William Martin Russell (born 23 August 1947 in Whiston, Merseyside) is a British playwright, screenwriter, author, lyricist and composer. Life Russell comes from a working class background. After leaving school with one O-level in English, he first became a ladies hairdresser and ran his own salon. Russell then undertook a variety of jobs, also writing songs which were performed in local folk clubs. He also contributed songs and sketches to local radio programmes. At 20 years of age, he returned to college and became a teacher in Toxteth. Around this time he met his later wife Annie and became interested in writing drama. Work His first success was a play about The Beatles called John, Paul, George, Ringo ...and Bert commissioned for the Everyman Theatre, Liverpool and transferring to the West End in 1974. Three of his later plays became outstanding successes. One was Educating Rita, about a wo