Richard James Lumsden (born 24 June 1965) is an English actor, writer, composer and musician. He has made regular appearances on TV and film throughout his career. Notable series include
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by Channel Four Television Corporation. It is state-owned enterprise, publicly owned but, unlike the BBC, it receives no public funding and is funded en ...
Is It Legal?
''Is It Legal?'' is a British television sitcom set in a solicitors office in Hounslow, west London, which ran from 12 September 1995 to 9 December 1998. It was produced by Hartswood Films and was shown on ITV for Series 1–2 and Channel 4 fo ...
The Singapore Grip
''The Singapore Grip'' is a novel by J. G. Farrell. It was published in 1978, a year before his death. In 2015, ''The Straits Times Akshita Nanda selected ''The Singapore Grip'' as one of ten classic Singapore novels. She wrote, "Neatly weaving ...
''. He played Ray in Radio 4's long-running comedy ''
Clare in the Community
''Clare in the Community'' is a British radio comedy series, broadcast on BBC Radio 4, starring Sally Phillips as Clare. It was adapted from the comic strip of the same name which appeared in ''The Guardian'' newspaper, written by Harry Venning ...
''.
Career
Television
Lumsden's early television work includes Foggy in two series of ''
First of the Summer Wine
''First of the Summer Wine'' is a British sitcom written by Roy Clarke that aired on BBC1. The pilot originally aired on 3 January 1988, and the first series of episodes followed from 4 September 1988. The show ran for two series of six episodes ...
Waterfront Beat
''Waterfront Beat'' is a BBC television police procedural drama series, broadcast between 6 January 1990 and 20 February 1991.
Background
The series follows the work of a group of police detectives stationed in a new ''Waterfront division'', ...
,
One Foot In The Grave
''One Foot in the Grave'' is a British television British sitcom, sitcom written by David Renwick. There were six series (each consisting of six half-hour episodes) and seven Christmas specials over a period of ten years from early 1990 to late ...
,
The Brittas Empire
''The Brittas Empire'' is a British sitcom created and originally written by Andrew Norriss and Richard Fegen. Chris Barrie played titular character Gordon Brittas, the well-intentioned but hugely incompetent manager of the fictional Whitbury Ne ...
,
Nelson's Column
Nelson's Column is a monument in Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster, Central London, built to commemorate Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson's decisive victory at the Battle of Trafalgar over the combined French and Spanish navies, during whi ...
,
Grace and Favour
A grace-and-favour home is a residential property owned by a monarch, government, or other owner and leased rent-free to a person as part of the perquisites of their employment, or in gratitude for services rendered.
Usage of the term is chief ...
,
Coogan's Run
''Coogan's Run'' is a 1995 UK TV series featuring Steve Coogan as a series of odd characters living in the fictional town of Ottle. It was written by various people including Coogan, Patrick Marber, David Tyler, Graham Linehan, Arthur Mathew ...
- Death Of A Salesman'', and '' Hornblower''.
He played Colin in three series of
Simon Nye
Simon Nye (born 29 July 1958) is an English screenwriter, best known for television comedy. He wrote the hit British sitcom, sitcom ''Men Behaving Badly'', and all of the four ITV Pantos. He co-wrote the 2006 film ''Flushed Away'', created an ad ...
's ''
Is it Legal?
''Is It Legal?'' is a British television sitcom set in a solicitors office in Hounslow, west London, which ran from 12 September 1995 to 9 December 1998. It was produced by Hartswood Films and was shown on ITV for Series 1–2 and Channel 4 fo ...
All About Me
''All About Me'' is a British television sitcom starring Jasper Carrott about a multicultural family living in Birmingham. It was broadcast on BBC One from 8 March 2002 to 29 October 2004. ''All About Me'' was created by Steven Knight, who also ...
'', Roger in ''The House That Jack Built'', as well as episodes of '' Dangerfield, People Like Us'', '' Hardware,
Love Soup
''Love Soup'' is a British television comedy drama produced by the BBC and first screened on BBC One in the autumn of 2005. It stars Tamsin Greig as Alice Chenery (a role written especially for her) and Michael Landes as Gil Raymond (series 1 on ...
, The Croydon Poisonings''. Nathan in two series of '' Sugar Rush'', and appearances in '' Party Animals,
Suburban Shootout
''Suburban Shootout'' is a British satirical black comedy television series produced for Channel 5 and Paramount Comedy by Feelgood Fiction in association with Oxygen. The first series aired in the UK on Channel 5 from 27 April 2006. It began ...
, Dis/connected,
U Be Dead
''U Be Dead'' is a British TV film first broadcast in New Zealand in 2009, based on a true story.Free Agents''. He appeared as Martin in series three of ''
The Catherine Tate Show
''The Catherine Tate Show'' is a British television comedy sketch programme written by Catherine Tate and Derren Litten featuring a wide range of characters. ''The Catherine Tate Show'' aired on BBC Two and was shown worldwide through the BBC ...
'', and Arnold, an ex-boyfriend of
Clare Bates
Clare Bates (also Tyler) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Gemma Bissix. Bissix originally played the character as a schoolgirl from 1993 to 1998. She left the serial with her on-screen adoptive father Nig ...
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 ...
Summer In Transylvania
''Summer in Transylvania'' is a live action children's television programme that aired on Nickelodeon UK. The programme, originally called ''Freaky Farleys'', was renamed ''Summer in Transylvania'' and was filmed in Hendon, London. It is Nicke ...
,
Garrow's Law
''Garrow's Law'' is a British period legal drama about the 18th-century lawyer William Garrow. The series debuted on 1 November 2009 on BBC One and BBC HD television. A second series was announced on 7 July 2010 and was broadcast from 14 Novem ...
Vexed
''Vexed'' is a British comedy-drama, police procedural television series for BBC Two that aired in 2010 and 2012.
Created and written by Howard Overman, the first series starred Lucy Punch as D.I. Kate Bishop and Toby Stephens as D.I. Jack Arm ...
,
Midsomer Murders
''Midsomer Murders'' is a British Mystery fiction, mystery television series, adapted by Anthony Horowitz and Douglas Watkinson from the novels in the ''Chief Inspector Barnaby'' book series created by Caroline Graham (writer), Caroline Graham. ...
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 '' ...
,
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 ...
'' and ''
Doctors
Doctor, Doctors, The Doctor or The Doctors may refer to:
Titles and occupations
* Physician, a medical practitioner
* Doctor (title), an academic title for the holder of a doctoral-level degree
** Doctorate
** List of doctoral degrees awarded b ...
'', all for the BBC.
More recent TV work includes '' Remember Me,
Trollied
''Trollied'' is a British television sitcom about employees in a fictional supermarket named "Valco", which debuted on Sky One on 4 August 2011 and ended on 23 December 2018. The series was filmed in a purpose-built replica supermarket in the B ...
,
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 ...
Doc Martin
''Doc Martin'' is a British medical comedy-drama television series starring Martin Clunes as Doctor Martin Ellingham. It was created by Dominic Minghella developing the character of Dr Martin Bamford from the Nigel Cole comedy film '' Saving ...
,
Shakespeare and Hathaway
William Shakespeare ( 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...
''. In 2020, he played General Percival in ITV's WW2 drama ''
The Singapore Grip
''The Singapore Grip'' is a novel by J. G. Farrell. It was published in 1978, a year before his death. In 2015, ''The Straits Times Akshita Nanda selected ''The Singapore Grip'' as one of ten classic Singapore novels. She wrote, "Neatly weaving ...
'' filmed in
Malaysia
Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...
, and in 2021, Taylor Lawson in series 25 of ''
Silent Witness
''Silent Witness'' is a British crime drama television series produced by the BBC that focuses on a team of forensic pathology experts and their investigations into various crimes. The series was created by Nigel McCrery, a former murder squa ...
''.
Film
Lumsden played Robert Ferrars in
Ang Lee
Ang Lee (; born October 23, 1954) is a Taiwanese filmmaker. His films are known for their emotional charge and exploration of repressed, hidden emotions. During his career, he has received international critical and popular acclaim and List o ...
's ''
Sense and Sensibility
''Sense and Sensibility'' ( working title; ''Elinor and Marianne'') is the first novel by the English author Jane Austen, published in 1811. It was published anonymously: ''By A Lady'' appears on the title page where the author's name might h ...
''. He also appeared in ''
The Avengers
Avenger(s) or The Avenger(s) may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Marvel Comics universe
* Avengers (comics), a team of superheroes
**Avengers (Marvel Cinematic Universe), a central team of protagonist superheroes of "The Infinity Sag ...
'', ''Room To Rent'', ''
Silent Cry
''Silent Cry'' is the sixth studio album by Welsh rock band Feeder. It was released by Echo, on 16 June 2008, on CD, deluxe CD, vinyl, and digital download. It was the follow-up to 2005's ''Pushing the Senses'' and in terms of all albums, the ...
'', ''
Gospel of John
The Gospel of John () is the fourth of the New Testament's four canonical Gospels. It contains a highly schematic account of the ministry of Jesus, with seven "Book of Signs, signs" culminating in the raising of Lazarus (foreshadowing the ...
Ben Wheatley
Ben Wheatley (born 1972) is an English filmmaker, film editor, and animator. Beginning his career in advertising, Wheatley first gained recognition and acclaim for his commercials and short films, before transitioning into feature films and tele ...
's ''
Sightseers
''Sightseers'' is a 2012 British black comedy film directed by Ben Wheatley and written by and starring Alice Lowe and Steve Oram.
Sightseers was selected to be screened in the Directors' Fortnight section at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival on ...
''.
In 2014, Lumsden starred in the independent British feature film '' Downhill'', directed by James Rouse, a comedy about four friends attempting
Alfred Wainwright
Alfred Wainwright Order of the British Empire, MBE (17 January 1907 – 20 January 1991), who preferred to be known as A. Wainwright or A.W., was a British fellwalking, fellwalker, guidebook author and illustrator. His seven-volume ''Pictorial ...
's
Coast to Coast Walk
The Coast to Coast Walk is a long-distance footpath between the west and east coasts of Northern England, nominally long. Devised by Alfred Wainwright, it passes through three contrasting national parks: the Lake District National Park, ...
. He played Ballested in Jan Vardoen's ''Heart Of Lightness'', shot in Norway's Arctic Circle, and General Ismay in
Joe Wright
Joseph Wright (born 25 August 1972) is an English film director. His motion pictures include the period drama adaptations '' Pride & Prejudice'' (2005), ''Atonement'' (2007), '' Anna Karenina'' (2012), and '' Cyrano'' (2021), the action thrill ...
's '' Darkest Hour'' (2016).
Most recently Lumsden starred as Paul in Brook Driver & Finn Bruce's debut feature film ''
Swede Caroline
''Swede Caroline'' is a 2024 British mockumentary film directed by Finn Bruce and Brook Driver.
References
External links
Swede Caroline (2024) - IMDb
2024 films
British mockumentary films
2020s British films
{{2020s-UK-film-stub ...
'', alongside
Jo Hartley
Jo Hartley (born ) is an English actress. She is known for her roles in the films '' Dead Man's Shoes'' (2004), ''This Is England'' (2006), ''The Young Victoria'' (2009), '' Torvill & Dean'' (2018), '' Slaughterhouse Rulez'' (2018), '' Eddie th ...
& Celyn Jones, released on April 19th 2024.
Theatre
Notable theatre work includes: ''White Teeth'' (Kiln, 2018), ''It's All Made Up'' (Royal Court, 2017), Cartwright (Telegin) in Chekhov's ''
Uncle Vanya
''Uncle Vanya'' ( rus, Дя́дя Ва́ня, r=Dyádya Ványa, p=ˈdʲædʲə ˈvanʲə) is a play by the Russian playwright Anton Chekhov. It was first published in 1897, and first produced in 1899 by the Moscow Art Theatre, directed by Konstan ...
'' for director
Robert Icke
Robert Icke (; born 29 November 1986) is an English playwright and theatre director. He has been referred to as the "great hope of British theatre."
He is best known for his play ''The Doctor'', and his modern adaptations of classic texts, i ...
(also providing the on-stage musical accompaniment, 2016)., and Mr Webb in
David Cromer
David Cromer (born October 17, 1964) is an American theatre director, and stage, film, and TV actor. He has received recognition for his work on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and in his native Chicago. Cromer has won or been nominated for numerous a ...
's internationally celebrated production of ''
Our Town
''Our Town'' is a three-act play written by American playwright Thornton Wilder in 1938. Described by Edward Albee as "the greatest American play ever written", it presents the fictional American town of Grover's Corners between 1901 and 1913 ...
'' (2014), both at the Almeida in London.
He performed his own one–man musical play ''We Could Be Heroes'' at the Bridewell Theatre, 2004, later transferring to the Mill Theatre, Yvonne Arnaud in Guildford and the Arts Theatre, West End. His repertory theatre work at Stoke-on-Trent and Basingstoke includes the title roles in ''
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 ...
'' and ''Master Harold & The Boys'', and productions of ''
As You Like It
''As You Like It'' is a pastoral Shakespearean comedy, comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1599 and first published in the First Folio in 1623. The play's first performance is uncertain, though a performance at Wil ...
'', ''
King Lear
''The Tragedy of King Lear'', often shortened to ''King Lear'', is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare. It is loosely based on the mythological Leir of Britain. King Lear, in preparation for his old age, divides his ...
Amadeus
Amadeus may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Amadeus (name)
Amadeus is a theophoric name, theophoric given name derived from the Latin words ' – the Imperative mood, imperative of the word ' ("to love") – and ' ("god"). As a Compou ...
'', ''
Juno and the Paycock
''Juno and the Paycock'' is a play by Seán O'Casey. Highly regarded and often performed in Ireland, it was first staged at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin in 1924. It is set in the working-class tenements of Dublin in the early 1920s, during the I ...
Northanger Abbey
''Northanger Abbey'' ( ) is a coming-of-age novel and a satire of Gothic fiction, Gothic novels written by the English author Jane Austen. Although the title page is dated 1818 and the novel was published posthumously in 1817 with ''Persuasio ...
'' at Greenwich.
Writing
His writing work includes a seven-hour drama '' Wonderful You'' for ITV (co-written with Chris Niel), in which he also starred, a one-man musical ''We Can Be Heroes'' which he performed in London, and five verse plays for
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. The station replaced the BBC Home Service on 30 September 1967 and broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes from the BBC's headquarters at Broadcasti ...
: ''John Dodd Gets Taken for a Ride'' (shortlisted for the BBC / Society of Authors' Imison award for new writing), ''A Good Place For Fishing'' which starred
Anne Reid
Anne Reid (born 28 May 1935) is an English stage, film and television actress, known for her roles as Valerie Barlow in the soap opera ''Coronation Street'' (1961–1971); Jean in the sitcom '' dinnerladies'' (1998–2000); and her role as C ...
, and ''Man in the Moon, with''
Tom Courtenay
Sir Thomas Daniel Courtenay (; born 25 February 1937) is an English actor. After studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, he achieved prominence in the 1960s as part of actors of the British New Wave. Courtenay has received numerous acco ...
(shortlisted for the BBC/ Society of Authors' Tinniswood award) and ''A Book By Lester Tricklebank'' (with
Stephen Tompkinson
Stephen Phillip Tompkinson (born 15 October 1965) is an English actor, known for his television roles as Marcus in '' Chancer '' (1990), Damien Day in '' Drop the Dead Donkey'' (1990–1998), Father Peter Clifford in '' Ballykissangel'' (1996� ...
). Readings of his play ''Skeletons'' have taken place at
Soho Theatre
Soho Theatre is a theatre and registered charity in the Soho district of the City of Westminster, and Soho Theatre Walthamstow in north-east London. It produces and presents new works of theatre, together with comedy and cabaret, across three pe ...
and Leicester Square Theatre.
His debut novel ''The Six Loves of Billy Binns'', was published by Tinder Press in January 2019. He had previously adapted his story for Radio 4 under the same title, starring
Tom Courtenay
Sir Thomas Daniel Courtenay (; born 25 February 1937) is an English actor. After studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, he achieved prominence in the 1960s as part of actors of the British New Wave. Courtenay has received numerous acco ...
, which was broadcast in 2010.
Music
Lumsden plays a number of instruments including piano, guitars, bass, banjo, ukulele etc., and has composed music for cinema, television & theatre, including the orchestral & folk soundtrack to the 2009 film '' Morris: A Life with Bells On'', a full musical score for ''Alice in Wonderland'' at the
New Vic Theatre
The New Vic Theatre is a purpose-built theatre in the round in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire. The theatre opened in 1986, replacing a converted cinema, the Victoria Theatre in Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent.
History
In the early 1960s, Stephen ...
in Stoke, title music for BBC's ''The Morning Show'', and incidental music for numerous TV dramas and theatre productions. He has played many UK gigs with his band Henry Kissing Her, releasing two albums; ''A Little of Who You Fancy'' (1996) & ''Pull'' (2006). He also released a CD of piano music, ''Concert From The Eyrie'' (2001). In 2012, Lumsden and fiddle virtuoso John Dipper released the folk album ''Sunshine Takes You''. Lumsden released his 'final' album of songs, ''The Unhurt'' in 2020.
Background
Lumsden attended
Lady Manners School
Lady Manners School is an English secondary school located in Bakewell, a market town in the Peak District National Park, Derbyshire. It was founded on 20 May 1636 by Grace, Lady Manners, who lived at Haddon Hall, the current home of Lord and ...
, situated in
Bakewell
Bakewell is a market town and civil parish in the Derbyshire Dales district of Derbyshire, England, known for Bakewell pudding. It lies on the River Wye, Derbyshire, River Wye, 15 miles (23 km) south-west of Sheffield. It is the largest se ...
in the
Peak District
The Peak District is an Highland, upland area in central-northern England, at the southern end of the Pennines. Mostly in Derbyshire, it extends into Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire, West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire. It is subdivi ...
, before he trained at the
Guildford School of Acting
Guildford School of Acting (GSA) is a drama school in Guildford, Surrey, England. It is an academic school in the University of Surrey. It is a member of the Federation of Drama Schools.
Overview
The school is part of the University of Surrey ...
, graduating in 1986. In 1995, Lumsden married actress
Sophie Thompson
Sophie Thompson (born 20 January 1962) is a British actress. She has worked in film, television and theatre and she won the 1999 Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for the London revival of ''Into the Woods''. She has been nominated for ...
British Comedy Guide
British Comedy Guide or BCG (formerly the British Sitcom Guide or BSG) is a Great Britain, British website covering British comedy, British comedies. BCG publishes guides to TV and radio situation comedy, sketch shows, comedy dramas, satire, va ...