Dean is the creator and writer of the Arthur King books. He was born in April 1967 in Guisborough North Yorkshire. The Wilkinsons moved from Redcar to Thornaby in 1970 where Dean was raised and where his Arthur King books are set. He even attended the Bassleton Secondary School, (where Arthur, Gwen and Lawrence go), which is now renamed Thornaby Community School.

After a series of jobs including warehouse lad for Asda, putting tops on bottles in a factory and a poll tax benefit clerk for Middlesbrough Council, Dean decided to turn his hobby of writing into his livelihood and became a professional comedy writer. He got work in many national adult and children's comics, even re-locating to Derby for a while.

He also wrote stand up material for several comedians whilst gradually building up his career in TV too. The likes of Smith And Jones and Brian Conley made use of him before the BBC teamed him up with Ant and Dec early in their career.

He wrote for the Geordie duo for 7 years penning such series as The Ant & Dec Show, Unzipped, Geordie Christmas and Friends Like These. Dean also wrote the multi award winning SMTV Live scripting sketches like Chums, SMTV 2099, Captain Justice, Poke-rap to name but a few.

After leaving SMTV Dean began working on his CBBC sitcom Bad Penny and his first two Arthur King novels.

Dean lives in Ingleby Barwick, Teesside with his wife. They collectively have 5 daughters.

For more details about Dean visit www.deanwilkinson.co.uk