Renowned for his versatility, Ben Bartlett, born in 1965, is a distinguished British composer whose music spans a wide range of genres and styles across film and television. His breakthrough came with the BAFTA-winning score for the groundbreaking BBC series Walking with Dinosaurs (1999), which also earned a Primetime Emmy nomination. Over the years, he has worked on acclaimed productions such as ITV’s ever popular Vera, Sky 1’s Lucky Man, The Loch, and Sky Atlantic’s The Tunnel. Bartlett has also collaborated with renowned director Adrian Shergold on projects including ITV1's He Kills Coppers, and BBC's Fionas Story, further showcasing his ability to craft emotionally resonant and memorable melodies that elevate storytelling.
Educated in London, Bartlett attended Westminster City grammar school and Pimlico Comprehensive Special Music School, where he studied piano under the esteemed concert pianist Albert Ferber. He later pursued further studies at Royal Holloway College, University of London, where he developed a passion for theatre composition, leading to a commission to compose and direct a musical celebrating the college’s centenary in 1986. His formal training continued at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he received the prestigious Lutosławski Prize for composition. Following this, Bartlett's opera/ballet El Tigre fusing the poetry of Pablo Neruda with tango and neoclassicism, was performed at the Covent Garden Opera Festival.
Bartlett’s authority and popularity within the industry are reflected in the numerous accolades he has received throughout his career. In addition to his BAFTA win and Emmy nomination, he earned an Ivor Novello nomination for his work on BBC Scotland’s TV film Fiona’s Story and multiple Royal Television Society nominations, including for the critically acclaimed film The Mark of Cain, directed by Marc Munden. His score for ITV’s Lucan directed by Adrian Shergold was hailed by The Guardian as “the crowning glory of this show”.
Despite his professional achievements, Bartlett has faced personal challenges, including a hidden disability—progressive arthritis in his hands—that has influenced his approach to composition. While these challenges have required him to adapt his working methods, they have not diminished his creative output.