farson also wrote the authorised biography of his friend, the painter francis bacon ("the gilded gutter life of francis bacon" (1994) – at bacon's insistence this was not published until after the artist's death). the 1998 film "" starring derek jacobi and daniel craig draws heavily on the book, showing farson (played by adrian scarborough) socialising with bacon, as well as interviewing him on television. the film is dedicated to him.