Introduction
Hugo Williams (born Hugh Anthony Mordaunt Vyner Williams 20 February 1942) is a British poet, journalist and travel writer.
Background
Williams is the eldest son of actor Hugh Williams and the model and actress Margaret Vyner, who co-wrote some upper-middle-class comedies in the late 1950s. They are best known as co-authors of the play and film The Grass Is Greener. His younger brother is the actor Simon Williams, and his sister the late actress Polly Williams was married to the actor Nigel Havers until her death from cancer at the age of 54.
Williams attended Eton College. He is a regular contributor to the "Freelance" column in the Times Literary Supplement and is poetry editor for The Spectator. Williams has been poetry editor and TV critic for the New Statesman, theatre critic for the Sunday Correspondent, film critic for Harper's & Queen and a writer on popular music for Punch.
Williams is married to singer and writer Hermine Demoriane. They have a daughter, Murphy Williams, who is also a writer and columnist.
Prizes
- 1966 Eric Gregory Award
- 1971 Cholmondeley Award
- 1975 Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize for Some Sweet Day
- 1999 T. S. Eliot Prize for Billy's Rain
- 2004 Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry for Collected Poems
- 2007 T. S. Eliot Prize Shortlist for Dear Room
- 2007 Costa Book Award Shortlist for Dear Room