Allan Prior (13 January 1922, Newcastle upon Tyne - 1 June 2006) was an English television script writer and novelist, with over 300 television scripts to his name since the 1950s.

He was founder-writer of influential police drama Z-Cars with Troy Kennedy Martin and wrote five of the first ten episodes and a total of 136 episodes for Z-Cars and spin-off series Softly, Softly. He also wrote several episodes of the 1970s science-fiction series Blake's 7.

He wrote more than thirty original plays for television, from early Armchair Theatre to later works including The Charmer and A Perfect Hero.

In 1995 his radio play Führer was BBC Radio 4's flagship drama for its End of the War in Europe anniversary programmes.

He is the father of Steeleye Span singer Maddy Prior.

Awards
1962 and 1964 Crime Writers' Association Award,
1962 and 1965 Writers Guild of Great Britain Award
1963 Grand Prix de Littérature Policière
1974 BAFTA Award