James Whyle turned from acting to full time writing in 1994 when, for the first time, it became possible for the real issues of South Africa to be addressed on South African Television. Among his film credits as an actor are Sarafina, Place of Weeping, 10th of a Second and The Stick.

James was head writer for the second half of series 1 of TV3’s acclaimed Hard Copy. He wrote the opening and closing episodes of series 111 of TV2’S Emmy nominated Zero Tolerance, as well as acting as consultant head writer. He continues to write radio drama for the BBC. Dancing with the Dead was broadcast in the U.K. in February 2002 on Radio 4. The leading role was played by Richard E Grant. A second BBC commission, A Man Called Rejoice, was re-broadcast for the third time in May 2004. It has been published as Rejoice Burning in a collection, New South African Plays by Aurora Metro Publications. He’s just finished work on M-Net’s Snitch 11, where he acted as story consultant in development phases, and wrote 12 of the 22 episodes. James is a senior writer on the TV3’s Isidingo writing team.

In 1981 James wrote his first play, National Madness , based on his experience in, and escaping from, the SANDF. National Madness was performed at the Market and Baxter Theatres in the early eighties and published in a collection - Market Plays (1). His second play, Hellhound, was performed at the Market Theatre in 1992. A story, Sapper Fijn and the Cow appears in The Penguin Book of Contemporary South African Short Stories. (2)

Other work includes writing feature articles for Playboy, Style and Sunday Times Lifestyle magazines.

1 - Edited by Stephen Gray - Publisher AD. Donker. 1st published 1986, reprinted 1991. ISBN 0 86852 070 5. 2 - Penguin Books 1993. ISBN 0 140 237267

James Whyle is a member of the South African Screen Writers Union, SASWU.

You can leave a message or comment on his Blog: http://jameswhyle.blogspot.com/