Neil Morrissey
Neil Morrissey | |
---|---|
Born | Neil Anthony Morrissey 4 July 1962 Stafford, England |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1983–present |
Notable work | Men Behaving Badly Bob the Builder |
Spouse | |
Partner | Amanda Holden (2000) |
Children | 1 |
Neil Anthony Morrissey (born 4 July 1962) is an English actor, businessman, narrator and presenter. He is known for his role as Tony in Men Behaving Badly. Other notable acting roles include Deputy Head Eddie Lawson in the BBC One school-based drama series Waterloo Road, Nigel Morton in Line of Duty, and Rocky in Boon. Morrissey also provided the voice of the titluar character, Roley, Lofty, and others in Bob the Builder.
Early life
Morrissey was born in Stafford[1] on 4 July 1962,[2] the third of four sons of Irish parents who were both psychiatric nurses. He and his older brother Stephen spent much of their childhood in separate children's homes,[3] Morrissey spending most of his time at Penkhull Children's Home,[3][4] under the care of Margaret Cartlidge.[4]
He attended Thistley Hough High School in Penkhull,[2] where he passed all nine CSEs with O-Level-equivalent grades,[3] despite purportedly being downgraded from taking GCE exams on account of his being raised in care.[3] He went on to further study for his A-levels at the City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College.[2]
Morrissey had developed his skills and reputation as an actor through his teenage years at Stoke Schools Theatre, Stoke Repertory Theatre,[3] performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1979.[2] He further studied acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama,[2] after receiving an educational grant, and he 'sofa-surfed' with friends, and performed street theatre, to survive first year.[3]
Career
Acting
In 1984, Morrissey, in his film debut, played Able Seaman
In 1998, Morrissey starred in the
In 2000, Morrissey starred in TV comedy film Happy Birthday, Shakespeare, where he played a coach driver, in a cast that included
His work in West End theatre work includes Speed,
In 2007, he appeared in British TV show Skins,[11] as Marcus Ainsworth, the father of Hannah Murray's character Cassie Ainsworth.[2] He reprised the role in 2013, when appearing in both parts of Skins Pure.[6] In 2007, he appeared in the BBC One school-based drama series, Waterloo Road as the new deputy headteacher, Eddie Lawson.[11]
In January 2012, Morrissey took on the role of Fagin in Lionel Bart's musical
In 2015, he played a character called Keith, who is Johnny (Joe Maw) and Tee's (Mia McKenna Bruce) villainous mother's former boyfriend, in the CBBC sitcom The Dumping Ground.[15] In December 2015, Morrissey starred in BBC Two's comedy-drama A Gert Lush Christmas, playing the father of Russell Howard's character.[16]
In 2016, he joined the cast of Grantchester for the second series, where he played the role of Harding Redmond.[17] Also in 2016, he took part in the second series of ITV's reality series Bear Grylls: Mission Survive.[18]
From 2017, Morrissey played Greg McConnell in ITV's The Good Karma Hospital,[1] for several seasons until 2022. He portrayed Peter Carr in Series 3 of Unforgotten in 2018.[6] In 2021, he starred as Frank Stevenson in series four of the BBC series The Syndicate, starring alongside Katherine Rose Morley.[12] In 2023, he was the subject of DNA Journey with Adrian Dunbar.[19]
Morrissey played the part of Captain Perrot, an accomplice of
Spoof show
On 1 April 2006, a
Business
Morrissey's love of Welsh poet
In July 2008, with delays encountered on the construction of Hurst House-at-the-Mill, a luxury hotel in Hertfordshire due to open in 2009, the Laugharne-based assets of the Hurst House group went into a packaged administration. The assets were subsequently bought by new investors, resulting in the end of Morrissey's association with Laugharne.[24]
Morrissey part-owned the lease on the Ye Olde Punch Bowl Inn in Marton, North Yorkshire. From this base came the Morrissey Fox range of real ale, developed by Morrissey and chef Richard Fox which is still in production. In June 2009, it was reported that his Welsh pub had failed and the lease to Ye Olde Punch Bowl Inn was handed back to the owner after just 18 months on 22 October 2009.[25]
Morrissey avoided bankruptcy over his failed business ventures but entered an IVA.[26] Morrissey went on to own a chain of pubs in Staffordshire, including The Plume of Feathers in Barlaston,[1] and later The Old Bramshall Inn in Bramshall. The latter opened its doors as a Neil Morrissey pub on 28 June 2018, an event which Morrissey attended. In December 2021 the leasehold was sold and the pub was renamed 'The Butchers Arms'.[27]
Personal life
Morrissey married Amanda Noar in 1987 after meeting her when she guested in an episode of Boon; the couple have a son born in 1989. The couple divorced in 1991. He then became engaged to actress Elizabeth Carling, whom he had first met in 1989, when she too was working on Boon. They parted on good terms, and she later guest-starred alongside him on Men Behaving Badly. His subsequent affairs have been well documented by the British tabloids, including dating Rachel Weisz after starring together in My Summer with Des in 1998. They lived together at his flat in Crouch End, north London.[28] Morrissey had an affair with Amanda Holden in 2000, whom he met filming Happy Birthday, Shakespeare,[10] leading to her divorce in 2003 from comedian Les Dennis.[29]
Morrissey's older brother Stephen died in 1997 following a drug overdose.
In 2006, Morrissey was awarded an honorary degree from Staffordshire University.[31][32][33] He is a supporter of Crystal Palace.[34] A fan of real ale, in 2011 he produced a real ale with the club called Palace Ale.[35]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1984 | The Bounty | Seaman Matthew Quintal | Film debut |
1987 | Playing Away | Ian | |
1990 | I Bought a Vampire Motorcycle | Noddy, aka Nick Oddie | |
1992 | The Ballad of Kid Divine: The Cockney Cowboy | Cass Malone | |
1994 | Staggered | Jeff the Video Biographer | |
1995 | Trafford Tanzi | Dean Rebel | TV film |
1996 | Roger Roger | Phil | |
1997 | The Vanishing Man | Nick Cameron | |
The Chest | John Croft | ||
1998 | Jack and the Beanstalk | Jack | |
Up 'n' Under | Steve | ||
My Summer with Des | Martin | TV film | |
1999 | Hunting Venus | Charlotte | |
The Match | Piss Off (Mr. Doris) | ||
The Flint Street Nativity | Adrian Atherton / Wise Man 3 | TV film | |
The Nearly Complete and Utter History of Everything | Director | ||
2000 | Happy Birthday Shakespeare | Will Green | |
2001 | Bob the Builder: A Christmas to Remember | Bob (UK)/ Lofty (UK)/ Roley (UK)/ Farmer Pickles (UK) | Direct-to-video animated film (voice only) |
Another World | Captain Ronald Brimstone | Animated film (voice only) | |
2002 | Triggermen | Pete Maynard | |
Bob the Builder: Live! | Bob / Lofty / Roley | Animated film (voice only) | |
2003 | Bob the Builder: The Knights of Can-A-Lot | Bob (UK)/ Lofty (UK)/ Roley (UK)/ Farmer Pickles (UK) | Animated TV film (voice only) |
2004 | Bob the Builder: When Bob Became a Builder | Bob (UK)/ Lofty (UK)/ Roley (UK)/ Farmer Pickles (UK) | Direct-to-video animated film (voice only) |
Monkey Trousers | Various roles | TV film | |
Bob the Builder: Snowed Under: The Bobblesburg Winter Games | Bob (UK)/ Lofty (UK)/ Roley (UK) | Direct-to-video animated film (voice only) | |
2005 | The Adventures of William Shakespeare | Richard III | |
Bob the Builder: Bob's Big Plan | Bob (UK)/ Lofty (UK)/ Roley (UK)/ Scruffy (UK/US) | Direct-to-video animated film (voice only) | |
2006 | Acorn Antiques: The Musical |
John / Tony | Direct-to-video film |
Bob the Builder: Built to Be Wild | Bob (UK)/ Lofty (UK)/ Roley (UK) | Direct-to-video animated film (voice only; Singing voice US dub) | |
2007 | Bob the Builder: Scrambler to the Rescue | Bob (UK)/ Lofty (UK)/ Roley (UK)/ Farmer Pickles (UK)/ Angelo Sabatini (UK) | Direct-to-video animated film (voice only) |
2008 | Clubbed | Simon | |
Bob the Builder: Race to the Finish | Bob (UK)/ Lofty (UK)/ Roley (UK)/ Angelo Sabatini (UK), Micky Picker (UK) | Direct-to-video animated film (voice only) | |
2010 | Inn Mates | Brian | TV film |
2011 | The Adventures of William Shakespeare Vol. 2 | Richard III | |
2012 | Run for Your Wife | Gary Gardner | |
2015 | I Am Urban | Doc | |
A Gert Lush Christmas | Dave Colman | TV film | |
2016 | As One | Douglas | Short film |
2017 | Diana and I | Colin Taylor | TV film |
2019 | Crucible of the Vampire | Robert | |
Eurbane's Big Show! | Bob the Builder | Animated film (voice only) |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1984 | Juliet Bravo | Oliver | Guest appearance – 1 episode, series 5; "No Peace" |
Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense | Policeman | Guest appearance – 1 episode; "Paint Me a Murder" | |
Ellis Island | Sean | Miniseries – 1 episode | |
1985 | Roll Over Beethoven | Youth | Guest appearance – 1 episode |
Travellers by Night | Flick | Miniseries – 2 episodes | |
1986 | C.A.T.S. Eyes | Trevor | Guest appearance – 1 episode; series 2 |
1987 | Pulaski | Tarquin Taylor | Guest appearance – 1 episode: "The Price of Fame" |
1987–1995 | Boon | Rocky Cassidy | Recurring role – 74 episodes |
1988 | Gentlemen and Players | Terry | 1 episode; "Stags at Bay" |
Crossbow | Peter | aka William Tell. 1 episode; "Masterplan" | |
1992 | Cluedo |
Gordon Ferrar | Guest appearance – 1 episode; series 3
|
1992–1999 | Men Behaving Badly | Tony Smart | Leading role – 38 episodes[1] |
1993 | Comedy Playhouse | Danny | Guest appearance – 1 episode; "Stuck on You" |
The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer | Ozzy Osbourne / Himself | Guest appearance – 1 episode; "Food and Drink" | |
A Woman's Guide to Adultery | David | 3 episodes | |
1993–1997 | Noel's House Party | Sammy Shammy / Himself | 8 episodes |
1994 | Paris | Rochet | 6 episodes |
1995 | The Morph Files | Narrator | Recurring role – 25 episodes (voice only) |
1996–1997 | Soul Music | Mort | Recurring role – 7 episodes (voice only) |
1997 | Morph TV with Tony Hart | Narrator for the Morph segments | Recurring role (voice only)[9] |
1997–1998 | Brambly Hedge | Wilfred Toadflax | 2 episodes (voice only) |
1997–2011 | Bob the Builder | Bob (UK)/ Roley (UK)/ Lofty (UK)/ Farmer Pickles (UK) | Leading role – 201 episodes (voice only) |
1998 | The Vanishing Man | Nick Cameron | Recurring role – 6 episodes |
1999 | Maisy | Narrator (UK version) | 3 episodes (voice only)[6] |
The Comedy Trail: A Shaggy Dog Story | Tony Smart | TV Special | |
2001 | Look and Read | Zzaap | Guest appearance – 1 episode (voice only) |
2002–2003 | Paradise Heights / The Eustace Bros. | Charlie Eustace | Recurring role – 6 episodes |
2003 | Murder in Mind | Stephen Kite | Guest appearance – 1 episode; series 3 |
2003–2008 | Bob the Builder: Bob's Mini Projects | Bob / Micky Picker / Lofty | 17 episodes (voice only) |
2004 | Unsolved History | Narrator | Guest appearance – 1 episode; "Aztecs: Temple of Blood" |
2004–2005 | Carrie & Barry | Barry | Recurring role – 12 episodes |
2005 | Bob the Builder: Project Build It | Bob (UK)/ Roley (UK)/ Lofty (UK)/ Farmer Pickles (UK) | Leading role (voice only) |
2006 | Petrolheads | Host | 6 episodes |
2007 | Skins | Marcus Ainsworth | Guest appearance – 1 episode; series 1
|
Neighbours | Vicar | Guest appearance – 1 episode; "Births, Deaths and Marriages" | |
2007–2009 | Waterloo Road | Eddie Lawson | Recurring role – 40 episodes |
2010–2011 | The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! | Aurillia / Elmore / Gary | 11 episodes (voice only) |
2011 | Inspector George Gently | Tony Hexton | Guest appearance – 1 episode; series 4 |
2012 | Me and Mrs. Jones | Jason | 6 episodes |
2012–2016 | Line of Duty | DC Nigel Morton | 9 episodes |
2013 | Skins Pure | Marcus Ainsworth | 2 episodes |
2014 | Comedy Playhouse | Jez | Guest appearance – 1 episode; "Over to Bill" |
Men Behaving Badly | Tony Smart | Stand Up to Cancer & Feeling Nuts Comedy Night Special | |
2015 | The Dumping Ground | Keith | Guest appearance – 1 episode; series 3
|
Death in Paradise | Disco Biscuit / Duncan Roberts | Guest appearance – 1 episode; series 4 | |
2016 | Grantchester | Harding Redmond | Guest appearance – 5 episodes; series 2 |
Bear Grylls: Mission Survive | Himself - Participant | Guest appearance – 1 episode; series 2 | |
The Night Manager | Harry Palfrey | Miniseries – 3 episodes | |
2017 | Midsomer Murders | Mitch McAllister | 1 episode; “Crime and Punishment” |
2017–2018 | Striking Out | Vincent Pike, QC | Recurring role – 10 episodes |
2017–2022 | The Good Karma Hospital | Greg McConnell | Recurring role – 24 episodes[1] |
2018 | Moving On | Frank Barton | 1 episode; "The Registrar" |
Unforgotten | Peter Carr | 6 episodes | |
2019 | The Trial of Christine Keeler | Colin Keeler | Episode 6 |
2020 | Penance | Luke Douglas | Miniseries – all 3 episodes |
Finding Joy | Young Man | 1 episode; "Reborn" | |
2021 | The Syndicate | Frank Stevenson | 6 episodes |
The Long Call | Christopher Reasley | 4 episodes | |
2023 | DNA Journey | Himself | 1 episode; "Neil Morrissey and Adrian Dunbar"[36] |
The Chelsea Detective | Ross Pickard | 1 episode; "The Reliable Witness" | |
Love Rat | Pete | Miniseries – 4 episodes | |
2024 | Finders Keepers | Martin Stone | Miniseries – Main role – all 4 episodes[37] |
Discography
Studio albums
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications
| |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK [38] |
AUS [39] |
IRE [40] |
NZ
[41] | |||
Bob the Builder: The Album (as Bob the Builder) |
|
4 | 1 | 59 | 32 | |
Never Mind the Breeze Blocks (as Bob the Builder) |
|
87 | — | — | — | |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart |
Singles
Single | Year | Peak chart positions |
Certifications
|
Album | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK
[38] |
AUS [44] |
IRE [40] | ||||
"Can We Fix It?" (as Bob the Builder) |
2000 | 1 | 3 | Bob the Builder: The Album | ||
"Mambo No. 5" (as Bob the Builder) |
2001 | 1 | 2 | 4 | ||
" Big Fish Little Fish" )
(as Bob the Builder |
2008 | 81 | — | — | Never Mind the Breeze Blocks | |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart |
References
- ^ a b c d e "Neil Morrissey explains why he loves Staffordshire". Express and Star. 23 March 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g Hannah Hiles (23 January 2022). "Neil Morrissey's colourful life from children's home to kids' TV favourite". stokesentinel.co.uk.
- ^ a b c d e f Raekha Prasad (22 March 2011). "Neil Morrissey revisits his children's home roots". The Guardian.
- ^ a b "BBC Two – Neil Morrissey: Care Home Kid, Episode 1". BBC. 28 March 2011.
- ^ a b "The Bounty 1984". avclub.com. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Neil Morrissey credits". tvguide.com. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
- ^ a b Kate Abbott (18 March 2013). "How we made Men Behaving Badly". theguardian.com.
- ^ a b "Bob The Builder Official Chart History". officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ^ a b "TV Toons Morph". toonhound.com. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
- ^ a b "Happy Birthday Shakespeare (BBC1 2000, Amanda Holden, Neil Morrissey)". memorabletv.com. 28 June 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Neil Morrissey Corporate Bookings". independenttalent.com. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
- ^ a b c "Neil Morrissey in The Crown Jewels". westendtheatre.com. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
- ^ "Oliver!". britishtheatreguide.info. 25 January 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
- ^ "Duke Of York's Theatre Schedule & Tickets for Events in 2020/21". Cheapoticketing.com.
- ^ "BBC – Neil Morrissey and Charlie Brooks to guest star in series three of The Dumping Ground". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
- ^ "RUSSELL HOWARD, NEIL MORRISSEY, GREG DAVIES, KERRY HOWARD & SOPHIE THOMPSON STAR IN A NEW ONE-OFF CHRISTMAS SPECIAL FOR BBC TWO". Avalonuk.com. 11 November 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
- ^ "Neil Morrissey joins the cast of Grantchester". Itv.com. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
- ^ "Michelle Collins, Chelsee Healey join Bear Grylls show". Digitalspy.com. 18 February 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
- ^ "DNA Journey". itv.com. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Neil Morrissey's Secret". BBC. 4 April 2006. Archived from the original on 4 April 2006.
- ^ "Morrissey buys Dylan Thomas' local". News.bbc.co.uk. 22 April 2004.
- ^ "YouTube". YouTube. Archived from the original on 8 February 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
- ^ "Actor Morrissey to sell Dylan pub". News.bbc.co.uk. 16 October 2006.
- ^ "Morrissey ends Laugharne connection". Western Mail. 11 August 2008. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
- ^ "Neil Morrissey gives up the Punch Bowl". Thepublican.com. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
- ^ "Neil Morrissey 'opts for IVA to repay £2.5m'". The Daily Telegraph. London. 17 August 2009.
- ^ "Pub once owned by Line of duty star Neil Morrissey is transformed by new publicans". staffordshire-live.co.uk. 20 December 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
- ^ a b Interview: Neil Morrissey The Observer
- ^ "Holden and Dennis marriage ends". BBC News. 27 December 2002. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
- ^ Neil Morrissey on Bob and behaving badly Australian Broadcasting Corporation
- ^ Recipients of Honorary Awards Archived 22 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine staffs.ac.uk
- ^ Horizon Archived 16 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine staffs.ac.uk
- ^ Honorary degree for media stars BBC
- ^ "Famous Football Fans". The-football-club.com. Archived from the original on 26 June 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
- ^ "Crystal Palace | Manc Ale Is Coming To South London". Crystal Palace F.C. 12 July 2011. Archived from the original on 21 November 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
- ^ "DNA Journey". itv.com. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ "First look at Neil Morrissey and James Buckley in drama Finders Keepers". radiotimes.com. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ a b "Chart Log UK: Darren B - David Byrne". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
- ^ "australian-charts.com: Australian charts portal". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
- ^ a b "irishcharts - Discography Bob the Builder". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
- ^ "charts.nz - New Zealand charts portal". charts.nz. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
- ^ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2001 Albums". ARIA Charts. Archived from the original on 12 November 2009. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
- ^ a b c "BPI search results". British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 1 September 2009. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
- ^ "australian-charts.com - Australian charts portal". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
- ^ a b "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2001 Singles". ARIA Charts. Archived from the original on 5 February 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
External links
- Neil Morrissey at IMDb