Marcus Powell is a writer and film historian. His work for television includes the 10-part series A Blagger’s Guide to Black History for Channel 4 (winner of the Race in the Media Award 2000); Single Voices (ITV); The A Force (BBC), series development and pilot for the children’s sitcom Kerching (BBC). His work for radio includes creating and writing two series of the sitcom Do Nothing Til You Hear from Me (BBC Radio 4) and as script editor for the sketch show The Bearded Ladies (BBC Radio 4). He is the co-author of Writing Sitcoms, and the author of The Encyclopaedia of British Crime Cinema. He specialises in early British film, and the contributions of black actors.