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 ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series, created by Sydney Newman, C. E. Webber and Donald Wilson (writer and producer), Donald Wilson, depicts the adventures of an extraterre ...
'' serial '' The Greatest Show in the Galaxy'', Richard Cole in ''
EastEnders ''EastEnders'' is a British television soap opera created by Julia Smith (producer), Julia Smith and Tony Holland which has been broadcast on BBC One since February 1985. Set in the fictional borough of Walford in the East End of London, the ...
'' and Vernon Tomlin in ''
Coronation Street ''Coronation Street'' (colloquially referred to as ''Corrie'') is a British television soap opera created by ITV Granada, Granada Television and shown on ITV (TV network), ITV since 9 December 1960. The programme centres on a cobbled, terraced ...
''.


Early life

Ian Reddington was born in Walkley in
Sheffield Sheffield is a city in South Yorkshire, England, situated south of Leeds and east of Manchester. The city is the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire and some of its so ...
. He was educated at Frecheville Comprehensive. Reddington then went on to study acting at the
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, also known by its abbreviation RADA (), is a drama school in London, England, which provides vocational conservatoire training for theatre, film, television, and radio. It is based in Bloomsbury, Central London ...
in London, graduating with Acting (RADA Diploma) in 1978.


Career


Film

Although mostly known for his work on stage and in television, Reddington made his film debut as Bassett in '' Highlander'' in 1986,
duel A duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two people with matched weapons. During the 17th and 18th centuries (and earlier), duels were mostly single combats fought with swords (the rapier and later the small sword), but beginning in ...
ling with Christopher Lambert.


Television

Reddington's earliest television appearances were in ''Sharon and Elsie'' (1984), Doug Lucie's ''Hard Feelings'' in ''
Play for Today ''Play for Today'' is a British television anthology drama series, produced by the BBC and transmitted on BBC1 from 1970 to 1984. During the run, more than three hundred programmes, featuring original television plays, and adaptations of stage ...
'' (1984), '' Three Up, Two Down'' (1986) and '' Casualty'' (1987). In 1989, he was voted Best Villain of the 25th anniversary season by ''
Doctor Who Magazine ''Doctor Who Magazine'' (abbreviated as ''DWM'') is a magazine devoted to the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. Launched in 1979 as ''Doctor Who Weekly'', the magazine became a monthly publication the following year. In ...
'' readers for his portrayal of the Chief Clown in the serial '' The Greatest Show in the Galaxy'', which starred Sylvester McCoy as the
Seventh Doctor The Seventh Doctor is an incarnation of the Doctor, the protagonist of the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. He is portrayed by Scottish actor Sylvester McCoy. Within the series' narrative, the Doctor is a centuries-o ...
. 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 ''EastEnders'' is a British television soap opera created by Julia Smith (producer), Julia Smith and Tony Holland which has been broadcast on BBC One since February 1985. Set in the fictional borough of Walford in the East End of London, the ...
''. 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 a British actress. She is known for her role as Cindy Beale in the BBC soap opera A soap opera (also called a daytime drama or soap) is a genre of a long-running radio or television Serial (r ...
) after his portrayal of Vernon Tomlin, the hapless drummer, in ''
Coronation Street ''Coronation Street'' (colloquially referred to as ''Corrie'') is a British television soap opera created by ITV Granada, Granada Television and shown on ITV (TV network), ITV since 9 December 1960. The programme centres on a cobbled, terraced ...
'' from 2005 until 2008. His many other television appearances have included episodes of ''
The Bill ''The Bill'' is a British police procedural television series, broadcast on ITV (TV network), ITV from 16 October 1984 until 31 August 2010. The programme originated from a one-off drama, "Woodentop (The Bill), Woodentop" (part of the ''Storyb ...
'', '' Boon'', ''
Holby City ''Holby City'' (stylised on-screen as HOLBY CIY) is a British medical drama television series that aired weekly on BBC One. It was created by Tony McHale and Mal Young as a Spin-off (media), spin-off from the established BBC medical drama '' ...
'', ''
Benidorm Benidorm ( , , ) is a municipality in the province of Alicante, Valencian Community, on the Mediterranean coast of Spain. Known as the “New York City, New York of the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean”, Benidorm has been a tourist destinatio ...
'', '' Doctors'', '' Peak Practice'', '' Playing the Field'', ''
Robin Hood Robin Hood is a legendary noble outlaw, heroic outlaw originally depicted in English folklore and subsequently featured in literature, theatre, and cinema. According to legend, he was a highly skilled archer and swordsman. In some versions o ...
'', ''
Inspector Morse Endeavour Morse, GM, is the namesake character of the series of "Morse" detective novels by British author Colin Dexter, a Detective Chief Inspector in the Thames Valley Police in Oxford, England. On television he was portrayed by John ...
'' and '' Cadfael'', '' The Sculptress'', '' The Queen's Nose'', '' Jane Hall'', and ''Yellow Thread Street'' and memorably as Tommy the council worker in '' Shameless'', ''Snap'', and ''Being April''. In 2017, he appeared in the
BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
series ''
Father Brown Father Brown is a fictional Roman Catholic priest and amateur detective. He is featured in 53 short stories by English author G. K. Chesterton, published between 1910 and 1936. Father Brown solves mysteries and crimes using his intuition and ...
'', 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 started in 1978 with the
Royal Shakespeare Company The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs over 1,000 staff and opens around 20 productions a year. The RSC plays regularly in London, Stratf ...
. He played Master Froth in ''
Measure for Measure ''Measure for Measure'' is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1603 or 1604 and first performed in 1604. It was published in the First Folio of 1623. The play centers on the despotic and puritan Angelo (Measure for ...
'', The Tailor in Play of the Year, ''
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 drunke ...
'', a 'shape' in ''
The Tempest ''The Tempest'' is a Shakespeare's plays, play by William Shakespeare, probably written in 1610–1611, and thought to be one of the last plays that he wrote alone. After the first scene, which takes place on a ship at sea during a tempest, th ...
'', '' The Churchill Play'', ''The Shepherds Play'', the multi-award-winning '' Piaf'', and RSC
West End theatre West End theatre is mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres in and near the West End of London.Christopher Innes"West End"in ''The Cambridge Guide to Theatre'' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998), pp. 1194–1195, ...
productions of '' 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 fin ...
to play Kent in ''
Edward the Second Edward II (25 April 1284 – 21 September 1327), also known as Edward of Caernarfon or Caernarvon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed in January 1327. The fourth son of Edward I, Edward became the heir to the throne follo ...
'' and ''
Oh! What A Lovely War ''Oh! What a Lovely War'' is a 1969 British epic comedy historical musical war film directed by Richard Attenborough (in his directorial debut), with an ensemble cast, including Maggie Smith, Dirk Bogarde, John Gielgud, John Mills, Kenneth Mo ...
''. In
repertory theatre A repertory theatre, also called repertory, rep, true rep or stock, which are also called producing theatres, is a theatre in which a resident company presents works from a specified repertoire, usually in alternation or rotation. United Kingdom ...
, he played leading roles at Plymouth, in the British première of '' The Dynasts'', and at Nottingham in ''
Cain Cain is a biblical figure in the Book of Genesis within Abrahamic religions. He is the elder brother of Abel, and the firstborn son of Adam and Eve, the first couple within the Bible. He was a farmer who gave an offering of his crops to God. How ...
''. For Great Eastern Stage he performed in ''
Travesties ''Travesties'' is a 1974 play by Tom Stoppard. It centres on the figure of Henry Wilfred Carr, Henry Carr, an old man who reminisces about Zürich in 1917 during World War I, the First World War, and his interactions with James Joyce when he w ...
''. 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 The Book of Judith is a deuterocanonical book included in the Septuagint and the Catholic Church, Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Christian Old Testament of the Bible but Development of the Hebrew Bible canon, excluded from the ...
'', and '' Saint Joan''. In London's
fringe Fringe may refer to: Arts and music * "The Fringe", or Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the world's largest arts festival * Adelaide Fringe, the world's second-largest annual arts festival * Fringe theatre, a name for alternative theatre * Purple fri ...
he played the title role in '' Arden of Faversham'' at the Old Red Lion Theatre, Alec D'Urbaville in ''Tess'' at The Latchmere. Also there he performed '' The Promise'' with his own company One Word, '' The Collector'' at The Spice of Life and '' Rutherford and Son'' at The New End. At The Bush Theatre he appeared in '' Hard Feelings'' and ''Flamingoes'', ''Black Mas'' for Foco Novo and '' Pamela'' for Shared Experience. He performed in ''A Who's Who of Flapland'' for Lakeside, Nottingham, and world premieres of ''In Pursuit of the English'' and '' Hangover Square'' at The Lyric Hammersmith. He worked with English experimental company Lumiere and Son in ''War Dance'' and then performed in Italy with La Zattere Di Babele in ''
Tamburlaine ''Tamburlaine the Great'' is a play in two parts by Christopher Marlowe. It is loosely based on the life of the Central Asian emperor Timur (Tamerlane/Timur the Lame, d. 1405). Written in 1587 or 1588, the play is a milestone in English liter ...
''. Further classical work saw him perform ''
Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play. Set in Denmark, the play (the ...
'' for the Oxford Stage Company, '' Richard the Third'' for the Stafford Festival and ''
Macbeth ''The Tragedy of Macbeth'', often shortened to ''Macbeth'' (), is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, estimated to have been first performed in 1606. It dramatises the physically violent and damaging psychological effects of political ambiti ...
'' in London. For the International New Writers Festival in Birmingham he appeared in ''Car Thieves'' and a performance of '' A Day in the Death of Joe Egg'' at The
Royal National Theatre The National Theatre (NT), officially the Royal National Theatre and sometimes referred to in international contexts as the National Theatre of Great Britain, is a performing arts venue and associated theatre company located in London, England, ...
. He has also been seen in '' Blue Murder'', ''Happy as A Sandbag'', '' Dead Funny'', ''Gasping'' and '' The Woman in Black''. For the West Yorkshire Playhouse, he appeared in ''The Lemon Princess''. He played the part of Joe's dad in the Olivier Award-winning musical '' Our House''. He played Pop in the musical ''
We Will Rock You "We Will Rock You" is a song by the British rock band Queen from their 1977 album '' News of the World'', written by guitarist Brian May. ''Rolling Stone'' ranked it number 330 of " The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004, and the RIAA it p ...
'' in 2011. He has adapted for the stage
John Fowles John Robert Fowles (; 31 March 1926 – 5 November 2005) was an English novelist, critically positioned between modernism and postmodernism. His work was influenced by Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus, among others. After leaving Oxford Uni ...
's '' The Collector'' andwith Paul Bower Ramón del Valle-Inclán's '' Luces de Bohemia''.


Filmography

*''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 ''The Sisters Brothers'' is a 2011 Western fiction, Western novel by Canadian-born author Patrick deWitt. The darkly comic story takes place in Oregon and California in 1851. The narrator, Eli Sisters, and his brother Charlie are assassins taske ...
'' (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. They compete in the EFL Championship, the second level of the English football league system. Formed in 1867 as an off ...
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 ...
and is also a patron of Ali's Dream and Brain Tumour Research. 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 Labour candidate Sophie Johnson in the 2017 UK general election, which included helping to make her election video. He is also a lifelong supporter of
Sheffield Wednesday F.C. Sheffield Wednesday Football Club is a professional association football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. They compete in the EFL Championship, the second level of the English football league system. Formed in 1867 as an off ...


References


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 Sheffield