David Logan (From The Argus)

David Logan

8:10am Monday 19th December 2011 in Interview By Nione Meakin

David Logan is a screenwriter from Hove whose debut novel Lost Christmas has been adapted as a family film for BBC One.

Described as “It’s A Wonderful Life meets modern Manchester”, it stars Eddie Izzard as Anthony, a mysterious man who appears on Manchester’s snowy streets on Christmas Eve with a remarkable gift: the ability to find the lost.

Lost Christmas airs on BBC One at 5.30pm tomorrow (Sunday, December 18).

The book is out now, published by Quercus, priced £8.99

Which film star/musician/writer/other figure do you admire?

Too many to name all of them so I’ll pick one and say Billy Wilder. As a screenwriter and director, he was responsible for so many great movies. He could turn his hand to anything: comedy (Some Like It Hot, The Apartment), Film Noir (Sunset Boulevard, Double Indemnity), hardhitting social commentary (Ace In The Hole), war films (Stalag 17, Five Graves To Cairo). My eldest son is called Joseph William Wilder Logan, after Billy Wilder.

What was the first record you bought?

I would love to say Twist And Shout by The Beatles, which is the oldest record in my collection, but I’ve got a feeling I borrowed (and never returned) that from my cousin John. The reality is it was either Pass The Dutchie by Musical Youth or I Wish I Could Fly by Keith Harris And Orville. Chances are it was the latter. I’m very ashamed.

Do you have a favourite film?

Again, too many to mention. Top three today (may change tomorrow) are The Godfather (parts one and two – counts as one), Kind Hearts & Coronets and Memento. And Seven.

And Once Upon A Time In The West. And Manhattan. And The Terminator. Wait, that’s more than three. And Life Of Brian.

How about a favourite book?

Lots but I won’t list them all because I’ve just done that gag. I’ll say The New Confessions by William Boyd. I first read it nearly 20 years ago and found it very influential. It introduced me to periods of history I didn’t necessarily know a lot about and it made me want to find out more.

Tell us about a live music/theatre/cinema experience that sticks in your memory...

I have a foggy memory of my dad taking me to the Odeon to see Star Wars for the 27th time. He couldn’t face it again and dropped me at the door to the auditorium and went to see Annie Hall (I think). I remember thinking, “You fool! Fancy missing an opportunity to see Star Wars!”