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Steve Pemberton

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Steve Pemberton
Steve Pemberton
Pemberton after winning a BAFTA for
Inside No. 9 in 2019
Born (1967-09-01) 1 September 1967 (age 57)
Blackburn, Lancashire, England
EducationBretton Hall College of Education
Occupation(s)Actor, comedian, director, writer
Years active1995–present
PartnerAlison Rowles
Children3

Steven James Pemberton (born 1 September 1967) is a British actor, comedian, director and writer. He was a writer and actor for BBC's The League of Gentlemen with Reece Shearsmith, Mark Gatiss, and Jeremy Dyson. Pemberton and Shearsmith also co-wrote and starred in the black comedy Psychoville and the anthology series Inside No. 9. His other notable television performance credits include Doctor Who, Benidorm, Blackpool, Shameless, Whitechapel, Happy Valley and Mapp & Lucia.

Early life

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Steve Pemberton was born in Blackburn, Lancashire and grew up around Chorley,[1] attending Saint Michael's Church of England High School in the town.[2] He trained as an actor at Bretton Hall College of Education where he met Mark Gatiss and Reece Shearsmith.[1]

Career

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Film and television

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Pemberton's television performance credits include Whitechapel, Doctor Who, Benidorm, Under the Greenwood Tree, Hotel Babylon, The Last Detective, Randall and Hopkirk, Blackpool and Shameless. In 2004, he portrayed Dr Bessner in Death on the Nile and Harry Secombe in The Life and Death of Peter Sellers. He also appeared in the film Lassie (2005).

Pemberton as Pauline in The League of Gentlemen

Pemberton is best known as being a member of the sketch comedy team The League of Gentlemen, along with fellow performers Mark Gatiss, Reece Shearsmith, and co-writer Jeremy Dyson, all of whom he met at Bretton Hall College in his late teens. The League of Gentlemen initially began as a stage act in 1995, then transferred to BBC Radio 4 as On the Town with the League of Gentlemen in 1997, and finally arrived on television on BBC Two in 1999. The latter has seen Pemberton and his colleagues awarded a British Academy Television Award, a Royal Television Society Award, and a Golden Rose of Montreux.

From 2007 to 2015, Pemberton appeared as Mick Garvey in Benidorm. Pemberton appeared in 43 episodes.

In the 2008 English language DVD re-release of the cult 2006 Norwegian animated film Free Jimmy, Pemberton voiced Mattis, a heavy-set and bizarrely-dressed biker member of the Lappish Mafia. In June 2009, Psychoville aired and marked Pemberton's return to BBC Two.[3][4][5][6] It was co-written by Pemberton and his fellow League of Gentlemen member, Reece Shearsmith. Both of them play numerous characters in the series, similar to the format of The League of Gentlemen.

Pemberton portrayed Rufus Drumknott in 2010's Terry Pratchett's Going Postal. He appeared as Vice Principal Douglas Panch in the Donmar's 2011 production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. In 2014, he played Georgie Pillson in an adaptation of E. F. Benson's Mapp and Lucia. He also wrote the adaptation, which featured his League of Gentlemen colleague Mark Gatiss. It was broadcast during Christmas 2014.[7] Since 2014, he has starred as various characters in the dark comedy anthology series Inside No. 9, which he co-created with Shearsmith, airing on BBC Two. Series six aired in 2021.[8]

Pemberton reunited with his The League of Gentlemen colleagues in 2017 for three special episodes, transmitted in December 2017 on BBC2.[9][10][11] He appeared as himself in the 2018 short film To Trend on Twitter in aid of young people with cancer charity CLIC Sargent with fellow comedians David Baddiel, Reece Shearsmith, Helen Lederer and actor Jason Flemyng.[12]

In October 2021, Pemberton was nominated for Best Outstanding Comedy Actor at the inaugural National Comedy Awards for Stand Up to Cancer[13] for his appearances in series 6 of Inside No. 9.

The seventh series of Inside No. 9 premiered on 20 April 2022.[14]

Pemberton was a contestant on the seventeenth series of the Channel 4 show Taskmaster in 2024.[15]

Theatre

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Pemberton's early work centred mainly around fringe theatre; he was a founding member of the 606 Theatre with Gordon Anderson, Tom Hadley, and producer Shane Walter. He has produced, performed in, and directed various stage productions.

In 2020 it was announced that Pemberton would join Aaron Taylor-Johnson on West End stage in Martin McDonagh's The Pillowman, directed by Matthew Dunster.[16] However, due to the Covid-19 situation, the run was postponed until 2021. Pemberton said, "It's been a dark time for the performing arts and I can't wait to have the theatres open again. Unfortunately, The Pillowman has to be put to bed for now, but I very much hope that we'll be able to bring Martin's dazzling play to the West End before too long."[17] The play was staged from 10 June 2023 to 2 September 2023 at the Duke of York's Theatre in London's West End with Lily Allen, Paul Kaye, Pemberton, and Matthew Tennison.[18][19] The Guardian praised Pemberton's performance as "unfailingly excellent",[20] although other reviews of the play were mixed.[21][22]

On 3 May 2024, it was announced that Pemberton and Shearsmith would write and star in a stage adaptation of the series called Inside No. 9 Stage/Fright which will open at the Wyndham's Theatre in London's West End from 18 January 2025 for a limited run until 5 April. It will be directed by Simon Evans. Tickets for the 85 shows were released on 8 May 2024.[23][24][25]

Other

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Pemberton has written for Variety and was the assistant editor of the International Film Guide from 1991 to 1998.

Personal life

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Pemberton lives in North London, with his partner, Alison Rowles, and their three children.[26][27][28]

He also speaks German and French.[29]

The University of Huddersfield awarded Pemberton an Honorary Doctorate of letters in 2003.[30] In July 2024 he received an Honorary Fellowship from the University of Central Lancashire.[31]

Pemberton is a football fan and a supporter of Blackburn Rovers F.C.[32]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2001 Birthday Girl Duty Sergeant
2004 The Life and Death of Peter Sellers Harry Secombe
Churchill: The Hollywood Years Chester
2005 The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse Tubbs / Pauline / Herr Lipp Also co-creator and co-writer
Lassie Hynes
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Mr. Prosser / Additional Vogon voices Collectively credited as "The League of Gentlemen"
Match Point Detective Parry
2007 Mr. Bean's Holiday Vicar
I Could Never Be Your Woman Censor
2008 Free Jimmy Mattis (voice) English version
2011 Corvus Vic Short film
2012 National Theatre Live: She Stoops to Conquer Hardcastle
Football Managers Oliver Writer
2018 Take Rabbit Man Short film
To Trend on Twitter Himself Short film
2024 Better Man Peter

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1995 Alice in Russialand Various Characters TV film
1996 Mash and Peas Fritz Episode: "American Sitcoms"
1998 In the Red Lawrence Boot-Heath Mini-series; 2 episodes
Lenny Goes to Town (unknown) Episode: "Stoke on Trent"
1999–2002, 2017 The League of Gentlemen Various Characters Series 1–4; 22 episodes. Co-creator and co-writer
1999 The Comedy Trail: A Shaggy Dog Story Tubbs Tattsyrup TV Special
2000 Gormenghast Professor Mule Mini-series; Episode #1.3
Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) Sergeant Liddel Episode: "Drop Dead"
2002 Legend of the Lost Tribe Viking (voice) TV film
Spheriks Kaz (2002) (voice)
2004 Blackpool Adrian Marr Mini-series; 6 episodes
Agatha Christie's Poirot Dr. Bessner Episode: "Death on the Nile"
Shameless Eddie Jackson 2 episodes: "Meet the Gallaghers" and "We're Going to the Moon"
2005 The Last Detective Edward Netherton Episode: "Friends Reunited"
Riot at the Rite Critic TV film
Under the Greenwood Tree Mr. Shinar TV film
2006 Hotel Babylon Mr. Daniels Episode #1.3
2007 The Bad Mother's Handbook Leo Fairbrother TV film
Kingdom Jack Thriplow Episode #1.2
The Old Curiosity Shop Mr. Short TV film
2007–2015 Benidorm Mick Garvey Regular; 43 episodes (Series 1–7)
2008 Agatha Christie's Marple Henry Wake Episode: "Murder is Easy"
Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! Eric's Drums Episode: "Jazz"
Doctor Who Strackman Lux 2 episodes: "Silence in the Library" and "Forest of the Dead"
2009 Minder Vlad the Imposter Episode: "A Matter of Life and Debt"
2009–2011 Psychoville Various Characters 14 episodes. Also co-writer
2009–2013 Whitechapel Edward Buchan 18 episodes. Writer of 2 episodes
2010 Terry Pratchett's Going Postal Drumknott Mini-series; 2 episodes
The First Men in the Moon Sun TV film
2012 Mr. Stink Sir Derek Dimble TV film
Sport Relief 2012 Mick Garvey Episode: Benidorm meets Britain's Got Talent
2012–2013 Horrible Histories Hollywood Producer #3 3 episodes
2013 Heading Out Jonathan Walters Episode #1.4
Psychobitches Dian Fossey Mini-series; Episode #1.2
2014 Mapp & Lucia Georgie Pillson 3 episodes. Also writer
Happy Valley Kevin Weatherill 6 episodes
Toast of London Francis Bacon Episode: "Fool in Love"
2014–2024 Inside No. 9 Various Characters 51 episodes. Co-writer and director
2015 Lewis Ian Tedman 2 episodes: "One for Sorrow: Parts 1 and 2"
Professor Branestawm Returns Professor Algebrain TV film
2016 Camping Robin Mini-series; 6 episodes
Tracey Ullman's Show Colin Episode #1.2
2017 Midsomer Murders Timothy Benson Episode: "Red in Tooth & Claw"
2018 The Interrogation of Tony Martin Tony Martin TV film
The League of Gentlemen - Live Again! Various Characters TV Special
2019 Bounty Hunters (unknown) Episode #2.1
Britannia Emperor Claudius 2 episodes: "Imperial Visit" and "May the Gods Speak"
2019–2021 Worzel Gummidge Mr. Braithwaite 6 episodes
2019–2023 Good Omens Mr. Glozier 2 episodes: "Hard Times" and "Nazi Zombie Flesheaters"
2020 Death in Paradise Neil Henderson Episode: "Switcharoo"
Killing Eve Paul Recurring role; 5 episodes
2022 Ladhood The Gardener 2 episodes: "Initiative" and "TV"
Brassic Mr. King Episode: "Murder Mystery"
2023 The Power of Parker Sandy 3 episodes
2024 Taskmaster Himself - Contestant Series 17; 10 episodes
The Read Narrator Episode: "The Remains of the Day"
The Cleaner Donald Series 3; Episode 2: "The Baby"
Alma's Not Normal Uncle Dickie Series 2; Episodes 3 and 5

Stage credits

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Year Title Role Venue
2002 Art Mark Whitehall Theatre
2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 The Rocky Horror Show Guest narrator Various
2007 The Drowsy Chaperone Man in Chair Novello Theatre
2009 The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Vice Principal Douglas Panch Donmar Warehouse
2012 She Stoops to Conquer Mr Hardcastle Olivier Theatre, Royal National Theatre
2016 Dead Funny Brian Vaudeville Theatre
2023 The Pillowman Tupolski Duke of York's Theatre
2025 Inside No. 9 Stage/Fright TBA Wyndham's Theatre

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref
2015 Royal Television Society Best Comedy Performance - Male For Inside No.9 Won
2018 Writers' Guild of Great Britain Best TV Situation Comedy With Reece Shearsmith, For episode 'Zanzibar' Won [33]
2019 Royal Television Society Best Comedy Performance - Male For Inside No.9 Won
2019 2019 British Academy Television Awards Best Male Comedy Performance Steve Pemberton Won [34]
2021 National Comedy Awards for Stand Up to Cancer Best Outstanding Comedy Actor For Inside No. 9 Nominated [13]

References

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  1. ^ a b Guardian Staff (10 February 2001). "Interview with The League of Gentlemen". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  2. ^ Townend, Jon. "Steve Pembertons shows have become cult hits".
  3. ^ Dowell, Ben (9 October 2008). "League of Gentlemen duo back with BBC2 comedy Psychoville". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 5 February 2009.
  4. ^ "TV Preview: Psychoville + panel discussion". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 11 May 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
  5. ^ "Psychoville". BBC. Retrieved 21 May 2009.
  6. ^ "New show for League of Gentlemen". BBC Online. 9 October 2008. Retrieved 5 February 2009.
  7. ^ "BBC announces adaptation of EF Benson's Mapp and Lucia". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  8. ^ Chase, Stephanie (28 April 2021). "Inside No. 9 confirms series 6 return date". Digital Spy. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  9. ^ "'League of Gentlemen' revival and 'Alan Partridge' documentary among BBC highlights for Christmas 2017". NME. 28 November 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  10. ^ Moreland, Alex (13 December 2017). "The League Of Gentlemen: everything you need to know about this cult comedy revival". Metro. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  11. ^ Wollaston, Sam (19 December 2017). "The League of Gentlemen review Royston Vasey: just as terrifying as ever". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  12. ^ "Top Comics Join Short Film". Chortle. 13 August 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  13. ^ a b McGee, Sarah (13 October 2021). "Blackburn comedians nominated in Channel 4 comedy awards". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  14. ^ "TV tonight: Diane Morgan crashes The League of Gentlemen cast reunion". The Guardian. 20 April 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  15. ^ "Taskmaster season 17: Release date, cast and latest news". Radio Times. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  16. ^ Orlova-Alvarez, Tamara (28 February 2020). "West End: Aaron Taylor-Johnson & Steve Pemberton to Star in The Pillowman". Ikon London Magazine. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  17. ^ Mayo, Douglas (4 June 2021). "Martin McDonagh's The Pillowman delayed – New dates announced soon". British Theatre. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  18. ^ Thomas, Sophie (14 March 2023). "'The Pillowman', starring Steve Pemberton, announces further West End casting". London Theatre. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  19. ^ Putnam, Leah (13 March 2023). "Paul Kaye and Matthew Tennyson Join West End Revival of The Pillowman". Playbill. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  20. ^ Akbar, Arifa (22 June 2023). "The Pillowman review – Lily Allen fails to deliver visceral punch". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  21. ^ Thompson, Jessie (22 June 2023). "The Pillowman review: A dark, twisted triumph despite lightweight Lily Allen's one-note turn". The Independent. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  22. ^ Allfree, Claire (21 June 2023). "The Pillowman, Duke of York's Theatre, review: Lily Allen all at sea in dull revival". The Telegraph. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  23. ^ Rook, Olivia (3 May 2024). "Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith's 'Inside No 9' to be adapted for the West End". London Theatre. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  24. ^ Garrett, Olivia (10 May 2024). "How to get Inside No.9 Stage/Fright tickets for Pemberton and Shearsmith's West End show". Radio Times. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  25. ^ Wiegand, Chris (May 2024). "Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith announce stage version of Inside No 9". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  26. ^ Bletchly, Rachael (11 April 2012). "Benidorm's Steve Pemberton: I had a heart attack at 25 ... but it took me 20 years to scare me into losing two stone". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  27. ^ "Lucas James Pemberton". Variety. 31 May 2000. Archived from the original on 20 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  28. ^ "Steve Pemberton's diary". Evening Standard. 10 April 2012.
  29. ^ "Actor Steve Pemberton reveals secret heartache". Daily Mirror. 20 March 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  30. ^ "Honorary Graduates". University of Huddersfield. 24 April 2017. Archived from the original on 24 April 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  31. ^ "BAFTA award-winner recognised by 'local' university". University of Central Lancashire. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  32. ^ "Steve Pemberton: "It is fantastic the club reaches out to the community"". 12 December 2023 – via YouTube.
  33. ^ "Writers' Guild Awards winners 2018". Writers' Guild of Great Britain. 15 January 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  34. ^ "BAFTA Television 2019: Winners of the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards + British Academy Television Craft Awards". BAFTA. 12 May 2019. Archived from the original on 14 February 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2020.

Sources

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