“Shortly after joining the Writers’ Guild I worked for a TV company whose treatment of writers broke every rule in the book. When things came to a head the Guild was there to offer me legal advice and support. Without the Guild I would have been lost. The commitment, energy and calm efficiency of Guild members who work tirelessly for the good of their fellow writers never ceases to amaze me. Without our stories, there would be no TV drama or comedy. Yet writers are amongst the most isolated and vulnerable of workers; on our own we have little power or leverage. Working together in the Guild is the only way to safeguard our interests and improve our working conditions. In such austere times a union like the Guild that punches so very far above its weight is worth every penny of our subscriptions – and more!”
Why I'm a WGGB member
Bill Armstrong began his career as an actor, and has appeared on stage at the Royal National Theatre, the RSC, the Royal Court and the Almeida, among others. He has appeared in BBC, ITV, Channel 4, NBC, CBC and HBO shows as a television actor and in films for Warner Bros., Film Four and BBC Films. He started writing in 2003, wrote the first series of The Indian Doctor and has become a core writer on Doctors. He is a former Chair of the WGGB TV Committee, where he spearheaded the Free is NOT an Option campaign, and is currently developing original projects with a number of independent companies.
Listen to a podcast interview with Bill Armstrong, talking about his career as a writer (recorded in June 2011).