|
Desmond's
''Desmond's'' is a British television situation comedy broadcast by Channel 4 from 1989 to 1994. Conceived and co-written by Trix Worrell, and produced by Charlie Hanson and Humphrey Barclay, ''Desmond's'' stars Norman Beaton as barber Desmond Ambrose, whose shop is a gathering place for an assortment of local characters. The show is set in Peckham, London, and features a predominantly black British Guyanese cast. With 71 episodes, ''Desmond's'' became Channel 4's longest running sitcom in terms of episodes.Paul Jackson"Desmond's" ''Britain in a Box'', BBC Radio 4, 11 May 2013. Notability While the show was not the first black (or predominantly black) British television situation comedy ('' The Fosters'', produced by London Weekend Television, aired 1976 –77), ''Desmond's'' was the first to be set mainly in the workplace, providing an insight into black family life different from what had been seen before on British television. The characters had aspirations (Desmond to retu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
List Of Desmond's Episodes
This is a list of episodes of the UK sitcom ''Desmond's''. Series 1 (5 January - 9 February 1989) Series One aired on Thursdays at 8:30pm. Series 2 (22 January - 16 April 1990) Series Two aired on Mondays at 8:30pm. Series 3 (28 October 1991 - 3 February 1992) Series Three aired on Mondays at 8:30pm. Series 4 (5 October - 28 December 1992) Series Four aired on Mondays at 8:30pm. Series 5 (27 September - 20 December 1993) Series Five aired on Mondays at 8:30pm. Series 5 also saw the start of a new theme tune, with remixed instrumentation and an updated opening sequence. Series 6 (26 September – 19 December 1994) The sixth and final series aired on Mondays at 8:30pm. Series 6 was the final series prior to the death of actor Norman Beaton who died six days before the final episode was transmitted. {{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Desmond's Episodes Desmond's ''Desmond's'' is a British television situation comedy broadcast by Channel 4 from 1989 to 1994. Conceived and co ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Norman Beaton
Norman Lugard Beaton (31 October 1934 – 13 December 1994) was a Guyanese actor long resident in the United Kingdom. He became best known for his role as Desmond Ambrose in the Channel Four television comedy series ''Desmond's''. The writer Stephen Bourne has called him "the most influential and highly regarded black British actor of his time". Early life Beaton was born in Georgetown, British Guiana (now Guyana). He attended Queen's College, and went on to a teacher training college, where he received high marks, and served as the deputy headmaster at Cane Grove Anglican School in Demerara. Beaton taught and played with the calypso band The Four Bees before leaving Guyana for London in 1960. There, he attended London University, and taught briefly in Liverpool as the first black teacher in the Liverpool Education Authority before giving up on teaching to take on the acting profession. Early career Beaton developed a parallel career as a calypso singer, scoring a numb ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Porkpie (TV Series)
''Porkpie'' is a British television sitcom that aired on Channel 4 from 13 November 1995 to 26 September 1996, starring Ram John Holder as Augustus "Porkpie" Grant. It was a spin-off from ''Desmond's''. ''Porkpie'' kept several key characters from ''Desmond's'', and in the first episode, Grant ("Porkpie") was seen standing outside the barbershop Desmond used to run, saying: "Desmond, since you died, it hasn't stopped raining. I know how much you used to say it can rain in England, and it's true. Must be one of two things: either a thousand angels weeping for you, or you having a good drink up in heaven and you spilling it all over the place." Plot Following the end of the highly successful ''Desmond's'', life in Peckham continues. In the first episode, after the reading of the will of his late friend Desmond Ambrose (Norman Beaton), Augustus "Porkpie" Grant, a former employee at the Ford Motor Company is now a lollipop man. He borrows a pound from Michael (Desmond's son) and b ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ram John Holder
John Wesley Holder (born 1934), known professionally as Ram John Holder, is a Guyanese-British actor and musician, who began his professional career as a singer in New York City, before moving to England in 1962. He has performed on stage, in both film and television and, is best known for playing Augustus "Porkpie" Grant in the British television series ''Desmond's''. Background Holder's parents were devout members of the USA-based Pilgrim Holiness Church. He grew up in Georgetown, Guyana, during the 1940s and 1950s. Influenced by the church and the musical talents of his parents, he became quite accomplished playing the guitar. During the early '50s, the strict, strait-laced church membership was scandalised when he broke away and changed his name to "Ram" John. Holder began to perform as a folk singer in New York City. Acting career In 1962, Holder arrived in London and worked with Pearl Connor's Negro Theatre Workshop initially as a musician, and later as an actor. Hol ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gyearbuor Asante
Frederick Christopher Kwabena Gyearbuor Asante (4 November 1941 – 2 August 2000) was a Ghanaian actor best remembered for his role in the Channel 4 situation comedy ''Desmond's'', in which he played the role of Gambian mature student Matthew. Life and career Born in Accra, Asante moved to the United Kingdom in 1967 and trained to be an actor at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. A "Gyearbuor Asante Prize for Acting" was subsequently instituted at the academy following his death. He appeared in a number of British TV shows during the 1970s and '80s, where he was billed as Christopher Asante. His credits included episodes of '' Space: 1999'', ''Mind Your Language'', '' Hazell'' and ''The Professionals'' as well as a TV performance of ''Ubu Roi'' in 1976. He also played the minister in the 1983 film '' Local Hero''. He came from a long line of chiefs of his hometown Kwahu Tafo but ruled himself out of carrying on the tradition in favour of pursuing a career in acting; the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dominic Keating
Dominic Keating (''né'' Power; born 1 July 1961) is a British television, film and theatre actor known for his portrayals of Tony in the Channel 4 sitcom ''Desmond's'' and Lieutenant Malcolm Reed on ''Star Trek: Enterprise''. Early life and education Keating was born Dominic Power in Leicester to an Irish father; his grandfather, a brigadier, was awarded an OBE. His first stage performance was in primary school, as a character in ''The Ragged School''. He then attended Uppingham School. After graduating from the University College London with first class honours in history, he tried various jobs before deciding to be a professional actor. Since there was another Dominic Power already represented by the actor's union Equity, he took his mother's maiden name of Keating. To obtain his Equity card, he worked in a drag act called Feeling Mutual. Career Theatre Keating had success on the UK stage before working as a television and film actor. He originated the roles of Cosmo i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Trix Worrell
Trix Worrell (born 1959) is a St Lucia-born writer, composer and director best known as the creator and writer of television sitcoms ''Desmond's'' and '' Porkpie'' for Channel 4. His son is actor Elliot Barnes-Worrell. Biography Worrell started as a theatre writer and director. He went on to create the Albany Basement Theatre Company and has written and directed plays in most of the leading London fringe theatres from Upstairs at the Royal Court to Ovalhouse. A graduate of the National Film and Television School, and winner of Channel 4's "Debut" writers competition, Worrell went on to create, write and direct ''Desmond's'' and '' Porkpie'' for Channel 4 and ''What You Looking At'' for London Weekend Television. He has written the scripts for several award ceremonies, including MTV Europe Awards for Ali G in Frankfurt, for P Diddy in Barcelona, the MOBO Awards and the BBC2 Windrush Ceremony. Worrell directed an internet drama entitled ''Dog Endz'', and the critically acclaime ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Matilda Thorpe
Matilda Helen Rachel Thorpe is a British actress. Matilda Thorpe was born on May 1, 1960 in Wood Green, London, England. Thorpe trained at London's Central School of Speech and Drama. She is known for her roles in the British sitcoms, Mandy in the Channel 4 sitcoms ''Desmond's'' (1989–94) and '' Porkpie'' (1995–96), and ''Sick Note'' (2017–18) for Sky One. Career Thorpe is the daughter of the writers Gillian Freeman and Edward Thorpe. She is married to comedian Gary Spinks and mother of actors Sam Thorpe-Spinks and Henry Thorpe-Spinks. Thorpe's television appearances include Amanda in ''Gems'' (1986), Narrator in ''Pinny's House'' (1986), Friend in ''Murder Most Horrid'' (1991), Jane in ''The Upper Hand'' (1992), Mandy Mosgrove in ''Desmond's'' (1989–1994), Mandy Ambrose in '' Porkpie'' (1995–1996), Mother in ''How to Be a Little Sod'' (1995), ''Keeping Mum'' (1997), Barbara Robertson in ''The Jump'' (1998), Sarah Johnson in ''Casualty'' (1998), Personnel Officer in '' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Fosters (1976 TV Series)
''The Fosters'' is a British television programme, produced by London Weekend Television, which aired on ITV from 9 April 1976 until 9 July 1977. It was created and developed by Jon Watkins, who adapted the American sitcom '' Good Times'' created by Eric Monte and Mike Evans, and developed by Norman Lear. It was one of the first British television programmes to have an entirely black cast, and was a predecessor to future series such as ''The Real McCoy'', '' No Problem!'', ''Desmond's'' and ''The Lenny Henry Show'' (and its subsequent incarnations). Overview The series starred Norman Beaton as Samuel Foster, a hard-working man trying to support his family in a South London council flat. The character of Samuel was based on James Evans Sr. (portrayed by John Amos) in ''Good Times''. Alongside Beaton was Isabelle Lucas, portraying Samuel's wife, Pearl Foster (based on Florida Evans in ''Good Times'', portrayed by Esther Rolle), who gossips with her best friend, Vilma, played ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Robbie Gee
Robbie Gee (born 24 March 1970) is a British actor, best known for his ''Desmond's'' character "Lee Stanley", for appearing in Guy Ritchie's crime caper '' Snatch'', and for his comedy roles in TV series like ''The Real McCoy'' and ''The Crouches''. He also appeared in the film '' Mean Machine'', playing "Trojan", '' Pirates of the Caribbean'' as "Shrimper", ''Underworld'' as "Kahn", and ''Dead Man Running'' as Curtis (Alongside 50 Cent). Robbie is a founding member of GeeStor and along with Eddie Nestor makes up one half of a comedy duo. Together, they have written for TV and hosted music events. Hosting He hosted, alongside Eddie Nestor, the Imperial College Indian Society's annual "East Meets West" charity Charity may refer to: Giving * Charitable organization or charity, a non-profit organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being of persons * Charity (practice), the practice of being benevolent, giving and sharing * Ch ... show in 2007 and 20 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Carmen Munroe
Carmen Esme Munroe, (born 12 November 1932)"Carmen Monroe, Actress & Officer of the Order of the British Empire Awardee" Guyanese Girls Rock, 8 November 2012. is a British actress who was born in , British Guiana (now ), and has been a resident of the UK since the early 1950s. Munroe made her West End stage ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Geff Francis
Geffrey "Geff" Francis (born 1964), best known as Geff Francis, is a British actor who portrayed Lynford, a hoodlum, in the 1988 drama film ''For Queen and Country''. In 1986 he appeared as the title character in Channel Four's ''Zastrozzi, A Romance'' and in a minor role in ''The Singing Detective''. In the popular Peckham-set comedy ''Desmond's'' he played the title character's eldest son (Michael) (Channel Four, 1989–94), before moving on to the spin-off series '' Porkpie'' (1995–96).Hazelann Williams"‘It's About Time They Brought Back Desmond's'" ''The Voice'', 26 January 2013. He has since become a regular character actor on British television. He portrayed the Metropolitan Police desk sergeant Viv James in the 2008-10 TV series '' Ashes to Ashes''. He also appeared in "The Bells of Saint John", a 2013 episode of ''Doctor Who ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series depicts the adventures of a T ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |