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Home , Ben Miles, Ben Miller, Beryl Vertue, British Comedy Awards, Cold Feet, Cold Feet (series 1)

Biography

JACK DAVENPORT - Steve

Although he comes from a family steeped in acting - his mother is the acclaimed actress Maria Aitken, his father Nigel Davenport - Jack decided to study Film and English at the University of East Anglia. He acted professionally, briefly, before he went to University, with Theatre Clwyd. “I dithered about whether to or go to University and do something else for a while.” On graduating he was given a tiny part in FIERCE CREATURES, “which quite frankly a potato could have done just as well” and then he was offered the role of ‘Miles’ in two series of the cult drama THIS LIFE. He was in the feature film THE TALENTED MR RIPLEY opposite Hollywood heavy-weights , and , which opened in cinemas across the UK as the first series of COUPLING was in production.

Other television credits include: THE ASYLUM; THE WYVERN MYSTERY (BBC); ULTRAVIOLET (C4); THE MOTH (Tyne Tees) and Michael Bogdanov’s MACBETH (Granada).

Other film credits include: 3 MEN IN A RESTAURANT; TERRIBLE KISSES; ALWAYS REIGNING; GYPSY WOMAN; THE BUNKER; NOT AFRAID NOT AFRAID; THE WISDOM OF CROCODILES; TALOS THE MUMMY and ’s CAREER GIRLS.

Theatre includes: LADY WINDERMERE’S FAN (dir: ); THE SERVANT (Lyric, Hammersmith); (Holders Festival Barbados) and (Theatre Clwyd).

Radio includes: ; ESCAPEMENT; DICKENS; , a special recording directed by Sir Peter Hall to mark thirty years of radio plays, with , Juliet Stevenson and ; THE AIRMEN WHO WOULD NOT DIE; THE CRUEL SEA; A CLOCKWORK ORANGE; THE PATRICK AND MAUREEN MAYBE EXPERIENCE and EASY VIRTUE.

1 Biography

GINA BELLMAN - Jane

Gina Bellman was born in New Zealand and came to at the age of eleven. “I started elocution lessons because I was being teased, and I had a brilliant drama teacher. At the age of fourteen I appeared at the National Theatre in THE CRUCIBLE. I carried on acting during school holidays, and was all set to go to drama school when I was offered my first professional job appearing in KING DAVID with Richard Gere. So I packed all my school books away and went to Italy on a fourteen million dollar picture.” She became a household name after appearing in ’s drama BLACKEYES, although she says she always knew she wanted to do as well.

Gina Bellman’s other television credits include: METROPOLIS (Granada); (BBC); METROPOLIS (Granada); TED AND RALPH (BBC); DAVID (TNT); SHARMAN (World Prods); LITTLE NAPOLEONS (C4); HORSE OPERA (Initial); ORPHEUS AND EURIDICE (Jim Henson Prods); MUSSOLINI (NBC) and (BBC).

Other films include: MARRIED/UNMARRIED; SEVEN DAYS TO LIVE; PARANOIA; SILENT TRIGGER; EVERYTHING I LIKE; SECRET and LEON THE PIG FARMER.

Theatre includes: ‘Karen’ in SPEED-THE-PLOW (Duke of ’s Theatre); CLEO, CAMPING, EMMANUELLE AND DICK (); TWILIGHT OF THE GOLDS (Arts Theatre); ‘Ophelia’ in HAMLET (dir: Peter Hall); ‘Janet’ in THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW () and TARTUFFE (Palace Theatre).

2 Biography

SARAH ALEXANDER - Susan

Sarah Alexander is particularly familiar to television audiences for such award- winning series as PEOPLE LIKE US, ARMSTRONG & MILLER and three series of , the all-female comedy sketch show.

Sarah knew that she wanted to act from a very young age: “But I kept it quiet. My father was a television director and producer, working on documentaries and current affairs programmes including “Panorama”, and I didn’t think he’d find acting a sensible option. But as soon as I’d finished my A’ Levels I got on a train to Edinburgh and that was it.” She continues: “Having started in theatre, for a long I wanted to be a classical actress. But I’ve always loved making people laugh - at school I was quite mischievous – and bit by bit I found myself working more and more in comedy. Then I met up with and and we started doing lots of stuff for the Paramount Channel. Meanwhile I appeared in and and I eventually ended up as part of the regular team in SMACK THE PONY.”

Other television credits include: THE RETURN OF NEVILLE DEAD; NATURAL LIES (BBC); (Thames); COVINGTON CROSS (Thames); YOU, ME AND IT (Wall to Wall); CRISS CROSS; ANNA LEE (LWT); BARRIER ISLAND; SMITH AND JONES (two series); PUNY HUMANS (LWT); TILLY TROTTER; A SUMMER IN THE SUBURBS (BBC); THE STRANGERERS (Sky); (Carlton); THE ELEVEN O’CLOCK SHOW (C4) and DR TERRIBLE’S HOUSE OF HORRIBLE: VOODO FEET OF DEATH.

Films include: SEA VIEW NIGHTS; PRINCESS; ‘Juliet’ in (Michael Bogdanov); PINNOCCHIO and GOING OFF BIG TIME.

Theatre includes: ‘Jesus’ in A PEASANT OF EL SALVADOR (Edinburgh Festival); GASLIGHT (Gateway, Chester); THE SECRETARY BIRD (Far East Tour); ‘Lady Macbeth’ in MACBETH (Gateway, Chester); NORTHANGER ABBEY (Queens, Hornchurch); THE SECRETARY BIRD (Far East Tour); HAND IN HAND (Hampstead Theatre) and THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES (New Ambassadors Theatre).

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KATE ISITT - Sally

Kate Isitt trained at the Arts Educational School, “which involved a rigorous three years’ method training. I never intended to be a comedy actress. I thought I would get stereotyped as a classic stage actress.” Then came three series of ’s award-winning sitcom IS IT LEGAL? in which she played the glamorous but prickly secretary Alison: “I was incredibly lucky that that put me on the map as a comedy actress.”

Kate’s other television credits include: DOCTORS (BBC); HEARTBURN HOTEL (BBC); CORONATION STREET (Granada); A MANY SPLINTERED THING (BBC); JONATHAN CREEK CHRISTMAS SPECIAL (BBC); THE TRIBE; PEAK PRACTICE VI (Carlton); A DANCE TO THE MUSIC OF TIME (BBC); DOUGLAS (BBC); STICK WITH ME KID; CHILLER SERIES: PROPHESY (Yorkshire); ENGLISH BY TV; HEIDI and WATCH: FAMOUS PEOPLE (BBC).

Films include THE SAINT with and Elizabeth Shue.

Theatre includes: (Royal Exchange, ); A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (Bristol Old Vic); DREAMING (Queens Theatre, and Royal Exchange, Manchester); PRESENT LAUGHTER (Royal Exchange, Manchester); SWEET PANIC (Hampstead Theatre); AN IDEAL HUSBAND ( Ltd); (Boulevard Theatre); A GOING CONCERN (Nuffield, ); REALITY & DREAMS (Off Stage Theatre Co); CHARLIE’S AUNT (PW Productions tour); WIDOWER’S HOUSE (Chelsea Centre Theatre) and JEALOUSY (Chelsea Centre Theatre).

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BEN MILES - Patrick

Ben Miles trained at the Guildhall: “None of my immediate family were in the theatre, although my aunt was a dancer at the Palladium until she met her diplomat husband. On my mother’s side there was some connection with the Welsh circus way back.” Since appearing in the second series of COUPLING, Ben played the part of ’s boyfriend in the third series of and had a major role in the THE FORSYTE SAGA.

Other television credits include: ED STONE IS (BBC); (BBC); THE INNOCENT (YTV); ROUGH TREATMENT (World Prods); REACH FOR THE MOON (LWT); PEAK PRACTICE (Carlton); WONDERFUL YOU (Hartswood); THE LIFE AND CRIMES OF WILLIAM PALMER (Yorkshire); ’s THE ROUND TOWER (Festival); MELISSA (); IS IT LEGAL? (Hartswood); MEASURE FOR MEASURE (BBC); THE INNOCENT (YTV) and ROUGH TREATMENT (Carlton).

Films include: THREE BLIND MICE; THE AFFAIR OF THE NECKLACE; KEEP THE ASPIDISTRA FLYING; WINGS OF THE DOVE; , BRIXTON and GETTING IT RIGHT.

Theatre includes: HAND IN HAND TO THE PROMISED LAND (Hampstead Theatre); THE CHERRY ORCHARD (National Theatre); THE LONDON CUCKOLDS (National Theatre); (National Theatre); THE TOWER (Almeida); THE MISER (); TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA (RSC); MACBETH (National Theatre); TRELAWNY OF THE WELLS (National Theatre); FUENTE OVEJUNA (National Theatre); WINTERS TALE (); HAMLET (RSC); ROMEO AND JULIET (RSC); HAVE (RSC); ISPANKA (RSC); THE TEMPEST (Phoebus Cart); A WOMAN OF NO IMPORTANCE (Cambridge Theatre Co); SCARS (Lyric Hammersmith, Studio) and CHIEFLY YOURSELVES (National Youth Theatre).

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Biography

RICHARD COYLE - Jeff

Richard left the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School just five years ago: “When I appeared in the BBC’s WIVES & DAUGHTERS I realised I could do comedy, then there was the Channel Four sitcom festival and UP, RISING.” However it was as the handsome, swashbuckling hero in the BBC’s LORNA DOONE that he became most familiar to television audiences.

Other television credits include: MACBETH (Granada); HETTY WAINTHROP INVESTIGATES (BBC); THE LIFE AND CRIMES OF WILLIAM PALMER (Yorkshire); GREENSTONES (Communicado Ltd); DALZIEL & PASCOE (BBC); HEARTS AND BONES (United); SWORD OF HONOUR (C4); (BBC) and STRANGE (BBC), a series of which goes into production this autumn following a successful on BBC1.

Films include: Franco Zeffirelli’s JANE EYRE; WHAT RATS WON’T DO; HUMAN TRAFFIC; TOPSY-TURVY; YOUNG BLADES and HAPPY NOW.

Theatre includes: MARAT/SADE (Theatre Royal, Bristol); THE DUMB WAITER (The Lost Theatre); A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE (Leicester Haymarket) and THE SITCOM FESTIVAL (Riverside Studios); THE YORK REALIST ( and Strand Theatre) and PROOF at the , directed by John Madden in which Richard starred opposite Gwyneth Paltrow.

Richard appeared in BBC Radio’s MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.

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COUPLING Biography

STEVEN MOFFAT - Writer

Steven Moffat’s writing credits include: (2 series for BBC2 - winner of the Bronze Rose of Montreux for Comedy 1995); - Steven wrote all forty-three episodes of this popular series about a group of wayward high school students who are given a local newspaper to run. The series won the BAFTA Award for Best Children’s Programme Entertainment/ Drama 1990 and the Award for Best Children’s Programme 1990.

Steven’s other writing credits include three episodes of for and EXAM CONDITIONS, a half hour silent film for Central Television which won the Prix Jeunesse in 1994.

Steven has been nominated for two Writers’ Guild Awards, one Prix Jeunesse and another BAFTA for PRESS GANG and received a Royal Television Society nomination for EXAM CONDITIONS.

He is currently writing a major theatrical film, ME AGAIN starring Bruce Willis, a comedy thriller produced by , to be shot in the USA, and writing the pilot episode for the American version of COUPLING for NBC.

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SUE VERTUE - Producer

Sue Vertue started her working life as a Production Manager in the commercials world before joining Tiger Television in 1989. She began producing in 1991 and her credits whilst there include: 9 of the 14 television programmes made of the internationally renowned comedy MR BEAN (ITV) which won many awards around the world, including an ACE and an Emmy; (co-producer, BBC1), starring Dawn French (BAFTA nomination and Emmy winner 1998); HOSPITAL, a comedy starring Greg Wise and which was commissioned by Channel 5 for their opening night (Banff Award for Best Comedy 1998); GREAT RAILWAY JOURNEYS: HONG KONG TO ULAN BATAR (co-producer, BBC1), presented by ; THE LAST ENGLISHMAN (BBC1), an hour long period drama starring Jim Broadbent (BAFTA nomination for Best Single Drama) and GIMME GIMME GIMME, the sitcom for BBC2 written by Jonathan Harvey and starring and (two Awards nominations, BAFTA nomination), which has successfully transferred to BBC1.

Sue left Tiger Aspect at the end of 1998 to produce 1999 for the BBC ( winner). This six hour live show broke all records for the amount of money raised on the night. In April 1999 Sue joined her mother Beryl Vertue’s company where she produced another series of GIMME, GIMME, GIMME (now in association with Tiger Aspect) – again frequently top of the BBC2 weekly ratings. The new series this autumn will be screened on BBC ONE. Their first project together was COUPLING for BBC TWO starring Jack Davenport, Gina Bellman and Sarah Alexander - (Silver Rose at Montreux), followed by THE SAVAGES for BBC ONE, written by Simon Nye and starring Geoffrey Palmer, Marcus Brigstocke and Victoria Hamilton.

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Biography

MARTIN DENNIS - Director

Martin Dennis was born in Toronto and grew up in and later in . He studied Drama and Theatre Arts at University before becoming a Stage Manager with the M6 Theatre Company. He joined the BBC in 1980 as a Floor Assistant, progressing to Production Manager on ‘ALLO, ‘ALLO, DON’T WAIT UP, HI-DE-HI and THE KENNY EVERETT SHOW.

In 1987 Martin became the Director of ‘ALLO, ‘ALLO and adapted the show for the US market. He also adapted the American sitcom WHO’S THE BOSS? for the UK, turning it into the highly successful THE UPPER HAND, which he directed for three series for Central. In 1991 he directed the first series of for Hartswood Films, and went on to direct all the subsequent series and specials.

Other directing credits include JUST A GIGOLO for Central; DOWNWARDLY MOBILE for YTV; MY GOOD FRIEND for Hartswood Films; three series of Simon Nye’s IS IT LEGAL? also for Hartswood; IN GALTON & SIMPSON’S... for Central; THE GRIMLEYS starring for Granada; the comedy series HIPPIES for the BBC; BEAST (BBC); three series of COUPLING for Hartswood Films and BBC TWO; Simon Nye’s THE SAVAGES for BBC ONE also for Hartswood and BLACK BOOKS for Channel 4.

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Biography

BERYL VERTUE – Executive Producer

One of Britain’s most respected producers, Beryl has an enviable track record of international success. Originally an agent for renowned comedy writers , , , Alan Simpson and , and comedy stars and . In the early sixties she formed Associated London Films. There she was Associate Producer on , Executive Producer on the silent comedy THE PLANK starring Eric Sykes and , followed by the feature film versions , , UP POMPEII and a score of comparable films.

In 1967 invited Beryl to join his company where she became Deputy Chairman and pioneered the original concept of selling basic television formats to Europe and America. Two such formats became big hits in the USA – TILL DEATH US DO PART became Norman Lear’s long-running series , whilst STEPTOE AND SON became . Beryl then produced several star-studded Movies of the Week for all three American Networks. She produced the BEACON HILL series, based on UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS for CBS, and ALMOST ANYTHING GOES based on IT’S A KNOCKOUT for ABC. Beryl’s early producing credits include the series THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE and, one of her favourite achievements, Executive Producer on the film TOMMY starring , , , Eric Clapton and Tina Turner.

In the Eighties, Beryl left the Stigwood Organisation to form Hartswood Films, which has since become one of the UK's leading independent producers. Her television credits include: For comedy: six series and several specials of the multi-award-winning MEN BEHAVING BADLY; MY GOOD FRIEND; IS IT LEGAL? and three series of COUPLING for BBC2. The Format of Coupling has now been sold to NBC for an American Series. The pilot will be written by Steven Moffat and Executive Produced by Beryl Vertue, Sue Vertue and Steven Moffat. For Drama: CODE NAME KYRIL; A WOMAN’S GUIDE TO ADULTERY; THE ENGLISH WIFE; WONDERFUL YOU and BORDER CAFÉ. Documentaries include: GOING TO CHELSEA; OFFICERS AND GENTLEMEN; THE RED BARON; IN LOVE WITH ELIZABETH and WAR BEHIND THE WIRE.

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Later this year Beryl will be producing a major theatrical film, ME AGAIN starring Bruce Willis, a comedy thriller written by Steven Moffat to be shot in the USA.

Beryl received an OBE in the 2000 New Year’s Honours List for Services to Independent Television Production.

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