He was educated at Highgate School and Oriel College, Oxford, is married with three sons and lives in Putney, south-west London. Chapter 1 Section A: Thesis Statement After graduating from Oxford, Williams joined the BBC as a general trainee, and worked as an arts producer for the Corporation eventually becoming the editor of Omnibus and Bookmark.

He won a television BAFTA for his 1994 screen adaptation of William Horwood's Skallagrigg.

His most successful work to date has been the 2005 TV drama Elizabeth I, being himself nominated for an Emmy Award for his script and winning multiple awards for the film and its star, Helen Mirren.

Williams was also the primary scriptwriter for the second season - based on Greek myths - of the acclaimed Jim Henson's Storyteller series.

His first novel My Life Closed Twice won the 1974 Somerset Maugham Award

Novels

• 1977 – My Life Closed Twice (Secker & Warburg)
• 1980 – Jack Be Nimble (Secker & Warburg)
• 1983 – Johnny Jarvis (Penguin, based on his teleplay)
• 1984 – Charlie (Methuen, based on his teleplay)
• 1985 – Star Turn (Faber & Faber)
• 1987 – Witchcraft, (Faber & Faber)
• 1988 – Black Magic (Hutchinson Novella])
• 1988 – Breaking Up (Faber & Faber, based on his teleplay)
• 1989 – Buttons in the Marsh (Faber & Faber, based on his stageplay)
• The Wimbledon Trilogy :
• 1990 – The Wimbledon Poisoner (Faber & Faber)
• 1992 – They Came from SW19 (Faber & Faber)
• 1993 – East of Wimbledon (Faber & Faber)
• 1994 – Scenes from a Poisoner's Life (Faber & Faber)
• 1997 – Stalking Fiona (Granta)
• 1999 – Fortysomething (Penguin)
• 2002 – Hatchett & Lycett (Penguin)

Plays

• 1974 – Marbles (Bush Theatre)
• 1976 – Square One
• 1976 – Double Talk (London)
• 1977 – Snowwhite Washes Whiter and Deadwood (Bristol)
• 1978 – Class Enemy (Royal Court Theatre)
• 1979 – Easy Street (Bristol)
• 1980 – Line 'em (Cottesloe Theatre)
• 1980 – Sugar and Spice (Royal Court)
• 1980 – Trial Run (Playhouse, Oxford)
• 1982 – The Adeventures of Jasper Ridley (Hull)
• 1982 – W.C.P.C. (Half Moon Theatre)
• 1985 – My Brother's Keeper (Greenwich)
• 1985 – Deathwatch (Birmingham Rep)
• 1986 – Country Dancing (Other Place Theatre, RSC)
• 1987 – As it Was (Edinburgh)
• 1988 – Consequences (Croydon)
• 1988 – Breaking up
• 1989 – Buttons in the Marsh (Cheltenham Festivals)
• 1989 – Nativity (Tricycle Theatre)
• 1995 – Lord of the Flies (adaption) (Other Place)
• 1996 – The Last Romantics (Greenwich)
• 1996 – Harry and Me (Royal Court)
• 2008 – MyFace (Cottesloe Theatre)
• 2009 – HR (6-part play for BBC Radio 4)

Non-fiction

• 1995 – From Wimbledon to Waco (Faber & Faber)