Hit film writer sees a bit of Jones in everyone 

The Courier -November 2004

It's not only emotional females who identify with the mishaps of diarist Bridget Jones. 

So says Kenilworth writer Andrew Davies, who worked on both the original film and sequel The Edge of Reason, in cinemas now. 

Despite being derided for her clumsy, highly-strung femininity, Bridget - according to Station Road resident Mr Davies - can be found in most of us. 

He said: "I find her to be an enormously attractive and appealing character. A lot more men than would admit to it are like her. She may not be a huge role model for feminists but it is a mistake to think she should be. Viewers want somebody to identify with and laugh at. Bridget has a good heart and when the chips are down sees things straight and makes good decisions. As a writer, I do have a soft spot for people who, when faced with a challenge, forget about it, go to bed and pull the covers over their heads or open another bottle of wine." 

Reviews of the film have been mixed - some praising it as funnier than the first and others bored with the similarity between the two. 

Mr Davies said: "Perhaps it is a bit too similar. I expected that reaction. But I have been very pleased with the response, overall. It is a long time since the first film and I thought people might be fed up with Bridget. Renee Zellweger was so fresh the first time and everyone thought Wow, she has got a good English accent and Yes, that's what Bridget would be like. I'm glad they seem pleased to get more of the same thing." 

His favourite scenes are skiing, Thailand and the fight between Daniel Cleaver and Mark Darcy (Hugh Grant and Colin Firth). 

Mr Davies was one of four writers on the film. Usually protective of his work, he didn't mind the interference this time. Respect for the other contributors - and a handsome pay packet - made all the difference: "Producers think the more people they get in, the more jokes they have. That's how they like to work. I was the first writer on this film and others came in later. I knew it was going to be like that so I didn't mind. I would rather have written it all: favourite scenes didn't make the final film. But I'm lucky to normally work on television adaptations and get a lot more say in what happens. Films pay a lot: if the changes to your work begin to hurt, you just think about the money." 

He has recently finished working on a version of Elizabeth Jane Howard's novel Falling for Yorkshire Television. His daughter and former Kenilworth School pupil Anna Davies was script editor.

He said: "I was a bit apprehensive about working together because if you disagree it can get quite difficult. But we really enjoyed it and hope to do other things together." 

He is currently writing an adaptation of Charles Dickens' Bleak House, to be screened in 16 episodes next autumn. It took a while - but the novel has now gripped his imagination:  "Bleak House didn't hugely inspire me at first. It's the first Dickens I have done. But it has grown on me. I have really got into all the eccentric, crazy, powerfully-drawn characters."