanning career 

She was not on the list.

Best-selling author Charlotte Bingham has died at the age of 83, her family has said.

A statement, announcing that the writer died on Sunday (16 November), read: “Charlotte Bingham’s writing combined elegance, humour, and humanity. She was admired for her professionalism, generosity, and her gift for portraying love, friendship, and family life with grace and wit.

“She leaves a body of work defined by intelligence, warmth, and an unwavering belief in the power of storytelling.”

The celebrated novelist and screenwriter published her first book, Coronet Among the Weeds, when she was just 19 years old and went on to have a career spanning more than six decades.

Bingham was the daughter of novelist and MI5 officer John Bingham, who was later revealed to have been the inspiration for John le Carré’s spy character George Smiley.

Reflecting on publishing her first novel while she was a teenager, Bingham later told The Independent: “Selling your first book at 19 is obviously great but, on the other hand, when you live at home it can be a bit difficult. Our house was plagued with photographers and journalists from about 10 countries.

“My father didn't like the house being photographed because he worked for MI5, and in the end my mother put her foot down and said, 'No more photographers in the house.’”

Along with her husband Terence Brady, Bingham also wrote for television, contributing to shows including Sixties hit Boy Meets Girl, classic drama Upstairs, Downstairs, and Three Piece Suite starring Diana Rigg.

In the 1970s, Bingham created and wrote No, Honestly, which drew 17 million viewers at its peak.

Bingham also penned more than 40 novels, including the award-winning Change of Heart, Belgravia and To Hear A Nightingale, which was adapted for the big screen.

Her final series of novels was semi-autobiographical. Beginning with 2018’s MI5 and Me, they were inspired by her brief time working for the security service as a young woman.

Bingham is survived by her son, daughter and two grandchildren.

Writer

Love's Rivals (1999)

Love's Rivals

4.0

TV Movie

novel "To hear a Nightingale"

1999

 

Riders (1993)

Riders

5.4

TV Movie

Writer

1993

 

A Fine Romance (1989)

A Fine Romance

8.3

TV Series

written by

1989

1 episode

 

Jenny Seagrove in Magic Moments (1989)

Magic Moments

5.8

TV Movie

by

1989

 

John Alderton and Pauline Collins in Forever Green (1989)

Forever Green

7.5

TV Series

Writer (uncredited)

1989–1992

 

James Bolam in Father Matthew's Daughter (1987)

Father Matthew's Daughter

5.2

TV Series

written by

1987

6 episodes

 

Love with a Perfect Stranger (1986)

Love with a Perfect Stranger

6.4

TV Movie

Writer

1986

 

Oh Madeline (1983)

Oh Madeline

7.8

TV Series

storywritten by

1983–1984

3 episodes

 

Pig in the Middle (1980)

Pig in the Middle

5.1

TV Series

writer

1980–1983

20 episodes

 

Wendy Craig in Nanny (1981)

Nanny

7.3

TV Series

writer

1981–1983

6 episodes

 

Angela Down, Liza Goddard, and Susan Jameson in Take Three Women (1982)

Take Three Women

7.4

TV Series

Writer

1982

1 episode

 

Thomas and Sarah (1979)

Thomas and Sarah

6.5

TV Series

writer

1979

5 episodes

 

Robin's Nest (1977)

Robin's Nest

6.4

TV Series

by

1978

2 episodes

 

Donal Donnelly and Liza Goddard in Yes, Honestly (1976)

Yes, Honestly

6.3

TV Series

writer

1976–1977

26 episodes

 

Diana Rigg in BBC Play of the Month (1965)

Three Piece Suite

5.6

TV Series

writer: All in the Mindwriter: After You've Gone

1977

2 episodes

 

Three Comedies of Marriage

TV Series

writer

1975

1 episode

 

John Alderton and Pauline Collins in No, Honestly (1974)

No, Honestly

8.0

TV Series

writerwritten by

1974–1975

13 episodes

 

Play for Today (1970)

Play for Today

7.8

TV Series

writer

1973

1 episode

 

Gayle Hunnicutt in Away from It All (1973)

Away from It All

TV Series

writer

1973

1 episode

 

Upstairs, Downstairs (1971)

Upstairs, Downstairs

8.4

TV Series

by

1971–1972

3 episodes

 

Angela Down, Liza Goddard, and Susan Jameson in Take Three Girls (1969)

Take Three Girls

7.5

TV Series

writer

1969–1971

8 episodes

 

Boy Meets Girl (1967)

Boy Meets Girl

6.8

TV Series

writernovel

1967–1969

2 episodes

 

Self

The One Show (2006)

The One Show

3.5

TV Series

Self - Reporter

2018

1 episode

 

The World's Greatest Spy Movies (2016)

The World's Greatest Spy Movies

6.1

TV Movie

Self - Daughter of John Bingham

2016

 

The Unforgettable Gordon Jackson

7.3

TV Movie

Self - Writer, 'Upstairs, Downstairs' (as Charlotte Brady)

2012

 

Maid in Britain (2010)

Maid in Britain

7.6

TV Movie

Self

2010

 

The Story of Upstairs Downstairs (2005)

The Story of Upstairs Downstairs

8.1

Video

Self

2005

 

Did You See..? (1980)

Did You See..?

5.3

TV Series

Self

1984

1 episode

 

Not a Word

TV Series

Self

1970

2 episodes

 

Call My Bluff (1965)

Call My Bluff

7.0

TV Series

Self

1966–1969

4 episodes

 

One Pair of Eyes (1967)

One Pair of Eyes

7.6

TV Series

Self - Presenter

1968

1 episode

 

Simon Dee and Susan Hampshire in Dee Time (1967)

Dee Time

7.5

TV Series

Self

1968

1 episode

 

Helen Atkinson Wood, Nell Campbell, Simon Hickson, Brian Travers, and Trevor Neal in Juke Box Jury (1959)

Juke Box Jury

7.3

TV Series

Self - Panellist

1967

1 episode