- Christopher Biggins
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Christopher Biggins 
Biggins in 2009Born Christopher Kenneth Biggins[1]
16 December 1948
Oldham, Lancashire, EnglandNationality British Other names Biggins Occupation Actor, media personality Years active 1970–present Spouse Beatrice Norbury (m. 1971–1974) (divorced)
Neil Sinclair (m. 2006–present)Christopher Kenneth Biggins (born 16 December 1948) is an English actor and media personality.
Contents
Career
Biggins was born in Oldham, Lancashire, England and brought up in Salisbury, Wiltshire, where he took elocution lessons and participated in local drama groups. His first big stage role was at the young age of 16 in the Stage '65 production of Moliere's 'Le Medecin malgre lui', where he played the lead as the hapless mistaken Doctor. Thus leading to a job at the local repertory theatre.[2]
He has been best known as a comedy actor, appearing as the regular character Lukewarm in the popular situation comedy Porridge (1974–77) starring Ronnie Barker. Other comedy shows he appeared in include Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? (1973) and Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em (1973, 1978). In 1976 he played Nero in the BBC dramatisation of I, Claudius by Robert Graves, having been selected for the role partly on the strength of a television commercial in which he had played a Roman emperor presiding over the games. He also appeared in the BBC's Poldark in 1977. Despite these serious roles, his co-hosting of Surprise, Surprise and hosting children's gameshow On Safari (1982–1985) for TVS led to him being typecast as a "bubbly personality"; when asked in 2005 if he resented this, he replied
"No, not a bit of it. I'm perfectly happy being me, thank you, and I happen to know that I am afforded enormous respect from everybody I know. And anyway, I'm having something of a second wind now. I've reached the age [57] where all kinds of roles are opening up to me."[2]On children's television he had a regular role as supermarket manager Adam Painting in the children's television programme Rentaghost (1978–1983) and also played Reverend Whiting in Southern Television's Brendon Chase, produced in 1980. In the early 1980s he hosted children's gameshow On Safari, a bizarre afternoon game show with a jungle-themed studio set.
Biggins appeared in the Big Finish Productions audio drama The One Doctor, based on the television series Doctor Who. His film roles include The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) and "The Baker" in the 1999 Video Version of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. His theatre roles have included "The Baker" in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar, and 18 months at the London Palladium in the stage adaptation of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (where he was teamed in a double act with Louise Gold).
In 2008, he briefly co-presented a Sunday morning radio show on BBC London with Lesley Joseph.[3]
Biggins is well-known for his performances in pantomime. His most famous role is that of "Widow Twankey" in the traditional British pantomime, Aladdin. He has also played "Buttons" in Cinderella.
Biggins did not perform in pantomime in Christmas 2007 however, as he was taking part in I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, making this the first time he has not performed in a pantomime for 38 years. Biggins was eventually voted the winner of the show on November 30, 2007. Biggins returned to Pantomime the following year at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton playing the role of Buttons in Cinderella. Biggins was the winner of the television show Celebrity Come Dine With Me, first shown on Britain's Channel Four, on 15 February 2009.
Biggins hosts an annual show West End Live in London's Leicester Square.
In 2009 he played himself as a pantomime director in the BBC Two sitcom, Psychoville. At the Southport Flower Show in August 2009, Biggins launched a new hybrid tea rose called Olivia. Sales of the rose will benefit the Claire House charity. At the end of 2009 he was in pantomime in Plymouth playing Widow Twanky.
In 2010 he was a celebrity guest team captain on What Do Kids Know? along with Rufus Hound, Joe Swash and Sara Cox on Watch.
In 2010, Biggins is to appear as a guest star narrator in The Rocky Horror Show at the *Belfast Grand Opera House (March and April), at the *Sunderland Empire Theatre (June)[dated info], *Southend Cliffs Pavilion (September), *Grand Canal Theatre, Dublin and also at the *Liverpool Empire Theatre (October).
In 2010 Biggins will star in Wolverhampton's Aladdin Pantomime at the Grand Theatre.
In 2010 Biggins played God in the BBC adult puppet comedy Mongrels.
In May 2011 Biggins starred in the second series of Channel 4's Celebrity Five Go To... in which the celebrities visited South Africa.[4]
Personal life
Biggins was married to Australian actress Beatrice Norbury from 1971 to 1974.[5] He is now openly gay and formed a civil partnership with his partner, flight attendant Neil Sinclair, on 30 December 2006 at Hackney Register Office.[6]
He is a supporter of the Conservative Party.[7]
References
- ^ Researcha
- ^ a b "Christopher Biggins: Oh yes he is!". The Independent. 4 December 2005. http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/-dance/features/christopher-biggins-oh-yes-he-is-518257.html. Retrieved 2009-01-06.
- ^ BBC London show
- ^ "Celebrity Five Go To...". http://www.channel4.com/programmes/celebrity-five-go-to. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
- ^ Biggins, Christopher (2007-12-02). "Biggins: My life". Sunday Mirror. http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/sunday/2007/12/02/biggins-my-life-98487-20191538/. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
- ^ Methven, Nicola (2007-11-22). "Biggins wins I'm A Celebrity". Daily Mirror. http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/latest/2007/12/01/biggins-wins-i-m-a-celebrity-115875-20188764/. Retrieved 2008-08-28.
- ^ http://www.conservatives.com/Get_Involved/Conference.aspx
External links
- Christopher Biggins Official Website
- Christopher Biggins at the Internet Movie Database
- Christopher Biggins On I'm A Celebrity
- Christopher Biggins interview with London Theatre Guide
- Interview with What's On Wales
Preceded by
Matt Willis
(2006)I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here!
Winner
2007Succeeded by
Joe Swash
(2008)I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Series 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11Presenters Current: Ant & Dec (2002– ) · Joe Swash (2009– ) · Russell Kane (2009– ) · Laura Whitmore (2011– )
Former: Louise Loughman · Tara Palmer-Tomkinson · Matt Brown · Brendon Burns · Kelly Osbourne · Jeff Brazier · Matt Willis · Emma Willis · Mark Durden-Smith · Caroline FlackWinners Tony Blackburn · Phil Tufnell · Kerry Katona · Joe Pasquale · Carol Thatcher · Matt Willis · Christopher Biggins · Joe Swash · Gino D'Acampo · Stacey SolomonRunners-up International series American series · French series · German series · Indian series · Swedish Series · Hungarian series · Dutch seriesRelated articles Christopher Biggins · Janice Dickinson · Jason Brown · Cerys Matthews · Gemma Atkinson · Anna Ryder Richardson · Rodney Marsh · John Burton Race · Lynne Franks · Katie Hopkins · Marc Bannerman · Malcolm McLarenCategories:- English radio actors
- English stage actors
- English television actors
- I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! contestants
- LGBT radio personalities
- LGBT television personalities
- Pantomime dames
- People from Oldham
- Reality show winners
- Gay actors
- LGBT people from England
- 1948 births
- Living people
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