Jesse Birdsall
Encyclopedia
Jesse Birdsall is a British
actor
, known in the UK for his starring roles in several high-profile, popular television programmes, particularly in Bugs (1995-99) as Nick Beckett and later in The Bill
as a character named Ron Gregory, a convicted paedophile.
As a child, he attended the Anna Scher children's theatre school in Islington, and in his teens appeared in Nanette Newman
's children's cooking programme, Fun Food Factory and in several television plays and series, usually with his trademark rockabilly
look. He first came to wider public attention in the serial Annika in 1984, his first notable television role. He then subsequently appeared in the movie Wish You Were Here (1987), directed by David Leland
and co-starring Emily Lloyd
. Another notable television role was his portrayal of slick playboy Marcus Tandy in the infamous BBC1 soap opera
Eldorado, which ran for just one year from 1992-93 and gained a reputation as one of the biggest television flops of all time. Nonetheless, the amount of coverage the programme received for its perceived low quality and lack of success would gain Birdsall much exposure, and from 1995 to 1999 he played one of the lead characters in another BBC1 programme, the successful futuristic action/adventure series Bugs.
More recently, he appeared in several episodes of the ITV
police drama The Bill
in 2003, and for the same network appeared as a regular in series 3-5 of the popular drama Footballer's Wives.
Birdsall has twice been in trouble with the police, being convicted of actual bodily harm
after an altercation in 1981, and in 1999 being fined £1000 following an unprovoked attack on a fellow customer at a pub
in London
.
He has been married to Only Fools and Horses
actress Gwyneth Strong
since 15 July 2000, and they have two children.
He is the son of Penguin Books
designer Derek Birdsall
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, known in the UK for his starring roles in several high-profile, popular television programmes, particularly in Bugs (1995-99) as Nick Beckett and later in The Bill
The Bill
The Bill is a police procedural television series that ran from October 1984 to August 2010. It focused on the lives and work of one shift of police officers, rather than on any particular aspect of police work...
as a character named Ron Gregory, a convicted paedophile.
As a child, he attended the Anna Scher children's theatre school in Islington, and in his teens appeared in Nanette Newman
Nanette Newman
-Early life:Newman was born in Northampton, England. She was educated at Sternhold College, the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts stage school and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.-Career:...
's children's cooking programme, Fun Food Factory and in several television plays and series, usually with his trademark rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
look. He first came to wider public attention in the serial Annika in 1984, his first notable television role. He then subsequently appeared in the movie Wish You Were Here (1987), directed by David Leland
David Leland
David Leland is a director, screenwriter and actor who came to international fame with his directorial debut Wish You Were Here in 1987.-Life:...
and co-starring Emily Lloyd
Emily Lloyd
-Early life:Emily Lloyd Pack was born in London, the daughter of Sheila , now known as , a theatrical agent who was a longtime secretary at Harold Pinter's stage agency, and Roger Lloyd-Pack, a stage actor, well-known as Trigger in the British hit sitcom Only Fools and Horses. Her grandfather,...
. Another notable television role was his portrayal of slick playboy Marcus Tandy in the infamous BBC1 soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Eldorado, which ran for just one year from 1992-93 and gained a reputation as one of the biggest television flops of all time. Nonetheless, the amount of coverage the programme received for its perceived low quality and lack of success would gain Birdsall much exposure, and from 1995 to 1999 he played one of the lead characters in another BBC1 programme, the successful futuristic action/adventure series Bugs.
More recently, he appeared in several episodes of the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
police drama The Bill
The Bill
The Bill is a police procedural television series that ran from October 1984 to August 2010. It focused on the lives and work of one shift of police officers, rather than on any particular aspect of police work...
in 2003, and for the same network appeared as a regular in series 3-5 of the popular drama Footballer's Wives.
Birdsall has twice been in trouble with the police, being convicted of actual bodily harm
Assault
In law, assault is a crime causing a victim to fear violence. The term is often confused with battery, which involves physical contact. The specific meaning of assault varies between countries, but can refer to an act that causes another to apprehend immediate and personal violence, or in the more...
after an altercation in 1981, and in 1999 being fined £1000 following an unprovoked attack on a fellow customer at a pub
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
He has been married to Only Fools and Horses
Only Fools and Horses
Only Fools and Horses is a British sitcom, created and written by John Sullivan. Seven series were originally broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom between 1981 and 1991, with sporadic Christmas specials until 2003...
actress Gwyneth Strong
Gwyneth Strong
Gwyneth Strong is an English actress. She is probably best known for her role in the popular BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses as Cassandra, who was married to Del Boy's brother Rodney.-Career:...
since 15 July 2000, and they have two children.
He is the son of Penguin Books
Penguin Books
Penguin Books is a publisher founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and V.K. Krishna Menon. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its high quality, inexpensive paperbacks, sold through Woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. Penguin's success demonstrated that large...
designer Derek Birdsall
Derek Birdsall
-Early life:Birdsall was born in Wakefield, Yorkshire in 1934 and attended The King's School, Pontefract, Wakefield College of Art and Central School of Arts and Crafts in London...
.