|
Spender
''Spender'' is a British television police procedural drama, created by Ian La Frenais and Jimmy Nail, that first broadcast on 8 January 1991 on BBC1. The series, which also starred Nail as the titular character, ran for three series between 1991 and 1993, finishing with a feature-length special, ''The French Collection'', broadcast on 29 December 1993. A total of twenty-one episodes were produced. The first and second series were produced by Martin McKeand, while the third and final series was produced by Paul Raphael and Peter McAleese. The series, set in Newcastle upon Tyne, focuses on the life and exploits of Detective Sergeant Freddie Spender, who was often chosen to carry out more daring police cases. With his criminal sidekick Stick (Sammy Johnson), Spender was regarded as one of the more remarkable TV detectives of the 1990s. The series featured an extensive back story for the main characters, with a number of episodes dealing with Spender's domestic life, his family and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Denise Welch
Jacqueline Denise Welch (born 22 May 1958) is an English actress, television personality, writer and broadcaster. Her roles include Natalie Barnes in ''Coronation Street'' (1997–2000), Steph Haydock in '' Waterloo Road'' (2006–2010), and Trish Minniver in ''Hollyoaks'' (2021–2022). Welch also appears as a regular panellist on the ITV chat show ''Loose Women'' (2005–2013, 2018–present). Welch's other acting roles include the television dramas ''Spender'' (1991–1993), ''Soldier Soldier'' (1993–1995), and '' Down to Earth'' (2004–2005). In 2011, she was a contestant on the sixth series of ''Dancing on Ice'', where she was partnered with professional skater Matt Evers. In 2012, Welch won the ninth series of ''Celebrity Big Brother''. Early life Jacqueline Denise Welch was born in Tynemouth, North Tyneside on 22 May 1958. She has a younger sister, Debbie. Welch attended Bygate School in Whitley Bay, and La Sagesse School in Newcastle upon Tyne, before moving to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jimmy Nail
James Michael Aloysius Bradford (born 16 March 1954), known as Jimmy Nail, is an English singer-songwriter, actor, film producer, and television writer. He played the role of Leonard "Oz" Osborne in the television show ''Auf Wiedersehen, Pet'' and the title role in ''Spender''. He also recorded a 1992 number one single, "Ain't No Doubt". His role as Agustin, the oily crooner in the 1996 film ''Evita'', gave him international recognition. Early life James Michael Aloysius Bradford was born in Newcastle upon Tyne to father Jimmy and mother Laura. His father was an Irish Catholic shipyard worker, amateur boxer, and professional footballer. He describes himself as an angry kid who was expelled from secondary school for setting fire to curtains. When he was 13, his sister, Shelagh, died at the age of 20. He later spent time drinking, fighting, and generally rebelling against authority. He was involved in a fight after a football match and was sent to prison. After being released he ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Julie Peasgood
Julie May Peasgood (born 28 May 1956 in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire) is an English actress, television presenter, author and voiceover artist known for her distinctive voice. She is best known for her role as Fran Pearson in the television soap '' Brookside'' (1991–93). She later played Jo Steadman in '' Emmerdale'' in 1997 and Jacqui Hudson in '' Hollyoaks'' from 2001 to 2002. Biography Peasgood was born to working-class parents from Northern England. Her mother had started work as a tightrope walker and juggler in Bertram Mills Circus. There she had met her father, who was a welfare officer for the Grimsby Dock Labour Board. Peasgood was educated at Grimsby's Wintringham School. After leaving school she worked in a fish and chip shop in Cleethorpes before training at the Arts Educational School in Golden Lane, London. She left the school shortly before her course finished to take the title role in 'Cherryripe and the Lugworm Digger', which was the first in the series 'Seven ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Berwick Kaler
Berwick Kaler (born 31 October 1946) is a British actor most famous for playing the dame in York Theatre Royal's annual pantomime, which he also wrote and directed. He has been awarded the freedom of the city, and in 2002 received an honorary degree from the University of York. 11 March 2009. Having grown up in "the slums of Sunderland", Kaler left school at 15 to seek success on the London stage. He got taken on at Dreamland in Margate to learn his trade.Archived 11 March 2009. He has had TV roles in such shows as '''', '' |
Ian McElhinney
Ian McElhinney (born 19 August 1948) is a Northern Irish actor and director. He has appeared in many television series in a career spanning more than forty years; notable appearances include ''Taggart'', '' Hornblower'', '' Cold Feet'', and ''The Tudors''. In recent times his best known roles are as Barristan Selmy in ''Game of Thrones'', Morgan Monroe in '' The Fall'', and Granda Joe in ''Derry Girls''. Early life McElhinney was born in Belfast, the son of a Church of Ireland (Anglican) clergyman and teacher. He studied international affairs at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. He worked as a teacher at Goole Grammar School, now known as Goole Academy, in Yorkshire, England, for several years before becoming an actor. He started acting professionally at the age of 30, playing Bill Sykes in a theatre production of ''Oliver!''. Personal life He is married to playwright and actress Marie Jones; in 2009 the couple started their own company, Rathmore Productions Ltd. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ian La Frenais
Ian La Frenais (born 7 January 1937) is an English writer best known for his creative partnership with Dick Clement. They are most famous for television series including ''The Likely Lads'', ''Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?'', ''Porridge (1974 TV series), Porridge'' and its sequel ''Going Straight'', ''Lovejoy'' and ''Auf Wiedersehen, Pet''. Early life La Frenais was born in Monkseaton, Northumberland; his father was an accountant. As a child at Park Primary School in Whitley Bay, La Frenais enjoyed art and writing. He then attended Dame Allan's School, Newcastle, Dame Allan's Boys School in Newcastle upon Tyne, and completed his National Service in the British Army. After working as a salesman for a tobacco company, he began composing songs for a weekly List of satirical television news programs, satirical programme on Tyne Tees Television and then moved to London where he worked for a market research company. Writing partnership with Dick Clement Ian La Frenais and Di ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Geoffrey Hughes (actor)
Geoffrey Hughes DL (2 February 1944 – 27 July 2012) was an English actor. Hughes provided the voice of Paul McCartney in the animated film '' Yellow Submarine'' (1968), and rose to fame for portraying much-loved bin man Eddie Yeats in the long-running British soap opera ''Coronation Street'' from 1974 to 1983, making a return to the show in 1987. He is well known for playing loveable slob Onslow in the British sitcom ''Keeping Up Appearances'' (1990–1995); and 'Twiggy' in the sitcom ''The Royle Family'', playing the part from 1998 to 2000, and reprising his role for the specials in 2006 and 2008. From 2001 to 2005 he played Vernon Scripps, conman and loveable rogue, in the ITV police drama '' Heartbeat'', taking over as the show's main loveable rogue from Bill Maynard's Claude Greengrass, and returning to the show briefly in 2007. Hughes was diagnosed with prostate cancer in the 1990s, and in 2010 he suffered a cancer relapse which led him to retire from acting. He died f ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sammy Johnson
Ronald Samuel Johnson (14 May 1949 – November 1998) was an English actor. Biography Johnson was born in Gateshead. the son of Samuel Johnson and Thomasina (Tina) Scott. He was brother to Kenneth (who died in September 1964), Raymond (Jimmy) and two sisters Valerie and Catherine. Johnson was raised in Gateshead and lived on the Springwell Estate. From an early age he was interested in music and played guitar, which he wore around his neck. Later he became a member of the band Pigmeat along with Jim Murray and Ray Stubbs. After playing bass guitar at Live Theatre in a panto he was asked to act in the show. He applied for Equity membership but they already had a 'Ron Johnson' so he used his father's name of 'Sammy'. He appeared in several TV productions and often worked with local writers like C. P. Taylor, Tom Hadaway, Leonard Barras and Arthur McKenzie but continued to be a musician with the 'Ray Stubbs R&B Allstars' as well as forming 'Matt Vinyl and the Decorators'. John ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Paul Greenwood
Paul Greenwood (born 2 August 1943) is a British film, television and theatre actor. He is best known for his role as PC Michael "Rosie" Penrose in the short-lived sitcom ''The Growing Pains of PC Penrose'' and its successor '' Rosie'', and as Inspector Yelland in ''Spender''. Career He has appeared in over twenty-five television productions and also in several films; he has also appeared in theatrical productions including the musical '' Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'' and the musical '' The Wizard of Oz''. In 1973, he was a guest on each edition of the 10-part BBC1 variety series '' It's Lulu''. Greenwood is well known for appearing as PC Michael "Rosie" Penrose in all twenty-seven episodes (1977–1981) of TV comedy series '' Rosie''. His film roles include ''Sex and the Other Woman'' (1972), the Hammer horror ''Captain Kronos - Vampire Hunter'' (1973), TV comedy spinoff '' The Lovers!'' (1973) and Pete Walker's horror '' Frightmare'' (1974). His other television roles include ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Peter Guinness (actor)
Peter Guinness (born 14 August 1950) is an English film, television, and theatre actor. Career He has appeared in over fifty television productions and over ten films. Guinness has also appeared onstage in an adaptation of '' The Pianist''. Personal life He is married to Roberta Taylor, an actress and writer. Filmography Film Television Audio-dramas Other Stage * Alberto Sholez in ''Moby Dick''. World premiere adapted and directed by Michael Elliott at the Royal Exchange, Manchester. (1984) * Jaques in ''As You Like It''. Directed by Marianne Elliott at the Royal Exchange, Manchester. (2000) * Stage adaptation of ''The Pianist'', (2007), Manchester International Festival * Thomas Danforth in ''The Crucible'' by Arthur Miller. Directed by Caroline Steinbeis at the Royal Exchange, Manchester The Royal Exchange is a grade II listed building in Manchester, England. It is located in the city centre on the land bounded by St Ann's Square, Exchange Street, Market Str ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rodney Bewes
Rodney Bewes (27 November 1937 – 21 November 2017) was an English television actor and writer who portrayed Bob Ferris in the BBC television sitcom ''The Likely Lads'' (1964–66) and its colour sequel ''Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?'' (1973–74). Bewes' later career was of a much lower profile, but he continued to work as a stage actor. Early life Bewes was born in Bingley in the West Riding of Yorkshire, to Horace, an Eastern Electricity Board showroom clerk, and Bessie, who was a teacher of children with learning difficulties. His family lived for a few years in the Crossflatts district of Bingley, before they moved to Luton, where he attended Stopsley Secondary School. Because of his early ill-health (he suffered from asthma and bronchitis), one of the reasons the family moved, his mother tended to keep him off school. His illness receded, and the family eventually returned to the north. Having seen an advertisement in the ''Daily Herald'', Bewes auditioned for t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jan Graveson
Janice Margaret "Jan" Graveson (born 1965 in Easington, County Durham) is an English actress and singer. She is best known for her roles in Eastenders as Disa O'Brien and Benidorm as Susie . Career An actress who had dreams from an early age. She aspired to get to the top. Graveson never attended any acting schools as her parents could not afford to send her there, so all she learnt she did so by asking and doing. From the age of 7 she attended dance class. By 12 years she won the British Tap Dancing Championships and English Tap Dancing championships, as well as becoming north east tap and song & dance winner. Graveson took her dance teachers tickets at age 18. She furthered her opportunities by moving to London to venture into TV and West End musicals and London theatre productions. Television Born in Easington, County Durham. Childhood: Horden & Peterlee, County Durham Durham New College: Drama & Theatre Arts / Art A level / Music A level / English Lang A level Born into ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
