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Robin Askwith

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Robin Askwith
Born
Robin Mark Askwith

(1950-10-12) 12 October 1950 (age 74)
Southport, Lancashire, England
OccupationActor
Years active1968–present
Spouse(s)Leonie Mellinger (divorced)
Mary Wilson

Robin Mark Askwith (born 12 October 1950 [1][2]) is an English film actor, best known for his role as Timmy Lea in the Confessions sex comedies series. His debut film role was as the impudent schoolboy, Keating, in the film if.... (1968) which he later reprised in Britannia Hospital (1982).

He went on to appear in various comedy films including Carry On Girls and Bless This House. 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 roles include Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Benidorm.

Early life

Askwith was born in Southport, Lancashire, England, the eldest child of Nelson Askwiths and Hazel (née Cookson).[3] 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 grand-nephew of the comic Robb Wilton.[4]

Education

Askwith was educated at Orley Farm in Harrow, Middlesex, 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, Middlesex and the University of Bristol reading English and Drama.[5]

Career

Confessions...

Askwith appeared in many film and television roles before appearing in Antony Balch's Horror Hospital (1973). It is a hybrid of horror and the mild titillation of the later 'Confessions...' films. Around the same time, Askwith also appeared in a Carry On film, Carry On Girls and the spin-off film version of Bless This House television sitcom, both with Sid James. These appearances led film makers Norman Cohen, Greg Smith and Michael Klinger to offer him the starring role in Confessions of a Window Cleaner (1974), in the end directed by Val Guest. The part was turned down by several other 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 poorly-received ITV sitcom Bottle Boys (1984-1985).

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 productions 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 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 Please Sir!, The Fenn Street Gang and starring in two series of Bottle Boys. He has also had roles 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. Askwith returned to Coronation Street on 11 December 2013 as musician Ritchie de Vries.

Askwith made a cameo appearance in the film Run For Your Wife, released in the UK on 14 February 2013. His role as con-man Marcus Hornby in the TV comedy drama Benidorm was broadcast in January 2016, and his episode of Casualty aired later that year.

Personal life

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 actress Leonie Mellinger and had a relationship with Cheryl Hall.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1968 if.... Keating
Otley First Kid
1969 Alfred the Great Shepherd Uncredited
Hans Brinker Hans Brinker
1970 Scramble Lennie
Cool It Carol! Joe Sickles
Bartleby Office Boy
1971 The Canterbury Tales Ruffo
All Coppers Are... Simmy
Nicholas and Alexandra Soldier Uncredited
1972 Brother Sun, Sister Moon Minor role Scene deleted
Tower of Evil Des
Four Dimensions of Greta Roger
The Flesh and Blood Show Simon
Hide and Seek Harvey, The Police Constable
Bless This House Mike Abbott
1973 Arctic Patrol ‘Snowy’ White
No Sex Please, We're British Baker's Delivery Man
Horror Hospital Jason Jones
Carry On Girls Larry Prodworthy
1974 Confessions of a Window Cleaner Timothy Lea
1975 The Hostages Terry Sladden
Confessions of a Pop Performer Timothy Lea
1976 Confessions of a Driving Instructor Timothy Lea
Queen Kong Ray Fay
1977 Stand Up, Virgin Soldiers Brigg
Confessions from a Holiday Camp Timothy Lea
1978 Let's Get Laid Gordon Laid
1982 Britannia Hospital Ben Keating
1983 Stagg’s Night Robin Stagg
1990 Traincare ‘90 Narrator
2000 U-571 British Seaman
The Asylum Neville
2008 Evil Calls: The Raven Vincent Carney
2012 Eldorado Mick
Run for Your Wife Bus Driver
2016 Man Hunt Elvis

Television

[6]

Year Title Role Notes
1968 Scene Robbo 2 episodes
Z-Cars Unknown Unknown wiped episode
1969 Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) Jimmy, the callboy Uncredited; Episode: "That's How Murder Snowballs"
ITV Saturday Night Theatre Bassett Episode: "The Full Cheddar"
There Was This Dog... Andy
1970 The Borderers Hewie Heriot Episode: "The Quacksalver"
Here Come the Double Deckers Nigel Parks Episode: "The Go-Carters"
Menace Robbie Clay Episode: "Trespasser"
1971 The Misfit David Episode: "... On The New Establishment"
On The House Harvey Micklethwaite 6 episodes
Father, Dear Father Monty Episode: "The Life of the Party"
The Fenn Street Gang Eddie Episode: "Meet The Wizard"
Please Sir! Eddie Episode: "A.W.O.L."
Dixon of Dock Green Young Man Episode: "Wingy"
1972 Bless This House Sam Episode: "A Touch of the Unknown"
The Main Chance Sammy Cutforth Episode: "The Killing Ground"
1973-1975 Beryl's Lot Fred Pickering 14 episodes
1975 Public Eye Employment Clerk Episode: "How About a Cup of Tea"
1978 The Kenny Everett Video Show Robin
1982 The Journey Narrator
1983 Play of the Month Alec Episode: "Infidelities"
1984-1985 Bottle Boys Dave Deacon All 13 episodes
1988 Boon Bograt Episode: "Peacemaker"
1997 EastEnders Jason Lafal Episode: "4 August 1997"
2000 Sunburn Nigel Karver Episode: "New Opportunities, Second Chances and Dominoes"
2004 Doctors David Cordman Episode: "A Lion or A Sheep"
2007 Coronation Street Aidan Episode #1.6611
2009 Benidorm Gary Snelling Episode #3.4
2011 Hollyoaks Earl Episode #1.2989
2013–2014 Coronation Street Ritchie de Vries 12 episodes
2015 Emmerdale Alby Episode #1.7251
2016 Benidorm Marcus Hornby Episode #8.1
Casualty Ron Kleinman Episode: "Step Right Up"

Non-acting television

Year Title Role Notes
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
It's A Celebrity Knockout Himself A special edition of It's a Knockout
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
What A Carry On Larry Prodworthy TV compilation of film clips including Askwith in Carry On Girls
1984 Good Morning Britain Himself Newsreader sketch
1987 Just For Laughs Mike Abbott (archive footage) TV compilation of film clips including Askwith in Bless This House (film)
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
The 100 Greatest TV Moments From Hell Himself Included Bottle Boys at number 97 on the countdown
2001 Mission Improbable Himself
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
2012 The 70s: Doomwatch 73–74 Himself

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

[7]

  • 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 Theatre, 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 Tour (1986)
  • Funny Peculiar – Australia Tour (1986)
  • Jack and the Beanstalk – Wimbledon Theatre, London (1986)
  • Run For Your Wife – New Zealand Tour (1987)
  • Run For Your Wife – Criterion Theatre, 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 – Richmond Theatre (1988)
  • Run For Your Wife – 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 – 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 – New Theatre, Cardiff (1995)
  • Aladdin – Lyceum Theatre, Crewe (1996)
  • Dick Whittington – Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield (1997)
  • Dick Whittington – Darlington Civic Theatre (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)
  • Bedside Manners – Pier Theatre, Bournemouth (2003)
  • Aladdin – Milton Keynes Theatre, Milton Keynes (2003)
  • Aladdin – New Wimbledon Theatre, London (2004)
  • Canterbury Tales – The Castle, Nottingham (2005)
  • Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – Sunderland Empire Theatre (2005)
  • Dead Funny – UK Tour (2007)
  • Aladdin – Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea (2008)
  • Aladdin – Theatre Royal, Lincoln (2010)
  • Funny Money – The Mill at Sonning, Reading (2011)
  • Caught In The Net – The Mill at Sonning, Reading (2012)
  • Jack and the Beanstalk – Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea (2017)
  • Aladdin – Darlington Hippodrome (2018)
  • Aladdin - Hull New Theatre (2019)

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

  1. ^ http://watch.tvguide.co.uk/engage/45937/96827644-bless_this_house
  2. ^ "Askwith, Robin". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 11 January 2008. Retrieved 23 October 2009.
  3. ^ England & Wales marriages 1837–2008
  4. ^ The Confessions of Robin Askwith by Robin Askwith (Ebury Press) 1999 (ISBN 0091869714)
  5. ^ Robin Askwith The Confessions of Robin Askwith (Ebury Press) 1999 (ISBN 0091869714)
  6. ^ Screen Credits
  7. ^ 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)

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