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Ricky Norwood

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Ricky Norwood
Norwood in 2022
Born
Richard James Saggar

(1988-04-26) 26 April 1988 (age 36)
London, United Kingdom
OccupationActor
Years active2009–present
TelevisionEastEnders
EastEnders: E20
Celebrity Big Brother
Dancing on Ice

Ricky James Norwood (né Saggar; born 26 April 1988) is a British actor from London, known for portraying the role of Fatboy in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders (2010–2015, 2023) and its online spin-off EastEnders: E20 (2010–2011). Following his initial exit from the soap, Norwood appeared as a housemate on the eighteenth series of Celebrity Big Brother in 2016 and finished as the runner-up. He has also competed in the sixteenth series of Dancing on Ice in 2024.

Early life

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Norwood was born Ricky James Saggar on 26 April 1988 in Forest Gate, Newham in London to an English father and a Kenyan-Indian mother.[1][2][3] He lives in Wanstead.[4] From the age of 12, he attended the Theatre Royal Stratford East's Youth Theatre and also studied Performing Arts at Barking College. With friends, Norwood started a production company, writing, producing and starring in five original productions which were performed at the Theatre Royal Stratford.

Ricky is a fan of Tottenham Hotspur football club.[5]

Career

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Norwood's theatre credits include Daddy Cool at Shaftesbury Theatre, Sick at the Almeida Theatre and The Stones at the Royal National Theatre.[5]

EastEnders

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Norwood at the 17th National Television Awards in January 2012

In 2009, Norwood was cast in the EastEnders internet spin-off series EastEnders: E20 as Fatboy.[6][7] Norwood said of his casting: "I am so excited to be on the show. It's an honour to now be part of a show that has been on in my house for as long as I have been alive. I am born and bred in the East End—a stone's throw from the real Albert Square. It feels like a homecoming. I love being part of a cast that feels like family and can't wait to have a scene in The Vic."[8] In the run-up to the series, Norwood also appeared in EastEnders for two episodes, and after EastEnders: E20's first series ended, Fatboy became a regular character in EastEnders. Fatboy was called one of the most popular new characters in the show[9] and Norwood won Most Popular Newcomer at the 16th National Television Awards in 2011.[10] Norwood went on to appear in series 2 and 3 of EastEnders: E20 as Fatboy, and has appeared in the spin-offs "East Street"[11] and All I Want for Christmas.[12]

In March 2014, a video surfaced of Norwood reportedly smoking cannabis and performing a sex act during a Skype chat, captured by a woman he had met online. On 1 April, after meeting with BBC and EastEnders bosses, he was suspended from the soap for two months. An EastEnders spokesperson said: "Ricky Norwood has been suspended from the show for a period of two months with immediate effect. In addition, Ricky would like to apologise to EastEnders' viewers for any offence caused and for bringing the show into disrepute."[13] On 16 October 2015, it was announced that Norwood had been axed from EastEnders after nearly six years in the role of Fatboy, after show bosses chose to write the character out.[14] Norwood filmed his final scenes later that month and producers chose to keep details surrounding Fatboy's exit under wraps. A show spokesperson said, "We can confirm that Ricky will be leaving EastEnders. We wish him all the best for the future",[14] whilst a show insider commented: "Ricky is a great guy and very popular on set. He's leaving the show as it's the end of Fatboy's storyline, but everyone wishes him well for the future."[14] His last on-screen appearance was on 24 December 2015, and it transpired that the character was killed off-screen when crushed in the boot of a car. In August 2023, Norwood made a cameo appearance as Fatboy in a flashback episode surrounding the return of Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins).[15][16]

Other work

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In 2013, Norwood appeared on Pointless Celebrities[17] and Sweat the Small Stuff.[18] He also took part in the 2013 Christmas special of Strictly Come Dancing, and was paired with professional dancer Janette Manrara.[19]

Norwood's first role after leaving EastEnders was as a "vile, violent homophobe" in Marty Ross's audio drama Romeo and Jude, a gay adaptation of Romeo and Juliet.[20]

From 2016 to 2018, Norwood regularly appeared as a panellist on the Big Brother companion show, Big Brother's Bit on the Side.[21] In July 2016, Norwood became a housemate on the eighteenth series of Celebrity Big Brother.[22] He finished the series as runner-up behind Stephen Bear.[23] In 2020, Norwood appeared as Reggie in the Netflix film The Princess Switch: Switched Again.[24] The following year, he reprised his role for the sequel The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star.[25] In 2024, Norwood appeared as a contestant on the sixteenth series of Dancing on Ice.[26] He was paired with Annette Dytrt and was sixth to be eliminated.[27]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2010–2015, 2023 EastEnders Fatboy Regular role [28]
2010−2011 EastEnders: E20 Regular role [6]
2010 Children in Need Episode: "East Street" [29]
2012 All I Want for Christmas EastEnders spin-off [30]
2013 Tamwar Tales – The Life of an Assistant Market Inspector EastEnders spin-off [31]
2013 Strictly Come Dancing Contestant 2013 Christmas special [32]
2015–2018 Big Brother's Bit on the Side Himself Regular panellist [33]
2016 Celebrity Big Brother Himself Contestant; series 18 [34]
2020 The Princess Switch: Switched Again Reggie Film role [24]
2021 The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star Reggie Film role [25]
2024 Dancing on Ice Himself Contestant; series 16 [35]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Result Ref.
2010 Inside Soap Awards Best Newcomer Won [36]
2010 TV Quick Awards Best Soap Newcomer Shortlisted [37]
2011 National Television Awards Newcomer Won [10]
2011 British Soap Awards Best Newcomer Nominated [38]
2012 Inside Soap Awards Funniest Male Won [39]
2012 Black International Film Festival and Music Video & Screen Awards Best Newcomer Nominated [40]
2013 Screen Nation Awards Young Shooting Star (16-25) Nominated [41]
2013 British Soap Awards Best Comedy Performance Nominated [42]
2013 Inside Soap Awards Funniest Male Shortlisted [43]

References

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  1. ^ "Ricky James Saggar". freeBMD. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  2. ^ Norwood, Ricky [@rickyjnorwood] (26 April 2021). "Today is my birthday! Amazingly google got it wrong.!🤣 I gota try and amend that tho! 🤣" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  3. ^ "Ricky James Norwood". GOV.UK.
  4. ^ "Enders' Ricky: 'I'm just a boy from Forest Gate'". What's on TV. London: IPC Media. 25 May 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
  5. ^ a b "'Celebrity Big Brother' 2016: Ricky Norwood's (AKA EastEnders' Fatboy) 9 Facts In 90 Seconds". Huffington Post. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Fatboy played by Ricky Norwood". BBC Online. Retrieved 23 February 2010.
  7. ^ "Ricky Norwood (EastEnders: E20) Interview". Last Broadcast. Retrieved 23 February 2010.
  8. ^ Green, Kris (25 November 2009). "'EastEnders' announces 'E20' cast". Digital Spy. London: Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  9. ^ Carlin, Thomas (23 January 2011). "Eastenders bosses are casting a father for 'Fatboy'". The People. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  10. ^ a b "NTA 2011: National Television Awards results". Beehive City. Honeycomb Publishing & Media. 26 January 2011. Archived from the original on 29 January 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  11. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (17 November 2010). "In Pictures: 'Enders, Corrie crossover". Digital Spy. London: Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 17 November 2010.
  12. ^ Director: Tim Mercier; Executive Producer: Lorraine Newman; Writer: Carey Andrews (27 December 2012). "All I Want for Christmas". EastEnders. BBC. BBC One.
  13. ^ "EastEnders actor Ricky Norwood suspended from soap". Digital Spy. 1 April 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  14. ^ a b c "EastEnders exit ahead for Fatboy Chubb". 16 October 2015.
  15. ^ "EastEnders airs twist unannounced return in early BBC iPlayer release". Radio Times. 29 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  16. ^ "EastEnders' Ricky Norwood reacts to epic Fatboy return: "Absolutely thrilled"". Radio Times. 29 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  17. ^ "BBC One - Pointless Celebrities, Series 2, Episode 6". BBC Programmes. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  18. ^ "BBC Three - Sweat the Small Stuff, Episode 1". BBC Programmes. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  19. ^ "Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special line-up confirmed". BBC Online. 25 November 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  20. ^ Lee, Ben (14 February 2016). "A world away from Fatboy! EastEnders star Ricky Norwood plays "vile, violent homophobe" in radio play". Digital Spy. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  21. ^ "Ricky Norwood Net Worth". www.spearswms.com. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  22. ^ Walker, Danny (29 July 2016). "Who is Ricky Norwood? Celebrity Big Brother 2016 housemate many EastEnders fans will simply know as 'Fatboy'". The Mirror. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  23. ^ Travis, Ben (26 August 2016). "Celebrity Big Brother 2016: Stephen Bear wins final as EastEnders' Ricky Norwood comes in second place". The Evening Standard. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  24. ^ a b "Former EastEnders star Ricky Norwood cast in Netflix's The Princess Switch sequel". Entertainment Daily. 2 December 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  25. ^ a b "Former EastEnders star Ricky Norwood to reprise his role Reggie in Netflix film The Princess Switch 3". Entertainment Daily. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  26. ^ "Ricky Norwood is the ninth celebrity confirmed to be taking part in the new series of Dancing on Ice". itv.com/presscentre. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  27. ^ "Dancing on Ice eliminates sixth celebrity". uk.news.yahoo.comaccessdate=19 February 2024.
  28. ^ "Arthur Chubb – BBC EastEnders". BBC. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  29. ^ "BBC – East Street – Children in Need". BBC. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  30. ^ "BBC EastEnders – All I Want for Christmas". BBC. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  31. ^ "BBC EastEnders – Tamwar Tales". BBC. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  32. ^ "Ricky Norwood Quicksteps to Merry Christmas Everyone". BBC. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  33. ^ "Celebrity Big Brother 2016: Ricky Norwood and Saira Khan added to 'confirmed' line-up". Daily Telegraph. 28 July 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  34. ^ "Who is Ricky Norwood? Celebrity Big Brother 2016 contestant guide". Radio Times. 16 August 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  35. ^ Jones, Craig. "EastEnder Ricky Norwood confirmed as latest Dancing On Ice skater with Emmerdale rival rumoured to join". Leeds Live. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  36. ^ "Inside Soap awards: full list of winners". The Daily Telegraph. London: Telegraph Media Group. 27 September 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  37. ^ "Vote online in the TVQuick and TVChoice Awards!". EastEnders. BBC Online. 17 May 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
  38. ^ "The British Soap Awards 2011: Nominations". ITV Press Centre. ITV. 2 May 2011. Archived from the original on 6 May 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  39. ^ "2012 winners". Inside Soap. Hearst Magazines UK. Archived from the original on 31 July 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  40. ^ "EastEnders wins two MVSAs". EastEnders. BBC Online. 29 October 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  41. ^ "Official nominations & winners list 2012/13". Screen Nation. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  42. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (22 April 2013). "'Coronation Street' leads British Soap Awards shortlist". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  43. ^ Rigby, Sam (15 October 2013). "'Coronation Street' leads Inside Soap Awards 2013 shortlist". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
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