Doug MacLeod was a writer for adults and children working with most of Australia’s top comedians. In 2008, the Australian Writers’ Guild awarded Doug the Fred Parsons Award for his Contribution to Australian Comedy.
After writing many children’s books for Penguin (including the award winning SISTER MADGE’S BOOK OF NUNS) and working for ABC Radio’s comedy department, Doug spent two years as head writer for Network Ten’s THE COMEDY COMPANY. He then wrote and produced around thirty episodes of THE COLIN CARPENTER SHOW for Ten, before joining Artist Services full-time and becoming a principle writer on FAST FORWARD, FULL FRONTAL (which he also produced) and scripted edited BIG GIRLS BLOUSE.
As a break from sketch comedy he co-wrote five episodes of SEACHANGE with Andrew Knight.
For ABC TV, Doug co-produced three series of THE MICALLEF PROGRAM. For cable TV he produced 22 episodes of THE BOB DOWNE SHOW.
He also worked as the script editor on the hit series, KATH AND KIM from 2003.
For Opera Australia and Windmill Performing Arts, Doug wrote the libretto for the opera MIDNITE based on the book by Randolph Stow which premiered to critical and public acclaim at the 2004 Melbourne Festival and was part of the State Theatre Company of South Australia’s 2005 season.
Doug co-wrote with satirist John Clarke a new musical, THE ADVENUTRES OF SNUGGLEPOT AND CUDDLEPIE AND LITTLE RAGGED BLOSSOM, with music by Alan John and directed by Neil Armfield for Belvoir Street Theatre, Windmill Performing Arts and the Sydney Festival. It was nominated for a Helpmann award for best new work.
Doug was the co-creator and writer of the successful series DOGSTAR for the BBC and Channel 7, produced by Media World. Doug won an AWGIE in 2006 for his episode A DOG’S TALE. His episode was nominated for an AWGIE in 2007 for THE BEAGLE HAS LANDED and in 2008 he won the AWGIE for Children’s Television and the John Hinde Award for his episode MAN BITES DOG. The series premiered in England in 2007. He ALSO wrote episodes of TIME HACKERS, CJ THE DJ and SNAKE TALES.
His young adult novel, I’M BEING STALKED BY A MOONSHADOW (Penguin) was shortlisted for the NSW Premier’s Awards in 2007.
Doug passed away November 2021.
