Keith Barron
Encyclopedia
Keith Barron is an English
actor
and television presenter, well-known from numerous roles on British television
from the 1960s to the present day.
, Yorkshire
, Barron became well known to UK television viewers in the early 1960s as the easy-going Detective Sergeant Swift in the Granada TV series The Odd Man
and its spin-off It's Cold Outside
. His major breakthrough, however, was as Nigel Barton, an avatar of the writer Dennis Potter
in his plays Stand Up, Nigel Barton and Vote, Vote, Vote for Nigel Barton in BBC1
's The Wednesday Play
anthology series (he later played a very similar character in Potter's Play For Today
offering Only Make Believe (1973)). He made many one-off television appearances, from Redcap
and Z-Cars
in the mid 60s, to Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)
, The New Avengers and The Professionals
. He made two appearances in Upstairs, Downstairs
as Australia
n Gregory Wilmot. In the 1980s he was a guest in the Doctor Who
serial Enlightenment
. He also did many voiceovers on British TV adverts. In 1989 he starred on television in a moving story of relationships in a new town in the Midlands entitled Take Me Home with Annette Crosbie as his wife and Maggie O'Neill
as his girl friend.
On the big screen, he appeared in Baby Love
(1968) and the David Puttnam
film Melody
(1971) as Mr Latimer. One of his best-loved and best-remembered roles was in the 1980s sitcom Duty Free
. In the 1990s he co-starred in the sitcoms Haggard
and All Night Long
. In the 2000s he was a regular character on the ITV Sunday night drama Where the Heart Is
.
Keith Barron has also appeared as himself as the guest celebrity in dictionary corner on several episodes of the Channel 4
words and numbers game Countdown
.
He was the star on Bunn and Co.
, a radio show that was broadcast from March 2003 to April 2004 on BBC Radio 4
Barron's performance in the BBC's Test the Nation IQ test show on 2 September 2006 gave him an IQ of 146.
In 2007 Barron joined ITV1
's Coronation Street
as George Trench.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
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...
and television presenter, well-known from numerous roles on British television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
from the 1960s to the present day.
Career
Born in MexboroughMexborough
Mexborough is a town in the metropolitan borough of Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England, situated on the north bank of the River Don west of its confluence with the River Dearne...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, Barron became well known to UK television viewers in the early 1960s as the easy-going Detective Sergeant Swift in the Granada TV series The Odd Man
The Odd Man
The Odd Man was the first of a trilogy of police series produced in the 1960s by Granada TV, linked by the presence of pompous but increasingly genial police Chief Inspector Charles Rose...
and its spin-off It's Cold Outside
The Odd Man
The Odd Man was the first of a trilogy of police series produced in the 1960s by Granada TV, linked by the presence of pompous but increasingly genial police Chief Inspector Charles Rose...
. His major breakthrough, however, was as Nigel Barton, an avatar of the writer Dennis Potter
Dennis Potter
Dennis Christopher George Potter was an English dramatist, best known for The Singing Detective. His widely acclaimed television dramas mixed fantasy and reality, the personal and the social. He was particularly fond of using themes and images from popular culture.-Biography:Dennis Potter was born...
in his plays Stand Up, Nigel Barton and Vote, Vote, Vote for Nigel Barton in BBC1
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
's The Wednesday Play
The Wednesday Play
The Wednesday Play was an anthology series of British television plays which ran on BBC1 from October 1964 to May 1970. Every week's play was usually written for television, although adaptations from other sources also featured...
anthology series (he later played a very similar character in Potter's Play For Today
Play for Today
Play for Today is a British television anthology drama series, produced by the BBC and transmitted on BBC1 from 1970 to 1984. During the run, more than three hundred programmes, featuring original television plays, and adaptations of stage plays and novels, were transmitted...
offering Only Make Believe (1973)). He made many one-off television appearances, from Redcap
Redcap (TV series)
Redcap is a British television series produced by ABC Weekend Television and broadcast on the ITV network.It starred John Thaw as Sergeant John Mann, a member of the Special Investigation Branch of the Royal Military Police and ran for two series and 26 episodes between 1964 and 1966, being about...
and Z-Cars
Z-Cars
Z-Cars is a British television drama series centred on the work of mobile uniformed police in the fictional town of Newtown, based on Kirkby in the outskirts of Liverpool in Merseyside. Produced by the BBC, it debuted in January 1962 and ran until September 1978.-Origins:The series was developed by...
in the mid 60s, to Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)
Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)
Randall and Hopkirk , first transmitted during 1969-70, is a British private detective television series starring Mike Pratt and Kenneth Cope as the private detectives Jeff Randall and Marty Hopkirk, respectively. The series was originally created by Dennis Spooner and produced by Monty Berman...
, The New Avengers and The Professionals
The Professionals (TV series)
The Professionals was a British crime-action television drama series produced by Avengers Mk1 Productions and London Weekend Television that aired on the ITV network from 1977 to 1983. In all, 57 episodes were produced, filmed between 1977 and 1981. It starred Martin Shaw, Lewis Collins and Gordon...
. He made two appearances in Upstairs, Downstairs
Upstairs, Downstairs
Upstairs, Downstairs is a British drama television series originally produced by London Weekend Television and revived by the BBC. It ran on ITV in 68 episodes divided into five series from 1971 to 1975, and a sixth series shown on the BBC on three consecutive nights, 26–28 December 2010.Set in a...
as Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n Gregory Wilmot. In the 1980s he was a guest in the Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
serial Enlightenment
Enlightenment (Doctor Who)
Enlightenment is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was originally broadcast in four twice-weekly parts from March 1 to March 9, 1983...
. He also did many voiceovers on British TV adverts. In 1989 he starred on television in a moving story of relationships in a new town in the Midlands entitled Take Me Home with Annette Crosbie as his wife and Maggie O'Neill
Maggie O'Neill
-Biography:The youngest of six Catholic brothers and sisters, born to head teacher parents, O'Neill grew up in the Midlands, where she was educated at a convent school, and after being inspired by a sixth-form drama teacher, "fell" into acting....
as his girl friend.
On the big screen, he appeared in Baby Love
Baby Love (film)
Baby Love is a 1968 British drama film, directed by Alastair Reid and starring Ann Lynn, Keith Barron, Linda Hayden and Diana Dors. The film tells the story of a schoolgirl who seduces her adoptive family after her mother commits suicide....
(1968) and the David Puttnam
David Puttnam
David Terence Puttnam, Baron Puttnam, CBE, FRSA is a British film producer. He sits on the Labour benches in the House of Lords, although he is not principally a politician.-Early life:...
film Melody
Melody (1971 film)
Melody is a 1971 British film directed by Waris Hussein about "puppy love". It was released as S.W.A.L.K. in the United Kingdom . The film starred Jack Wild, Mark Lester and Tracy Hyde...
(1971) as Mr Latimer. One of his best-loved and best-remembered roles was in the 1980s sitcom Duty Free
Duty Free (TV series)
Duty Free is a British sitcom written by Eric Chappell and Jean Warr that aired on ITV from 1984 to 1986. It was made by Yorkshire Television.-Cast:*Keith Barron – David Pearce*Gwen Taylor – Amy Pearce*Joanna Van Gyseghem – Linda Cochran...
. In the 1990s he co-starred in the sitcoms Haggard
Haggard (TV series)
Haggard a 1990—1992 British comedy television series. "Haggard" is about the exploits of Squire Haggard, the Squire's 21-year-old son Roderick, and their servant Grunge...
and All Night Long
All Night Long (TV series)
All Night Long is a British sitcom starring Keith Barron that aired in 1994. It was written by Dick Fiddy and Mark Wallington, and was produced and directed by Harold Snoad, who also produced and directed Keeping Up Appearances.-Cast:...
. In the 2000s he was a regular character on the ITV Sunday night drama Where the Heart Is
Where the Heart Is (1997 TV series)
Where the Heart Is is a British television drama series set in the fictional town Skelthwaite.First shown in 1997, it was created by Ashley Pharoah and Vicky Featherstone...
.
Keith Barron has also appeared as himself as the guest celebrity in dictionary corner on several episodes of the Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
words and numbers game Countdown
Countdown (game show)
Countdown is a British game show involving word and number puzzles. It is produced by ITV Studios and broadcast on Channel 4. It is presented by Jeff Stelling, assisted by Rachel Riley, with regular lexicographer Susie Dent. It was the first programme to be aired on Channel 4, and over sixty-five...
.
He was the star on Bunn and Co.
Bunn and Co. (radio show)
Bunn and Co. was a radio programme that aired from March 2003 to April 2004. There were 11 half-hour episodes and it was broadcast on BBC Radio 4. It starred Keith Barron.- References :* Lavalie, John. "Bunn and Co." EpGuides. 21 Jul 2005. 29 Jul 2005 ....
, a radio show that was broadcast from March 2003 to April 2004 on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
Barron's performance in the BBC's Test the Nation IQ test show on 2 September 2006 gave him an IQ of 146.
In 2007 Barron joined ITV1
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
's Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
as George Trench.
Personal life
His wife, Mary Pickard, is a stage designer, and they have two sons, Jamie and Mark. Mark works as a writer, under the name Mark Dawson.Selected filmography
- Baby LoveBaby Love (film)Baby Love is a 1968 British drama film, directed by Alastair Reid and starring Ann Lynn, Keith Barron, Linda Hayden and Diana Dors. The film tells the story of a schoolgirl who seduces her adoptive family after her mother commits suicide....
(1968) - She'll Follow You AnywhereShe'll Follow You AnywhereShe'll Follow You Anywhere is a 1971 British comedy film directed by David C. Rea and starring Kenneth Cope, Keith Barron and Richard Vernon. Two chemists working in a lab of a big corporation accidentally stumble across a love potion while working to create a new aftershave. The potion makes a man...
(1971) - MelodyMelody (1971 film)Melody is a 1971 British film directed by Waris Hussein about "puppy love". It was released as S.W.A.L.K. in the United Kingdom . The film starred Jack Wild, Mark Lester and Tracy Hyde...
(1971) - Nothing But The Night (1973)
- The Land That Time Forgot (1975)
- At the Earth's CoreAt the Earth's Core (film)At the Earth's Core is a 1976 science fiction film produced by Britain's Amicus Productions. It was directed by Kevin Connor and starred Peter Cushing, Caroline Munro, Philippa Herring and Doug McClure. It was filmed in Technicolor...
(1976) - Voyage of the DamnedVoyage of the DamnedVoyage of the Damned is the title of a 1974 book written by Gordon Thomas and Max Morgan-Witts, which was the basis of a 1976 drama film with the same title.The story was inspired by true events concerning the fate of the MS St...
(1976) - God's OutlawGod's OutlawGod's Outlaw is a 1986 British historical film directed by Tony Tew and starring Roger Rees, Bernard Archer and Keith Barron. It depicts the historical figure of William Tynedale and his struggles with the authorties in the time of Henry VIII for translating the bible into English.-Cast:* Sebastian...
(1986) - Last Tango in Croydon (2010)
Television roles
- The FoundationThe Foundation (TV series)The Foundation is a Canadian television sitcom, airing on Showcase in the 2009-10 television season.Created and produced by Michael Dowse, the show stars Mike Wilmot as Michael Valmont-Selkirk, the crooked and corrupt director of a philanthropic foundation. The cast also includes Martin Sims,...
- Telford's ChangeTelford's ChangeTelford's Change was a 1979 BBC television series by Brian Clark starring Peter Barkworth.Barkworth played a bank manager, Mark Telford, who took a backward step in his career in order to retreat from the rat race...
- Prince RegentPrince Regent (TV series)Prince Regent is a British period television series that first aired on the BBC in 1979. It depicted the life of George IV from his youth, time as Prince Regent and his reign as King. It consists of eight episodes of 50 minutes.-Cast:...
- Pickles: The Dog Who Won the World Cup