 |
| Mags (Jessica Martin) was not all she seemed... |
First broadcast Dec 14 1988 to Jan 4 1989
Average audience for serial: 5.43m
REGULAR CAST
Sylvester McCoy (The Doctor) Born Aug 20 1943 Click here for Sylvester McCoy's entry on Time and the Rani
Sophie Aldred (Ace) Born Aug 20 1962 Click here for Sophie Aldred's entry on Dragonfire
GUEST CAST
David Ashford (Father Ragnarok) Oct 16 1941 to Dec 17 2020 (cancer)
Doctor Who credits
Played: Bob Slater in The Curse of the Daleks (stage play, 1965-66)
Played: Father Ragnarok in The Greatest Show in the Galaxy (1988-89)
Career highlights
David debuted in The Vanishing Trick (1965), then Up Jumped a Swagman (1965), No Hiding Place (1967), Strange Report (1969), The Pathfinders (1972), The Edwardians (1972), Dickens of London (1976), Agony (1979), Quatermass IV (1979), The Gentle Touch (1982), Angels (1982), Scoop (1987), Casualty (1987), Indiscreet (1988), Sitting Pretty (1992-93), Keeping Up Appearances (1995) and Down to Earth (2000/04). His most memorable role was as Charles Lotterby in over 120 episodes of Crown Court (1972-78).
Career highlights
David debuted in The Vanishing Trick (1965), then Up Jumped a Swagman (1965), No Hiding Place (1967), Strange Report (1969), The Pathfinders (1972), The Edwardians (1972), Dickens of London (1976), Agony (1979), Quatermass IV (1979), The Gentle Touch (1982), Angels (1982), Scoop (1987), Casualty (1987), Indiscreet (1988), Sitting Pretty (1992-93), Keeping Up Appearances (1995) and Down to Earth (2000/04). His most memorable role was as Charles Lotterby in over 120 episodes of Crown Court (1972-78).
Facts
David was one of the foremost historians of British comics, having collaborated on a number of books on the subject. In the early 1990s he became a teacher of English and drama.
Christopher Guard (Bellboy) Born Dec 5 1953
Career highlights
Christopher debuted at the age of 13 as the title role in David Copperfield (1966), then appeared in Great Expectations (1967) as Young Pip, Tom Brown's Schooldays (1971), Village Hall (1975), I, Claudius (1976), A Little Night Music (1977), Secret Army (1977), Les Miserables (1978), Shoestring (1979), Memoirs of a Survivor (1981), Wilfred and Eileen (1981), John Diamond (1981), My Cousin Rachel (1983), A Woman of Substance (1984), The Tripods (1985), Return to Treasure Island (1986), Blackeyes (1989), She-Wolf of London (1990), Casualty (1993), The Haunting of Helen Walker (1995), Bugs (1997), The Worst Witch (2000) and Doctors (2001). He also provided the voice of Frodo Baggins in the 1978 animation of The Lord of the Rings.
Facts
Christopher was married to actress Lesley Dunlop (who appeared in Frontios and The Happiness Patrol), while his brother is actor Dominic Guard (who appeared in Terminus - making Dominic's wife Sharon Duce (of Ghost Light fame) his sister-in-law)! His cousin is actress Pippa Guard, while his current partner is actress Cathy Shipton, best known as Duffy in Casualty (he met Cathy on the set of Casualty and walked out on his wife of 18 years, Lesley Dunlop. Christopher and Cathy had a child together in 2001). The family ties continue: Christopher's parents are actors Philip Guard and Charlotte Mitchell. Christopher is also a singer and songwriter, formerly for the bands Indians in Moscow and Gregoryz Girl, and more recently for Leapfrogtown (here's their video for the 2013 single Dreaming in Public).
In 2014 Toby Hadoke released his Who's Round interview with Christopher here.
Janet Hargreaves (Mother Ragnarok) May 31 1937 to Aug 4 2018
Career highlights
Janet's other credits include The Avengers (1962), Honey Lane (1967), The Doctors (1971), Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell (1974), Bottle Boys (1984), Forever Green (1992), Hetty Wainthropp Investigates (1997), Poirot (2000), Baby Blues (2002), Doctors (2001/05) and Stranded (2012). Janet's most memorable roles were as Clare Farrell in 45 episodes of soap Compact (1962-63), and as Rosemary Hunter in 47 episodes of soap Crossroads (1971-80).
Facts
Janet was the first actor ever to play all three female roles in Agatha Christie's long-running play The Mousetrap. She later worked as a communications coach, as well as a writer and poet.
Dean Hollingsworth (Bus conductor) Born May 26 1961
Doctor Who credits
Played: Android in Timelash (1985)
Played: Bus Conductor in The Greatest Show in the Galaxy (1988-89)
Career highlights
Debuted in Doctor Who, and also appeared in Casualty (1987).
Facts
Dean left acting in the 1990s and went into business intelligence, and today specialises in designing and training in IBM Cognos business insight tools, having worked for the likes of BAE Systems, G4S Security and Vodaphone. He is now based on Guernsey in the Channel Islands.
Chris Jury (Deadbeat) Born Sep 28 1956
Career highlights
Chris made his debut in Maybury (1981), then appeared as Mr Knowles in school drama Grange Hill (1983-84), and later took roles in What If It's Raining (1986), A Very Peculiar Practice (1988), Stay Lucky (1989), Heartbeat (1994), The Big Game (1995), The Innocent Sleep (1996), Noah's Ark (1997), Starting Out (1999), Season of Mists (2009), The Final (2010) and Holby City (2017). His most memorable role was Eric Catchpole in 55 episodes of antiques drama Lovejoy (1986-94). Chris is now a writer, director and producer, penning scripts for The Bill (1998-99), Casualty (2000-01), Holby City (2001/05) and Doctors (2004/06); directing episodes of Coronation Street (2001), Crossroads (2002), The Courtroom (2004), EastEnders (2000-04), Doctors (2007-08), I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue (2008), The Royal Today (2008), Hollyoaks (2015) and Nurses Who Kill (2016-17); and producing for EastEnders (2004), The Final (2010) and In Good Faith (2011).
Facts
Chris continues to work in independent film production and in 2015 debuted a new play called Nadya, about the life of Stalin's wife. He also lectures in recorded media and has his own political philosophy blog.
In 2014 Toby Hadoke released his Who's Round interview with Chris here.
Kathryn Ludlow (Child Ragnarok) Born 1978
Kathryn's only other credits are EastEnders (1987) and as Gudrun in Courage Mountain (1990).
T.P. McKenna (Captain Cook) Sep 7 1929 to Feb 13 2011
Career highlights
Irish born Thomas Patrick (TP) McKenna appeared in over 120 productions beginning with Broth of a Boy (1959), then The Siege of Sidney Street (1960), The Quare Fellow (1962), Ferry Cross the Mersey (1965), The Charge of the Light Brigade (1968), Anne of the Thousand Days (1969), The Beast in the Cellar (1970), Straw Dogs (1971), Villain (1971), Callan (1972), Napoleon and Love (1974), Rooms (1975), Beasts (1976), The Duchess of Duke Street (1977), Blake's 7 (1978), Holocaust (1978), Silver Dream Racer (1980), The Outsider (1980), Nancy Astor (1982), The Scarlet and the Black (1983), Give Us a Break (1984), The Doctor and the Devils (1985), Jack the Ripper (1988), Parnell and the Englishwoman (1991), The Scarlet and the Black (1993), Kurtulus (1994), Kavanagh QC (1996), The American (1998), DDU (1999), Longitude (2000), Ballykissangel (2001), Rockface (2003), Fair City (2004) and The Libertine (2004). He also regularly played Patrick Canty QC in Crown Court (1975-82) and Colin Fowler in The Chief (1991-94).
Facts
His son Breffni is also an actor (Breffni was "the voice of Gerry Adams", leader of Sinn Fein, in the years when his real voice was not allowed to be broadcast). His other son was actor Kilian, who died in 2014. After T.P's death, tributes were paid to him by Prince Charles and then Irish President Mary McAleese.
Deborah Manship (Morgana) Born Sep 25 1953
Career highlights
Deborah first found success as Valerie Price in Angels (1979-81), then secured a second regular role as Nesta Mogg in The District Nurse (1984) before further roles in Star Cops (1987), Billy's Christmas Angels (1988), Grange Hill (1993) and The Bill (1994).
Facts
In 1989, she established Role Call, a training consultancy specialising in providing role-players for training courses in both the public and private sectors.
Christopher Guard (Bellboy) Born Dec 5 1953
Career highlights
Christopher debuted at the age of 13 as the title role in David Copperfield (1966), then appeared in Great Expectations (1967) as Young Pip, Tom Brown's Schooldays (1971), Village Hall (1975), I, Claudius (1976), A Little Night Music (1977), Secret Army (1977), Les Miserables (1978), Shoestring (1979), Memoirs of a Survivor (1981), Wilfred and Eileen (1981), John Diamond (1981), My Cousin Rachel (1983), A Woman of Substance (1984), The Tripods (1985), Return to Treasure Island (1986), Blackeyes (1989), She-Wolf of London (1990), Casualty (1993), The Haunting of Helen Walker (1995), Bugs (1997), The Worst Witch (2000) and Doctors (2001). He also provided the voice of Frodo Baggins in the 1978 animation of The Lord of the Rings.
Facts
Christopher was married to actress Lesley Dunlop (who appeared in Frontios and The Happiness Patrol), while his brother is actor Dominic Guard (who appeared in Terminus - making Dominic's wife Sharon Duce (of Ghost Light fame) his sister-in-law)! His cousin is actress Pippa Guard, while his current partner is actress Cathy Shipton, best known as Duffy in Casualty (he met Cathy on the set of Casualty and walked out on his wife of 18 years, Lesley Dunlop. Christopher and Cathy had a child together in 2001). The family ties continue: Christopher's parents are actors Philip Guard and Charlotte Mitchell. Christopher is also a singer and songwriter, formerly for the bands Indians in Moscow and Gregoryz Girl, and more recently for Leapfrogtown (here's their video for the 2013 single Dreaming in Public).
In 2014 Toby Hadoke released his Who's Round interview with Christopher here.
Janet Hargreaves (Mother Ragnarok) May 31 1937 to Aug 4 2018
Career highlights
Janet's other credits include The Avengers (1962), Honey Lane (1967), The Doctors (1971), Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell (1974), Bottle Boys (1984), Forever Green (1992), Hetty Wainthropp Investigates (1997), Poirot (2000), Baby Blues (2002), Doctors (2001/05) and Stranded (2012). Janet's most memorable roles were as Clare Farrell in 45 episodes of soap Compact (1962-63), and as Rosemary Hunter in 47 episodes of soap Crossroads (1971-80).
Facts
Janet was the first actor ever to play all three female roles in Agatha Christie's long-running play The Mousetrap. She later worked as a communications coach, as well as a writer and poet.
Dean Hollingsworth (Bus conductor) Born May 26 1961
Doctor Who credits
Played: Android in Timelash (1985)
Played: Bus Conductor in The Greatest Show in the Galaxy (1988-89)
Career highlights
Debuted in Doctor Who, and also appeared in Casualty (1987).
Facts
Dean left acting in the 1990s and went into business intelligence, and today specialises in designing and training in IBM Cognos business insight tools, having worked for the likes of BAE Systems, G4S Security and Vodaphone. He is now based on Guernsey in the Channel Islands.
Chris Jury (Deadbeat) Born Sep 28 1956
Career highlights
Chris made his debut in Maybury (1981), then appeared as Mr Knowles in school drama Grange Hill (1983-84), and later took roles in What If It's Raining (1986), A Very Peculiar Practice (1988), Stay Lucky (1989), Heartbeat (1994), The Big Game (1995), The Innocent Sleep (1996), Noah's Ark (1997), Starting Out (1999), Season of Mists (2009), The Final (2010) and Holby City (2017). His most memorable role was Eric Catchpole in 55 episodes of antiques drama Lovejoy (1986-94). Chris is now a writer, director and producer, penning scripts for The Bill (1998-99), Casualty (2000-01), Holby City (2001/05) and Doctors (2004/06); directing episodes of Coronation Street (2001), Crossroads (2002), The Courtroom (2004), EastEnders (2000-04), Doctors (2007-08), I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue (2008), The Royal Today (2008), Hollyoaks (2015) and Nurses Who Kill (2016-17); and producing for EastEnders (2004), The Final (2010) and In Good Faith (2011).
Facts
Chris continues to work in independent film production and in 2015 debuted a new play called Nadya, about the life of Stalin's wife. He also lectures in recorded media and has his own political philosophy blog.
In 2014 Toby Hadoke released his Who's Round interview with Chris here.
Kathryn Ludlow (Child Ragnarok) Born 1978
Kathryn's only other credits are EastEnders (1987) and as Gudrun in Courage Mountain (1990).
T.P. McKenna (Captain Cook) Sep 7 1929 to Feb 13 2011
Career highlights
Irish born Thomas Patrick (TP) McKenna appeared in over 120 productions beginning with Broth of a Boy (1959), then The Siege of Sidney Street (1960), The Quare Fellow (1962), Ferry Cross the Mersey (1965), The Charge of the Light Brigade (1968), Anne of the Thousand Days (1969), The Beast in the Cellar (1970), Straw Dogs (1971), Villain (1971), Callan (1972), Napoleon and Love (1974), Rooms (1975), Beasts (1976), The Duchess of Duke Street (1977), Blake's 7 (1978), Holocaust (1978), Silver Dream Racer (1980), The Outsider (1980), Nancy Astor (1982), The Scarlet and the Black (1983), Give Us a Break (1984), The Doctor and the Devils (1985), Jack the Ripper (1988), Parnell and the Englishwoman (1991), The Scarlet and the Black (1993), Kurtulus (1994), Kavanagh QC (1996), The American (1998), DDU (1999), Longitude (2000), Ballykissangel (2001), Rockface (2003), Fair City (2004) and The Libertine (2004). He also regularly played Patrick Canty QC in Crown Court (1975-82) and Colin Fowler in The Chief (1991-94).
Facts
His son Breffni is also an actor (Breffni was "the voice of Gerry Adams", leader of Sinn Fein, in the years when his real voice was not allowed to be broadcast). His other son was actor Kilian, who died in 2014. After T.P's death, tributes were paid to him by Prince Charles and then Irish President Mary McAleese.
Deborah Manship (Morgana) Born Sep 25 1953
Career highlights
Deborah first found success as Valerie Price in Angels (1979-81), then secured a second regular role as Nesta Mogg in The District Nurse (1984) before further roles in Star Cops (1987), Billy's Christmas Angels (1988), Grange Hill (1993) and The Bill (1994).
Facts
In 1989, she established Role Call, a training consultancy specialising in providing role-players for training courses in both the public and private sectors.
Jessica Martin (Mags) Born Aug 25 1962
Doctor Who credits
Played: Mags in The Greatest Show in the Galaxy (1988-89)
Played: Voice of the Queen in Voyage of the Damned (2007)
Career highlights
Jessica is best known as an impressionist (including mimicking Doctor Who's very own Bonnie Langford - see the linked list here), starting out on the Edinburgh Fringe circuit with fellow mimic Rory Bremner and then providing voices for Spitting Image (1985-88), and appearing on Copy Cats (1985-86), And There's More (1985), Bobby Davro on the Box (1986) and Bobby Davro's TV Weekly (1988). She also gave her voice to the 1988 animation PC Pinkerton, and her rare acting performances include The White Lady (1986) and Tonight at 8.30 (1991). She has also given her vocal skills to video games such as Flight of the Amazon Queen (1995) and Dragon Quest VIII (2004). Jessica has also had considerable success on the musical stage in productions such as Me and My Girl, Mack and Mabel, Spamalot, South Pacific and Sunset Boulevard.
Facts
In recent years she has branched into the world of comic books, including It Girl about silent movie star Clara Bow, Vivacity about Vivien Leigh, and the graphic novel Elsie Harris Picture Palace.
Peggy Mount (Stallslady) May 2 1915 to Nov 13 2001 (stroke)
Career highlights
Peggy's debut came with Fortune House (1953), then Sailor Beware! (1955), Dry Rot (1956), Sailor Beware (1956), Your Past is Showing (1957), The Adventures of Mr Pastry (1958), Inn for Trouble (1960), Ladies Who Do (1963), One Way Pendulum (1965), Hotel Paradiso (1966), Oliver! (1968), John Browne's Body (1969), The Chiffy Kids (1978), Stargazy on Zummerdown (1978), The Trial of Klaus Barbie (1987), All Change (1990), Inspector Morse (1991), T-Bag's Christmas Turkey (1991), Virtual Murder (1992) and The Tomorrow People (1994). She made her name in comedy roles, notably as Martha in Winning Widows (1961-62), Ada Larkin in The Larkins (1958-64), Gabrielle Dragon in George and the Dragon (1966-68), Maggie Robinson in Lollipop (1971-72) and Flora Petty in You're Only Young Twice (1977-81).
Awards
1996: Officer of the order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to drama
Facts
Peggy sadly had to give up acting when she lost her sight during a performance of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya in 1998. She subsequently suffered a series of strokes. Peggy is name-checked in the 1985 Half Man Half Biscuit song I Love You (Because You Look Like Jim Reeves). In the 1970s, she unofficially adopted a teenage boy whose mother had died and whom she regarded as a son.
Doctor Who credits
Played: Mags in The Greatest Show in the Galaxy (1988-89)
Played: Voice of the Queen in Voyage of the Damned (2007)
Career highlights
Jessica is best known as an impressionist (including mimicking Doctor Who's very own Bonnie Langford - see the linked list here), starting out on the Edinburgh Fringe circuit with fellow mimic Rory Bremner and then providing voices for Spitting Image (1985-88), and appearing on Copy Cats (1985-86), And There's More (1985), Bobby Davro on the Box (1986) and Bobby Davro's TV Weekly (1988). She also gave her voice to the 1988 animation PC Pinkerton, and her rare acting performances include The White Lady (1986) and Tonight at 8.30 (1991). She has also given her vocal skills to video games such as Flight of the Amazon Queen (1995) and Dragon Quest VIII (2004). Jessica has also had considerable success on the musical stage in productions such as Me and My Girl, Mack and Mabel, Spamalot, South Pacific and Sunset Boulevard.
Facts
In recent years she has branched into the world of comic books, including It Girl about silent movie star Clara Bow, Vivacity about Vivien Leigh, and the graphic novel Elsie Harris Picture Palace.
Peggy Mount (Stallslady) May 2 1915 to Nov 13 2001 (stroke)
Career highlights
Peggy's debut came with Fortune House (1953), then Sailor Beware! (1955), Dry Rot (1956), Sailor Beware (1956), Your Past is Showing (1957), The Adventures of Mr Pastry (1958), Inn for Trouble (1960), Ladies Who Do (1963), One Way Pendulum (1965), Hotel Paradiso (1966), Oliver! (1968), John Browne's Body (1969), The Chiffy Kids (1978), Stargazy on Zummerdown (1978), The Trial of Klaus Barbie (1987), All Change (1990), Inspector Morse (1991), T-Bag's Christmas Turkey (1991), Virtual Murder (1992) and The Tomorrow People (1994). She made her name in comedy roles, notably as Martha in Winning Widows (1961-62), Ada Larkin in The Larkins (1958-64), Gabrielle Dragon in George and the Dragon (1966-68), Maggie Robinson in Lollipop (1971-72) and Flora Petty in You're Only Young Twice (1977-81).
Awards
1996: Officer of the order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to drama
Facts
Peggy sadly had to give up acting when she lost her sight during a performance of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya in 1998. She subsequently suffered a series of strokes. Peggy is name-checked in the 1985 Half Man Half Biscuit song I Love You (Because You Look Like Jim Reeves). In the 1970s, she unofficially adopted a teenage boy whose mother had died and whom she regarded as a son.
Daniel Peacock (Nord) Born Oct 2 1958
Career highlights
Daniel is an actor, writer and director who made his thespian debut in 1978's Plain Murder. He went on to appear in Quadrophenia (1979), Riding High (1981), Gandhi (1982), Trail of the Pink Panther (1982), The Young Ones (1984), Just Good Friends (1984), The Jewel of the Nile (1985), Only Fools and Horses (1985), Robin of Sherwood (1986), The Kenny Everett Television Show (1983-86), Super Gran (1987), Valentine Park (1987-88), Mr Majeika (1989), I Bought a Vampire Motorcycle (1990), Jackson Pace: The Great Years (1990), Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991),Carry On Columbus (1992), One Foot in the Grave (1993), Teenage Health Freak (1991-93), Men of the World (1994-95), Sister Said (1998), Billie: Girl of the Future (2005), Coming of Age (2011), Starlings (2012-13), Toast of London (2014), Foyle's War (2015) and Marley's Ghosts (2016). He also appeared in nine episodes of The Comic Strip Presents (1982-2012) and provided the voice for the Beeposaurus in The Beeps (2007-08). As a writer he has penned Party Party (1983), The Comic Strip Presents... The Yob (1988), Jackson Pace: The Great Years (1990), Very Big Very Soon (1991), Teenage Health Freak (1991-93), Men of the World (1994-95, for which he also wrote the main title theme), Mud (1994-95), For Amusement Only (1995), Harry and Cosh (2002, for which he was nominated for two BAFTAs), Cavegirl (2002), Billie: Girl of the Future (2005), Demolition Dad (2006) and Marley's Ghosts (2016). He also directed for these latter three series, plus Anything's Possible (1995), Sister Said (1998) and Morris 2274 (2003).
Facts
His father is the actor Trevor Peacock, of The Vicar of Dibley fame, while his brother is actor Harry Peacock (who appeared in the Doctor Who story Silence in the Library/ Forest of the Dead (2008)). In the 1980s, Daniel appeared in a memorable TV commercial for the DIY firm Do It All (alongside Dimensions in Time's Ron Tarr!), as well as another for Birdseye Steakhouse grills.
Career highlights
Daniel is an actor, writer and director who made his thespian debut in 1978's Plain Murder. He went on to appear in Quadrophenia (1979), Riding High (1981), Gandhi (1982), Trail of the Pink Panther (1982), The Young Ones (1984), Just Good Friends (1984), The Jewel of the Nile (1985), Only Fools and Horses (1985), Robin of Sherwood (1986), The Kenny Everett Television Show (1983-86), Super Gran (1987), Valentine Park (1987-88), Mr Majeika (1989), I Bought a Vampire Motorcycle (1990), Jackson Pace: The Great Years (1990), Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991),Carry On Columbus (1992), One Foot in the Grave (1993), Teenage Health Freak (1991-93), Men of the World (1994-95), Sister Said (1998), Billie: Girl of the Future (2005), Coming of Age (2011), Starlings (2012-13), Toast of London (2014), Foyle's War (2015) and Marley's Ghosts (2016). He also appeared in nine episodes of The Comic Strip Presents (1982-2012) and provided the voice for the Beeposaurus in The Beeps (2007-08). As a writer he has penned Party Party (1983), The Comic Strip Presents... The Yob (1988), Jackson Pace: The Great Years (1990), Very Big Very Soon (1991), Teenage Health Freak (1991-93), Men of the World (1994-95, for which he also wrote the main title theme), Mud (1994-95), For Amusement Only (1995), Harry and Cosh (2002, for which he was nominated for two BAFTAs), Cavegirl (2002), Billie: Girl of the Future (2005), Demolition Dad (2006) and Marley's Ghosts (2016). He also directed for these latter three series, plus Anything's Possible (1995), Sister Said (1998) and Morris 2274 (2003).
Facts
His father is the actor Trevor Peacock, of The Vicar of Dibley fame, while his brother is actor Harry Peacock (who appeared in the Doctor Who story Silence in the Library/ Forest of the Dead (2008)). In the 1980s, Daniel appeared in a memorable TV commercial for the DIY firm Do It All (alongside Dimensions in Time's Ron Tarr!), as well as another for Birdseye Steakhouse grills.
Ian Reddington (Chief Clown) Born Sep 25 1957
Career highlights
Ian debuted in a 1984 Play for Today called Hard Feelings, then took roles in Highlander (1986), Casualty (1987), Yellowthread Street (1990), Inspector Morse (1992), The Sculptress (1996), Snap (1997), Peak Practice (2000), The Queen's Nose (1998/2000), Playing the Field (2002), Being April (2002), Shameless (2005-06), Jane Hall (2006), Robin Hood (2009), Benidorm (2011), Sex, Drugs and Veggie Spring Rolls (2014), Father Brown (2017), Outlander (2017), Zoe and the Astronaut (2018), The Spiritualist (2018), Vera (2019) and Invasion Planet Earth (2019). Ian has the distinction of having regular roles in the UK's top two soaps - Richard "Tricky Dicky" Cole in 96 episodes of EastEnders (1992-94) and Vernon Tomlin in 235 episodes of Coronation Street (2005-08).
Facts
In the 1970s, Ian was a member of performance art band Musical Vomit alongside Glen Gregory, who later fronted Heaven 17, and Ian Craig Marsh, a founder member of The Human League. The band specialised in stage stunts such as vomiting soup, and singing about masturbation and necrophilia, and were once described as the "very first punk band" by punk rocker Poly Styrene. Ian was a percussionist and backing vocalist. Ian has not left his musical roots behind, though - he has written and recorded singles for his beloved Sheffield Wednesday Football Club, including Steel City (Move On Up) (as Hillsboro Crew featuring Heaven 17); If It's Wednesday It Must Be Wembley (as Hillsboro Crew, for the 1993 FA Cup Final); Oh Yes (as the Wednesday Kop Band, 1997); and Euromania (as Elevenveeeleven, 1996). In 2008, he wrote a song for his Coronation Street character to sing and wanted to release it to hit the UK Christmas singles chart (not sure that ever happened!). The song was called (Don't Fall Into) The Mason's Arms.
Ricco Ross (Ringmaster) Born Apr 16 1958
Career highlights
Chicago-born Ricco made his debut as Tyler Bragg in Hill Street Blues (1982), then appeared in The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission (1985), CATS Eyes (1985), Death Wish 3 (1985), Aliens (1986), Slipstream (1989), Sleepers (1991), Jeeves and Wooster (1992), The Tomorrow People (1992), Westbeach (1993), Hackers (1995), Highlander (1996), Mission: Impossible (1996), Fierce Creatures (1997), Babylon 5 (1997), Wishmaster (1997), Beverly Hills 90210 (1999), ER (2006), Santa Croce (2007), Bite Me (2012), Match (2014), Caper (2014), Hidden in the Woods (2014), Story of Eva (2015), Escorts (2015), A Husband for Christmas (2016), The Possessed (2017), The Sandman (2017), No Good Nick (2019), The Shinjuku Five (2019) and She's in Portland (2020).
Facts
Ricco is also a trained dancer and singer. Here he is in a 1988 TV commercial for Bounce. And here he is on Twitter!
Dee Sadler (Flowerchild) Born Oct 26 1960
Career highlights
Dee made her name as Tracy Crabtree in sitcom No Place Like Home (1983-84), and also appeared in The Little Drummer Girl (1984), Travelling Man (1985), All Creatures Great and Small (1990), Wycliffe (1994), Pie in the Sky (1995), Ultraviolet (1998), five episodes of The Bill (1994-2001) and Witless (2010).
Facts
Dee is married to actor Derek Thompson, best known for playing Charlie Fairhead in medical drama Casualty.
Gian Sammarco (Whizzkid) Born Feb 18 1970
Career highlights
Gian found fame as the title character in The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ (1985) and The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole (1987), and also became a presenter on Saturday morning children's series Get Fresh (1986). Other acting appearances include Space Station: Milton Keynes (1985), Crossroads (1986), The Two of Us (1989), Press Gang (1990), Jackson Pace: The Great Years (1990) and The Law Lord (1992).
Facts
He gave up acting to become a psychiatric nurse in Northampton. In 1989 Gian released a very limited edition album of "experimental abstract techno music" called Art Montage Terrorism under the band name Motivate Hallucinate (Gian did the music while partner Matthew Langhorne did vocals). Songs included Staring at the Pebble and The Gay Assassin. In 1990 Gian married Adrian Mole fan Stephanie Bates, with whom he had a child. They divorced in 1998 and Gian has since remarried.
CREW
Stephen Wyatt (writer) Born Feb 4 1948
Doctor Who credits
Wrote: Paradise Towers (1987), The Greatest Show in the Galaxy (1988-89)
Career highlights
Stephen's other writing work includes the Sunday Premiere Claws (1987), The House of Eliott (1994), soap Family Affairs (1997) and several episodes of Casualty (1990-97). He started out in children's and community theatre, and now works predominantly in radio.
Awards
2007: Tinniswood Award for Best Original Radio Script (Memorials to the Missing)
2008: Sony Radio Academy Silver Award for Best Drama (Memorials to the Missing)
2011: Tinniswood Award for Best Original Radio Script (Gerontius)
Alan Wareing (director) Born Aug 16 1943
Doctor Who credits
Production assistant: The Keeper of Traken (1981)
Production manager: Timelash (1985)
Directed: The Greatest Show in the Galaxy (1988-89), Ghost Light (1989), Survival (1989)
Played: Voice of Child Ragnarok in The Greatest Show in the Galaxy (1988-89)
Career highlights
Alan started as assistant floor manager on Survivors, Blake's 7 and The Onedin Line in the 1970s. He also performed production manager duties on Juliet Bravo (1981-82), Tenko (1982), Miss Marple (1985), Lovejoy (1986) and EastEnders (1986), before graduating to director on Rockcliffe's Folly (1988), The Bill (1989-90), London's Burning (1995-96), Wycliffe (1997-98), Casualty (1987-2001), The Royal (2006), 109 episodes of Coronation Street (2001-18) and over 300 episodes of Emmerdale (1993-2019).
John Nathan-Turner (producer) Aug 12 1947 to May 1 2002 (liver failure) Click here for John Nathan-Turner's entry on The Leisure Hive
Andrew Cartmel (script editor) Born Apr 6 1958 Click here for Andrew Cartmel's entry on Time and the Rani
Career highlights
Ian debuted in a 1984 Play for Today called Hard Feelings, then took roles in Highlander (1986), Casualty (1987), Yellowthread Street (1990), Inspector Morse (1992), The Sculptress (1996), Snap (1997), Peak Practice (2000), The Queen's Nose (1998/2000), Playing the Field (2002), Being April (2002), Shameless (2005-06), Jane Hall (2006), Robin Hood (2009), Benidorm (2011), Sex, Drugs and Veggie Spring Rolls (2014), Father Brown (2017), Outlander (2017), Zoe and the Astronaut (2018), The Spiritualist (2018), Vera (2019) and Invasion Planet Earth (2019). Ian has the distinction of having regular roles in the UK's top two soaps - Richard "Tricky Dicky" Cole in 96 episodes of EastEnders (1992-94) and Vernon Tomlin in 235 episodes of Coronation Street (2005-08).
Facts
In the 1970s, Ian was a member of performance art band Musical Vomit alongside Glen Gregory, who later fronted Heaven 17, and Ian Craig Marsh, a founder member of The Human League. The band specialised in stage stunts such as vomiting soup, and singing about masturbation and necrophilia, and were once described as the "very first punk band" by punk rocker Poly Styrene. Ian was a percussionist and backing vocalist. Ian has not left his musical roots behind, though - he has written and recorded singles for his beloved Sheffield Wednesday Football Club, including Steel City (Move On Up) (as Hillsboro Crew featuring Heaven 17); If It's Wednesday It Must Be Wembley (as Hillsboro Crew, for the 1993 FA Cup Final); Oh Yes (as the Wednesday Kop Band, 1997); and Euromania (as Elevenveeeleven, 1996). In 2008, he wrote a song for his Coronation Street character to sing and wanted to release it to hit the UK Christmas singles chart (not sure that ever happened!). The song was called (Don't Fall Into) The Mason's Arms.
Ricco Ross (Ringmaster) Born Apr 16 1958
Career highlights
Chicago-born Ricco made his debut as Tyler Bragg in Hill Street Blues (1982), then appeared in The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission (1985), CATS Eyes (1985), Death Wish 3 (1985), Aliens (1986), Slipstream (1989), Sleepers (1991), Jeeves and Wooster (1992), The Tomorrow People (1992), Westbeach (1993), Hackers (1995), Highlander (1996), Mission: Impossible (1996), Fierce Creatures (1997), Babylon 5 (1997), Wishmaster (1997), Beverly Hills 90210 (1999), ER (2006), Santa Croce (2007), Bite Me (2012), Match (2014), Caper (2014), Hidden in the Woods (2014), Story of Eva (2015), Escorts (2015), A Husband for Christmas (2016), The Possessed (2017), The Sandman (2017), No Good Nick (2019), The Shinjuku Five (2019) and She's in Portland (2020).
Facts
Ricco is also a trained dancer and singer. Here he is in a 1988 TV commercial for Bounce. And here he is on Twitter!
Dee Sadler (Flowerchild) Born Oct 26 1960
Career highlights
Dee made her name as Tracy Crabtree in sitcom No Place Like Home (1983-84), and also appeared in The Little Drummer Girl (1984), Travelling Man (1985), All Creatures Great and Small (1990), Wycliffe (1994), Pie in the Sky (1995), Ultraviolet (1998), five episodes of The Bill (1994-2001) and Witless (2010).
Facts
Dee is married to actor Derek Thompson, best known for playing Charlie Fairhead in medical drama Casualty.
Gian Sammarco (Whizzkid) Born Feb 18 1970
Career highlights
Gian found fame as the title character in The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ (1985) and The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole (1987), and also became a presenter on Saturday morning children's series Get Fresh (1986). Other acting appearances include Space Station: Milton Keynes (1985), Crossroads (1986), The Two of Us (1989), Press Gang (1990), Jackson Pace: The Great Years (1990) and The Law Lord (1992).
Facts
He gave up acting to become a psychiatric nurse in Northampton. In 1989 Gian released a very limited edition album of "experimental abstract techno music" called Art Montage Terrorism under the band name Motivate Hallucinate (Gian did the music while partner Matthew Langhorne did vocals). Songs included Staring at the Pebble and The Gay Assassin. In 1990 Gian married Adrian Mole fan Stephanie Bates, with whom he had a child. They divorced in 1998 and Gian has since remarried.
CREW
Stephen Wyatt (writer) Born Feb 4 1948
Doctor Who credits
Wrote: Paradise Towers (1987), The Greatest Show in the Galaxy (1988-89)
Career highlights
Stephen's other writing work includes the Sunday Premiere Claws (1987), The House of Eliott (1994), soap Family Affairs (1997) and several episodes of Casualty (1990-97). He started out in children's and community theatre, and now works predominantly in radio.
Awards
2007: Tinniswood Award for Best Original Radio Script (Memorials to the Missing)
2008: Sony Radio Academy Silver Award for Best Drama (Memorials to the Missing)
2011: Tinniswood Award for Best Original Radio Script (Gerontius)
Alan Wareing (director) Born Aug 16 1943
Doctor Who credits
Production assistant: The Keeper of Traken (1981)
Production manager: Timelash (1985)
Directed: The Greatest Show in the Galaxy (1988-89), Ghost Light (1989), Survival (1989)
Played: Voice of Child Ragnarok in The Greatest Show in the Galaxy (1988-89)
Career highlights
Alan started as assistant floor manager on Survivors, Blake's 7 and The Onedin Line in the 1970s. He also performed production manager duties on Juliet Bravo (1981-82), Tenko (1982), Miss Marple (1985), Lovejoy (1986) and EastEnders (1986), before graduating to director on Rockcliffe's Folly (1988), The Bill (1989-90), London's Burning (1995-96), Wycliffe (1997-98), Casualty (1987-2001), The Royal (2006), 109 episodes of Coronation Street (2001-18) and over 300 episodes of Emmerdale (1993-2019).
John Nathan-Turner (producer) Aug 12 1947 to May 1 2002 (liver failure) Click here for John Nathan-Turner's entry on The Leisure Hive
Andrew Cartmel (script editor) Born Apr 6 1958 Click here for Andrew Cartmel's entry on Time and the Rani
Thanks for this - the Greatest Show is my favourite episode so far.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to say thanks for this as well!
ReplyDelete