Willy Russell Willy Russell William Russell (born 23 August 1947) is an English dramatist, lyricist and composer. His best known works are "Educating Rita", "Shirley Valentine", "Blood Brothers" and "Our Day Out". Russell was born in Whiston in Lancashire. On leaving school, aged 15, he became a ladies' hairdresser eventually running his own salon until the age of 20 when he decided to try to go back to college, eventually qualifying as a teacher. During these years Russell also worked as a semi-professional singer, writing and performing his own songs on the then flourishing and vibrant folk scene. At college, he began
Educating the East End inspirational". "The Daily Telegraph" also gave the show a good review rating it 4 out of 5 stars and saying "it was charming and found the power of stories". Educating the East End Educating the East End is the third series of the British documentary television programme "Educating" broadcast on Channel 4. The eight-episode first series was first broadcast from 4 September 2014. Its format is based on the BAFTA Award-winning 2011 series "Educating Essex" and the National Television Award-winning 2013 series, "Educating Yorkshire". It follows the everyday lives of the staff and students of Frederick Bremer School in East