Chris England (born 20 January 1961) is an English writer and actor. He is best known for the comedy play ''

An Evening with Gary Lineker ''An Evening with Gary Lineker'' is a 1991 stage play and 1994 television film both written by Arthur Smith and Chris England. The action takes place against the backdrop of the 1990 Football World Cup semi-final, between England and West Germ ...

'', which he wrote with Arthur Smith, and the book ''Balham to Bollywood''.

Early life

Chris England was educated at Valley Comprehensive School, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, and at

Pembroke College, Cambridge Pembroke College (officially "The Master, Fellows and Scholars of the College or Hall of Valence-Mary") is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college is the third-oldest college of the university and has over 700 ...

. While at Cambridge he was a member of the

Footlights Cambridge University Footlights Dramatic Club, commonly referred to simply as the Footlights, is an amateur theatrical club in Cambridge, England, founded in 1883 and run by the students of Cambridge University. History Footlights' inaugural ...

, and toured the UK and Australia with them. He has 3 sons: Peter, John and Michael. John is probably his favourite.

Career

After graduating, England formed Bad Lib Theatre Company with fellow ex-Footlights

Morwenna Banks Tamsin Morwenna Banks (born 20 September 1961) is a British comedy actress, writer and producer. She appeared in the Channel 4 comedy sketch show '' Absolutely'', and wrote, produced, and appeared in the British ensemble film ''The Announcemen ...

, Robert Harley,

Neil Mullarkey Neil Mullarkey is an English actor, writer and comedian. Early life and education From 1972—1979, Mullarkey was educated at Kingston Grammar School, an independent school for boys (now coeducational), in Kingston upon Thames, followed by Rob ...

, Paul Simpkin and David Tyler, co-writing, performing and directing a number of comedy plays and shows. These included ''Feeling The Benefit'', ''Get Your Coat, Dear, We’re Leaving...'', ''The Preventers'' and ''The Return of the New Preventers''. The latter two shows subsequently formed part of the BBC radio series ''Fab TV'', and a one-off comedy, ''The Preventers'', for ITV. With Morwenna Banks, England co-wrote and appeared in two children’s television storytelling series, '' Revolting Animals'' and '' Jellyneck'', and devised and wrote ''

All Change ''All Change'' is an English children's television show on ITV in two series. Originally broadcast in 1989 and 1991, it starred Frankie Howerd, Peggy Mount, Maggie Steed, Tony Haygarth and Pam Ferris. The series was devised by Morwenna Banks a ...

'', which featured

Frankie Howerd Francis Alick Howard (6 March 1917 – 19 April 1992), better known by his stage-name Frankie Howerd, was an English actor and comedian. Early life Howerd was born the son of soldier Francis Alfred William (1887–1934)England & Wales, Deat ...

Maggie Steed Maggie is a common short form of the name Magdalena, Magnolia, Margaret. Maggie may refer to: People Women * Maggie Adamson, Scottish musician * Maggie Aderin-Pocock (born 1968), British scientist * Maggie Alderson (born 1959), Aust ...

and

Tony Haygarth George Anthony Haygarth (4 February 1945 – 10 March 2017) was an English television, film and theatre actor. Life and career After leaving Marlborough College, Liverpool, Haygarth worked unsuccessfully in 1963 as a lifeguard in Torquay, and a ...

. In 1991, England co-wrote (with Arthur Smith) and acted in ''An Evening With Gary Lineker'', which transferred from the Edinburgh Fringe to the

Duchess Theatre The Duchess Theatre is a West End theatre in the City of Westminster, London, located in Catherine Street near Aldwych. The theatre opened on 25 November 1929 and is one of the smallest West End theatres with a proscenium arch. It has 494 se ...

in the West End, and was nominated for an

Olivier Award The Laurence Olivier Awards, or simply the Olivier Awards, are presented annually by the Society of London Theatre to recognise excellence in professional theatre in London at an annual ceremony in the capital. The awards were originally known as ...

for Comedy of the Year. The play was made into a television film by Granada, produced by

Andy Harries Andrew Harries''Births, Marriages & Deaths Index of England & Wales, 1916–2005''. Volume 15, page 1493, reg # 792. (born 7 April 1954) is chief executive and co-founder of Left Bank Pictures, a UK based production company formed in 2007. ...

, and starring

Clive Owen Clive Owen (born 3 October 1964) is an English actor. He first gained recognition in the United Kingdom for playing the lead role in the ITV series '' Chancer'' from 1990 to 1991. He received critical acclaim for his work in the film '' Close ...

Caroline Quentin Caroline Quentin (born Caroline Jones; 11 July 1960) is an English actress, broadcaster and television presenter. Quentin became known for her television appearances: portraying Dorothy in ''Men Behaving Badly'' (1992–1998), Maddie Magellan in ...

and

Martin Clunes Alexander Martin Clunes OBE DL (born 28 November 1961) is an English actor, comedian, director and television presenter. He is best known for portraying Martin Ellingham in the ITV comedy-drama series ''Doc Martin'' and Gary Strang in ''Men Be ...

. This led to further television writing, including an episode of ''

Murder Most Horrid ''Murder Most Horrid'' is a British black comedy anthology series starring Dawn French. It was broadcast on BBC Two for four series runs, in 1991, 1994, 1996 and 1999. Created by Paul Smith (television writer), Paul Smith, who also co-created '' ...

'', the sitcom ''Blind Men'', and the comedy drama ''

Bostock's Cup ''Bostock's Cup'' was a one-off British television comedy drama about a football team which appeared on ITV (TV network), ITV on the eve of the 1999 UEFA Champions League Final, 1999 European Cup final. It was written by Chris England, directed ...

''. In 2000, England spent twelve weeks in

Bhuj Bhuj () is a Municipality and District Headquarters of Kutch District in the state of Gujarat, India. Etymology According to legend, Kutch was ruled by the Nāga chieftains in the past. Sagai, a queen of Sheshapattana, who was married to Kin ...

, India, working on the Oscar-nominated Bollywood cricket epic ''

Lagaan ''Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India'' () is a 2001 Indian Hindi-language sports drama film written and directed by Ashutosh Gowariker. The film was produced by Aamir Khan, who stars alongside debutant Gracy Singh and British actors Rachel Sh ...

'', in which he played a "heavily-bewhiskered bodyline bowler", an experience which he described in a best-selling book, ''Balham to Bollywood'',Chris England. Balham to Bollywood. London: Hodder and Stoughton (2002). a

BBC Radio 4 BBC Radio 4 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC that replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. It broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history from the BBC' ...

Book of the Week ''Book of the Week'' is a BBC Radio 4 series that is broadcast daily on week days. Each week, extracts from the selected book, usually a non-fiction work, are read over five episodes; each fifteen-minute episode is broadcast in the morning (9:45a ...

. England returned to theatre writing and acting in 2006 with ''Breakfast With Jonny Wilkinson'', which enjoyed runs at the Edinburgh Fringe and at the

Menier Chocolate Factory The Menier Chocolate Factory is a 180-seat off-West End theatre, which comprises a restaurant, bar and rehearsal rooms. It is located in a former 1870s Menier Chocolate, Menier Chocolate Company factory at 53 Southwark Street, a major street in ...

. The play has been made into a feature film, released in 2013, starring George MacKay,

Norman Pace Norman John Pace (born 17 February 1953 in Dudley, Worcestershire) is an English actor and comedian, best known as one half of the comedy duo Hale and Pace with his friend and comic partner Gareth Hale. Both former teachers, they fronted seve ...

Nigel Lindsay Nigel Lindsay (born 17 January 1969) is an English actor. He is best known on television for his roles as Sir Robert Peel in the first two seasons of ''Victoria'', Jo Jo Marshall in the Netflix series '' Safe'' and as Barry in the BAFTA-winnin ...

Beth Cordingly Beth Cordingly (born 25 October 1976) is an English actress, known for her appearances in series ''Family Affairs'', ''The Bill'' and ''Dead Set''. Early life Cordingly was born in Brighton and went to Brighton and Hove High School. She is the d ...

Michael Beckley Michael Beckley is an Australian actor. He has worked with major theatre companies in both Australia and the United Kingdom, and appeared on London's West End in ''A Few Good Men'' (starring Rob Lowe) and ''Cabaret'' (directed by award-winning ...

, Gina Varela and the author. England has also collaborated with the comedian

Al Murray Alastair James Hay Murray (born 10 May 1968) is an English comedian, actor, musician and writer from Hammersmith. In 2003, he was listed in ''The Observer'' as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy, and in 2007 he was voted the 16th gr ...

on three series of ''

Al Murray's Happy Hour ''Al Murray's Happy Hour'' is a television chat show presented by comedian Al Murray and produced by Avalon TV. The first series aired in early 2007 and contained stand-up, guest interviews and live music. The episodes ended with Murray performin ...

'', one series of '' Al Murray's Multiple Personality Disorder'', and two comedy books, as well as the

BBC Radio 5 Live BBC Radio 5 Live is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC that broadcasts mainly news, sport, discussion, interviews and phone-ins. It is the principal BBC radio station covering sport in the United Kingdom, broadcast ...

show

7 Day Sunday ''7 Day Sunday'' (''7 Day Saturday'' in 2013) is a British comedy radio talk show hosted by Al Murray on BBC Radio 5 Live. Broadcast weekly on Sunday mornings, the show takes an irreverent look at the topical news stories of the past seven days ...

, which Murray hosted. Most recently he has completed a trilogy of historical novels set in the years leading up to and during the First World War. ''The Fun Factory'' is set in the world of the Edwardian music hall, when the young

Charlie Chaplin Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr. (16 April 188925 December 1977) was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the era of silent film. He became a worldwide icon through his screen persona, the Tramp, and is consider ...

and

Stan Laurel Stan Laurel (born Arthur Stanley Jefferson; 16 June 1890 – 23 February 1965) was an English comic actor, writer, and film director who was one half of the comedy double act, duo Laurel and Hardy. He appeared with his comedy partner Oliver Ha ...

were working for the

Fred Karno Frederick John Westcott (26 March 1866 – 17 September 1941), best known by his stage name Fred Karno, was an English theatre impresario of the British music hall. As a comedian of slapstick he is credited with popularising the custard-p ...

comedy company along with the novels' narrator Arthur Dandoe. ''The Boxcar of Fun'' follows the same characters into the golden heyday of American vaudeville, while the third volume, ''Chaplinoia'', sees them breaking into the silent movies. His new play, ''Twitstorm'', had its world premiere at the Park Theatre in May 2017.

Books

''On The Game'' - Old Street. ''Twitstorm'' - Josef Weinberger plays. ''Chaplinoia'' - Old Street. ''The Boxcar of Fun'' - Old Street. ''The Fun Factory'' - Old Street. ''How to Enjoy the World Cup'' - Old Street. ''Breakfast With Jonny Wilkinson'' - Josef Weinberger plays. ''No More Buddha, Only Football'' - Hodder and Stoughton. ''Balham to Bollywood'' - Hodder and Stoughton. ''What Didn’t Happen Next'' (with Nick Hancock) - Andre Deutsch. ''

'' (with Arthur Smith) - Josef Weinberger plays.

Film

''Breakfast with Jonny Wilkinson'' '' Bose - The Forgotten Hero'' ''

'', in the role of Yardley, a fast bowler. ''

A Man Called Sarge ''A Man Called Sarge'' is a 1990 American parody film, written and directed by Stuart Gillard, starring Gary Kroeger, Marc Singer, Gretchen German and introducing a young Natasha Lyonne. The humour is built on slapstick and verbal puns, in the ...

Television

'' Al Murray's Multiple Personality Disorder'' ''

'' ''

'' '' Blind Men'' ''The Preventers'' ''

'' ''Dare to Believe''- series 1 and 2 ITV

Radio

'' ''The Back End of Next Week'' ''Fab TV'' ''

Room 101 The Ministry of Truth, the Ministry of Peace, the Ministry of Love, and the Ministry of Plenty are the four ministries of the government of Oceania in the 1949 dystopian novel ''Nineteen Eighty-Four'', by George Orwell. The use of contradictory ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:England, Chris 1961 births Living people English comedy writers English dramatists and playwrights Alumni of Pembroke College, Cambridge English male dramatists and playwrights