Mike Farley (actor)
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Mike Farley | |
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 Farley in costume as Henry VIII | |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, impersonator, educator |
Mike Farley was born in Essex in 1967. He is a professional writer, performer and voice artist, best-known as a Henry the Eighth lookalike and game-show participant. He is married, with one son.
Career[edit]
Farley started out as a computer programmer and amateur actor, performing at London Fringe Theatres and at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in the late 1980s and 1990s. In June 2004, Farley became a full-time professional Henry VIII.[1] He has since made numerous appearances on TV and Radio[2] including BBC1’s Children in Need,[3] Daybreak, BBC Radio 4 Saturday Live Scott Mills[4] and was a repeat contributor to BBC Radio 5 Live’s Danny Baker Show.
Farley has been resident Henry VIII for a number of castles in England and Wales, including Hever Castle[5] and Leeds Castle[6][7]
In his capacity as Henry VIII, Farley has performed in plays, pageants[8] and on film.[9][10][11]
He is widely-known for his performances in schools as part of the National Curriculum.[12][13] His objection to the removal of The Tudors from the National Curriculum under Michael Gove was widely reported in the national press.[14][15] Farley was also featured as part of the missing words round in an episode of Have I Got News For You, “Henry VIII’s life ruined by … Michael Gove”. [16]
Farley has participated in a number of television game shows, most notably, in February 2019, in The Chase[17] and in August 2019, in Who Wants to be a Millionnaire, where he won £64,000.
Farley has written and starred as King Henry in two short films, the first for Hever Castle: “The Six Wives of Henry VIII in Four Minutes” (2013) and “Henry VIII – And All Because The Lady Loves” (2017).
Film shorts[edit]
- The Six Wives of Henry VIII in Four Minutes (2013)
- Henry VIII – And All Because the Lady Loves (2017)
References[edit]
- ^ "Henry VIII's spitting image". Metro. 7 September 2004.
- ^ Britton, Emma (16 March 2013). "'Somerset Lives' guest - Mike Farley aka Good King Hal!". BBC Radio Bristol.
- ^ "BBC Children in Need Episode #1.31". IMDb. 2010.
- ^ "Scott Mills". BBC Radio 4 Saturday Live. 28 February 2015.
- ^ "His Majesty King Henry VIII 9170". 12 August 2011.
- ^ "Lose your head on a tour of Henry VIII's famous landmarks". Mirror. 27 March 2011.
- ^ Dyer, Josh (9 July 2007). "Heads rolling as Henry rolls in". Somerset County Gazette.
- ^ "Crowds gather for medieval sport". Oxford Mail. 6 May 2015.
- ^ "Past Quirks: The Virgin Princess Part 1". IMDb. 2020.
- ^ "Past Quirks: A Darkening of Ages". IMDb. 2020.
- ^ "My Life in History: Mike Farley, aka 'Good King Hal'". Press Reader: History Revealed. 20 February 2020.
- ^ Gray, Tracey (17 November 2010). "North Norfolk pupils share dinner with Royalty". North Norfolk News.
- ^ Maclagan, Kirsty (30 June 2010). "Schoolchildren enjoy Tudor trip". Chard and Ilminster News.
- ^ Kidd, Patrick (27 October 2015). "The Times Diary (TMS): Gove beheads Tudor actors". Times.
- ^ "Henry VIII's life ruined by Michael Gove as National Curriculum changes bite". Mirror. 26 October 2015.
- ^ "Have I Got News For You, Series 50, Episode 5". 30 October 2015.
- ^ Coles, Jonathan (6 February 2019). "Ex-Somerset Henry VIII lookalike wins £8k on The Chase". Somerset Live.