John Lunn’s music possesses a wonderfully unique voice that spans a wide spectrum of musical styles. Classically trained, yet contemporary in attitude, he combines a highly intelligent and sensitive approach with a sound that always hits at the emotional heart of a piece. His scores, which match the highest production values with a continual desire to discover new colours and sounds, are continuously in high demand. He is probably best known for scoring the hugely successful flagship ITV/NBC/PBS/Carnival Films drama series, Downton Abbey, for which he has received two Primetime Emmy Awards in 2012 and 2013 (with a further nomination in 2014) and two BAFTA Nominations in 2012 and 2016. John went on to score the Downton Abbey Movie which was released in 2019.
John has recently composed the score to the Carnival Films series Belgravia, and he is due to start scoring the upcoming HBO series The Gilded Age. Other recent work includes five series of ITV/PBS’s adaption of The Grantchester Mysteries by author James Runcie; The White Queen and The White Princess (based on the bestselling novels by Phillipa Gregory), the former of which he received a Primetime Emmy nomination; all five series of Shetland; four series of The Last Kingdom, To Walk Invisible: The Bronte Sisters, written and directed by Sally Wainwright for the BBC, and three series of Sky/Carnival Films Jamestown.
John has received critical acclaim for three adaptations of Charles Dickens classics: the BBC/Masterpiece centenary adaptation of The Mystery Of Edwin Drood, for which he was nominated for an Ivor Novello Award (2013), a 14-part re-imagining of Little Dorrit (2008), which garnered both a BAFTA nomination and his first Primetime Emmy nomination, and Bleak House (2006), for which he received RTS Best Score and Best Title nominations.
Credits
| THE GILDED AGE | HBO Director: Michael Engler Writer: Julian Fellowes Executive Producers: David Crockett, Julian Fellowes, Gareth Neame Starring: Christine Baranski, Denée Benton | |
| BELGRAVIA | Carnival Films / ITV Director: John Alexander Writer: Julian Fellowes Producer: Colin Wratten Starring: Alice Eve, Philip Glenister, Tamsin Greig | |
| JAMESTOWN (Series 1 – 3) | Carnival Films / Sky Directors: Paul Wilmshurst, David Moore, John Alexander, Samuel Donovan, Andy Hay, David Evans, Bill Gallaher, Jon East Producer: Sue de Beauvoir Starring: Max Beesley, Jason Flemyng | |
| SHETLAND (Series 1 – 5) | BBC Directors: Peter Hoar, John McKay, David Moore, Stewart Svaasand, Lee Haven Jones, Rebecca Gatward, Thaddeus O’Sullivan, Jan Matthys Producers: Sue De Beauvoir, Peter Gallagher Starring: Douglas Henshall, Gemma Chan | ***RTS Award Nomination: Best Music Original Titles 2013*** |
| THE LAST KINGDOM (Series 1 – 4) | Carnival Films Directors: Anthony Byrne, Ben Chanan, Peter Hoar, Nick Murphy, Jamie Donoughue, Richard Senior, Jon East Producer: Chrissy Skinns, Dominic Barlow, Liz Tunbridge Starring: Alexander Dreymon, Rutger Hauer | |
| THE WHITE PRINCESS | Company Pictures Director: Jamie Payne Producers: Lachlan MacKinnon, Jamie Payne Starring: Jodie Comer, Essie Davis | |
| TO WALK INVISIBLE: THE BRONTE SISTERS | BBC Director: Sally Wainwright Producer: Karen Lewis Starring: Charlie Murphy, Jonathan Pryce, Chloe Pirrie | |
| DOWNTON ABBEY (Series 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6) | Carnival Films Director: Brian Percival, Ben Bolt, Brian Kelly, Andy Goddard, Ashley Pearce, James Strong Producer: Liz Trubridge, Nigel Marchant, Rebecca Eaton, Julian Fellowes Executive Producer: Gareth Neame Writer: Julian Fellowes Starring: Hugh Bonneville, Maggie Smith, Dan Stevens, Brendan Coyle | ***EMMY Award Nomination: Original Dramatic Score for a Series 2014*** *** EMMY Award Nomination: Original Dramatic Score for a Series 2014*** *** 2014 Music+Sound Awards Winner: Title Music and Branding*** ***EMMY Award Winner : Original Dramatic Score for a Series 2013*** ***EMMY Award Winner: Original Dramatic Score for a Series 2012*** ***BAFTA Award Nomination: Best Original TV Music 2011 & 2012*** ***IVOR Novello Award Nomination: Best Original TV Music 2012*** ***RTS Award Nomination: Best Music Original Titles |
| THE PASSING BELLS | Red Planet Pictures Directors: Brendan Maher Producer: Nick Pitt Starring: Jack Lowden, Patrick Gibson, Johnny Gibbon, Wilf Scolding | |
| GRANTCHESTER (Series 1 – 3) | Lovely Day Directors: Harry Bradbeer, Tim Fywell, Jill Robertson, Edward Bennett, David O’Neill, Rob Evans, Rebecca Gatwood Producer: Emma Kingsman-Lloyd Starring: James Norton, Robson Green | |
| BURTON AND TAYLOR | BBC Director: Richard Laxton Producer: Lachlan Mackinnon Starring: Helena Bonham-Carter, Dominc West | |
| THE WHITE QUEEN | BBC Director: James Kent Producer: Gina Cronk Executive Producer: Colin Callender, George Faber, Philippa Gregory, John Griffin, Eurydice Gysel, Polly Hill, Charles Pattinson Starring: Ben Lamb, Tom Mckay, Aneurin Barnard, Veerle Baetens, Caroline Goodall | *** EMMY Award Nomination: Original Dramatic Score for a Mini-series 2014*** |
| THE LADY VANISHES | BBC Director: Diarmuid Lawrence Producer: Annie Tricklebank Starring: Keeley Hawes, Tuppence Middleton, Tom Hughes, Julian Rhind-Tutt | |
| THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD | BBC/MASTERPIECE Director: Diarmuid Lawrence Producer: Lisa Osborne Executive Producer: Anne Pivcevic, Rebecca Eaton Starring: Matthew Rhys, Freddie Fox, Rory Kinnear | ***IVOR Novello Award Nomination: Best Original TV Music 2013*** |
| MARCHLANDS | ITV Director: James Kent Producer: Chrissy Skinns Executive Producer: Kate Lewis, Kate Bartlett | |
| THE SILENCE | Company Pictures Director: Dearbhla Walsh Producer: Eleanor Greene Executive Producer: George Faber, Charles Pattinson | |
| GOING POSTAL | Sky1 / Mob Films Director: Jon Jones Producer: Sue De Beauvoir Executive Producers: Vadim Jean, Ian Sharples, Rod Brown Starring: David Suchet, Charles Dance, Andrew Sachs, Steve Pemberton, Tamsin Greig | ***Winner Best TV Score: RTS Awards 2010*** *** BAFTA CRAFT AWARD Nomination 2010*** ***Ivor Novello Award Nomination Best Original TV Score 2011*** |
| TURN OF THE SCREW | BBC Director: Tim Fywell Producer: Colin Wratten Executive Producer: Jessica Pope | |
| LITTLE DORRIT | BBC Directors: Adam Smith, Dearbhla Walsh Producers: Lisa Osborne, Anne Pivcevic Starring: Matthew MacFadyen, Andy Serkis, Mackenzie Crook, Freema Agyeman, Emma Pierson | ***BAFTA Craft Nomination 2009: Best Original TV Music*** *** EMMY Nominated for Outstanding Miniseries Original Score 2009*** |
| IDENTITY | ITV Director: Brendan Maher Producer: Lachlan MacKinnon Executive Producer: Kate Bartlett Starring: Aidan Gillen, Keeley Hawes | |
| MATERIAL GIRL | Carnival/BBC Directors: Cilla Ware, Sarah O’Gorman, Philip John Producer: Chrissy Skinns Starring: Dervla Kirwan | |
| HARLEY STREET | Carnival/ITV1 Director: Paul Whittington Producer: Joy Spink | |
| CRIMINAL JUSTICE | Tiger Aspect/BBC Directors: Otto Bathurst, Luke Watson Producer: Pier Wilkie Starring: Ben Wishaw, Pete Postlethwaite | ***RTS Award Winner 2008: Best Original Score*** |
| HOTEL BABYLON (Series 3 & 4) | Carnival/BBC Directors: Alrick Riley, Ian B Macdonald Producer: Chris Aird | ***Ivor Novello Award Nomination 2007: Best Original Score*** |
| THE STREET (Series 2) | Granada Television Director: John Chapman Producers: David Blair, Terry McDonagh | |
| THE SHADOW IN THE NORTH | BBC / NOVA-WHBH BOSTON Director: John Alexander Producer: Kate Bartlett | |
| FRANKENSTEIN | Impossible Pictures Director: Jed Mercurio Producer: Hugh Warren | |
| TORN | TXTV Director: Sarah Harding Producer: Jeremy Gwilt | |
| HOUSEWIFE 49 | ITV Director: Gavin Millar Producer: Piers Wenger | |
| THE AMAZING MRS. PRITCHARD | BBC Directors: Declan Lowney, Simon Curtis, Katherine Morshead Producer: Alison Jackson Starring: Jane Horrocks | ***Ivor Novello Award Nomination 2007: Best Original Score*** |
| SORTED | BBC Director: Ian Macdonald, Marc Jobst Producer: Steve Lightfoot | |
| SEE NO EVIL | Granada Director: Chris Menaul Producer: Lisa Gilchrist | |
| HOTEL BABYLON (Series 1 & 2) | BBC/Carnival Directors: Alrick Riley, Iain B. MacDonald Executive Producer: Gareth Neame Producer: Christopher Aird | |
| BLEAK HOUSE | BBC Directors: Justin Chadwick, Susannah White Producer: Nigel Stafford-Clark | ***RTS Award Nomination 2006: Best Original Score & Best Title Music*** |
| 20,000 STREETS UNDER THE SKY | BBC Director: Simon Curtis Producer: Kate Harwood | |
| HEARTLESS | Ecosse Films Director: Nick Laughland Producer: Jeremy Gwilt | |
| PLANESPOTTING | Granada Director: Chr4is Menaul Producer: Jeff Pope, Francis Hopkinson | |
| LIKE FATHER LIKE SON | Ecosse Films Director: Nick Laughland Producer: Jeremy Gwilt | |
| OUTLAWS | World Productions/BBC Directors: John Alexander, Harry Bradbeer, Richard Laxton Producer: Victoria Fea | |
| BODIES (Series 1 & 2) | Hat Trick Productions/BBC Director: Sallie Aprahamian, John Strickland, Richard Laxton Producer: Jed Mercurio | |
| THE MURDER ROOM (Series 1 & 2) | BBC Director: Diamuid Lawrence Producer: Richard Broke | |
| MURDER IN SUBURBIA | Carlton Director: Ed Bennett Producer: Joy Spink | |
| AMNESIA | Ecosse Films Director: Nick Laughland Producer: Jeremy Gwilt | |
| HEAR THE SILENCE | Zenith/Channel 5 Director: Tim Fywell Producer: Adrian Bate | |
| CAMBRIDGE SPIES | BBC 1 Director: Tim Fyfll Producer: Mark Chivas | ***FIPA Gold Award 2003*** |
| CARLA | ITV Producer: Alison Jackson, Diamuid Lawrence | |
| WALL OF SILENCE | Granada Director: Chris Menaul Producer: Saurabh Kakkar | |
| BLUE MURDER | Granada Director: Paul Wroblewski Producer: Jane MacNaught | |
| STATE OF MIND | ITV/Monogram Director: Chris Menaul Producer: Dave Edwards, Eileen Quinn | |
| AUF WEIDERSEHEN PET | BBC 1 Director: Paul Seed Producer: Joy Spink | |
| SIRENS | Scottish TV Director: Nick Laughland | |
| MURDER ROOMS | BBC Director: Tim Fywell, Paul Marcus, Simon Langton | |
| LORNA DOONE | BBC Director: Mike Barker | |
| 2000 ACRES OF SKY | BBC/Zenith Director: Rob Knight | |
| NORTH SQUARE | Channel Four/Company TV Director: Tim Fywell Producer: Jonathan Young | |
| LOCK STOCK AND… | Ska/Ginger Director: David Thacker | |
| MADAME BOVARY | BBC Director: Tim Fywell | |
| SECOND SIGHT 20/20 | BBC Director: Charles Beeson | |
| BAD BLOOD | Carlton Director: Tim Fywell | ***Ivor Novello Nominated For Best TV Score 2001*** |
| HAMISH MACBETH | Zenith/BBC Director: Nick Renton, Jonas Grimas, Mandie Fletcher | |
| BACK UP | BBC Director: Jan Sargent, Douglas Mackinnon, Bob Blagden | |
| BODYGUARDS | Zenith/Carlton Directors: Chris King, Mary McMurray, Ken Grieve | |
| FINNEY | Zenith/YorkshireTV Director: David Hayman | |
| THE LAST MACHINE | BBC Director: Terry Gilliam |
| DOWNTON ABBEY (MOVIE) | Carnival Film & Television / Focus Features Director: Michael Engler Producer: Julian Fellows, Gareth Neame, Liz Trubridge Starring: Hugh Bonneville, Maggie Smith, Dan Stevens, Brendan Coyle, Michelle Dockery, Tuppence Middleton | |
| ELECTRICITY | Stone City Films Director: Bryn Higgins Producer: Clare Duggan Starring Agyness Dean | |
| UNCONDITIONAL LOVE | Stone City Films Director: Bryn Higgins Producer: Bryn Higgins | |
| GIANT SCREEN BUGS (IMAX FILM) | Principal Films Director: Mike Slee Narrator: Dame Judi Dench | |
| ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE MIDLANDS | FilmFour Starring: Kathy Burke, Robert Carlyle, Rhys Ifans Director: Shane Meadows | |
| WISDOM OF CROCODILES | Zenith Entertainment Director: Po Chih Leong | |
| BABYMOTHER | Formation Films/FilmFour Director: Julian Henriques | |
| GET REAL | Graphite Films/Paramount Classics Director: Simon Shore | |
| THE LIFE OF STUFF | Prairie Pictures/BBC Films Director: Simon Donald | |
| GETTING HURT | BBC Screen Two Director: Ben Bolt Producer: Gareth Neame | ***Nominated for RTS Best Score 1998*** |
| LEGEND OF THE LOCH | IMAX/Principal Films/Large Format Director: Mike Slee | |
| THE CORMORANT | BBC Screen Two Director: Peter Markham | |
| THE GIFT | BBC1 Screenplay Director: Sandy Johnson | |
| AFTER THE DANCE | BBC Performance Director: Stuart Burge | |
| FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL | Music Consultant Director: Mike Newell |
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Links
Massive congratulations to all 5 COOL Composers who have won ASCAP Awards!
Congratulations to clients Ruth Barrett, Benjamin Wallfisch, Lorne Balfe, Rael Jones and John Lunn on their ASCAP Screen Music Awards wins. Ruth Barrett received her
‘The Last Kingdom’ Season 4 scored by John Lunn – Airs 26th April
The new season of the historical drama ‘The Last Kingdom’ scored by John Lunn begins airing on Netflix from Sunday 26th April. Based on Bernard
‘Belgravia’ scored by John Lunn starts airing in the US – 12th April
‘Belgravia’ the latest series from the team behind Downton Abbey featuring music by John Lunn will start airing in the US from Sunday 12th April
‘Belgravia’ starts airing this Sunday on ITV – scored by John Lunn
Julian Fellowes’ new series ‘Belgravia’ which features original music composed by John Lunn begins airing Sunday 15th March at 9pm on ITV One. Belgravia is a
‘Belgravia’ scored by John Lunn – Airs 15th March on ITV
John Lunn has composed the score to ‘Belgravia’, a brand new six-part series written by Julian Fellowes for Carnival Films. The award-winning creative team behind
Grantchester Series 5 – scored by John Lunn
John Lunn has scored the latest series of the incredibly popular ITV series ‘Grantchester’. The new 6 episode series began airing on ITV on the
John Lunn – Downton Abbey – Vanity Fair Interview
Ahead of the Downton Abbey movie, composer John Lunn opens up about writing an instant classic—and teases a big-screen moment that will get fans talking.
Downton Abbey Movie and Soundtrack Release
The soundtrack to the new feature film Downton Abbey, scored by COOL Music composer client John Lunn, will be released, along with the film, on
Downton Abbey Live at Highclere Castle
The Downton Abbey Live Open Air Concert, hosted by actor Jim Carter in character as the beloved Mr. Carson, with series composer John Lunn at the
Downton Abbey Movie release date and trailer
The trailer for the long awaited Downton Abbey Movie has been released…
Downton Abbey movie teaser trailer
Focus Features has unveiled a dialogue-free teaser trailer for its upcoming Downton Abbey movie
John Lunn’s Music From Downton Abbey To Be Performed Live At Highclere Castle
Music From Downton Abbey is a concert in the stunning grounds of Highclere Castle performed by The Chamber Orchestra of London with the show’s composer,