Tavener wrote a satirical novel, In the Red, about fictional BBC Crime Reporter George Cragge's investigation into the serial killing of London bank managers, a small political party contesting a by-election, and a plan to overthrow the Director-General of the BBC, drawing on his early experiences working for the BBC and the Liberal Party. Working with comedy-writer Peter Baynham he later adapted this into a seven-part radio seriesof the same name, which was produced by Paul Schlesinger. He reunited with Schlesinger for the six-part sequel series In the Balance, about George Cragge's investigation into a series of murders during a FIFA World Cup at Wembley Stadium, a summit of EU leaders and an upcoming general election, which he wrote alone. The three-part television series In the Red, was adapted by Malcolm Bradbury without input from Tavener, who was working with Schlesinger on a second six-part sequel series In the Chair, about George Cragge's investigation into a series of murders of dentists linked to New Labour policy. A third and final six-part sequel series In the End, about George Cragge's investigation into a series of murders of journalists, was written by Tavener and produced by Schlesinger and Dawn Ellis.
''Absolute Power'' franchise
Tavener reunited with executive producer Paul Schlesinger and producer Dawn Ellis to create the spin-off series Absolute Power featuring the supporting characters of Charles Prentis and Martin McCabe from In the Red and its sequels In the Chair and In the End, who having left their previous positions as BBC executives have set up their own public relations firm. After three series on radio, Schlesinger produced a television adaptation of the same name, although, as with In the Red, Tavener was not involved in the writing of this. Following a one-year break for production of the first series of the television adaptation, Tavener reunited with Ellis for the fourth and final series of the original radio programme. A second and final series of the television adaptation followed without input from Tavener. The franchise was later brought to a conclusion in a one-off radio special written by Tavener and produced by Ellis.
Later works & death
Between Absolute Powers final radio series and the one-off special, Tavener and producer Dawn Ellis created two six-part series of High Table, Lower Orders, featuring a murder mystery at a Cambridge College similar to the one the writer had attended. His final work was a collaboration with the comedian Steve Punt on the four-part series, His Master's Voice, set in the offices of a fictional Conservative magazine, which was produced by Dawn Ellis. Tavener died of cancer on 18 October 2007.
