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James Ellis (actor)
James Ellis (15 March 1931 – 8 March 2014) was a Northern Irish actor and theatre director, with a career stretching over sixty years. Originally a stage actor and director in his native Belfast, he moved to London in the early 1960s. After gaining recognition in Great Britain through the ''Z-Cars'' (1962–78) police series on BBC1, he appeared in many other television and film roles. He was also a translator. Early life Ellis was born in Belfast and attended Methodist College Belfast and later studied at Queen's University Belfast and trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Career He began to act with the Belfast-based Ulster Group Theatre in 1952. He first appeared in a revival of the Louis D'Alton play,Robert Welch (ed), ''The Oxford Companion to Irish Literature'', Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996, pp. 131-32 ''They Got What They Wanted'' (1947). Ellis became established as the company's young male lead in such plays as ''April in Assagh'', where he was cas ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Belfast
Belfast ( , ; from ga, Béal Feirste , meaning 'mouth of the sand-bank ford') is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingdom and the second-largest in Ireland. It had a population of 345,418 . By the early 19th century, Belfast was a major port. It played an important role in the Industrial Revolution in Ireland, briefly becoming the biggest linen-producer in the world, earning it the nickname "Linenopolis". By the time it was granted city status in 1888, it was a major centre of Irish linen production, tobacco-processing and rope-making. Shipbuilding was also a key industry; the Harland and Wolff shipyard, which built the , was the world's largest shipyard. Industrialisation, and the resulting inward migration, made Belfast one of Ireland's biggest cities. Following the partition of Ireland in 1921, Belfast became the seat of government for Northern Ireland ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lancashire
Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated Lancs) is the name of a historic county, ceremonial county, and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The boundaries of these three areas differ significantly. The non-metropolitan county of Lancashire was created by the Local Government Act 1972. It is administered by Lancashire County Council, based in Preston, and twelve district councils. Although Lancaster is still considered the county town, Preston is the administrative centre of the non-metropolitan county. The ceremonial county has the same boundaries except that it also includes Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen, which are unitary authorities. The historic county of Lancashire is larger and includes the cities of Manchester and Liverpool as well as the Furness and Cartmel peninsulas, but excludes Bowland area of the West Riding of Yorkshire transferred to the non-metropolitan county in 1974 History Before the county During Roman times the area was part of the Bri ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jimmy McGovern
James Stanley McGovern (born September 1949) is an English screenwriter and producer. He is best known for creating the drama series '' Cracker'' (1993–1995), for which he received two Edgar Awards from the Mystery Writers of America. He also received recognition for creating drama series such as '' Hillsborough'', '' The Lakes'', ''The Street'', and ''Accused'', among others. On 8 December 2021 Jimmy was conferrethe Freedom of Liverpool in recognition of his life's work. Early life McGovern was born in Liverpool in September 1949, the son of working-class parents Jane (née Warner) and William McGovern. He was the fifth of nine children. He suffered from a stammer, for which he received no therapy and which affects him still. Brought up a Catholic, he attended St Francis Xavier's College which moved to the Woolton suburb of Liverpool in 1961. Career Television In 1982, McGovern started his TV career working on Channel 4's soap opera ''Brookside''. He tackled many social is ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Priest (1994 Film)
''Priest'' is a 1994 British drama film directed by Antonia Bird. The screenplay by Jimmy McGovern concerns a Roman Catholic priest (Linus Roache) as he struggles with two difficulties that precipitate a crisis of faith. The film's release was controversial and received condemnation from the Church. Plot Father Greg Pilkington, newly assigned to St Mary's parish in inner-city Liverpool, is startled to discover Father Matthew Thomas is engaged in a sexual relationship with rectory housekeeper Maria Kerrigan. Moreover, Father Thomas is a left-wing radical and an outspoken proponent of Liberation Theology, leading him to constant clashes and bickering with the Bishop—who nevertheless appreciates his abilities. While the young protagonist's personal traditional conservatism and religious beliefs are offended by the older priest's blatant disregard for his vow of celibacy, he struggles with his own homosexual urges, especially after he meets a man named Graham at a local gay hango ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Antonia Bird
Antonia Jane Bird, FRSA (27 May 1951 – 24 October 2013Kate Hardi"Antonia Bird obituary" ''The Guardian'', 28 October 2013) was an English producer and director of television drama and feature films. Career In 1968, at the age of 17, Bird began working in theatre as an assistant stage manager at Coventry Rep. She worked her way up doing a variety of jobs, including acting, stage management, publicity, theatre administration and directing in repertory and regional theatres. She directed a season of plays at The Studio at Chester Theatre and later joined Leicester's Phoenix Theatre as a director.Simon Farquha"Obituary: Antonia Bird, Television director with a flair for gritty realism" ''The Independent'', 30 October 2013. Bird was named resident director at the Royal Court Theatre in 1978. She was appointed artistic director of the Royal Court's Theatre Upstairs, London's leading venue for new writing. Her first television production was ''Submariners'' (1983), an adaptation ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
David Threlfall
David John Threlfall (born 12 October 1953) is an English stage, film and television actor and director. He is best known for playing Frank Gallagher in Channel 4's series '' Shameless''. He has also directed several episodes of the show. In April 2014, he portrayed comedian Tommy Cooper in a television film entitled '' Tommy Cooper: Not Like That, Like This''. In 2014, he starred alongside Jude Law in the thriller ''Black Sea''. Early life The son of a plumber, Tommy Threlfall and his wife, Joyce Foulds, David was born in Crumpsall, Manchester, Lancashire. The family lived in Blackley then moved to the Bradford area of Manchester and then Burnage when he was 8/9. His introduction to drama came from school and two English teachers, at Wilbraham High School, where he was a contemporary of the younger Lorraine Ashbourne. He studied at Art college in Sheffield (now Sheffield Hallam University), but only stayed for a year. A few months of labouring and thinking followed. Then, havi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Robert Lindsay (actor)
Robert Lindsay Stevenson (born 13 December 1949) is an English actor. He is the recipient of numerous accolades, including a British Academy Television Award, a Tony Award and two Laurence Olivier Awards. His first major role on TV was playing Wolfie Smith in ''Citizen Smith''. He appeared in sitcoms, most notably as Ben Harper in ''My Family'', playing the role for over a decade, and narrated TV adaptations of the children's television series ''Brambly Hedge''. His film appearances include ''Fierce Creatures'' and ''Wimbledon''. He has appeared with the Royal Shakespeare Company and in musical theatre. Early life Lindsay was born in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, to Joyce (''née'' Dunmore) and Norman Stevenson, who worked at the local Stanton Ironworks. He was one of three children and his father was a World War II veteran, having been on a minesweeper. After leaving Gladstone Boys' School, [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nightingales (UK TV Series)
''Nightingales'' is a British situation comedy set around the antics of three security guards working the night shift. It was written by Paul Makin and produced by Alomo Productions for Channel 4 in 1990. Plot ''Nightingales'' revolved around the jobs of three bored nightwatchmen working in a deserted office block, the location of which is never revealed, although exterior shots are of Beneficial House located on Paradise Circus in Birmingham City Centre. A typical episode involved both very naturalistic dialogue — and the kind of claustrophobic studio-setting that prevailed in shows such as ''Steptoe and Son'' — combined with the surreal. ''Nightingales'' ran for two series totalling 13 episodes from 27 February 1990 to 10 February 1993. The long delay was prompted by Channel 4 executive Seamus Cassidy who was not happy with the proposed scripts for the second series and it was nearly three years before it was given the go-ahead. The theme tune was a version of the song " ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Playing The Field
''Playing the Field'' is a BBC television drama series following the lives of the Castlefield Blues, a fictitious female football team from South Yorkshire. Outline Inspired by Pete Davies's book ''I Lost My Heart to the Belles'' – which was written about a real-life club, the Doncaster Belles – ''Playing the Field'' ran for five series, from 1998 to 2002, with scripts by, amongst others, Kay Mellor, Sally Wainwright and Gaynor Faye. Despite being set in South Yorkshire, much of the location filming took place in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, although the fifth (and final) series was filmed around Leeds; whilst the theme song, "Blue" by Alison Moyet, was originally a B-side track about the singer's love of Southend United FC. A young Marsha Thomason – who has since appeared in U.S. shows ''Las Vegas'' and ''Lost'' – featured in the first three series of ''Playing the Field''. The first four series have been released on DVD in the UK, but the fifth has yet to be made available. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ballykissangel
''Ballykissangel'' is a BBC television drama created by Kieran Prendiville and set in Ireland, produced in-house by BBC Northern Ireland. The original story revolved around a young English Roman Catholic priest as he became part of a rural community. It ran for six series, which were first broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom from 1996 to 2001. It aired in Ireland on RTÉ One and in Australia on ABC TV from 1996 to 2001. Repeats have been shown on Drama in the United Kingdom and in the United States on some PBS affiliates. Significant changes in the cast occurred at the end of series 3 following the departure of central characters Peter Clifford and Assumpta Fitzgerald. The show faced a decline in ratings from a peak level of 10 million viewers to 4.8 million and was eventually cancelled in 2001. The name of the fictional village in which the show was set is derived from Ballykissane, a townland near Killorglin in County Kerry, where the show's creator, Kieran Prendivi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
In Sickness And In Health
''In Sickness and in Health'' is a BBC television sitcom that ran between 1 September 1985 and 3 April 1992. It is a sequel to the successful ''Till Death Us Do Part'', which ran between 1966 and 1975, and '' Till Death...'', which ran for one series of six episodes in 1981. The series includes 47 episodes, and, unlike its predecessor, all the episodes have survived and are available on DVD. The show's theme tune was performed by Chas and Dave and two versions of the lyrics were used - the original version in Series 1 and then revised from Series 2 onward to reflect the Else Garnett character's death. History After the cancellation Warren Mitchell would continue to perform as Alf Garnett on special occasions; this meant on stage in front of a live audience, and similarly to an invited audience consisting largely of celebrities and public figures. In 1997, a number of special shows were arranged for Granada Television, in which Alf would be in his front room in the company of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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