Biographie

Stepfather of actor Michael Vartan.

He was awarded the O.B.E. (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2007 Queen Elizabeth II Birthday Honors List for his services to screen writing.

In 1975, set up independent production company WitzEnd with long-term writing partner Dick Clement and producer Allan McKeown. In 1988, it transmuted into SelecTV, which in 1996 became part of Thames Television.

They wrote an LWT comedy 'Thick as Thieves' with Bob Hoskins and John Thaw as lovable villains. Ian and Dick wanted to send them back to prison but LWT wasn't interested so the idea was taken to the BBC and 'Porridge' with Ronnie Barker was born.

He did national service in the army on discharge worked as a salesman for a tobacco company.