Simon Welfare

Simon Welfare is a writer, television producer and editor of true-life mysteries website
www.r2mw.com

His career began with Yorkshire Television in Leeds, where, in the 1970s, he worked on
some of ITV’s most popular factual programmes. These included the legendary science
show Don’t Ask Me – Welfare was responsible for Dr Magnus Pyke’s unforgettable
contributions – and the cult series Arthur C. Clarke’s Mysterious World, in which the great
science writer investigated and analysed some of the world’s most intriguing mysteries
– from Atlantis to the Yeti. A book based on the proghrammes, co-authored with Sir
Arthur Clarke and John Fairley and published by Collins, topped The Sunday Times Best
Seller List for 13 weeks in 1980/81.

A spell as a freelance saw Welfare working on a further series with Arthur C. Clarke,
World of Strange Powers, before he became an independent producer. Granite Productions’
first commission was the acclaimed seven-hour history of the then Soviet Union, Red
Empire, shown on ITV in 1990. This was followed by a unique history of China, China
Rising, filmed actually inside the Chinese Republic itself and featuring the eyewitness
testimony of ordinary Chinese people. Other documentaries include Days of Majesty, a 2-
hour film on royal ceremonial to mark the 40th anniversary of The Queen’s Coronation,
Nicholas & Alexandra and Victoria & Albert presented by H.R.H Prince Michael of Kent,
for ITV, The Lost Vikings of Greenland and The Day The Earth Was Hit for Channel Four,
as well as another 26-part series with Arthur C. Clarke, Mysterious Universe for ITV/
Discovery. Recent productions include 6 episodes of Channel Four’s adventure/quest
series To The Ends Of The Earth, and Mark Williams’ Big Bangs for Sky One.

Simon Welfare’s books include four based on the Mysterious World programmes, co-
authored with Sir Arthur Clarke and John Fairley and The Cabinet of Curiosities.

In 2011, Welfare, with his co-author John Fairley brought the world’s best-love true
mysteries brand online. Each day, Return To Mysterious World – www.r2mw.com –
features a lively, authoritative, and entertaining review of news including the latest and
discoveries and theories about Earth mysteries, Cryptozoology, Archaeology, UFOs,
strange falls from the sky and other Forteana.

Simon Welfare lives in Scotland.