Robin Askwith
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| Robin Askwith | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ronald Askwiths 12 October 1950 Southport, Lancashire, England |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1968-present |
| Spouse(s) | Leonie Mellinger (divorced) Mary Wilson |
Robin Askwith (Born 12 October 1950)[1] is an English film actor, most famous for his role as Timmy Lea in the Confessions... sex comedies series. In 1975, at Drury Lane’s New London Theatre, he was voted Most Promising Newcomer – Male at the "Evening Standard British Film Awards". Askwith's most recent television role was that of musician Ritchie de Vries in Coronation Street.
Contents
Early life
Askwith was born in Southport, Lancashire, England, the eldest child of Nelson Askwith and Hazel (née Cookson).[2] His father served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War and his mother in the Women's Royal Naval Service (popularly and officially known as the Wrens). Askwith is a great nephew of the comic Robb Wilton,[3]
At the age of three, Robin was taken ill following a visit to the children’s paddling pool in Southport and three days later was rushed to Southport Infirmary where he would spend the next nine months of his life in an isolation ward having contracted polio. The diagnosis for Robin was not good, as his family had been told he would never walk again. With family encouragement he continued to be taken swimming and practised walking every day and when the family moved to Eastcote, Middlesex in 1954, his mother gave birth to his brother Jeremy and a sister, Jacky, would follow in 1962.[4]
Education
Askwith was educated at Orley Farm where he made his first stage appearance as the Archangel Gabriel in a Nativity play and appeared in the seniors’ production of The Gondoliers; followed by Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood and the University of Bristol reading English and Drama.[5]
Career
Confessions...
Askwith appeared in a number of film and television roles before two key appearances in 1973. The first was in appearing in Antony Balch's Horror Hospital. Now seen as something of a Cult film, it is a prosaic hybrid of horror and the mild titillation of the later 'Confessions...' films. In the same year Askwith also appeared in a Carry On film, Carry On Girls. These appearances led producers Norman Cohen, Greg Smith and Michael Klinger to offer him the starring role in Confessions of a Window Cleaner after the part was turned down by several other previous candidates, Richard Beckinsale, Richard O'Sullivan, Nicky Henson and Dennis Waterman. The success of the film led to three sequels, Confessions of a Pop Performer, Confessions of a Driving Instructor and Confessions from a Holiday Camp.
Although the Confessions series came to an end with Confessions from a Holiday Camp, a fifth and a sixth film, Confessions of a Plumber's Mate and Confessions of a Private Soldier had been planned in 1977. Askwith even expressed a desire to direct Private Soldier, but neither film materialised. Plans to shoot a further made-for-video Confessions film in the 1980s also came to nothing, although by this time he was appearing in the ITV sitcom Bottle Boys.
Stage work
Askwith’s extensive work on stage, includes numerous farces such as Run For Your Wife, Casanova's Last Stand, One For The Road plus the stage Confessions sequel The Further Confessions of a Window Cleaner and Terry Johnson's Dead Funny. From 11 December 2012 - 27 January 2013, he appeared at the Mill at Sonning, Reading, Berkshire in Ray Cooney's farce Caught in the Net.
In pantomimes, Askwith has appeared with the Chuckle Brothers in Dick Whittington, with Frank Bruno and Sooty in a Wolverhampton production of Goldilocks and the 3 Bears and in various production's of Aladdin as Abanazar.
More unusual stage roles include the title role in a production of Brecht’s The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, and the Child Catcher in a 2006 touring production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Television work
Early television roles saw him make cameo appearances in Public Eye, The Main Chance, Dixon of Dock Green, Z-Cars and Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased), as well as comedies such as Father, Dear Father and Bless This House and starring in two series of Bottle Boys. He has also made appearances in the soap operas EastEnders, Doctors, Hollyoaks and Coronation Street where he played a holiday tour guide named Aidan. The episodes of the soap that featured Askwith were filmed in Malta, close to the island of Gozo where he lived for many years. Robin returned to Coronation Street on 11 December 2013 as Ritchie de Vries.
Recent activity
Askwith’s autobiography, The Confessions of Robin Askwith, was published by Ebury Press in 1999. The book documents his early life and acting career, the success of the Confessions films, and his relationship with the actress (and occasional Confessions co-star) Linda Hayden, his common-law wife during the 1970s. He was later married to the actress Leonie Mellinger.
Askwith's most recent film role was a cameo appearance in the film Run For Your Wife, released in the UK on 14 February 2013. On television, Robin was in Coronation Street as Ritchie de Vries, joining the cast in December 2013.His most recent role was in the TV comedy drama "Benidorm" in January 2016
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | if.... | Keating | |
| Otley | First Kid | ||
| 1969 | Alfred the Great | Shepherd | Uncredited |
| Hans Brinker | Hans Brinker | AKA: Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates AKA: The Story of the Silver Skates |
|
| 1970 | Scramble | Lennie | |
| Cool It Carol! | Joe Sickles | US Title: Dirtiest Girl I Ever Met US Bowdlerized Title: The Toughest Girl I Ever Met |
|
| Bartleby (1972 film) | Office Boy | ||
| 1971 | The Canterbury Tales | Ruffo | As Robin Asquith Italian Title: I Racconti Di Canterbury |
| All Coppers Are... | Simmy | AKA: All Cops Are??? | |
| Nicholas and Alexandra | Soldier | Uncredited | |
| 1972 | Tower of Evil | Des | US Title: Horror on Snape Island US Reissue Title: Beyond The Fog Canada Title: Horror of Snape Island West Germany Title: Devil’s Tower - Der Schreckensturm Zombies |
| Four Dimensions of Greta | Roger | AKA: Three Dimensions of Greta | |
| The Flesh and Blood Show | Simon | AKA: Asylum of the Insane | |
| Hide and Seek | Harvey, The Police Constable | ||
| 1973 | Bless This House | Mike Abbott | |
| Arctic Patrol | ‘Snowy’ White | An instructional film for the Ministry of Defence (Navy) | |
| No Sex Please, We're British | Baker’s Delivery Man | ||
| Horror Hospital | Jason Jones | US Title: Computer Killers West German Title: Frankenstein’s Horror-Klinik Undefined Video Title: Doctor Blood Bath |
|
| Carry On Girls | Larry Prodworthy | ||
| 1974 | Confessions of a Window Cleaner | Timothy Lea | UK Complete Title: Timothy Lea’s Confessions of a Window Cleaner |
| 1975 | The Hostages | Terry Sladden | |
| Confessions of a Pop Performer | Timothy Lea | UK Complete Title: Timothy Lea’s Confessions of a Pop Performer | |
| 1976 | Confessions of a Driving Instructor | Timothy Lea | UK Complete Title: Timothy Lea’s Confessions of a Driving Instructor |
| Queen Kong | Ray Fay | Austria/West Germany Title: Queen Gorilla | |
| 1977 | Stand Up, Virgin Soldiers | Brigg | |
| Confessions from a Holiday Camp | Timothy Lea | UK Complete Title: Timothy Lea’s Confessions from a Holiday Camp US Title: Confessions of a Summer Camp Counsellor |
|
| 1978 | That's Carry On! | Larry Prodworthy | Shown in cinemas as a support to the film Golden Rendezvous Includes scenes from Carry On Girls featuring Robin |
| Let's Get Laid | Gordon Laid | US Title: Love Trap | |
| 1982 | Britannia Hospital | Ben Keating | |
| 1983 | Stagg’s Night | Robin Stagg | Shown in cinemas as a support to the Cannon and Ball film The Boys in Blue |
| 1990 | Traincare ‘90 | Narrator | Thames and Chiltern division of Network South East information film |
| 2000 | The Asylum | Neville | |
| U-571 | British Seaman | ||
| 2008 | Evil Calls: The Raven | Vincent Carney | AKA - original title: Alone In The Dark AKA: The Raven Episode One: Evil Calls AKA: The Legend of Harrow Woods |
| Gozo Adventures: A Natural Playground | Narrator | Promotional travel film | |
| 2013 | Run For your Wife | Bus Driver |
Television appearances
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Scene: Last Bus | Robbo | |
| Scene: The Sentence of the Court | Robbo | ||
| "Z-Cars" | Unknown episode | ||
| 1969 | Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)- "That's How Murder Snowballs" | Jimmy, the callboy | Uncredited US Title: My Partner the Ghost |
| ITV Saturday Night Theatre - "The Full Cheddar" | Bassett | ||
| There Was This Dog... | Andy | http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbcone/london/1969-11-26 | |
| 1970 | The Borderers - "The Quacksalver" | Hewie Heriot | |
| Here Come the Double Deckers - "The Go-Carters" | Nigel Parks | AKA: The Double Deckers | |
| Menace - "Trespasser" | Robbie Clay | ||
| 1971 | The Misfit - "... On The New Establishment" | David | |
| On The House - "Series 2" | Harvey Micklethwaite | ||
| Father, Dear Father - "The Life of the Party" | Monty | ||
| The Fenn Street Gang - "Meet The Wizard" | Eddie | ||
| Please Sir - "A.W.O.L." | Eddie | ||
| Dixon of Dock Green - "Wingy" | Young Man | ||
| 1972 | Bless This House - "A Touch of the Unknown" | Sam | |
| The Main Chance - "The Killing Ground" | Sammy Cutforth | ||
| 1973 | Beryl's Lot - "Series 1" | Fred Pickering | |
| 1975 | Public Eye - "How About a Cup of Tea" | Employment Clerk | |
| It's A Celebrity Knockout | Himself | A special edition of It's a Knockout | |
| Beryl's Lot - "Series 2" | Fred Pickering | ||
| 1976 | It's A Celebrity Knockout | Himself | A special edition of It's a Knockout |
| 1977 | It's A Celebrity Knockout | Himself | A special edition of It's a Knockout |
| Marc | Himself | Performance of the single "Confessions" | |
| 1978 | It's A Celebrity Knockout | Himself | A special edition of It's a Knockout |
| The Kenny Everett Video Show | Himself | ||
| Star Games - "Series 1" | Himself | ||
| Christmas Star Games - "Series 1" | Himself | A special edition of Star Games | |
| 1979 | Give Us a Clue | Himself | |
| It's A Celebrity Knockout | Himself | A special edition of It's a Knockout | |
| Star Games - "Series 2" | Himself | ||
| 1980 | Easter Star Games | Himself | A special edition of Star Games |
| It's A Celebrity Knockout | Himself | A special edition of It's a Knockout | |
| Star Games - "Series 3" | Himself | ||
| 1982 | The Journey | Narrator | |
| 1983 | Play of the Month - "Infidelities" | Alec | Based on Double Inconstancy |
| What A Carry On | Larry Prodworthy | TV compilation of film clips including Robin in Carry On Girls | |
| 1984 | Good Morning Britain | Himself | Newsreader sketch |
| Bottle Boys - "Series 1" | Dave Deacon | ||
| 1985 | Bottle Boys - "Series 2" | Dave Deacon | |
| 1987 | Just For Laughs | Mike Abbott | TV compilation of film clips including Robin in Bless This House (film) |
| 1988 | Boon - "Peacemaker" | Bograt | |
| 1992 | TV Heaven | Himself | Included a showing of the TV commercial for TUF Boots |
| This Is Your Life - "Frazer Hines" | Himself | ||
| 1993 | GamesMaster - "Episode 3.16" | Himself | Christmas Special - Appeared alongside Robert Duncan and Wayne Morris while they were performing in Dick Whittington at the Theatre Royal, Bath |
| 1995 | Doing Rude Things | Himself | |
| 1997 | EastEnders | Jason Lafal | |
| 2000 | Sunburn - "New Opportunities, Second Chances and Dominoes" | Nigel Karver | |
| The 100 Greatest TV Moments From Hell | Himself | Included Bottle Boys at number 97 on the countdown | |
| 2001 | Mission Improbable | Himself | |
| 2004 | Doctors - "A Lion or A Sheep" | David Cordman | |
| X-Rated - "The Films That Shocked Britain" | Himself | ||
| 2005 | Sex In The '70s - "Blue Movies" | Himself | |
| X-Rated - "The Sex Films They Tried To Ban" | Himself | ||
| Crumpet! - "A Very British Sex Symbol" | Himself | ||
| 2007 | Coronation Street | Aidan | |
| 2009, 2016 | Benidorm | Gary | |
| 2011 | Hollyoaks | Earl | |
| 2012 | The 70s: Doomwatch 73-74 | Himself | |
| 2013 | Coronation Street | Ritchie de Vries |
Television commercials
- Baked Beans - "brand unknown" (year unknown)
- Summer County - "margarine" (1967) - directed by Ridley Scott
- Smith's Crisps - "crisps" (1967) with Simon Dee
- Pepsi Cola - "drink" (1971)
- Thomson Sky Tours- "airways" (1971) - directed by Tony Scott
- Dulux Magicote - "paint" (1971)
- TUF Boots - "footwear" - (1971) - directed by Terence Donovan
- KitKat - "chocolate biscuit" (1973)
- Car Care - "part work magazine" (1985)
Stage appearances
- Play By Play - "Kings Head Theatre, London" (1975)
- The Further Confessions of a Window Cleaner - "UK Tour" (1977)
- The Further Confessions of a Window Cleaner - "Rhodesia" (1978)
- I Love My Wife - "Prince of Wales, London" (1978)
- Who Goes Bare? - "UK Tour" (1979)
- The Further Confessions of a Window Cleaner - "New Zealand Tour" (1980)
- The Further Confessions of a Window Cleaner - "UK Tour" (1980)
- Confessions From A Health Farm - "New Zealand Tour" (1981)
- Casanova's Last Stand - "UK Tour" (1982)
- The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui - "Cambridge Theatre Company" (1982)
- Aladdin - "Theatre Royal, Lincoln" (1983)
- Run For Your Wife! - "Criterion Theatre, London" (1984)
- Run For Your Wife! - "Criterion Theatre, London" (1985)
- Doctor In The House - "UK Tour" (1985)
- Run For Your Wife! - "New Zealand" (1986)
- Funny Peculiar - "Australia" (1986)
- Jack and the Beanstalk - "Wimbledon Theatre, London" (1986)
- Run For Your Wife! - "New Zealand" (1987)
- Run For Your Wife! - "West End, London" (1987)
- Aladdin - "De Montfort Hall, Leicester" (1987)
- Les Enfants Terribles - "Avignon Drama Festival" (1988)
- One For The Road - "Mercury Theatre, Colchester (1988)
- Dick Whittington and His Cat - "Richmond Theatre, Surrey" (1988)
- Run For Your Wife! - "Summer Season, Jersey" (1989)
- One For The Road - "UK Tour" (1990)
- One For The Road - "Australia Tour" (1991)
- One For The Road - "New Zealand Tour" (1992)
- Cash On Delivery - "Theatre Royal, Windsor" (1993)
- Dick Whittington and His Cat - "Theatre Royal, Bath" (1993)
- Run For Your Wife! - "UK Tour" (1994)
- Cinderella - "Wimbledon theatre, London" (1994)
- Doctor In The House - "UK Tour" (1995)
- Dick Whittington - "Theatre Royal, Cardiff" (1995)
- Aladdin - "Lyceum Theatre, Crewe" (1996)
- Dick Whittington - "Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield" (1997)
- Dick Whittington and His Cat - "CIV" (1998)
- Aladdin - "Yvonne Arnaud theatre, Guildford" (1999)
- Jack and the Beanstalk - "Theatre Royal, Nottingham" (2000)
- Goldilocks and the Three Bears - "Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton" (2001)
- Aladdin - "Theatre Royal, Newcastle-upon-Tyne" (2002)
- Funny Business - "Palace Theatre" (2003)
- Bedside Manners - "The Pier Theatre, Bournemouth" (2003)
- Aladdin - "Milton Keynes Theatre, Milton Keynes (2003)
- Aladdin - "New Wimbledon Theatre, Outer London" (2004)
- Canterbury Tales - "The Castle, Nottingham" (2005)
- Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - Sunderland Empire Theatre (2005)
- Dead Funny - "UK Tour" (2007)
- Aladdin - "Cliffs Pavilion" (2008)
- Aladdin - "Theatre Royal, Lincoln" (2010)
- Funny Money - "The Mill at Sonning, Reading" (2011)
- Caught In The Net - "The Mill at Sonning, Reading" (2012)
Recordings
- 1975: Appears on the Confessions of a Pop Performer Original Soundtrack Album
- 1977: Single Confessions/This Space Is Reserved for You (credited as Robin Aswith)
- 1994: Audiobook cassette, HarperCollins Audio - Ian Botham My Autobiography - Don’t Tell Kath read by Robin Askwith
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ England & Wales marriages 1837-2008
- ↑ The Confessions of Robin Askwith by Robin Askwith (Ebury Press) 1999 (ISBN 0091869714)
- ↑ England & Wales births 1837-2006
- ↑ The Confessions of Robin Askwith by Robin Askwith (Ebury Press) 1999 (ISBN 0091869714)
- ↑ Screen Credits
- ↑ From a collection of Theatre Programmes and handbills
Further reading
- Simon Sheridan Keeping the British End Up: Four Decades of Saucy Cinema 2011 (fourth edition) (Titan Publishing, London)
- The Confessions of Robin Askwith by Robin Askwith (Ebury Press) 1999 (ISBN 0091869714)
