Born in England, UK; educated at Cambridge University. Directed about 50 documentaries for the BBC, mid-1970s to mid-1980s. This led to writing television plays ("Shadowlands" 1985, "Life Story" 1987, "Sweet As You Are" 1987, and "The March" 1990), and so to stage plays (Shadowlands, Map of the Heart, Katherine Howard, The Retreat from Moscow). The first book in Nicholson's "Wind on Fire" trilogy, The Wind Singer (2000), won the Smarties Gold award and a Blue Peter best book award. [The other books are Slaves of the Mastery (2001) and Firesong (2002).] Other notable screenwriting credits include THE MARCH (1990), SARAFINA! (1992), SHADOWLANDS (1993), NELL (1994), FIRST KNIGHT (1995), FIRELIGHT (1997, also director), GREY OWL (1999), GLADIATOR (2000), and ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE (2007).  Nominated for Achievement in Writing - Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published 1993: SHADOWLANDS  Nominated for Achievement in Writing - Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen 2000: GLADIATOR (w. David Franzoni & John Logan) 2 nominations