Richard Shelton
Encyclopedia
Richard Shelton is an English actor and singer, best known to millions for playing the role of Dr Adam Forsythe
on British television's daytime Soap Opera Emmerdale
on ITV1. He is also a familiar voice on BBC Radio 2 and 4 with many live appearances to his credit.
for the BBC
and Nick in Family Affairs
'.
Films include The Crooner in I Capture the Castle
, Nick in Swinging with the Finkles and Giles in Dog Gone.
His first major acting role was as the young Ebenezer Scrooge
in the West End stage musical Scrooge in the late 1990s playing opposite Anthony Newley
as the older Scrooge. Richard's vast theatre repertoire includes Mark Antony
in Julius Caesar
at The Bridewell Theatre which he co-founded. More recently, Richard shared one of the title roles of Harry Bright on the international tour of the smash hit Mamma Mia
.
As a singer, Richard has sung by private invitation for HRH Prince Charles at Windsor Castle
with a 35-piece orchestra, for Sir Elton John at his 'White Tie and Tiara Ball', with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
, BBC Children in Need and The Prince's Trust
and recorded his album Top Cat with a 65-piece orchestra at Abbey Road Studios
which features the theme to Top Cat
, performed in a swing style. Other songs include original ballads 'Grenadine and Blue', 'Autumn in Soho Square' as well as the standards 'My Way' (Samba) and 'My Lean Baby'.
He has also recorded an album called Retro Spectrum of '80s pop classics in jazz.
Richard is a tireless fundraiser for Breast Cancer charities since his mother died of the condition when he was 12 years old and has sung with the BBC Big Band and BBC Concert Orchestra for the Moon Walk Breast Cancer Charity
in London's Hyde Park, for Breakthrough Breast Cancer
and 'Tickled Pink'. He also organised a big-band fundraiser event for the Motor Neurone Disease Association
, raising tens of thousands of pounds. His connection to MND is through his step-mother, who was living with the condition until 2006.
His very first acting role was as the embodiment of Death in the 1980s low budget classic Dance of Death, in which he played a mysterious and evil black hatted dancer whose appearance and subsequent scary dance resulted in the rapid death of whomever witnessed it, in the style of `The Ring`.
Richard also writes motivational workshops for clients including Microsoft
, Corus (British Steel), InterContinental Hotels Group
and has presented many corporate events nationally and abroad.
Before becoming an actor, Richard worked in international sales and marketing for InterContinental Hotels.
In January 2009, Richard featured as a guest singer on a UK tour with T.V. dancing stars Anton du Beke
and his dance partner, Erin Boag
from BBC T.V.'s Strictly Come Dancing
Adam Forsythe
Dr. Adam Forsythe was a fictional character on the ITV soap opera Emmerdale. He was played by Richard Shelton.-Background:Adam arrived looking for a quiet life in the Dales following his divorce...
on British television's daytime Soap Opera Emmerdale
Emmerdale
Emmerdale, is a long-running British soap opera set in Emmerdale , a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, Emmerdale was first broadcast on 16 October 1972...
on ITV1. He is also a familiar voice on BBC Radio 2 and 4 with many live appearances to his credit.
Career
As an actor, Richard was nominated as 'Best Actor in a Leading Role' (Manchester Evening News Awards) for his portrayal of Frank Sinatra in Rat Pack Confidential. TV roles also include Inspector Rossi in EastEndersEastEnders
EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and Nick in Family Affairs
Family Affairs
Family Affairs was a British soap opera broadcast on Five, from 1997 to 2005. It was the second programme to be broadcast on the channel on 30 March 1997, the channel's launch night...
'.
Films include The Crooner in I Capture the Castle
I Capture the Castle (film)
I Capture The Castle is a 2003 film directed by Tim Fywell. It is based on the 1948 novel of the same title by Dodie Smith and was adapted to screenplay by Heidi Thomas...
, Nick in Swinging with the Finkles and Giles in Dog Gone.
His first major acting role was as the young Ebenezer Scrooge
Ebenezer Scrooge
Ebenezer Scrooge is the principal character in Charles Dickens's 1843 novel, A Christmas Carol. At the beginning of the novel, Scrooge is a cold-hearted, tight-fisted and greedy man, who despises Christmas and all things which give people happiness...
in the West End stage musical Scrooge in the late 1990s playing opposite Anthony Newley
Anthony Newley
Anthony George Newley was an English actor, singer and songwriter. He enjoyed success as a performer in such diverse fields as rock and roll and stage and screen acting.-Early life:...
as the older Scrooge. Richard's vast theatre repertoire includes Mark Antony
Mark Antony
Marcus Antonius , known in English as Mark Antony, was a Roman politician and general. As a military commander and administrator, he was an important supporter and loyal friend of his mother's cousin Julius Caesar...
in Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar (play)
The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, also known simply as Julius Caesar, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1599. It portrays the 44 BC conspiracy against...
at The Bridewell Theatre which he co-founded. More recently, Richard shared one of the title roles of Harry Bright on the international tour of the smash hit Mamma Mia
Mamma Mia!
Mamma Mia! is a stage musical written by British playwright Catherine Johnson, based on the songs of ABBA, composed by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, former members of the band. Although the title of the musical is taken from the group's 1975 chart-topper "Mamma Mia", the plot is fictional, not...
.
As a singer, Richard has sung by private invitation for HRH Prince Charles at Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
with a 35-piece orchestra, for Sir Elton John at his 'White Tie and Tiara Ball', with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It tours widely, and is sometimes referred to as "Britain's national orchestra"...
, BBC Children in Need and The Prince's Trust
The Prince's Trust
The Prince's Trust is a charity in the United Kingdom founded in 1976 by Charles, Prince of Wales to help young people. They run a range of training programmes, provide mentoring support and offer financial grants to build the confidence and motivation of disadvantaged young people...
and recorded his album Top Cat with a 65-piece orchestra at Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios is a recording studio located at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music company EMI, its present owner...
which features the theme to Top Cat
Top Cat
Top Cat is a Hanna-Barbera prime time animated television series which ran from September 27, 1961 to April 18, 1962 for a run of 30 episodes on the ABC network. Reruns are played on Cartoon Network's classic animation network Boomerang.-History:...
, performed in a swing style. Other songs include original ballads 'Grenadine and Blue', 'Autumn in Soho Square' as well as the standards 'My Way' (Samba) and 'My Lean Baby'.
He has also recorded an album called Retro Spectrum of '80s pop classics in jazz.
Richard is a tireless fundraiser for Breast Cancer charities since his mother died of the condition when he was 12 years old and has sung with the BBC Big Band and BBC Concert Orchestra for the Moon Walk Breast Cancer Charity
MoonWalk (charity event)
The Playtex Moonwalk is a nocturnal charity marathon and half-marathon held annually in London, and more recently Edinburgh, Scotland to raise money for breast cancer research. Over 15,000 women and 1,000 men took part in the 2007 London event, whilst 9,000 women and 1,000 men took part in...
in London's Hyde Park, for Breakthrough Breast Cancer
Breakthrough Breast Cancer
Breakthrough Breast Cancer is a United Kingdom charity committed to fighting breast cancer through research, campaigning and education. Its vision is "to work for a future free from the fear of breast cancer".-History:...
and 'Tickled Pink'. He also organised a big-band fundraiser event for the Motor Neurone Disease Association
Motor Neurone Disease Association
The Motor Neurone Disease Association is a British charity, operating in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, established in 1979 by a group of volunteers to coordinate care, support, and research for people affected by motor neurone disease .The aim of the MND Association is a world free of MND.The...
, raising tens of thousands of pounds. His connection to MND is through his step-mother, who was living with the condition until 2006.
His very first acting role was as the embodiment of Death in the 1980s low budget classic Dance of Death, in which he played a mysterious and evil black hatted dancer whose appearance and subsequent scary dance resulted in the rapid death of whomever witnessed it, in the style of `The Ring`.
Richard also writes motivational workshops for clients including Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
, Corus (British Steel), InterContinental Hotels Group
InterContinental Hotels Group
InterContinental Hotels Group plc is a global hotels company headquartered in Denham, United Kingdom. It is the largest hotels company in the world measured by rooms , and has over 4,500 hotels across over 100 countries...
and has presented many corporate events nationally and abroad.
Before becoming an actor, Richard worked in international sales and marketing for InterContinental Hotels.
In January 2009, Richard featured as a guest singer on a UK tour with T.V. dancing stars Anton du Beke
Anton du Beke
Anton du Beke is a British ballroom dancer and television presenter. His professional dance partner since 1997 has been Erin Boag. With Boag, he won the IDTA Classic in England in November 2003.-Family and early life:...
and his dance partner, Erin Boag
Erin Boag
Erin Boag is a professional ballroom dancer. She has danced from the age of three, originally starting ballet and later moving into ballroom, Latin and jazz...
from BBC T.V.'s Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing is a British television show, featuring celebrities with professional dance partners competing in Ballroom and Latin dances. The title of the show suggests a continuation of the long-running series Come Dancing, with an allusion to the film Strictly Ballroom...