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Kate Robbins

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Kate Robbins

Kate Robbins (born 21 August 1960; Liverpool, Lancashire) is an English actress, comedienne and singer.

Biography

Robbins is a first cousin once removed of Paul McCartney and older sister of Amy Robbins. (Her mother and McCartney were first cousins) Her first released recording, in 1978, was of the song "Tomorrow", owned by McCartney's music publishing company, from the musical Annie. Robbins first came to prominence whilst representing United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1980 as part of the group Prima Donna. They finished third.

The following year, Robbins joined the cast of the ITV soap opera Crossroads, playing the part of a pop singer who was recording a single in the fictional motel's basement recording studio. The song, More Than In Love, was released commercially in the UK (credited as Kate Robbins and Beyond) and gave Robbins a major hit single, reaching number 2 in the UK Top 75 Singles Chart [1]. It was her only hit. The backing group Beyond had taken part in the UK's Song for Europe contest earlier in the year, losing to Bucks Fizz.

Robbins wrote the first theme tune to Surprise, Surprise and provided almost all of the female voices on the television show Spitting Image in the late 1980s and early 1990s.[2] The 1986 Granada Television sketch show Robbins featured Kate, her brother—comedian Ted Robbins, and her sisters--Amy Robbins, Jane Robbins, and Emma Robbins, the latter now best known as one of the singers with The Sheilas.

She featured in the original series of Dead Ringers on BBC Radio 4 in 2000.

Robbins also provided the English language dubbing for Europeans, featured on the Channel 4 series Eurotrash and, in 2006, made two appearances on the BBC Radio 4 programme Just a Minute.

In 2007 Kate Robbins was awarded an Honorary Bachelor of Arts degree from Bedfordshire University for her lifetime contribution to the Performing Arts.

Robbins is separated from composer Keith Atack, by whom she has three children, including actress Emily Atack who plays Charlotte Hinchliffe in The Inbetweeners.

Film and television work

Robbins has recently taken to acting in feature films. She was named Best Supporting Actress at the Angel Awards of the Monaco International Film Festival, for her role as Kathleen in the low-budget British film, Fated.[3] In 2005 she played Joan alongside Johnny Vegas in the infamous movie Sex Lives of the Potato Men. In 2006 she appeared with James Franco and Jean Reno in the movie Flyboys playing the role of Clarisse, a brothel Madame. She has been cast in the comedy film Lunchbox as a man-hungry teacher called Suzanne.[3]

Robbins appeared in two series of the BBC Television comedy series dinnerladies, playing the character 'Babs' a friend of 'Petula Gordino' played by Julie Walters. Robbins later appeared with the sitcom's writer Victoria Wood in the BBC TV special Victoria Wood with All The Trimmings.

Robbins has worked on many comedy TV shows including Last of the Summer Wine, The Harry Enfield Show, Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights, and Shooting Stars. She has also appeared in Holby City, two series of Where the Heart Is, Doctors, and Casualty. She is currently working on the second series of The Legend of Dick and Dom for BBC One, and will be working on Soapington Way in 2010 (ITV1) (written by Harry Hill).

Jingles

Robbins can also be heard as a voice-over artist on many commercials. She was the Edith Piaf sound-a-like on a Lager advert. She was the 'Doris Day' voice on a Waitrose supermarket commercial. Her singing can be heard on TV ads for Clover, Debenhams, First Choice Holidays and many more. She also recorded the Capital Radio jingle package for Sue Manning Productions.[citation needed] She also played the singing ring in the mini series, "The 10th Kingdom," which aired in 2000.

Discography

Singles

UK Releases

  • "Tomorrow" / "Crowds Of You" (Anchor ANC 1054) June, 1978 [by Kate Robbins]
  • "Love Enough For Two" / "Missing Out On Love" (Ariola ARO 221) 1980 [by Prima Donna]
  • "More Than In Love" / "Now" (RCA 69) May, 1981 [by Kate Robbins and Beyond] UK Number 2[4]
  • "I Want You Back" / "Anytime At All" (RCA 108) July, 1981 [by Kate Robbins and Beyond]
  • "Run Wild" / "Cassie's Song" (RCA 145) Oct., 1981 [by Kate Robbins and Beyond]
  • "The Real Me" / "Photo Fit" (RCA 309) 1983 [by Kate Robbins]
  • "That First Love" / "That First Love [instrumental]" / "When You Go" (Bright BULB 6) 1983 [by Kate Robbins]
  • "If You Wanna Help Somebody" / "Say Anything You Want" (Bright BULB 11) 1988 [by Kate Robbins]

Albums

UK Releases

  • KATE ROBBINS (RCA LP 6013) [LP] Oct., 1981 [by Kate Robbins and Beyond]
  • SONGS FROM THE POOL (Double Art) [CD] 2008 [by Kate Robbins]

References

  1. ^ Kate Robbins And Beyond - More Than in Love Chart Stats
  2. ^ Bailey, Charlotte (8 Aug 2008). "Edinburgh Festival: John Bishop and Kate Robbins". Telegraph.co.uk.
  3. ^ a b IMDb.com
  4. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 465. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
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