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- Distinguished-looking, silvery-haired thespian, born Mark Richard Durden-Smith, son of A.J. Durden-Smith, fellow at the Royal College of Surgeons. His older brother was the documentary film maker Jo Durden-Smith. Richard attended Haileybury and Imperial Service College near Hertford and studied at Merton College in 1963. While at Oxford, he joined the Experimental Theatre Club, a student drama society which included among its alumni Michael Palin, Terry Jones and Dudley Moore. A classically-trained actor, Richard appeared on the London stage from 1968. As a member of the ensemble of the Royal Shakespeare Company, his many roles have included Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing, The Duke of Albany in King Lear, Count Paris in Romeo and Juliet, Theseus in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Polonius in Hamlet and Malvolio in Twelfth Night.
On the screen, Durden's gravitas and gentlemanly bearing have made him a shoo-in for casting as sophisticated, erudite intellectuals and well-bred aristocrats, senior government officials, barristers and military officers. While his main stock-in-trade has been in the genre of crime and mystery (Department S (1969), Special Branch (1969), Maigret (1988), Wycliffe (1993), The Bill (1984), Foyle's War (2002), Poirot (1989) and Endeavour (2012), to name but a few), Durden has latterly also graced many a period drama, notably episodes of Helen of Troy (2003) (as the Spartan king Tynadareus), The Borgias (2011) (a physician), Wolf Hall (2015) (Fisher, Bishop of Rochester), Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (2015) (Lord Liverpool, the Prime Minister) and Poldark (2015) (Dr. Anselm). A rare foray into science fiction saw him as an officer of the nefarious First Order in Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019). To date, his most recent appearance has been in the BBC One sitcom Ghosts (2019), as Charles Worthing, solicitor and legal counsel to the owners of (haunted) Button House.
Since 2017, Durden has been married to theatrical agent Rebecca Blond.Alan Richards - Actor
- Soundtrack
James Laurenson was born on the north Island of New Zealand, the son of an amateur actor. James studied at Canterbury University College in Christchurch where he made his theatrical debut in the title role of Hamlet under the direction of Dame Ngaio Marsh (best known as the author of popular mystery novels). In 1965, he moved to England and worked for a season with the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon. Having established his credentials as a Shakespearean actor, Laurenson rejoined the RSC in the seventies, his many roles including Charles the Dauphin in Henry VI, Cassio in Othello and Orlando in As You Like it. For the National Theatre, he appeared in Macbeth (as Macduff) and Hamlet (Ghost/ Player King). A more recent performance saw him as Vladimir in Waiting for Godot at the Theatre Royal in Bath.
Laurenson found it difficult at first to break into screen acting. Not until 1968 did he make his television debut as a priest in the long-running soap Coronation Street (1960). He next played the youngest of the pirates (Dick Johnson) in an early BBC adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island (1968). He acted in several filmed BBC Shakespeare plays in-between a few small supporting parts on the big screen. In 1972, Laurenson made his breakthrough in the title role of Boney (1972) (Detective Inspector Napoleon 'Boney' Bonaparte), a half-Aboriginal police officer with superior tracking skills. The series benefited greatly from being filmed at rugged outback locations. Though the casting of a non-Aboriginal was (and has remained) controversial, Boney was a huge hit in both Australia and the U.K. (though not in America). It also proved popular in Germany. So much so, that record producer and songwriter Frank Farian named the disco group Boney M. after the character.
Hoping to avoid typecasting, Laurenson decided not to extend his contract for a third season and returned to England. In the course of the next five decades, he went on to become a familiar face as guest star in numerous TV shows, on more than a few occasions in the guise of morally ambiguous, pompous or villainous individuals. A small sample of his credits includes episodes of Space: 1999 (1975), Remington Steele (1982), Van der Valk (1972), Sharpe (1993), Silent Witness (1996), Dalziel and Pascoe (1996) and Hustle (2004). More recently, he played the Earl of Shrewsbury in Wolf Hall (2015), Oxford Professor George Amory in Endeavour (2012), Father Brown (2013)'s friend Professor Hilary Ambrose and Royal Physician Doctor John Weir in The Crown (2016).
For many years a resident of the Somerset market town of Frome, James Laurenson passed away on April 18 2024 at the age of 84.Tony Richards- A superbly versatile character actor of lugubrious countenance and strong physical presence, Roger was the son of Charles Lloyd Pack, a frequent supporting actor in British films of the '50s and '60s. Roger was educated at Bedales, a prestigious co-educational school in Hampshire, noted for a laid-back approach and a pronounced emphasis towards arts, crafts and drama. With inspiration provided by his drama teacher and rather liking the attention and applause that came with being on stage, Lloyd Pack managed to attain A-levels in languages. After leaving school, aged nineteen, he successfully auditioned for RADA, where one of his teachers was the actor Peter Barkworth. Soon after, he made his stage debut in the Elizabethan play "The Shoemaker's Holiday" at Northampton Repertory Theatre. From the beginning, Lloyd Pack always thought of becoming a Shakespearean actor. However, his career took him on quite a different path.
His first television appearances were similar peripheral 'no-name parts' as cleaners, soldiers and constables. After years of toiling in relative obscurity, he finally managed to secure a recurring role as the vacuous, simple-minded road sweeper Colin 'Trigger' Ball in the sitcom Only Fools and Horses (1981). Appearing in nearly every episode of the long-running series, Lloyd Pack came to be identified with this character in the national consciousness to such an extent, that he could "not go anywhere without anyone going on about it".
His next popular casting was no less fortuitous: that of the flatulent, somewhat seedy farmer Owen Newitt in The Vicar of Dibley (1994), lusting after Dawn French's extrovert cleric (when not entertaining dubious thoughts about farm animals). On the big screen, Lloyd Pack reached a wider audience as Bartemius Crouch Sr, a ruthless Ministry of Magic functionary in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), destined to be killed by his Death Eater son, played by David Tennant. Still more dramatic was his role as evil megalomaniac John Lumic (who creates an army of cybermen in his pursuit of immortality) menacing Tennant and company in the Doctor Who (1963) two-parter Rise of the Cybermen (2006) and The Age of Steel (2006), set on a parallel Earth. Lloyd Pack thoroughly enjoyed participating in the iconic series.
Lloyd Pack's theatrical work encompassed performances at the National, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal Court. He was much acclaimed for roles in plays by Harold Pinter and latterly portrayed the Duke of Buckingham in "Richard III" at the Globe. On screen, he was glimpsed as Inspector Mendel in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) and as a friar, friend of Cardinal Della Rovere, in The Borgias (2011). The actor was self-effacing in private life and was much esteemed by his peers. He was an avid supporter of Tottenham Hotspurs, cricket and left-wing causes.Donald Martin - Ian Brimble was born in 1948 in Bristol, England, UK. He is an actor, known for Sense and Sensibility (1995), Miss Marple: The Body in the Library (1984) and Get Real (1998). He was previously married to Fiona Mathieson.Phil Hopkirk
- Barbara Leigh-Hunt trained for the theatre at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, then joined the Old Vic Company in London. After working in provincial repertory theatres she returned to the Bristol Old Vic to play Rosemary in 'A Severed Head', and transferred with the play to the West End. She returned again to Bristol to appear in 'Love's Labour's Lost' and 'Henry V', then toured Europe and Israel with them. She returned again to Bristol for further productions, then went on an American tour in 'Measure For Measure' and as Ophelia, opposite her husband Richard Pasco who was in the title role of 'Hamlet'. After her return to England she had a big success in the 1968 West End production of 'Mrs Mouse Are You Within'. Following this she made many appearances at the Old Vic, with the RSC at the Aldwych Theatre, and at the National Theatre.
She made her television debut in 1956 in a episode of The Recording Angells (1956), followed over the years by appearances in episodes of series such as Callan (1967), Special Branch (1969), 'Inspector Morse', 'The Ruth Rendell Mysteries' and 'Kavanagh Q.C.', along with mini-series including The Brontës of Haworth (1973), 'A Perfect Hero' and 'Wives and Daughters'. Her film debut was in 1972 in Alfred Hitchcock's Frenzy (1972), which was quickly followed by Henry VIII and His Six Wives (1972), in which she played Catherine Parr, and The Nelson Affair (1973). Subsequently her film appearances have been few, though they have included Billy Elliot (2000).Blanche Copley-Barnes - Actor
- Soundtrack
Alex Jennings was born on 10 May 1957 in Essex, England, UK. He is an actor, known for The Lady in the Van (2015), The Queen (2006) and The Wings of the Dove (1997). He has been married to Lesley Moors since 2012. They have two children.Victor Preece- Ian McDiarmid was born on August 11, 1944 in Carnoustie, Tayside, Scotland. He studied for a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology at the University of St. Andrews, but eventually found that his calling was in theatre. He went to the Royal Academy in Glasgow, where he received the prestigious gold medal for his work. He now has a highly successful career as a theatre director, and from 1990 until his retirement in 2001, was Joint Artistic Director of London's Almeida Theatre in Islington. He and his co-director Jonathan Kent revived the Almeida and persuaded many Hollywood stars including Kevin Spacey, Ralph Fiennes and Anna Friel to tread the boards in their humble theatre. They won the coveted London Evening Standard Award in 1998 for their efforts. McDiarmid is also well known for his film and television appearances, and is perhaps most famous for his chilling performance as Emperor Palpatine in George Lucas's Star Wars films.Hugo De Vries
- Christopher Eccleston trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama and first came to public attention as Derek Bentley in Let Him Have It (1991). However, it was a regular role in the television series Cracker (1993) that made him a recognizable figure in the United Kingdom. He appeared in the low-budget thriller Shallow Grave (1994), and in the same year, won the part of Nicky Hutchinson in the epic BBC drama serial Our Friends in the North (1996). It was the transmission of the latter series on BBC Two that really made him into a household name in the United Kingdom. In his film career, he has starred as a leading man alongside a number of major actresses, such as Renée Zellweger in A Price Above Rubies (1998), Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth (1998), and Cameron Diaz and Jordana Brewster in The Invisible Circus (2001), and Nicole Kidman in The Others (2001).
In addition to his successful film career, he has continued to work in television, appearing in some of the most challenging and thought-provoking British dramas. These have included Clocking Off (2000) and Flesh and Blood (2002) for the BBC and Hillsborough (1996), the Iago character in a modern adaptation of Shakespeare's "Othello", and the religious epic The Second Coming (2003), playing Steve Baxter, the son of God. His stage career, while not as extensive as his screen credits, has nevertheless shown him to be a formidable actor. He has given intense, focused performances in such plays as "Hamlet", "Electricity" and "Miss Julie", for which he received excellent reviews.
A very highly regarded actor, Eccleston has twice been nominated in the Best Actor category at the BAFTA Television Awards, the British premiere television awards ceremony. His first nomination came in 1997 for Our Friends in the North (1996). Although he didn't win those awards, however, he did triumph in the Best Actor categories at the 1997 Broadcasting Press Guild Awards and the Royal Television Society Awards, winning for Our Friends in the North (1996). He won the RTS Best Actor award for a second time in 2003, this time for his performance in "Flesh and Blood". In 2005, he received the Most Popular Actor award in the National Television Awards for starring in Russell T. Davies's re-imagining of Doctor Who (2005).Terence Mitchell - Actor
- Director
- Writer
Keith Allen was born on 2 September 1953 in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales, UK. He is an actor and director, known for The Others (2001), 24 Hour Party People (2002) and Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017).John Peter Barrie- Actor
- Writer
- Soundtrack
John Bluthal (born 28 March 1929) is a British film and television actor and voice artist, mostly in comedy. He is best known for his work with Spike Milligan, and for his roles in the TV series Never Mind the Quality, Feel the Width and The Vicar of Dibley. He has also worked in the United States and Australia, in numerous productions.
He moved to England in 1959 and appeared in Citizen James for BBC television, and in the long-running UK TV series Never Mind the Quality, Feel the Width in which he played Manny Cohen, a Jewish tailor in business with an Irishman in London. Also in the early 1960s, he provided the voice for Commander Zero in the television puppet series Fireball XL5. He appeared in the role of Fagin in the musical Oliver! at New Theatre, London. He has made dozens of film and TV shows since moving to England.
Bluthal also worked with Spike Milligan over several years, appearing with him in a 1958 Australian television special, The Gladys Half-Hour. He appeared as several characters in Milligan and John Antrobus' stage play The Bed-Sitting Room, which opened at the Mermaid Theatre on 31 January 1963. He also worked with Milligan on the television series Q and its radio counterpart The Milligna Show. He previously worked with Milligan in the radio comedy series The Idiot Weekly and The Omar Khayyam Show. Bluthal is a man of many voices, like Milligan's former radio colleague Peter Sellers, and he was used somewhat like Sellers in Milligan's later work.
Some of his other television appearances include: the Sykes and a... episode "Sykes and a Bath", broadcast on 25 January 1961, 'Allo 'Allo!, Hancock, Minder, The Saint (TV series) episode "The Happy Suicide", The Avengers, Rumpole of the Bailey, Jonathan Creek, Lovejoy, Bergerac, and Inspector Morse, as well as appearing as Major Cheeseburger in The Goodies' episode "Clown Virus". He also appeared on the Australian comedy/satire series The Mavis Bramston Show and as "Enzo Pacelli" in the ABC-TV comedy television series Home Sweet Home.
Bluthal also appeared as Leonid Krassin in episodes of the Thames TV series Reilly, Ace of Spies.
In 1975, Bluthal took the part of Richard Armitage, described as "an Orthodox London Jew", in The Melting Pot. This was a sitcom written by Spike Milligan and Neil Shand, which was canceled by the BBC after just one episode had been broadcast. Bluthal also appeared as "Chalky", a hospital patient, in the episode "I Gotta Horse" of the comedy television series Doctor Down Under (the Australian series of the British comedy television series Doctor in the House, which also starred Robin Nedwell as Dr. Duncan Waring and Geoffrey Davies as Dr. Dick Stuart-Clark).
His films appearances include: The Knack ...and How to Get It (1965), three Carry On films, two of the Doctor films, and also The Beatles' films A Hard Day's Night (1964) and Help! (1965), three roles in Casino Royale (1967), and two of the Pink Panther films. Bluthal also played several characters in The Great McGonagall (1974), by Spike Milligan and Joseph McGrath, based on the life of William McGonagall. He portrayed an Egyptologist in the year 1914 for the first part of the film The Fifth Element (1997) and Uncle Karl in Dark City (1998). He also appeared in the comedy Beware of Greeks Bearing Guns (2000).
His work with the National Theatre London included roles in Tales from Hollywood, Entertaining Strangers, Antony and Cleopatra, Yonaadab, The Tempest, Winters Tale, and Cymbeline.
He appeared in an early episode of One Foot In The Grave. His later television appearances have been in the sitcom The Vicar of Dibley as the fastidious minutes-taker Frank Pickle and as the caretaker Rocko in Spirited. He also appeared in the 2004 film Love's Brother and in the 2016 film Hail, Caesar!.Victor Ignotas- Actor
- Additional Crew
One of England's most successful and enduring character actors, with a prolific screen career on television and in films, Robert Hardy was acclaimed for his versatility and the depth of his performances.
Born in Cheltenham in 1925, he studied at Oxford University and, in 1949, he joined the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre at Stratford-upon-Avon. Television viewers most fondly remember him as the overbearing Siegfried Farnon in All Creatures Great and Small (1978) but his most critically acclaimed performance was as the title character of Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years (1981). His portrayal of Britain's wartime leader was so accurately observed that, in the following years, he was called on to reprise the role in such productions as The Woman He Loved (1988) and War and Remembrance (1988).
Unlike some British character actors, Hardy was not a Hollywood name and his work in films was therefore restricted to appearances in predominantly British-based productions such as The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965), Frankenstein (1994) and Sense and Sensibility (1995). However, in the 21st century, Hardy came to the attention of a whole new generation for his performances in the hugely successful Harry Potter films, while also continuing to make regular appearances in British television series. His co-star from All Creatures Great and Small (1978), Peter Davison, quite simply described Hardy as an "extraordinary" actor who would "never do the same thing twice" when he was acting with him. He was awarded the CBE for services to acting. He died in August 2017.Andrew Baydon- Actress
- Producer
Anna Wilson-Jones was born in 1970 in Surrey, England, UK. She is an actress and producer, known for Victoria (2016), Black Mirror (2011) and The Night Watch (2011). She has been married to Steve John Shepherd since February 2004. They have three children.Sandra Harrison- Actor
- Director
Jonathan Firth is known for playing Prince Albert in the sweeping BBC mini-series Victoria & Albert (2001). He is one of the most prolific actors in British contemporary drama, appearing in Father Brown (2013), Holby City (1999), Poirot (1989), "Luther" (2003), and a memorable guest appearance on the American series "Ghost Whisperer" (2006). After graduating from the Central School of Speech and Drama, London (1989), Firth landed several television roles, most notably as the tormented Fred Vincy in the landmark British mini-series Middlemarch (1994), and the highly complex Sergeant Troy in the award-winning remake of Far from the Madding Crowd (1998). He created the role Soren in the popular "The Prince and Me" franchise (2006 - 2010). He graciously bears the cross of being known as Colin Firth's more handsome and witty younger brother.Michael Lacey- Actress
- Writer
- Producer
British actress Emily Kathleen Anne Mortimer was born in Hammersmith, London, England, to writer and barrister Sir John Mortimer and his second wife, Penelope (née Gollop). She was educated at St Paul's Girls' School in West London, and it was whilst there she began acting. Mortimer moved on from school to Lincoln College, Oxford University, where she studied English Literature and Russian, and spent two terms at the Moscow Arts Theater Drama School, studying acting.
While appearing in an Oxford University student production, Mortimer was spotted by a TV producer who cast her in an adaptation of Catherine Cookson' s The Glass Virgin (1995). She made her feature film debut in 1996 alongside Val Kilmer in The Ghost and the Darkness (1996). Roles in various projects have followed, including Elizabeth (1998), Love's Labour's Lost (2000), Match Point (2005), Lars and the Real Girl (2007), Shutter Island (2010) and Hugo (2011).
During the making of Love's Labour's Lost (2000), Mortimer met her husband Alessandro Nivola. The couple have two children, Sam Nivola and May Nivola.Katherine Lacey- Anna Massey was born on 11 August 1937 in Thakeham, West Sussex, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Peeping Tom (1960), Frenzy (1972) and The Machinist (2004). She was married to Dr. Uri Andres and Jeremy Brett. She died on 2 July 2011 in London, England, UK.Honoria Lyddiard
- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Tall, dignified-looking Bernard Hepton enjoyed a six-decade-long career on both stage and screen during which he particularly excelled at subtle, self-effacing, or introspective roles. An electrician's son, Hepton grew up in the West Yorkshire city of Bradford. Due to poor eyesight, he missed out on wartime service and instead trained as an aircraft engineer and draughtsman. A teenage 'fire watcher' during the war, he found his boredom relieved by a chance introduction to one-act amateur plays. Immediately fascinated by theatre, he joined the Bradford Civic Playhouse where he became a protégé of the director Esme Church. He then acted on stage in York for two years (in his own words tackling "anything from Agatha Christie to Shakespeare"), subsequently graduating as artistic director at the prestigious Birmingham Repertory Theatre and the Liverpool Playhouse. In 1964, Hepton joined the fledgling BBC2 hoping to produce and direct. Before long, however, he ended up in front of the cameras. Specialising in the classics (especially period drama) his many diverse faces over the years included those of kindly clerk Wemmick in Great Expectations (1967), Pallas in I, Claudius (1976) , Hungarian émigré Toby Esterhase, head of the 'Circus' surveillance section, in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979) and Smiley's People (1982), Inspector Goole in An Inspector Calls (1982) (whose author, J.B. Priestley, incidentally grew up in the same street as Hepton), Sir Thomas Bertram in Mansfield Park (1983), and Mr. Woodhouse in Jane Austen's Emma (1996). In addition to numerous one-off guest spots, Hepton also had two notable leading roles in the 1970s: as the humane kommandant in Colditz (1972) and as the Belgian cafe owner/resistance fighter Albert Foriet, aiding the escape of downed Allied airmen from occupied territory in Secret Army (1977).Harold Winstanely- Actress
- Soundtrack
Tessa Peake-Jones was born on 9 May 1957 in Hammersmith, London, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Only Fools and Horses (1981), Pride and Prejudice (1980) and Grantchester (2014).Sarah Lawton- Lesley Vickerage was born in 1961 in London, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Moonfleet (2013), The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (2001) and Inspector Morse (1987).Simone Hollingsworth
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Richard Briers was born on 14 January 1934 in Merton, Surrey, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Watership Down (1978), Much Ado About Nothing (1993) and Peter Pan (2003). He was married to Ann Davies. He died on 17 February 2013 in London, England, UK.Stephen Wentworth- Actor
- Director
- Music Department
Jeremy Clyde was born on 22 March 1941 in Dorney, Buckinghamshire, England, UK. He is an actor and director, known for Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (2019), The Musketeer (2001) and North Sea Hijack (1980).Bill Mitchell- Mrs. Wilson
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Honeysuckle Weeks was born on 1 August 1979 in Cardiff, Wales, UK. She is an actress, known for Foyle's War (2002), The Wicker Tree (2011) and The Five (2016). She has been married to Lorne Stormonth-Darling since July 2007. They have one child.Jenny Bridges- Like the character he played in the BBC series To Serve Them All My Days (1980), John Duttine hails from a mining town, but in Yorkshire rather than Wales. He was born in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England, but raised in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, along with his 4 brothers, and his nephew Joe Duttine. He attended Buttershaw High School in Buttershaw, Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. When he realised in his teens that "acting was the only thing I did well," he switched to drama, training at the Drama Centre in London. His first job after drama school was playing three characters in "Hamlet" for the Citizens Theatre Company in Glasgow, Scotland. On joining the Glasgow Repertory Company, he did most of the familiar repertory stints including Antony in "Antony and Cleopatra," Danton in "Danton's Death," and Danforth in "The Crucible."
By the mid-1970s, he had shifted mainly to television and film. Then in 1979-80 came the opportunity to play the hero of To Serve Them All My Days (1980), arguably one of the more demanding roles in his filmography. His main fear about playing David Powlett-Jones was the Welsh accent: "I was rather worried that I wouldn't hit the right note. I would be angry as hell if I heard a Yorkshire accent that was wrong." Clearly, John got the accent and just about everything else about this performance exactly right. As the New York Times noted upon the series' first American broadcast in 1982, "Mr. Duttine is, even in this talented company, exceptional."
Following that triumph, for which he won the TV Times magazine's Best Actor award, John appeared in numerous programmes and series for British television throughout the 1980s, drawing particular acclaim for The Day of the Triffids (1981), a sci-fi BBC series which has become a cult sci-fi favourite, and The Outsider (1983), a 6-part ITV series about a newspaper editor set in John's native Yorkshire. He also returned to the stage occasionally, and in 1989 was reunited with Charles Kay, his nemesis (Alcock) of To Serve Them All My Days (1980), for the original cast of "The Woman in Black."
In the early 1990s, John's life appeared to hit a rough patch. His relationship with long-time girlfriend Carolyn Hutchinson broke up (they had a son, Oscar, in 1981). John began a relationship with Mel Martin, with whom he had co-starred in the ITV film Talking to Strange Men (1992), and starred in the comedic BBC series Ain't Misbehavin (1994). In 1997, he and Mel bought an 18th century farmhouse with eight acres on land in Cornwall, England. In 1992 he played guest character Paul Melthorn in the long running, ITV drama series Heartbeat (1992), before playing the permanent character sergeant George Miller between 2005 to 2009.
Some other regular roles include playing DI Eric Temple in the BBC series Out of the Blue (1995), Michael Hawkins in the ITV series Touching Evil (1997), Mark Waters in the ITV series The Jury (2002), Gavin Street in the Channel 4 series The Courtroom (2004), Douglas Taylor in the BBC series WPC 56 (2013), and Eric Benton in the ITV series Paranoid (2016).
Today John continues to appear regularly in guest-starring roles on British television, as well as on stage. During 2003, he toured in the well-received "Art" with co-stars Les Dennis and Christopher Cazenove. John also does voice-over work for adverts and documentaries, as well as radio plays for the BBC, putting his versatile voice to very effective use.Will Saxby - Julie Cox was born on 24 April 1973 in Ely, England, UK. She is an actress, known for The Oxford Murders (2008), Children of Dune (2003) and 2036 Origin Unknown (2018).Elsa Greer
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Phyllis Logan was born on 11 January 1956 in Paisley, Scotland, UK. She is an actress, known for Secrets & Lies (1996), Downton Abbey (2010) and Another Time, Another Place (1983). She has been married to Kevin McNally since 15 August 2011. They have one child.Nurse Hopkins- Actress
- Director
Emma Griffiths Malin was born in 1980 in London, England, UK. She is an actress and director, known for Lolita (1997), The Hole (2001) and The Forsyte Saga (2002).Jackie de Bellefort- Actor
- Producer
- Soundtrack
JJ Feild was born on 1 April 1978 in Boulder, Colorado, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), Centurion (2010) and Austenland (2013).Simon Doyle- Actress
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Additional Crew
Claire Price was born on 4 July 1972 in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Jump (2012), Hereafter (2010) and The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2015).Gerda Christow- Mafham trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and began his career at the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he spent four years working with directors such as Peter Hall, Danny Boyle, Roger Michell and Max Stafford-Clark.
On television he played Mortimer Lightwood in the BBC's celebrated 'Our Mutual Friend'; Nigel Hawthorn's emotionally scarred son in the multi award winning 'The Fragile Heart'; the dissolute, dark and charming Simon Kingdom, Stephen Fry's errant brother in the hit ITV series 'Kingdom' and the dangerous, ruthless and womanizing Dan Woodhouse in the multi award winning prime time series 'The Clinic'.
In films, Mafham is to be seen playing leading roles in Universal Picture's 'Dragonheart 3' with Ben Kingsley; the Norwegian film 'The Heart of Lightness' based on Ibsen's 'Lady from the Sea'; and Sony Picture's 'Sniper 5, Legacy' with Tom Berenger.Grahame Tranter - Nicholas Farrell was born on 1 January 1955 in Brentwood, Essex, England, UK. He is an actor, known for Chariots of Fire (1981), The Iron Lady (2011) and Hamlet (1996). He has been married to Stella Gonet since 2005. They have two children.Major Knighton
- Actress
- Composer
- Additional Crew
Bronagh Gallagher is an Irish-born singer and actress. Born in 1972 in Northern Ireland, Bronagh became involved in the performing arts, including music and drama during her teenage years. She later joined a local amateur drama group known as the Oakgrove Theatre Company. Bronagh made her screen debut in 1989, starting mostly on television series. Her first big feature film appearance was in Alan Parker 's The Commitments (1991) followed three years later in Quentin Tarantino 's Pulp Fiction (1994). Five years after that she appeared in George Lucas's film prequel Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999). Rolling into the 21st century, Bronagh's work balanced out evenly between television and film. Further film appearances included Tristan + Isolde (2006) and Sherlock Holmes (2009). Her additional television work included Holby City (1999), The Bill (1984), The Field of Blood (2011) and in 2012 Pramface (2012). Bronagh still remains active as a singer as well as a musician.Ada Mason- Actor
- Soundtrack
Alex Jennings was born on 10 May 1957 in Essex, England, UK. He is an actor, known for The Lady in the Van (2015), The Queen (2006) and The Wings of the Dove (1997). He has been married to Lesley Moors since 2012. They have two children.Dr. Roberts- Actress
- Soundtrack
Monica was born in March 1969 into an Irish family and has a sister Gabrielle. She studied drama at the Guildhall School in London, graduating in 1991 and soon afterwards went into television. A supremely versatile character actress, she has tended to specialize in stunning portrayals of the darker side of life, as real-life stalker Maria Marchese in U Be Dead (2009), demure but deadly Miss Gilchrist in the superior Poirot adaptation After the Funeral (2006) and, particularly, as serial killer Rosemary West in Appropriate Adult (2011) for which she, along with fellow Guildhall graduate Dominic West, deservedly received a BAFTA award. Therefore it was rather a surprise when she was not the killer in Midsomer Murders episode The Great and the Good (2009), though she sort of made up for it by playing twin sisters, one nice, one less so, in Call the Midwife episode Episode #2.3 (2013). On stage she has not let the villainous side down as Regan in 'King Lear' with Ian McKellen and an unusual version of 'Macbeth', set in Africa, with her Lady Macbeth the only white protagonist. In 2014, despite a lighter role in the TV sitcom W1A (2014), she was back to being enjoyably horrid as George Mackay's bigoted mother in the film Pride (2014).Miss Gilchrist- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Elliot Cowan was born on 9 July 1976 in Lambeth, London, England, UK. He is an actor and writer, known for Alexander (2004), Lost in Austen (2008) and The Golden Compass (2007).David Hunter- Mafham trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and began his career at the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he spent four years working with directors such as Peter Hall, Danny Boyle, Roger Michell and Max Stafford-Clark.
On television he played Mortimer Lightwood in the BBC's celebrated 'Our Mutual Friend'; Nigel Hawthorn's emotionally scarred son in the multi award winning 'The Fragile Heart'; the dissolute, dark and charming Simon Kingdom, Stephen Fry's errant brother in the hit ITV series 'Kingdom' and the dangerous, ruthless and womanizing Dan Woodhouse in the multi award winning prime time series 'The Clinic'.
In films, Mafham is to be seen playing leading roles in Universal Picture's 'Dragonheart 3' with Ben Kingsley; the Norwegian film 'The Heart of Lightness' based on Ibsen's 'Lady from the Sea'; and Sony Picture's 'Sniper 5, Legacy' with Tom Berenger.Michael Turner - Paul Brooke was born on 22 November 1944 in London, England, UK. He is an actor, known for The Phantom of the Opera (2004), Bridget Jones's Diary (2001) and Alfie (2004).Arthur Ellis
- Eminent English actor Oliver Ford Davies began his career in academia. The son of a teacher, he studied at Merton College, Oxford University, where he became president of the Oxford University Dramatic Society and performed on stage with the experimental Theatre Club at the age of twenty. After graduating with a PhD, he then lectured in history for two years at Edinburgh University, eventually coming to realize that he would rather spend his working life as an actor. This was, at least in part, inspired by witnessing Paul Scofield's commanding performance in Peter Brook's acclaimed production of King Lear in 1962.
Davies made his professional theatrical debut at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre in 1967 and has since acted on diverse stages throughout England. He spent several seasons with the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon, beginning in 1975 with a role as Mountjoy in Henry V. The classical stage has seen him in productions of Henry IV, The Hollow Crown, As You Like It, Coriolanus, Troilus and Cressida, Hamlet and Julius Caesar. Davies has regarded being cast as the lead in David Hare's Racing Devil at the National Theatre as his career breakthrough. This performance garnered him an Olivier Best Actor Award in 1990. Davies also headlined as King Lear at the Almeida in Islington, London, in 2001.
Since his first television appearance in 1968, Davies has often been typecast as clerics, doctors and academics, usually characters somewhat older than his years. He had a recurring role as barrister Peter Foxcott in Kavanagh QC (1995) and enjoyed guest spots on popular detective shows like Van der Valk (1972), Maigret (1992), Wycliffe (1993), Pie in the Sky (1994), Poirot (1989), Foyle's War (2002) and Father Brown (2013). He has also played portrait painter John Hunter Thompson in The Brontës of Haworth (1973), the infirm Mr. Wickfield, lawyer and employer of Uriah Heep, in BBC's David Copperfield (1999) and the Archbishop of Canterbury in the film Johnny English (2003). Since the 90s, Davies has become more familiar to international audiences for his role as Queen Amidala's councillor Sio Bibble in the Star Wars prequel trilogy and as Cressen, the maester of Dragonstone and servant of Stannis Baratheon in HBO's blockbuster series Game of Thrones (2011).
Davies published his memoir, "An Actor's Life in 12 Productions", in 2022. For his services to drama, he was awarded an OBE in the 2024 New Year Honours List.Lawrence Gascoigne - Actress
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Cheryl Campbell is an English actress, probably best known in the United States for her role as Eileen in Dennis Potter's Pennies from Heaven (1978), for which she received a BAFTA nomination as Best Television Actress. The following year, she won the award for her roles in three shows: Testament of Youth (1979), Mystery!: Malice Aforethought (1979) and Une maison, une histoire (1980).
Born in 1949 in St. Albans, Hertfordshire, she studied acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), then went on to apprentice in repertory theater, most notably with Birmingham Rep. She was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), during which time she played, among many other roles, Nora Helmer, in Ibsen's "A Doll's House". For her performance as Nora she won the prestigious Olivier Award in 1983 for Best Actress in a Revival. She is a member of the Royal National Theatre.Emily Gascoigne- Actor
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Geoffrey Hutchings was born on 8 June 1939 in Dorchester, Dorset, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Topsy-Turvy (1999), Henry V (1989) and Cor, Blimey! (2000). He was married to Andrea Godfrey and June Watts. He died on 1 July 2010 in London, England, UK.Harold Smith- Paul Rhys was born on 19 December 1963 in Neath, Wales,to working class Catholic parents, Kathryn Ivory, and Richard Charles Rhys, a laborer. He received a Bernard Shaw Scholarship to study at RADA. In the first term he was spotted by Philip Prowse and was invited to perform in Oscar Wilde's A Woman of No Importance at the Glasgow Citizens Theatre. While still at RADA, he appeared in his first film role as Dean Swift in Julien Temple's film Absolute Beginners (1986).
He then was in Franklin J. Schaffner's Lionheart (1987), and played opposite Colin Firth in Richard Eyre's award-winning film Tumbledown (1988). Director Robert Altman cast him as Vincent van Gogh's younger brother Theo in Vincent & Theo (1990) He then played Sydney Chaplin opposite Robert Downey Jr.'s Charlie Chaplin in Richard Attenborough's Chaplin (1992), and Massis in Alan Bennett's 102 Boulevard Haussmann (1990). Next film roles include the part of the Photographer in Nina Takes a Lover (1994) and Dr Ferral in From Hell (2001). He appeared opposite Peter O'Toole in Rebecca's Daughters (1992). A series of films followed including From Hell (2001), Food of Love (2002), Love Lies Bleeding (1999), Becoming Colette (1991) and Hellraiser: Deader (2005).
Running parallel to Rhys's film work has been a diverse and notable television career, working in leading roles with directors such as Mike Hodges, Stephen Frears, Richard Eyre, Philip Martin, Christopher Morahan, Tom Vaughan, Edward Hall, Harry Bradbeer in productions including Tumbledown (1988), A Dance to the Music of Time (1997), The Heroes (1989), Ghosts, Mystery!: Gallowglass (1993), The Healer (1994), Anna Karenina (1997), The Deal, Beethoven (2005), The Ten Commandments (2005), Borgia (2011), Luther (2010), and [Spooks].
He played the lead as traitor Aldrich Ames in The Assets (2014) miniseries, as King George III in TURN: Washington's Spies (2014) and as Sir John Conroy in Victoria (2016). Rhys has made a minor industry out of playing vampires: Being Human (2008) (as Ivan);( as Vlad, the Prince of Wallachia, aka Dracula, in seasons 1-3 of the 2015 series Da Vinci's Demons (2013); and as Andrew Hubbard in two seasons of the 2020-22 hit, A Discovery of Witches (2018).
In 2022, Rhys appeared in three films for 2023 release: in Ridley Scott's Napoleon (2023), as Talleyrand, opposite Joaquin Phoenix; as Duncan in Emerald Fennell's Saltburn (2023); and as Droite in Widow Clicquot (2023).
Paul Rhys lives in London and New York.Robin Upward - Actress
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Natasha was born in Liverpool, England. Her mother (Mary) is a teacher and her father (Fred) is a NHS manager. For the first ten years of her life she lived in the Middle East where her father sent up immunisation clinics for the World Health Organisation, and her mother taught at an English Speaking school. Her family then moved back to the UK and settled in Loughton, in Essex, England. She attended the local comprehensive school, Epping Forest College. She was thinking of studying law, but a teacher told her to try drama school after seeing her in a school production of the musical Chicago. She then went to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. On graduating her first job was the Tenth Man at the Hampstead Theatre. She was spotted performing a play at the Latchmere Pub Theatre and that is how she won the role of Jenny in London's Burning.Ann Shapland- Actor
- Producer
John Hannah is the youngest child of his family, having two older sisters. Before he decided on a career as an actor, John was an apprentice electrician for four years. He gave up his work as an electrician after being accepted to the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow. After years of struggling, he finally got his 'big break' when he was cast as Matthew in Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994). He currently lives in London with his wife Joanna Roth and their two children.Dr. Gerrard- Actress
- Producer
- Writer
Daughter of a law professor at Northwestern University, she moved with her family to Los Angeles when he transferred to the University of California at Los Angeles (U.C.L.A.). She began acting in school plays at North Hollywood High, graduated from The Oakwood School and then continued her stage training at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco and the drama division of The Juilliard School in New York. Following a pleasant screen debut in Robert Redford's Oscar-winning Ordinary People (1980), McGovern gave a great performance as Evelyn Nesbit in Ragtime (1981) for which she earned an Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actress. She has continued performing on stage between film assignments rather than concentrate on being a film star.Dame Celia Westholme- Actor
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Henry Goodman was born on 23 April 1950 in Whitechapel, London, England, UK. He is an actor, known for Taking Woodstock (2009), Private Parts (1997) and The Damned United (2009). He is married to Sue Parker. They have two children.Howard Paige- "the beating, shattered heart of the show ... a startlingly sympathetic performance" (New York Times)
"Mark Umbers is simply extraordinary" (Boston Globe)
"raises everyone else's game" (Independent)
"impeccably played" (Guardian)
Raised in Yorkshire, England, Umbers studied Classics at Oxford. He spent the early part of his career on the London stage, most notably in two American roles - the Gentleman Caller in Rupert Goold's 2007 production of 'The Glass Menagerie' with Jessica Lange, and the lead role of Franklin Shepard in the acclaimed 2012 revival of Sondheim's 'Merrily We Roll Along' which was also filmed and released in cinemas. Early film work saw him starring opposite Scarlett Johansson in Lions Gate's 'A Good Woman'. On British TV he is best known for his roles in BBC's 'Mistresses', ITV's Second World War drama 'Home Fires' and, most recently, the series 'Hotel Portofino' in which he stars opposite Natascha McElhone.Rex Talbot - Actor
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RADA-trained Laurence Fox is the third son of the actor James Fox and his wife Mary. He is a British actor who has appeared in several important films, plays, and television programs.
He is also active in politics, founding a new political party named "Reclaim" in 2020 and he presents an opinion show on GB News.Simon Walker- Nicholas Farrell was born on 1 January 1955 in Brentwood, Essex, England, UK. He is an actor, known for Chariots of Fire (1981), The Iron Lady (2011) and Hamlet (1996). He has been married to Stella Gonet since 2005. They have two children.James Collier
- Actor
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One of England's most popular actors for more than four decades, Martin Shaw is noted for his versatility. He has featured in over 100 TV roles, his long TV career beginning in 1967 with the television episode Love on the Dole (1967). He achieved genuine stardom with The Professionals (1977), generally seen, along with The Sweeney (1975), as one of the two classic British action series to be spawned from the 1970s. Before that, Mr. Shaw had always been careful to be very different in each of his roles to avoid being typecast, and to spend long periods in the theatre.
His theatrical career has been very distinguished, with a string of West End successes, beginning in 1967 with the first revival of "Look Back in Anger" and most recently on Broadway as Lord Goring in "An Ideal Husband" which won him a Tony nomination and a Drama Desk award for Best Actor. The Professionals was an international hit, and brought him offers of similar roles. Never one to take the obvious route, Shaw refused them all, including the American series The Equalizer (1985), preferring variety of work to riches.
A rare television flop for Shaw was Rhodes (1996), a quickly forgotten mini-series about the highly controversial British imperialist Cecil Rhodes. Later projects have included a hospital drama, Always and Everyone (1999) from Granada, in which he plays consultant Robert Kingsford, and playing Adam Dalgliesh in the BBC adaptations of P.D. James's novels Death in Holy Orders (2003) and The Murder Room (2004).
He works almost exclusively in England, where he lives in a beautiful Quaker house in Norfolk, once owned by an ancestor of Abraham Lincoln. He is a pilot, and owns and flies a vintage biplane, a Boeing Stearman. Reticent about his private life, he dislikes interviews, and has little respect for the press.Sir Charles Cartwright- Actress
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Deborah Findlay was born in Surrey and studied English at Leeds University. She worked in Leeds with a theatre group touring plays, music, community theatre and cabaret before coming to London to work at the Theatre Royal Stratford East. She was in the original production of 'Top Girls' by Caryl Churchill (OBIE Award) and seasons at the RSC and National Theatre where she received an Olivier Award and Outer Critics Circle Award for 'Stanley'. She has an extensive career in theatre and was nominated for a Tony for the play 'The Children'. She had another Olivier nomination for 'The Cut'. She played in New York on Broadway and in the West End in London including prestigious theatre the Donmar with the play 'The Vortex'.Rowena Drake- Actor
- Producer
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Julian Alistair Rhind-Tutt is an English actor, best known for playing Dr "Mac" Macartney in the comedy television series Green Wing (2004-2006). Rhind-Tutt was born in West Drayton, Middlesex, the youngest of five; there was a 10-year gap between him and his two brothers and two sisters. He attended the John Lyon School in Harrow, Middlesex, where he acted in school productions, eventually taking the lead in a school production of Hamlet that played at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in the mid-1980s. After reading English and Theatre Studies at the University of Warwick, he attended the Central School of Speech and Drama in London where he won the 1992 Carleton Hobbs Award from BBC Radio Drama.Michael Garfield- Actor
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Jason Watkins was born on 28 October 1966 in Albrighton, Shropshire, England, UK. He is an actor, known for The Crown (2016), Des (2020) and The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies (2014). He has been married to Clara Francis since January 2014. They have three children. He was previously married to Caroline Harding.Joe Bland- Actress
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Tessa Peake-Jones was born on 9 May 1957 in Hammersmith, London, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Only Fools and Horses (1981), Pride and Prejudice (1980) and Grantchester (2014).Val Bland- Actress
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Hannah Gordon was born on 9 April 1941 in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. She is an actress, known for The Elephant Man (1980), Watership Down (1978) and Made of Honor (2008). She is married to Robert Lampitt. She was previously married to Norman Warwick.Bella Devere- Actress
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Lesley Sharp was born on 3 April 1960 in Manchester, England, UK. She is an actress and director, known for Naked (1993), The Full Monty (1997) and From Hell (2001). She has been married to Nicholas Gleaves since February 1994. They have two children.Miss Martindale- Alexandra Dowling was born on 22 May 1990 in the UK. She is an actress, known for Starbright, The Musketeers (2014) and Game of Thrones (2011).Marie
- Simon Lowe is known for Jack the Giant Slayer (2013), Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017) and Nowhere Boy (2009).Dr. Quentin
- Actor
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- Director
Sean Pertwee was born into a famous British theatrical family. He is the son of Jon Pertwee, who was mainly a comedy actor and was known for his starring roles in Doctor Who (1963), Worzel Gummidge (1979), the radio comedy series "The Navy Lark" and appearances in several "Carry On" films. His uncle, Michael Pertwee, and grandfather, Roland Pertwee, were prolific screenwriters and playwrights, and his father's cousin, Bill Pertwee, was a regular cast member of one of Britain's most popular sitcoms, Dad's Army (1968). His sister, Dariel Pertwee, is an actress with several screen roles.
After training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Pertwee began his acting career with the Royal Shakespeare Company, most notably starring in Titus Andronicus directed by Deborah Warner. After touring for three years, Pertwee continued his classical training by playing Julius Caesar for the BBC and Macbeth for Michael Bogdanov's production for C4 films. Since then, he has become instantly recognizable for both his film and television work.
On film, Pertwee began on the Joe Orton biopic Prick Up Your Ears (1987), then went on to appear in Paul W.S. Anderson's Shopping (1994), playing opposite Jude Law, followed by performances in Event Horizon (1997), Soldier (1998), Doomsday (2008), Love, Honor and Obey (2000) and the lead role in Neil Marshall's Dog Soldiers (2002). Other notable film credits include Deadly Voyage (1996); Wild Bill (2011); Blue Juice (1995), in which Pertwee played opposite Catherine Zeta-Jones and Ewan McGregor; and Formula 51 (2001) with Samuel L. Jackson and Robert Carlyle. Pertwee played opposite Steve Coogan in Alan Partridge (2013).
Pertwee's extensive TV work saw him play the iconic role of Lestrade in the CBS show Elementary (2012) with Jonny Lee Miller as Sherlock Holmes. He has also starred in The Musketeers (2014), Poirot (1989), the award-winning Luther (2010), and had a recurring role in the hugely popular Cold Feet (1997) with James Nesbitt. His other TV credits include Skins (2007), Bodyguards (1996), Jo (2013) with Jean Reno, Chancer (1990), The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (1992), Clarissa (1991) with Sean Bean, and Camelot (2011) with Joseph Fiennes and Eva Green.
Pertwee appeared as Alfred Pennyworth, the unflappable butler, in the Warner Bros. series Gotham (2014), which follows the story behind Commissioner James Gordon's rise to prominence in Gotham City in the years before Batman's arrival. He is a popular voiceover artist and can frequently be heard voicing documentaries, animated films, commercials, TV series, and video games, including Fable, Killzone and Assassin's Creed.Sir George Stubbs- Stephanie Leonidas is an English actress. She is perhaps best known for her roles as Helena in the fantasy film MirrorMask and as Irisa on the American science fiction television series, Defiance. Leonidas was born in Westminster, London.Hattie Stubbs
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Simon Callow was born on 13 June 1949 in London, England, UK. He is an actor and writer, known for Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), Shakespeare in Love (1998) and A Room with a View (1985). He has been married to Sebastian Fox since June 2016.Dr. Lutz- Actress
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Eleanor May Tomlinson was born on the 19th of May 1992 on London, Greater London, England. She moved to Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire, England, as a small child, and attended Beverley High School as a teenager.
She is an English actress who was best known for her TV roles as Isabelle in Jack the Giant Slayer (2013), and Isabel Neville in The White Queen (2013). However her role as Demelza Poldark in Poldark (2015) made her a household name. Her father Malcolm Tomlinson is an actor and horse racing commentator, and her mother Judith Hibbert is a singer and former actress. Her brother Ross Tomlinson is also an actor.
She's been interested in acting and dancing from early age, and used to appear in school plays. She made her feature film debut in The Illusionist (2006) where she played Young Sophie. She's also appeared in teenage films like Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging (2008), and blockbusters like Alice in Wonderland (2010).Alice Cunningham- Aidan McArdle was born on 5 February 1970 in Dublin, Ireland. He is an actor, known for Ella Enchanted (2004), The Duchess (2008) and The Professor and the Madman (2019). He was previously married to Aislín McGuckin.Stephen Norton
- Eminent English actor Oliver Ford Davies began his career in academia. The son of a teacher, he studied at Merton College, Oxford University, where he became president of the Oxford University Dramatic Society and performed on stage with the experimental Theatre Club at the age of twenty. After graduating with a PhD, he then lectured in history for two years at Edinburgh University, eventually coming to realize that he would rather spend his working life as an actor. This was, at least in part, inspired by witnessing Paul Scofield's commanding performance in Peter Brook's acclaimed production of King Lear in 1962.
Davies made his professional theatrical debut at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre in 1967 and has since acted on diverse stages throughout England. He spent several seasons with the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon, beginning in 1975 with a role as Mountjoy in Henry V. The classical stage has seen him in productions of Henry IV, The Hollow Crown, As You Like It, Coriolanus, Troilus and Cressida, Hamlet and Julius Caesar. Davies has regarded being cast as the lead in David Hare's Racing Devil at the National Theatre as his career breakthrough. This performance garnered him an Olivier Best Actor Award in 1990. Davies also headlined as King Lear at the Almeida in Islington, London, in 2001.
Since his first television appearance in 1968, Davies has often been typecast as clerics, doctors and academics, usually characters somewhat older than his years. He had a recurring role as barrister Peter Foxcott in Kavanagh QC (1995) and enjoyed guest spots on popular detective shows like Van der Valk (1972), Maigret (1992), Wycliffe (1993), Pie in the Sky (1994), Poirot (1989), Foyle's War (2002) and Father Brown (2013). He has also played portrait painter John Hunter Thompson in The Brontës of Haworth (1973), the infirm Mr. Wickfield, lawyer and employer of Uriah Heep, in BBC's David Copperfield (1999) and the Archbishop of Canterbury in the film Johnny English (2003). Since the 90s, Davies has become more familiar to international audiences for his role as Queen Amidala's councillor Sio Bibble in the Star Wars prequel trilogy and as Cressen, the maester of Dragonstone and servant of Stannis Baratheon in HBO's blockbuster series Game of Thrones (2011).
Davies published his memoir, "An Actor's Life in 12 Productions", in 2022. For his services to drama, he was awarded an OBE in the 2024 New Year Honours List.Dr. Sheppard - Ron Berglas is known for Highlander (1986), The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (1992) and Messiah (2001).Dr. Eric Leidner
- Actress
- Art Department
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Samantha's early theatre work includes repertory seasons at Coventry, Edinburgh, Derby, and Bristol and 'Never in My Life 'at the Soho Poly in London. After appearing in Kenneth Branagh's production of 'Romeo and Juliet' she went on to West End productions of 'Les Liaisons Dangereuses', 'Man of the Moment', 'Three Tall Women' and 'Much Ado About Nothing' which was directed by Judi Dench. As a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company she acted in 'A Winters Tale' and 'As You Like It' She made her film debut in 'Eric the Viking' Television work includes 'Inspector Morse', 'Rumpole of the Bailey', 'Under the Moon', 'Tears Before Bedtime' and 'The Ruby Ring'Suzanna Chambers- Tom Ward was born on 11 January 1971 in Swansea, Wales, UK. He is an actor, known for Quills (2000), The Lost World (2001) and The Infinite Worlds of H.G. Wells (2001). He has been married to Emily Hohler since 2001. They have three children.Tristan Goodfellow
- Actress
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English character actress with a penchant for genteel aristocrats and kindly mothers. The daughter of teachers, she "spent some time selling shoes in Reading" before entering the acting profession. Aged eighteen, she studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and made her debut in repertory theatre at Amersham in 1955. Rosemary Leach enjoyed a prolific and varied career in both supporting and leading roles on the screen (though, by her own account, preferred radio and the stage). She became a familiar presence, most notably in television period dramas and sitcoms. Her roles have included Queen Victoria in Disraeli: Portrait of a Romantic (1978) (she also played Queen Elizabeth II on at least four occasions on both stage and screen),scatterbrained Aunt Fenny in The Jewel in the Crown (1984) (which fostered her fascination with India and resulted in several subsequent visits) , the swindled widow Joan Plumleigh-Bruce -- victim of 1930's social climbing con man Ralph Ernest Gorse -- in The Charmer (1987), one of three nannies working for wealthy families in Edwardian London's exclusive Berkeley Square (1998),the verger's wife, Mrs. Tope, in The Mystery of Edwin Drood (1993) and Zoë Wanamaker's habitually Martini-imbibing mother Grace in My Family (2000). She was twice nominated for BAFTA awards, latterly as Best Supporting Actress for her role as the kindly Mrs. Honeychurch in A Room with a View (1985). Her own personal favourite roles have included Miss Adelaide in a 1973 Birmingham Repertory Theatre production of "Guys and Dolls" and that of eccentric real life author Helene Hanff in "84 Charing Cross Road" (1981, Ambassador Theatre, London) for which she received an Olivier Award as Best Actress.Evelyn Pope- Actor
- Director
Robert Glenister (born 11 March 1960) is a popular British actor probably best known, among other roles, as con-man Ash "Three Socks" Morgan in the hit British TV series Hustle (2004) and his appearances in MI-5 (2002). His impressive career has spanned nearly three decades, and he has starred in several hit British television shows and acted in films.
He is the son of director John Glenister and the brother of actor Philip Glenister, who plays "DCI Gene Hunt" in Life on Mars (2006). His ex-wife is actress Amanda Redman, with whom he has a daughter, Emily Glenister, born in 1987. He and his current wife, Celia Glenister, have a son, Thomas Glenister, born in 1996. His sister-in-law is actress Beth Goddard.
Glenister appeared regularly in the BBC sitcom Sink or Swim (1980) from 1980 until 1982. He has also appeared in shows such as Soldier Soldier (1991), Doctor Who (1963) (in the serial "The Caves of Androzani", opposite his Sink or Swim (1980) co-star Peter Davison), Only Fools and Horses (1981), A Touch of Frost (1992), as well as several films.
He is probably best-known for his starring role in the BBC drama Hustle (2004), which has been exported to audiences across the globe. His character in the drama, "Ash Morgan", is a high-level con-man who has to convincingly play various roles or characters in order to pull off a con and lure a "mark". This perfectly showcases Glenister's versatile acting range and ability. He also had a regular starring role in the BBC drama MI-5 (2002).
His renowned on-screen presence and charismatic performances mean that Glenister continues to be a much sought-after actor on British television.John Field- Actress
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Eleanor David was born on 30 November 1955 in Lincolnshire, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Pink Floyd: The Wall (1982), Topsy-Turvy (1999) and 84 Charing Cross Road (1987).Georgina Canning- Actress
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Her parents, George and Anne were originally farmers in the Sacriston area of County Durham where she started her education at a village school and eventually attended Durham High School. Her family eventually gave up farming and became haulage contractors in Darlington where she then attended Darlington High School and then Yarm Grammar School where she had parts in school plays., The headmistress, who was very keen on drama encouraged her. While performing in one play she was seen by the aunt of director Anthony Asquith who recommended her to the Central School of Speech and Drama which she joined when 17. After training she made her theatre debut with the Ipswich Repertory Company and eventually her West End debut in 'Mr Kettle and Mr Moon' which was later followed by such as The Constant Wife, Ride a Cock Horse and Peter Pan.She later moved into television series, for which she became best known, such as Butterflies, Not in Front of the Children, And Mother Makes Three,Laura and Disorder and Nanny, which was based on her own idea .but submitted under a pen name so that it could be judged on it's own merit and not on her name. She has always liked writing and with knowing her characters she finds it very fulfilling and creative while acting is just interpretive. She's won numerous awards including Variety Club BBC TV Personality (69), Variety Club ITV TV Personality (73), TV Times Award for Funniest Woman on TV 72/73/74 and Variety Club Woman of the Year 84 and an Honorary Doctorate from Teeside University 94. She was married to journalist Jack Bentley, who died in 1994 and had two sons, Alastair, born 1957 who became an oboist with the Birmingham Royal Ballet, and Ross, born 1960 who is a writer. All this from seeing her first pantomime at 3 which made her determined to be on the stage.Victoria Bartlett- Actress
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Gemma Jones was born on 4 December 1942 in Marylebone, London, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Sense and Sensibility (1995), Bridget Jones's Baby (2016) and You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger (2010).Maisie Gooch- Actor
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Peter Wight was born in 1950 in Worthing, Sussex, England, UK. He is an actor, known for Hot Fuzz (2007), Another Year (2010) and Naked (1993).Ludlow- Actor
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Michael Maloney was born on 19 June 1957 in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England, UK. He is an actor, known for The Young Victoria (2009), Henry V (1989) and Notes on a Scandal (2006).Ivor Denniston- Haydn Gwynne was fluent in French and Italian. She studied Modern Languages at the University of Warwick before taking a five-year lectureship in Italy, where she taught English. She also drove across the United States before becoming an actress in her mid-twenties.
She first came to notice on television as starring in the David Lodge campus comedy/drama Nice Work (1989), before joining the sharp comedy series set in a television newsroom, Drop the Dead Donkey (1990). She was known for her roles in the medical series Peak Practice (1993) and the police drama Merseybeat (2001), but later played in the stage musicals 'Billy Elliot' and 'Ziegfeld'.
She lived in London with her partner Jason Phipps, a psychotherapist, and their two sons, Orlando and Harry. Offscreen, she volunteered for Sightsavers, a group committed to combating blindness in under-developed countries.Sandra Walters - Actor
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Neil was born in South London, the eldest of three. He was educated at Woolverstone Hall, a boarding school in Suffolk, where he gained his first acting experience. He trained at the Central School for Speech and Drama and spent the 1980s in constant work in the theatre and playing small TV parts, especially in sitcoms such as That's Love (1988) and Chelmsford 123 (1988). His break came in 1990 as "Dave", in the award winning sitcom Drop the Dead Donkey (1990), and his success has been further established as the lead in the highly acclaimed TV police drama Between the Lines (1992). He still lives (alone) in South London and supports Spurs.Dr. Stringer- Rachael Blake was born on 26 May 1971 in Perth, Western Australia, Australia. She is an actress, known for Sleeping Beauty (2011), Lantana (2001) and Gods of Egypt (2016). She has been married to Tony Martin since 21 December 2003.Ann Kriel
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Rachael Stirling was born on 30 May 1977 in St Marylebone, London, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Snow White and the Huntsman (2012), The Young Victoria (2009) and Tipping the Velvet (2002). She has been married to Guy Garvey since 3 June 2016. They have one child.Zoe Kenneth- Anastasia Hille was born in 1965 in Lambeth, London, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Snow White and the Huntsman (2012), The Awakening (2011) and The Hole (2001).Ginny Harris
- Actor
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- Director
Simon Callow was born on 13 June 1949 in London, England, UK. He is an actor and writer, known for Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), Shakespeare in Love (1998) and A Room with a View (1985). He has been married to Sebastian Fox since June 2016.Vernon Oxe- Annabelle Apsion is an English actress, best known for playing Monica Gallagher in the hit television comedy-drama Shameless, which she played intermittently between 2004 and 2006, before becoming a regular cast member for the show's fourth series in 2007. She left the show in 2008 in order to pursue other projects, with her final scenes airing in March 2009. She briefly returned to the role in 2011 and for the final series in 2013.Babs Temple
- Actor
- Writer
Alastair Mackenzie was born on 8 February 1970 in Trinafour, Perth and Kinross, Scotland, UK. He is an actor and writer, known for Andor (2022), The Crown (2016) and Dracula (2013). He is married to Susan Vidler. They have two children.Sebastian Anderson- Actress
- Additional Crew
- Soundtrack
With her father being in the army much of her early life was spent in boarding school from the age of 9. Initially she was turned down for RADA but got in and won a prize for Best Student. She had to turn down a role in Schindler's List (1993) as his wife due to already being committed to a theatre play, Her partner Hugh Brady is an anthropologist.Diana Ellerby- Lucy Liemann was born on 24 November 1973 in Barnet, Middlesex, England, UK. She is an actress, known for The Bourne Ultimatum (2007), The Strays (2023) and Hotel Babylon (2006). She has been married to Nigel Harman since 2011. They have one child.Bethan Vickery
- Mark Aiken was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He is known for 24 (2001), Trinity (2009) and The Hello Girls (1996).Donald Voss
- Matilda Ziegler was born on 23 July 1964 in Ashford, Kent, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Living (2022), Lark Rise to Candleford (2008) and EastEnders (1985). She has been married to Louis Hilyer since July 2004. They have three children.Helena Wright
- Actress
- Writer
Kate trained at RADA and works in theatre, television and film. She has co-written scripts for theatre, the BBC and Channel 4 and has been teaching Meisner technique for 20 years. She currently teaches at the Actors Centre, Arts Ed MA and BA courses, the National Opera Studio and at her own practice in the UK and internationally. Kate has written and performs her solo show The Old House, (RADA and Camden Fringe Festivals, Theatre 503, HighTide Aldeburgh, Assembly Roxy Edinburgh, Brighton Fringe 2020 ). Other recent theatre credits include Future Bodies with Unlimited Theatre and Rash Dash (Home Manchester and Northern Stage), Opening Skinner's Box with Improbable Theatre (Lincoln Centre Festival New York, Wexner Centre Ohio, Bristol Old Vic, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Northern Stage), One Cold Dark Night (The Bush), Four Minutes Twelve Seconds (Hampstead Theatre and Trafalgar Studios, Olivier nominated for Best Affiliate Show), Enduring Song (Southwark Playhouse). TV credits include Pan Tau (Caligari Films), Holby City, Giri/Haji (Netflix), Safe (Netflix), Lewis, Miranda, The Politician's Husband, Emmerdale, Absolute Power, Broken News. Film includes 6Underground (Netflix), Seven Lucky Gods (nominated for Best Supporting Actress at Milan Film festival).Susanna Leland- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Soundtrack
Con O'Neill is an English actor, primarily known for theatrical roles in musicals. In 1966, he was born in the seaside town of Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. Weston-super-mare is located at the coast of the Bristol Channel, an inlet which separates South Wales from the English counties of Devon and Somerset. The town has been a popular holiday destination since the 19th century, though its tourism industry has experienced a decline since the 1970s.
O'Neill started his acting career at the Everyman Theatre of Liverpool. The theatre opened in 1964, using the Victorian-era main building of the former church of Saint John the Evangelist. O'Neill appeared regularly in theatrical productions during the 1980s, while also cast in small roles in various television series.
In 1988, O'Neill won the "Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical", for his role as Michael "Mickey" Johnstone in the musical "Blood Brothers" by Willy Russell (1947-). The play concerns two fraternal twins (Mickey Johnstone and Edward 'Eddie' Lyons) who were separated at birth, were raised by different families, and belonged to different social classes. Their chance encounters in life start in attempts at friendship and eventually result in the deaths of both brothers. O'Neil later played the same role in Broadway productions of the musical, and was nominated for the "Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical" in 1993. The award for that year was instead won by Canadian actor Brent Carver (1951-).
In 1990, O'Neill had his first film role, playing the role of Peter McGeghan in "Dancin' Thru the Dark". The film was an adaptation of another play by Willy Russell, "Stags and Hens". The play was set in a 1970s nightclub, where a working-class woman is depicted celebrating her hen night (bachelorette party). She is presented with an unexpected choice between marrying her betrothed (known by the nickname "Dickhead") or resuming her romantic relationship with Peter, her ex-boyfriend who is a professional musician.
In the 1990s, O'Neill had his first recurring role in a television series, playing the character Nick in the comedy-drama series "Moving Story" (1994-1995). The series concerned a group of workers hired to transfer furniture from one house to another, and their work-related problems.
In 1998, O'Neill had the role of Terry in the comedy-drama film "Bedrooms and Hallways". In the film Terry is a young man who feels envious of the same-sex relationship between his friends, Brendan (a bisexual Irishman) and Leo (an "openly gay" Englishman, who actually still feels attracted to his former girlfriend). While Terry eventually has a fistfight with Brendan over an argument at a birthday party, he starts dating Brendan shortly after their fight.
In 1999, O' Neill played the role of Troy Fenton in the neo-noir film "The Last Seduction II". In the film, Troy secretly runs a phone sex line in Barcelona, Spain and recruits recent acquaintance Bridget Gregory (played by Joan Severance) to help him. He is unaware that Bridget is a professional con-woman and suspected murderer, who starts forming plans to steal Troy's profits.
O'Neill had the recurring role of Kenny Fletcher in the first season of the medical drama series "Always and Everyone" (1999-2002). The series was set at Accident and Emergency department of Saint Victor's city hospital in Manchester. Kenny was depicted as the husband of the protagonist, Dr. Christine Fletcher (played by Niamh Cusack). During the first episode, Christine learns that her husband was involved in serious road traffic accident, and starts suspecting that he has been lying to her about his activities while she works. By the end of the season, Christine asks for a divorce.
O'Neill also had the recurring role of Jo in the second season of the drama series "Real Women" (1998-1999) and its sequel, "Real Women II". The premise of the series was that five female friends gather for a reunion, and open up about the problems of their personal and professional lives.
In the early 2000s, O'Neill mostly appeared in guest-star roles in television. In 2005, he appeared in the leading role of Sam Clark in the black-and-white drama film "What's Your Name 41?". In the film, Sam is a professional artist who moves to Venice, Italy in hope of finding inspiration for a commissioned work.
In 2008, O'Neill played the role of solicitor (lawyer) Ralph Stone in the first season of the thriller-series "Criminal Justice" (2008-2009). In the first season, Ralph is hired to represent Ben Coulter (played by Ben Whishaw) in court. Ben is a young man accused of murdering his latest lover Melanie Lloyd (played by Ruth Negga) within her own house, though he has only partial memories of his activities during the night of the murder. The season deals with the question of whether Ben is guilty or whether he was framed by someone else. The second season of the series featured a new storyline, with another set of characters.
Also in 2008, O'Neill played the leading role of the songwriter and record producer Joe Meek (1929-1967) in the biographical film "Telstar: The Joe Meek Story". The real Joe Meek was an innovative sound engineer and pioneer in the genre of experimental pop, credited for assisting the development of recording practices like overdubbing, sampling, and reverb. However he suffered from both bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, which led to a decline in his professional life. In 1967, Meek was the perpetrator in a murder-suicide crime.
In 2010, O'Neill played a supporting role in the biographical film "The Kid". The film was an adaptation of Kevin Lewis' autobiography. Lewis was raised in the crime-infested area of New Addington, located in the London Borough of Croydon, South London. He was abused by his family as a child, and joined a gang in his adult years. The film depicts his life of abuse, though the screenwriters (and Lewis himself) decided to tone down the level of violence in the film.
In 2013, O'Neill played the role of the apostle Paul of Tarsus in the mini-series "The Bible". The series adapted various tales from both the Old Testament and the New Testament of the Christian Bible. The series was considered a ratings-hit in the United States, though it was criticized for deviating away from its source material in the depictions of several characters. The series was nominated for a "Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited Series", but the award was instead won by a television version of the film "Behind the Candelabra", which depicted the life of the famous pianist Liberace (1919-1987).
In 2014, O'Neill voiced the character Titchy Gren in the video game "Dark Souls II". While nominally a sequel to the video-game "Dark Souls" (2011), the game features different characters and a different setting than its predecessor. Titchy Gren is depicted as an overseer of the cult-religion Brotherhood of Blood, and as a servant of the war god Nahr Alma. Gren's purpose is to ensure war and bloodshed sufficient to please his deity, and to recruit new members for his cult. While capable of fighting in his own right, Titchy Gren is depicted as a mediocre fighter and can be killed when outright attacking players.He can be resurrected with a sufficient offering of stolen souls at his gravestone.
From 2014 to 2017, O'Neill portrayed the supporting role of Val in the sitcom "Uncle" (2014-2017). Val is the cross-dressing owner of a rock-and-roll themed gay bar, and the father of Gwen (played by Sydney Rae White), the ex-girlfriend of protagonist Andy King. Andy is depicted as an alcoholic musician with suicidal tendencies, who is heavily indebted to Val.
In 2015, O'Neill played the role of Queen's Counsel Cliff Costello in the comedy-drama series "Cucumber". Cliff serves as a lawyer for the prosecution in the murder trial of the character Daniel Coltrane (played by James Murray). However, Daniel's victim was Lance Sullivan (played by Cyril Nri), a longtime friend of Cliff. So Cliff is tempted to personally murder Daniel, even if the man is acquitted in court. O'Neill also played the character of Cliff for a guest appearance in the anthology series "Banana" (2015).
In 2016, O'Neill was cast in the recurring role of Neil Ackroyd in the second season of the crime-drama series "Happy Valley" (2014-2016). Neil is depicted as an old friend of the series' co-protagonist Clare Cartwright (played by Siobhan Finneran). Clare is depicted as a recovering heroin and alcohol addict, who is trying to raise a young son with the assistance of her sister and roommate, the police sergeant Catherine Cawood (played by Sarah Lancashire).
Also in 2016, O'Neill played the recurring role of Neil Grey in the second season of the crime-drama series "The Tunnel" (2013-2018) The series is a British-French co-production, depicting crimes which affect both sides of the Channel Tunnel. The series was itself a loose adaptation of the Danish-Swedish co-production "The Bridge" (2011-2018), which depicted crimes taking place in the border zone between Denmark and Sweden.
O'Neill played the guest role of folk singer Huw MacLean in the short-lived science-fiction series "Class" (2016), a spin-off of "Doctor Who". Huw is depicted as a man with suicidal and homicidal thoughts, who was imprisoned for several years after attempting to kill his wife and daughter in a murder-suicide plot. After being released from prison, Huw tries to re-establish a relationship with his daughter April MacLean (played by Sophie Hopkins). However, at the time April shared the powers and thought processes of the villain Corakinus, the Shadow King (played by Paul Marc Davis), struggling with murderous impulses of her own. So April repeatedly feels tempted to commit patricide.
O'Neill played one of the main characters in the second and last season of the drama series "Ordinary Lies" (2015-2016). His role was that of Joe Brierley, the Head of Sales of a Welsh company. Joe is preoccupied with suspicions that his wife Belinda Brierley (played by Jill Halfpenny) is cheating on him, and starts obsessively spying on her to gain evidence. He discovers that she has a secret life of her own, and that she is obsessed with a personal crusade against online predators.
In 2017, O'Neill started appearing in the period drama series "Harlots" (2017-), playing the recurring role of 18th-century plantation owner Nathaniel Lennox. Nathaniel is depicted as an ex-lover of the series' protagonist, the brothel-madam Margaret Wells (played by Samantha Morton).
In 2019, O'Neill played the historical figure of Viktor Bryukhanov in the period mini-series "Chernobyl". The real-life Bryukhanov was the plant-director of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, in the vicinity of the city of Pripyat, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1986, Bryukhanov reported a serious radiation accident to his superiors, but his report underestimated the levels of radiation involved and claimed that the situation was under control. He was sentenced to ten years of imprisonment for his role in the accident, but was released prematurely in 1991.Dr. Bob Massey- Classically-trained veteran actor David Calder was born on 1 August 1946 in Portsmouth, England. His impressive career in acting began as early as 1968 around the age of 22. Easily known to British audiences for his work in film and television, Calder perhaps is better known to American audiences with his appearances in high profile movies such as the James Bond spy-action film The World Is Not Enough (1999) as Sir Robert King, the on-screen father of French actress Sophie Marceau. He also appeared in Rob Cohen's The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008), the third installment to the Stephen Sommers-directed Mummy films starring Brendan Fraser. During the 2010s, Calder has appeared in further A-list films and television series, including the Ron Howard-directed car-racing film drama Rush (2013), starring Chris Hemsworth. His continued work in British television includes appearances on The Wrong Mans (2013) and Casualty (1986). Calder appeared in the 2016 miniseries The Moonstone (2016) and guest-starred in Emerald City (2016).Andrew Lipton
- Lesley Vickerage was born in 1961 in London, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Moonfleet (2013), The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (2001) and Inspector Morse (1987).Katherine Dutta
- Actor
- Music Department
- Director
Peter Davison was born as Peter Malcolm Gordon Moffett on 13 April 1951 in Streatham, London. A decade later, he and his family - his parents, Sheila and Claude (an electrical engineer who hailed from British Guiana), and his sisters, Barbara, Pamela and Shirley, moved to Knaphill, Woking, Surrey, where Davison was educated at the Winston Churchill School. It was here that he first became interested in acting, taking parts in a number of school plays, and this eventually led to him joining an amateur dramatic society, the Byfleet Players.
Upon leaving school at the age of sixteen, having achieved only modest academic success with three O Levels of undistinguished grades, he took a variety of short-lived jobs ranging from hospital porter to Hoffman press operator. He was still keen to pursue an acting career, however, and so applied for a place at drama school.
Davison was accepted into the Central School of Speech and Drama and stayed there for three years. His first professional acting work came in 1972 when, after leaving drama school in the July of that year, he secured a small role in a run of "Love's Labour's Lost" at the Nottingham Playhouse. This marked the start of a three-year period in which he worked in a variety of different repertory companies around Great Britain, often in Shakespearean roles. He then made his television debut, playing a blond-wigged space cowboy character called Elmer in "A Man for Emily", a three-part story in the Thames TV children's series The Tomorrow People (1973) (April 1975). Appearing alongside him in this production was his future wife, American actress Sandra Dickinson, whom he had first met during a run of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in Edinburgh. They married on 26 December 1978 in Dickinson's home town of Rockville, Maryland, USA.
Davison spent the following eighteen months working as a file clerk at Twickenham tax office. He also took the opportunity to pursue an interest in singing and songwriting, which led him to record several singles with his wife. He later provided the theme tunes for a number of TV series, including Mixed Blessings (1978) and Button Moon (1980). Davison played the romantic lead, Tom Holland in Love for Lydia (1977), a London Weekend Television (LWT) period drama serial transmitted in 1977.
Davison's greatest acting breakthrough came when he played Tristan in the BBC's All Creatures Great and Small (1978), based on the books of country vet James Herriot. It was a highly successful series, which ran initially for three seasons between 1978-1980. His success in All Creatures Great and Small (1978) brought him many other offers of TV work. Among those that he took up were lead roles in two sitcoms: LWT's Holding the Fort (1980), in which he played Russell Milburn, and the BBC's Sink or Swim (1980), in which he played Brian Webber. Three seasons of each were transmitted between 1980-82, consolidating Davison's position as a well-known and popular television actor.
In 1980, Doctor Who (1963) producer John Nathan-Turner, who had worked with Davison as the production unit manager on All Creatures Great and Small (1978), cast him as the Fifth Doctor in the series. Taking over from Tom Baker, who had been in the role for an unprecedented seven years, Davison was seen as a huge departure as he was by far the youngest actor to date. Davison announced he was taking the lead role in Doctor Who (1963) on the BBC's lunchtime magazine program Pebble Mill at One (1972) on 3 December 1980, when he discussed with the presenter a number of costume ideas sent in by viewers and was particularly impressed by a suggestion from one of a panel of young fans assembled in the studio that the new Doctor should be "like Tristan Farnon, but with bravery and intellect".
His appearance in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1981), was recorded on 19 December 1980 and transmitted on 2 February 1981, by which time the viewing public were well aware that he would soon be taking over the lead role in Doctor Who. There was in fact only a month to go before he would make his on-screen debut in the series - albeit a brief one, in the regeneration sequence at the end of Logopolis: Part Four (1981).
His first full story was in Castrovalva: Part One (1982), the first story of season nineteen transmitted on 4 January 1982. Another significant change for the series was that it was taken off Saturdays for the first time, instead being broadcast on Mondays and Tuesdays. Davison was an immediate hit as the Doctor, with ratings picking up considerably from Tom Baker's final season. Several episodes from Davison's first season achieved over 10 million viewers, which would be the last time these numbers would be achieved in the original run of Doctor Who (1963). One particular success from Davison's first season was the stylish return of the Cybermen in Earthshock: Part One (1982), which became the most popular Cybermen story since the 1960s.
As the incumbent Doctor, Davison took part in the major celebrations of the 20th anniversary of Doctor Who (1963) in 1983, which included the multi-Doctor special The Five Doctors (1983). Nevertheless, Davison found himself dissatisfied with his second season on Doctor Who (1963), feeling that the writing, directing, budgets and tight recording schedules in the studio were frequently letting it down. With this in mind and fearing typecasting, he finished his tenure at the end of his third season in The Caves of Androzani: Part Four (1984). He left on a high, as it has been repeatedly voted one of the best stories ever by fans.
Davison became a father when, on December 25, 1984 (one day before the couple's sixth wedding anniversary), Dickinson gave birth to a daughter, Georgia Elizabeth, at Queen Charlotte's Hospital in London. Ten years later, however, the marriage broke down and they separated and later divorced. Most of Davison's work since then has been in the medium for which he is best known: television.
His credits include regular stints as Henry Myers in Anna of the Five Towns (1985), as Dr. Stephen Daker in A Very Peculiar Practice (1986), as Albert Campion in Mystery!: Campion (1989) and as Clive Quigley in Ain't Misbehavin (1994) all for the BBC, and as Ralph in Yorkshire TV's Fiddlers Three (1991). In addition, he has reprized his popular role of Tristan Farnon on a number of occasions for one-off specials and revival seasons of All Creatures Great and Small (1978).
Davison has returned several times to the world of Doctor Who (1963). In 1993 he appeared as the Fifth Doctor in Doctor Who: Dimensions in Time (1993), a brief two-part skit transmitted as part of the BBC's annual Children in Need Charity appeal, and in 1985 he narrated an abridged novelization of the season twenty-one story "Warriors of the Deep" for BBC Worldwide's Doctor Who audio book series. In addition, he has appeared in a number of video dramas produced by Bill Baggs Video. In 2003 and 2004 he appeared as quiet and unassuming detective "Dangerous Davies" in The Last Detective (2003), the Meridian TV adaptations of Leslie Thomas's novels.Peter Faulkner- Actress
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Miranda grew up in Burnham Thorpe on the North Norfolk coast and trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. Her father, Nick, is a jazz pianist and her mother, Caroline, read the news for Anglia television. In 2011, she played the title role in 'Anne Boleyn' at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre to great critical acclaim.Stella Drew- Elizabeth Rider was born in Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Line of Duty (2012), Care (2018) and Doc Martin (2004).Lorraine Fernsby
- Jason Done was born and raised in Salford, England. His love for acting began at an early age after watching the Ken Loach film, Kes. Aged eight, he entered a talent competition, and won first prize for his stand up comedy.
At sixteen Jason won his schools drama prize, and was awarded a place at the National Youth Theatre's summer school, where he worked with acclaimed playwright John Burrows. Jason gained a Foundation Diploma in Performing Arts with distinction from Salford University, whilst studying he co-wrote comedy sketches inspired by Monty Python and performed them in venues around the North of England. He made his professional stage debut in Hull Trucks production of A Hard Days Night, and soon after began work on ITV's _"Mothers Ruin" (1994)_, a six part comedy series. He followed this with Martin Sadofski's drama Blood and Peaches, a gritty tale of four young people growing up in Bradford, England against a backdrop of racial unrest.
It was at this time that Jason realized his passion for dramatic work. This led him back to the theatre for his role as Stubbs in the London premiere of Sam Shepherds play, States of Shock, where he debuted his American accent. Jason received outstanding notices, and followed the play with a role in Anthony Minghella's The English Patient (1996), opposite Academy Award winner Juliette Binoche. Jason returned to the small screen for Wokenwell (1997) where he played PC Brian Rainford, in England's answer to Northern Exposure. The show gained a cult following.
Next came The Barber of Siberia directed by Oscar winner Nikita Mikhalkov, where he played an American army cadet stationed at West Point. Described as "deliciously evil" for his role as Mordred in NBC's Merlin (1998), Jason worked alongside a star studded ensemble including Sam Neill, Isabella Rossellini and Helena Bonham Carter, in what was NBC's highest rating drama in twelve years.
Always willing to try new accents, Jason played a tormented student from Cornwall in The Passion (1999) (BBC 1). He then joined the cast of the popular ITV series, Where the Heart Is (1997) for two years. The Emmy award winning Dreamworks/HBO production Band of Brothers saw Jason's return to US television. His role of BAFTA winner Julie Walters' son in BBC's critically acclaimed Murder, had Jason working with director Beeban Kidron and writer Abi Morgan. Having earlier worked on the short film the King and Us, Jason spread his wings to write, produce and star in his own short film Shooting from the Lip, a commentary on lost love. Jason most recently starred as Sean Denning, a malevolent gangster manipulating the police, in a two part TV film of the popular series In Deep.Paul Brightway - Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Steve Pemberton is a BAFTA winning actor and writer born in Blackburn, UK. He graduated from Bretton Hall in Yorkshire with a BA (Hons) in Theatre Arts in 1989. After leaving college Steve spent time producing and starring in small-scale theatre productions in London and working part-time for Variety as assistant editor of the International Film Guide. In 1996 Steve and his college friends Mark Gatiss, Reece Shearsmith and Jeremy Dyson went to Edinburgh with comedy show The League of Gentlemen, winning the coveted Perrier Comedy prize a year later. The group then went on to record a radio series and four TV series for the BBC as well as staging three live tours and making a film.
In 2009 Steve and Reece wrote and starred in the multi-award winning black comedy Psychoville which ran for two series and a Halloween special. The pair's acclaimed anthology show Inside No 9 began in 2014 and Steve was awarded with a BAFTA for Best Male Comedy Performance in 2019. The show also won BAFTAs for Scripted Comedy and Comedy Writing. Steve lives in North London with his partner and three children.Ian Tedman- Bobby is a British actor from Essex, he began his acting career at a young age, when he landed his breakout role as the voice of Patch in Walt Disney's animated film 101 Dalmatians 2: Patch's London Adventure (2002). He was then part of the original cast of House of Anubis before landing the lead role in CBBC's hit series Wolfblood (2012), which he picked up the Best Performer award at the children's BAFTAs for his performance in Wolfblood in 2013.
Bobby played Paramedic Leon Cook, in the highly acclaimed British television Show Casualty (1986) for the BBC and has recently shot a role in the new series of Grantchester (2014)
Bobby's other TV credits include ITV's Inspector Lewis (2006), BBC three's Uncle (2012) and ITV's Unforgotten (2015) and The Emily Atack Show (2020) Film credits include Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020), Outside the Wire (2021), The Outpost (2019), Acres and Acres (2016) opposite Rafe Spall, and Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk (2017).Sam Langton - Peter Preston
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Born in the Austrian Alps. Started out as a professional football (soccer) goalkeeper. Moved to London to play in the United Kingdom, but had to stop playing due to injuries. After appearing in many TV commercials and various publications, he moved into the film business.Kraus- Gavin Brocker was born in Plumstead, East London, and admits that the only school subjects that really interested him were English and drama. He was prepared to train for computer work and went to North West Kent College, where, on the strength of his performance record in school plays, it was suggested he considered taking up acting instead. He received in-service training at the Miskin Theatre before going on to the London Arts Educational School, where he won the Laurence Olivier Bursary, and from where he graduated in 2005. He has since appeared in all media, from the stage revival of 'Beautiful Thing' to the role of a conniving spiv in 'Foyle's War' and a strong supporting part in the football picture 'Cass'.Harry Osborne
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Malcolm Sinclair read drama and theology at the University of Hull and then went on to do a one year post-graduate acting course at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. After seven years in different repertory companies around the country he made his London debut in 1985 at the Notting Hill Gate Theatre in Arthur Schnitzler's play 'Anatole', which he describes as the first thing that got him noticed. Since then he has appeared with both the National and Royal Shakespeare companies and has taken on musical roles in the likes of 'Privates On Parade' and 'My Fair lady'. On television he has been bumped off several times in who-dunnit mystery dramas though he stayed the course as supercilious Assistant Chief Constable Freddie Fisher in 'Pie In the Sky'. In July 2010 he was elected the president of the Equity actors' union.Father Martin Keppler- Nicholas - or Nick - Woodeson, born in 1949 in Port Sudan, Sudan to British parents - spent his early childhood in Haifa, Israel, in line with his parents' diplomatic postings. He recalls that his first taste of thespian glory was reciting A.A. Milne poems to family friends at the age of six. Nick's strong affinity and regard for the Middle East has meant that, in the 2000s, he has written several heartfelt letters to English broadsheet newspapers expressing his views on the Middle East crisis and American involvement therein. Sent back to England to complete a boarding school education, he went on to Sussex University where his interest in drama re-surfaced and he engaged in competitive productions for the British National Student Drama Festival. As a consequence he was noticed by, and obtained his first acting job for, the theatrical repertory company at Crewe in Cheshire, England, ruefully noting in hindsight that he was usually a prompter or assistant stage manager, rather than a player. However, he soon obtained a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, and later joined the prestigious Royal Shakespeare Company, in 1981, remaining with them intermittently until 1990. He has consequently appeared in other media including films like 'Topsy-Turvy' and television dramas like 'Midsomer Murders' in 1998, where he played one of several murder suspects, along with actress Angela Pleasence. A year later, Angela and Nick played a mother and son in the stage play 'The Late Middle Classes', notwithstanding the fact that there was only an eight year age gap between them. From 2007, he reached a global audience as Julius Caesar's clever and loyal "body slave" Posca, in the BBC/HBO TV blockbuster, 'Rome'.Josef Novak