Ian Reddington
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Ian Reddington (born 25 September 1957) is an English actor with many stage and television credits since the early 1980s. He became widely known for television roles such as the Chief Clown in the '' Doctor Who'' serial '' The Greatest Show in the Galaxy'', Richard Cole in '' EastEnders'' and Vernon Tomlin in '' Coronation Street''.


Early life

Ian Reddington was born in Walkley in
Sheffield Sheffield is a city in South Yorkshire, England, whose name derives from the River Sheaf which runs through it. The city serves as the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire a ...
. He was educated at
Frecheville Comprehensive Frecheville Comprehensive School was a secondary school located in Frecheville, South Yorkshire, England. When built, the school was in Derbyshire, but became a Sheffield city school following a boundary change in 1967. The school opened in 19 ...
. He had no formal drama training at school but became a leading figure in the Meatwhistle youth theatre project run by youth workers in the city. This gave him his first appearance as the Herald in
Peter Weiss Peter Ulrich Weiss (8 November 1916 – 10 May 1982) was a German writer, painter, graphic artist, and experimental filmmaker of adopted Swedish nationality. He is particularly known for his plays ''Marat/Sade'' and ''The Investigation'' and hi ...
's ''
Marat/Sade ''The Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat as Performed by the Inmates of the Asylum of Charenton Under the Direction of the Marquis de Sade'' (german: Die Verfolgung und Ermordung Jean Paul Marats dargestellt durch die Schauspielgrupp ...
'' at the Sheffield Crucible in 1973 directed by Glen Walford. He also played percussion and sang backing vocals in proto-punk band Musical Vomit alongside
Glenn Gregory Glenn Peter Gregory (born 16 May 1958) is an English singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose music career spans more than 40 years. He came to prominence in the early 1980s as co-founder and lead singer of the new wave and synthpop b ...
, who later went on to become lead singer with
Heaven 17 Heaven 17 are an English new wave and synth-pop band that formed in Sheffield in 1980. The band were a trio for most of their career, composed of Martyn Ware (keyboards) and Ian Craig Marsh (keyboards) (both previously of the Human League), and ...
. Reddington then went on to study acting at the
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA; ) is a drama school in London, England, that provides vocational conservatoire training for theatre, film, television, and radio. It is based in the Bloomsbury area of Central London, close to the Senat ...
in London (1976–1979), at the time one of their youngest ever entrants. While there, he won The William Poel Prize and The Arthur Talbot Smith Award.


Career


Television

Reddington's earliest television appearances were in ''Sharon and Elsie'' (1984), Doug Lucie's ''Hard Feelings'' in '' Play for Today'' (1984), '' Three Up, Two Down'' (1986) and ''
Casualty Casualty may refer to: *Casualty (person), a person who is killed or rendered unfit for service in a war or natural disaster **Civilian casualty, a non-combatant killed or injured in warfare * The emergency department of a hospital, also known as ...
'' (1987). In 1989, he was voted Best Villain of the 25th anniversary season by '' Doctor Who Magazine'' readers for his portrayal of the Chief Clown in the serial '' The Greatest Show in the Galaxy'', which starred
Sylvester McCoy Percy James Patrick Kent-Smith (born 20 August 1943), known professionally as Sylvester McCoy, is a Scottish actor. Gaining prominence as a physical comedian, he became best known for playing the seventh incarnation of the Doctor in the lon ...
as the
Seventh Doctor The Seventh Doctor is an incarnation of the Doctor, the protagonist of the BBC science fiction television series '' Doctor Who'', and the final incarnation of the original Doctor Who series. He is portrayed by Scottish actor Sylvester McCoy. ...
. In 2015, author Cameron K. McEwan described it as "a superb performance and, still to this day, one of Who's finest villains". Reddington reprised this role for the Big Finish audio drama ''The Psychic Circus'' in 2020. Between 1992 and 1994, he had a recurring role as Richard Cole (aka Tricky Dicky) in '' EastEnders''. He later became one of only two actors to portray a major role in the UK's two biggest soap operas (the other being
Michelle Collins Michelle Danielle Collins (born 28 May 1962) is an English actress and TV presenter, best known for her roles in the British soap operas ''EastEnders'' and ''Coronation Street''. Collins played Cindy Beale in the BBC soap ''EastEnders'' fro ...
) after his portrayal of Vernon Tomlin, the hapless drummer, in '' Coronation Street'' from 2005 until 2008. His many other television appearances have included episodes of ''
The Bill ''The Bill'' is a British police procedural television series, first broadcast on ITV from 16 August 1983 until 31 August 2010. The programme originated from a one-off drama, '' Woodentop'', broadcast in August 1983. The programme focused o ...
'', ''
Boon Boon may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Boon (game), a trick-taking card game * ''Boon'' (novel), a 1915 satirical work by H. G. Wells * ''Boon'' (TV series), a British television series starring Michael Elphick * The Ultimate Boo ...
'', '' Holby City'', '' Benidorm'', '' Doctors'', ''
Peak Practice ''Peak Practice'' is a British drama television series, series about a General Practice, GP surgery in Cardale—a small List of fictional towns in television, fictional town in the Derbyshire Peak District—and the Physician, doctors who wor ...
'', ''
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 w ...
'', ''
Robin Hood Robin Hood is a legendary heroic outlaw originally depicted in English folklore and subsequently featured in literature and film. According to legend, he was a highly skilled archer and swordsman. In some versions of the legend, he is dep ...
'', ''
Inspector Morse Detective Chief Inspector Endeavour Morse, GM, is the eponymous fictional character in the series of detective novels by British author Colin Dexter. On television, he appears in the 33-episode drama series '' Inspector Morse'' (1987–2000), ...
'' and ''
Cadfael Brother Cadfael is the main fictional character in a series of historical murder mysteries written between 1977 and 1994 by the linguist-scholar Edith Pargeter under the name "Ellis Peters". The character of Cadfael himself is a Welsh Benedic ...
'', '' The Sculptress'', '' The Queen's Nose'', '' Jane Hall'' and ''Yellow Thread Street'' and memorably as Tommy the council worker in '' Shameless'', '' Being April'' and his own children's series '' Snap''. In 2017, he appeared in the
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
series ''
Father Brown Father Brown is a fictional Roman Catholic priest and amateur detective who is featured in 53 short stories published between 1910 and 1936 written by English author G. K. Chesterton. Father Brown solves mysteries and crimes using his intui ...
'' as Samuel Jacobs in the fifth-season episode "The Penitent Man", and played Harry Tomkins in the third season of '' Outlander''. In December 2021, alongside son Tyler Reddington, he portrayed the role of Frankie Clitheroe in ''Doctors''.


Theatre

Reddington's theatre work is extensive and started with The Royal Shakespeare Company. He played Master Froth in '' Measure for Measure'', The Tailor in ''
The Taming of the Shrew ''The Taming of the Shrew'' is a comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1590 and 1592. The play begins with a framing device, often referred to as the induction, in which a mischievous nobleman tricks a drunken ...
'' (Play of the Year), a 'shape' in '' The Tempest'' (along with
Ruby Wax Ruby Wax (; born 19 April 1953) is an American-British actress, comedian, writer, television personality, and mental health campaigner. A classically-trained actress, Wax was with the Royal Shakespeare Company for five years and co-starred on t ...
and
Juliet Stevenson Juliet Anne Virginia Stevenson, (born 30 October 1956) is an English actor of stage and screen. She is known for her role in the film ''Truly, Madly, Deeply'' (1991), for which she was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leadi ...
), '' The Churchill Play'', '' The Shepherds Play'', the multi-award-winning '' Piaf'' and for the RSC in the West End both '' Wild Oats'' and '' Once in a Lifetime''. He then went to the
Bristol Old Vic Bristol Old Vic is a British theatre company based at the Theatre Royal, Bristol. The present company was established in 1946 as an offshoot of the Old Vic in London. It is associated with the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, which became a f ...
to play Kent in ''
Edward the Second Edward II (25 April 1284 – 21 September 1327), also called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England and Lord of Ireland from 1307 until he was deposed in January 1327. The fourth son of Edward I, Edward became the heir apparent to t ...
'' and '' Oh! What A Lovely War''. It was then out into repertory theatre with leading roles at Plymouth, Stoke, the British première of Thomas Hardy's '' The Dynasts'' for Exeter, and in Nottingham
Byron George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron (22 January 1788 – 19 April 1824), known simply as Lord Byron, was an English romantic poet and peer. He was one of the leading figures of the Romantic movement, and has been regarded as among the ...
's '' Cain''. For Great Eastern Stage he performed in ''
Travesties ''Travesties'' is a 1974 play by Tom Stoppard. The play centres on the figure of Henry Carr, an elderly man who reminisces about Zürich in 1917 during the First World War, and his interactions with James Joyce when he was writing '' Ulysses'' ...
''. Back at the Bristol Old Vic he appeared in '' Androcles and The Lion'' and '' She Stoops To Conquer'' and in '' The Woman Who Cooked Her Husband'' for Nottingham Playhouse. Then to The Citizen's Theatre, Glasgow where he was seen in world premières of '' Judith'' and '' Saint Joan''. In London's
fringe Fringe may refer to: Arts * Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the world's largest arts festival, known as "the Fringe" * Adelaide Fringe, the world's second-largest annual arts festival * Fringe theatre, a name for alternative theatre * The Fringe, the ...
he played the title role in Katie Mitchell's '' Arden of Faversham'' at the
Old Red Lion Theatre The Old Red Lion is a pub and fringe theatre, at Angel, in the London Borough of Islington. The theatre was founded in 1979 as the Old Red Lion Theatre Club. The pub was Grade II listed in 1994 by Historic England. History Construction The p ...
, Alec D'Urbaville in '' Tess'' at The Latchmere. Also there he performed '' The Promise'' with his own company One Word, ''
The Collector ''The Collector'' is a 1963 thriller novel by English author John Fowles, in his literary debut. Its plot follows a lonely, psychotic young man who kidnaps a female art student in London and holds her captive in the cellar of his rural farmhous ...
'' at The Spice of Life and '' Rutherford and Son'' at The New End. At
The Bush Theatre The Bush Theatre is located in the Passmore Edwards Public Library, Shepherd's Bush, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. It was established in 1972 as a showcase for the work of new writers. The Bush Theatre strives to create a s ...
under Mike Bradwell he appeared in the award-winning '' Hard Feelings (play)'' and '' Flamingoes'', '' Black Mas'' for Foco Novo and '' Pamela'' for
Shared Experience Shared Experience is a British theatre company.
Its current joint
. '' A Who's Who of Flapland'' for Lakeside, Nottingham. World Premieres of '' In Pursuit of the English'' and ''
Hangover Square ''Hangover Square'' is a 1941 novel by English playwright and novelist Patrick Hamilton. It follows the schizophrenic alcoholic George Harvey Bone and his tortured love for Netta Longdon in the months leading up to the Second World War. Subtit ...
'' at The Lyric Hammersmith. He worked with English experimental company Lumiere and Son in ''
War Dance A war dance is a dance involving mock combat, usually in reference to tribal warrior societies where such dances were performed as a ritual connected with endemic warfare. Martial arts in various cultures can be performed in dance-like setti ...
'' and then performed in Italy with the
avant-Garde The avant-garde (; In 'advance guard' or ' vanguard', literally 'fore-guard') is a person or work that is experimental, radical, or unorthodox with respect to art, culture, or society.John Picchione, The New Avant-garde in Italy: Theoretical ...
La Zattere Di Babele in '' Tamburlaine''. Further classical work saw him perform ''
Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts ...
'' for the Oxford Stage Company, '' Richard the Third'' for the Stafford Festival and '' Macbeth'' in London. For the International New Writers Festival in Birmingham he appeared in Akos Nemeth's '' Car Thieves'' and also a platform performance of ''
A Day in the Death of Joe Egg A, or a, is the first letter and the first vowel of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''a'' (pronounced ), plural ''aes'' ...
'' at The Royal National Theatre. He has also been seen in Peter Nichols' '' Blue Murder'', '' Happy as A Sandbag'', the award Winning ''
Dead Funny ''Dead Funny'' is a 1994 independent drama film directed by John Feldman. It stars Elizabeth Peña as Vivian Saunders, a woman who comes home from work and finds her boyfriend Reggie Barker (Andrew McCarthy) pinned to her kitchen table with a long ...
'',
Ben Elton Benjamin Charles Elton (born 3 May 1959) is an English comedian, actor, author, playwright, lyricist and director. He was a part of London's alternative comedy movement of the 1980s and became a writer on the sitcoms '' The Young Ones'' and ''Bla ...
's ''
Gasping Paralanguage, also known as vocalics, is a component of meta-communication that may modify meaning, give nuanced meaning, or convey emotion, by using techniques such as prosody, pitch, volume, intonation, etc. It is sometimes defined as relatin ...
'' and '' The Woman in Black'' with Frank Finlay. For the West Yorkshire Playhouse he appeared in the much acclaimed ''
The Lemon Princess ''The'' () is a grammatical Article (grammar), article in English language, English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite ...
''. He played the part of Joe's dad in the
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 a ...
-winning musical '' Our House''. He played Pop in the hit musical ''
We Will Rock You "We Will Rock You" is a song written by Brian May and recorded by British rock band Queen for their 1977 album ''News of the World''. ''Rolling Stone'' ranked it number 330 of " The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004, and it placed at num ...
'' in 2011. He has adapted for the stage
John Fowles John Robert Fowles (; 31 March 1926 – 5 November 2005) was an English novelist of international renown, critically positioned between modernism and postmodernism. His work was influenced by Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus, among others. Aft ...
's ''
The Collector ''The Collector'' is a 1963 thriller novel by English author John Fowles, in his literary debut. Its plot follows a lonely, psychotic young man who kidnaps a female art student in London and holds her captive in the cellar of his rural farmhous ...
'' and (with his friend Paul Bower) Ramón del Valle-Inclán's '' Luces de Bohemia''.


Film

Although mostly known for his work on stage and in television, Reddington made his film debut as Bassett in the cult fantasy film '' Highlander'' in 1986, duelling with Christopher Lambert. *'' Highlander'' (1986) - Bassett *''Crimestrike'' (1990) *''Who Needs a Heart'' (1991) - Jack *''Speak Like a Child'' (1998) - Master *'' The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box'' (2013) - Ratchit *''The Spiritualist'' (2016) - Father *''Fanged Up'' (2017) - Francis the Bus Driver *'' The Sisters Brothers'' (2018) - The Father *''Kaleidoscope Man'' (2018) - Gerry Miller


Discography

For
Sheffield Wednesday F.C. Sheffield Wednesday Football Club is a professional association football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. The team competes in League One, the third tier of the English football league system. Formed in 1867 as an offshoot of ...
he has written and recorded :
"Move on up for steel city" – The Hillsborough Crew
"If it's Wednesday it must be Wembley" – The Hillsborough Crew (Blue Wave SWFCP1)
"Oh yes" – The Wednesday Kop Band (Blue Wave Kop Band 1)
"Euromania" – Elevenveeeleven (Cherry Red Records cdgaffer6)


Personal life

Reddington married Lynda Ford on 18 October 2009 in Sheffield. He is a supporter of the Bobby Moore Fund, which raises money for research into
bowel cancer Colorectal cancer (CRC), also known as bowel cancer, colon cancer, or rectal cancer, is the development of cancer from the colon or rectum (parts of the large intestine). Signs and symptoms may include blood in the stool, a change in bowel m ...
and is also a patron of Ali's Dream and
Brain Tumour Research Brain Tumour Research is a UK-based medical research charity dedicated to funding research, raising awareness of brain tumours. The charities vision is to find a cure for brain tumours of all kinds. The charity works with, and funds a network of ...
. He was guest star at one of the first Wii charity tennis events to be held in the United Kingdom.Buckingham Advertiser
"It's Wii-mbledon!"
. Retrieved 21 October 2007. He is an active participant and supporter of the National Student Drama Festival. Reddington is a supporter of the Labour Party and was involved in the planning campaign for the
South Northamptonshire South Northamptonshire was, from 1974 to 2021, a district in Northamptonshire, England. Its council was based in the town of Towcester, first established as a settlement in Roman Britain. The population of the Local Authority District Council in ...
Labour candidate Sophie Johnson in the 2017 UK general election, which included helping to make her election video.


References


Citations


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Reddington, Ian 1957 births 20th-century English male actors 21st-century English male actors Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art English male Shakespearean actors English male soap opera actors English male stage actors Labour Party (UK) people Living people Male actors from Yorkshire Male actors from Sheffield