Bafta winning writer Nick Fisher has gone missing with his dog, sparking a police hunt.
The writer, best known for creating the CITV show The Giblet Boys, as well as being part of the writing team on EastEnders, Casualty, and Holby City, has not been seen since he left his Dorset home with his Springer Spaniel on November 15 at 4:30pm.
The 63-year-old drove away from his home in a Nissan Navara truck with the registration YE71 DFA.
Police say that the father-of-four’s disappearance is out of character and have issued an appeal.
Inspector David Parr, of Dorset Police, said: ‘Nick left the area unexpectedly and has not been in contact with family or friends, which is out of character.
‘I would urge anyone who has seen Nick, or a man matching the description given, to please contact Dorset Police.
‘Also, I am appealing to anyone who has seen the vehicle either travelling in the area or parked up locally to please come forward.
‘Finally, if you see this appeal Nick — please contact us or your family as we all just want to make sure you are safe and well.’
He’s described as white and five foot nine, with sandy coloured hair and tattoos on both of his arms.
Stars including River Cottage’s Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, who Nick is close friends with, and Piers Morgan have spoken out.
Hugh wrote: ‘I never thought I would be using social media for this, but my very dearest friend Nick Fisher, who some of you will know from his journalism and telly work, has gone missing.
‘He left his home in the village of Hooke near Bridport in his silver Nissan Navara YE71 DFA pick up on Tuesday afternoon, with his brown and white spaniel. The car was seen just half an hour later on a police camera near Dorchester.
‘It seems Nick might have bought a cup of tea in a hotel near there, but he didn’t stay there and he hasn’t been seen since. It’s so unlike Nick to do this and of course we are very worried for his safety.
‘We are desperate to find him and if you have seen anything at all that could help us please call 101 and quote the case number 15:644. I’m also posting the appeal from the local news website with a picture of Nick.’
Piers Morgan retweeted Hugh’s message, adding: ‘Please read this thread & inform police immediately if you have any information about Nick’s whereabouts. He’s a great guy, and his family are very worried.’
Fisher created the show Screaming Reels on Channel 4 in the 1990s, which saw him take celebrities to fishing points around the country.
He also appeared on River Cottage, hosted by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.
Fisher went on to write the children’s drama The Giblet Boys about three brothers, Pud, Kevin and Scurvy, and their adventures.
It ran for two series in 2005, and earned Fisher a Bafta for children’s drama.
He previously said of the series (): ‘It was inspired by the fact that my three boys had very little to watch on television.
‘I don’t really like them to watch loads of horrible American cartoons. I don’t like that stuff at all and nor do they. Most of the stuff that was on at the time was very girl-centric – Sister Sister, Mona the Vampire, Tracy Beaker, all those shows which had girl stars and emotional, romantic story lines, and my boys just weren’t interested.
‘I really wanted to write something that had good old-fashioned slapstick humour.’
In 2011, he wrote his a play, Basket Case, starring Nigel Havers.
He is also the author of the novel Pot Luck, which received praise from Broadchurch creator and former Doctor Who showrunner Chris Chibnall.
Fisher’s most recent writing credits are on Holby City and Casualty.
