What Douglas had once seen as the attractive over-confidence of youth, now looked more like unyielding selfishness.

Deighton then worked as an airline steward with BOAC. Following the success of his first novels Deighton became The Observer's cookery writer and produced illustrated cookbooks. " That was his last involvement with the cinema.

He is perhaps most famous for his spy novel The IPCRESS File which was made into a film starring Michael Caine.