X-Nico

4 unusual facts about Ivor Novello


Dave Greenfield

It was a piece of music written by Greenfield during recording for The Meninblack, which was discarded by other members of The Stranglers, that Hugh Cornwell later adapted into their biggest hit "Golden Brown", although the band themselves did not initially see this as a potential single, let alone an Ivor Novello award winning, UK number 2 hit single.

Graham Cutts

Cutts worked with many leading figures in the UK film and stage world, including Basil Dean, Alfred Hitchcock, Gracie Fields, Ivor Novello, and Noël Coward.

Imogen Hassall

Her godfather is said to have been the composer Ivor Novello, with whom her father had worked extensively as lyricist.

Peter Tuddenham

Back home, he won a part in Ivor Novello's The Dancing Years and, following stints in West End revues and farces, worked with Noël Coward in Ace of Clubs.


Ronald Millar

Prior to becoming a full-time dramatist and then a speechwriter, Millar acted in a number of West End productions during and after World War II, in the company of luminaries as Ivor Novello, Alastair Sim and John Gielgud.

Smedley's Hydro

By the outbreak of war in 1939, Smedley's Hydro was world famous, its guests having included Robert Louis Stevenson, Sir Thomas Beecham, Ivor Novello, Jimmy Wilde, and Gilbert Jessop, to name but a few.


see also

Ilan Eshkeri

Eshkeri's other notable works include The Young Victoria, which was nominated for this year's Ivor Novello Award for Best Original Score; Warner Bros' martial arts epic Ninja Assassin, Dino DeLaurentiis' Hannibal Rising, and producing the BAFTA-nominated score to Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll.