Ricky Tomlinson
Encyclopedia
Eric Tomlinson known by his stage name Ricky Tomlinson, is an English
actor
and comedian
, best known for his roles as Bobby Grant
in Brookside
, DCI Charlie Wise in Cracker
and James "Jim" Royle in The Royle Family
.
, Lancashire
, but has lived in Liverpool
for nearly all his life. Tomlinson was born in Bispham because his mother, Peggy, was evacuated there due to the Liverpool Blitz
in World War II
. On 22 March 1962 he married his first wife Marlene; they had three children.
A trained and qualified plasterer by trade, he worked on various building sites for many years, becoming actively involved in politics (firstly with the far-right, then more predominantly with the far-left). In 1968 he joined the National Front in support of less immigration after Enoch Powell
's Rivers of Blood speech. His views gradually changed over time and in 1972 he joined the flying pickets in a building workers' dispute in Shrewsbury
. In 1973, Tomlinson was sentenced to two years in prison after being found guilty of 'conspiracy to intimidate' as one of the so-called Shrewsbury Two
. After his release in 1975, he disrupted the TUC
conference by shouting from the wings after he had been prevented from speaking from the stage. It was revealed in 2002 that MI5
had monitored him during the 1970s.
In his 2003 autobiography, he admitted that between 1968 and 1972, prior to his involvement with trade union politics, he was a member of the National Front
, which he now bitterly regrets and which he puts down to being "politically naive and poorly educated".
in the soap opera
Brookside
between 1982 and 1988, as DCI Charlie Wise in Cracker
and as Jim Royle in the sitcom The Royle Family
.
He also made a song called We're Gonna Win With Capello
In 2002 Tomlinson starred in the BBC TV Series Nice Guy Eddie playing a Liverpool private investigator. Using down-to-earth cases - actually based upon real life cases by Liverpool private investigator
Tony Smith - the show also starred Tom Ellis
and John Henshaw
.
He featured heavily in series two of Paul Abbott
's series Clocking Off
, in a BAFTA nominated episode written by Danny Brocklehurst
.
He has also starred in several films, notably Mike Bassett: England Manager
, Raining Stones
and Hillsborough, a made-for-TV film about the families' of the victims of the Hillsborough Stadium disaster
, in which he portrayed John Glover - the father of victim Ian Glover.
Tomlinson has fronted a series of television adverts for the utility company British Gas
. In January 2010 he began to appear in a series of advertisements for the frozen food chain Farmfoods.
In 2003 he published an autobiography
, entitled Ricky, which spent five weeks at the top of the UK best selling new books chart. In the book Tomlinson admitted to having a number of affairs as well as describing in detail his time in prison.
Tomlinson is also a keen banjo
and harpsichord player, and has played the instruments in many episodes of The Royle Family
. In 2001 he teamed up with fellow Brookside
actor, Michael Starke
and other friends for his own rendition of well-known folk songs including "It's A Long Way To Tipperary" and a cover of The Pogues
' "Are You Lookin' At Me?". A CD album entitled Music My Arse was released the same year, it managed to peak at Number 127 in the UK Albums Chart
. He released a single
at Christmas 2006 entitled Christmas My Arse which reached #25 in the UK Singles Chart
.
On 19 June 2006 Tomlinson made his debut as the guest celebrity in Dictionary Corner on the popular and long-running UK Channel 4
game show Countdown
. In the summer of 2006, Tomlinson toured at theatres across the UK with his show An Evening with Ricky Tomlinson where he was interviewed about his life by Elton Welsby
. In December 2006 he presented a programme in Five's Disappearing Britain
series entitled When Coal was King, in which he made controversial comments about Margaret Thatcher
's potential death.
In March 2007, Tomlinson presented BBC's One Life: Guilty My Arsehttp://blogs.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ianwylie/2007/03/ricky_tomlinson_guilty_my.html, detailing his version of the Shrewsbury Two case, in which he compared his political activism as a trade unionist to the work of the suffragettes. In June 2007, Tomlinson Liverpool
-based Royle Motors garage joined Good Garage Scheme (Forte), an online Forte Libricants association requiring its member garages to adhere to strict customer service guidelines. On 19 October 2007 Tomlinson had a major heart operation and underwent a quadruple heart bypass at Liverpool
's Cardiothoracic Centre. Consultant cardiac surgeon Aung Oo said: "The operation went according to plan and he is now recovering within the hospital's critical care unit."
During 2008 and 2009 Tomlinson took his Laughter Show theatrical revue on the road with fellow comedians Tony Barton, Duncan Norvelle and Pauline Daniels.
In 2009 he had a leading role as the Head Judge in the "VMH Club Star Talent Trail", a local talent-based competition held at the VMH Club in Garston, Liverpool. A large number of North-West based performers entered the competition which was ultimately won by 14 year old Shaun Walsh from Liverpool.
In May 2010 Tomlinson opened his own cabaret club in Liverpool, The Green Room. The comic has teamed up with brothers Richard and Simon Wallace, from Liverpool production company Red Hot Media, to open the 250-seater cabaret lounge on Duke Street, Liverpool.
In March 2011 Tomlinson acted in an advertising campaign for furniture and furnishing store, The Range.
and often appears on party election broadcasts for Scargill's Socialist Labour Party
, most recently for the 2009 European Parliament elections, being its most prominent celebrity supporter since its formation in 1996 following a split by left-wing Labour members in response to Tony Blair's
re-writing of Clause IV which ended the party's committment to nationalisation.
He has also shown his support for the Campaign for a New Workers' Party
. A public meeting was hosted by the CNWP in Liverpool on Monday 12 February 2007 which was addressed by Ricky Tomlinson alongside Tommy Sheridan
and Tony Mulhearn
in which he used the slogan "New Labour my arse".
He is mentioned in the Chumbawamba
song, "I'm not sorry, I was having fun", in reference to his support for the Socialist Labour Party.
On 5 February 2010, Tomlinson revealed his plan to stand as the Socialist Labour Party's candidate for the Liverpool Wavertree constituency at the 2010 General Election in protest at the selection of Luciana Berger
, a 28-year old Londoner as the Labour Party
candidate. However, Kim Singleton was ultimately selected for the seat. In a statement, the SLP said that he could not contest the election due to "personal and contractual commitments". Mr Tomlinson added: "I am disappointed not to be able to stand. But I am pleased to give the chosen candidate my wholehearted support."He has also commented that there is now "no difference between the Conservatives and New Labour".
Earlier in his life, Tomlinson was a member of the far right National Front. He now regrets this association.He has openly expressed his dislike of Margaret Thatcher
(Conservative
prime minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990), who was deeply unpopular on Tomlinson's native Merseyside
as the area suffered from some of the United Kingdom's highest unemployment levels, as well as severe civil unrest, during her premiership.
In November 2010 it was reported that Tomlinson donated £1,000,000 to the Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool two years previously.
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 comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
, best known for his roles as Bobby Grant
Bobby Grant
Bobby Grant is a fictional character from British soap opera, Brookside played by Ricky Tomlinson. Bobby appeared in Brookside from the first episode in 1982 until the character's departure in 1988...
in Brookside
Brookside
Brookside is a defunct British soap opera set in Liverpool, England. The series began on the launch night of Channel 4 on 2 November 1982, and ran for 21 years until 4 November 2003...
, DCI Charlie Wise in Cracker
Cracker (UK TV series)
Cracker is a British crime drama series produced by Granada Television for ITV and created and principally written by Jimmy McGovern. The series is centered on a criminal psychologist , Eddie "Fitz" Fitzgerald, played by Robbie Coltrane. Set in Manchester, it consists of three series which were...
and James "Jim" Royle in The Royle Family
The Royle Family
The Royle Family is a popular, BAFTA award-winning television comedy drama produced by Granada Television for the BBC, which ran for three series between 1998 and 2000, and specials from 2006 onwards...
.
Early life
Tomlinson was born Eric Tomlinson in Bispham, BlackpoolBispham, Blackpool
Bispham is a village roughly one-and-a-half miles north of Blackpool town centre on the Fylde coast in the county of Lancashire, England.-Geography and administration:...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, but has lived in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
for nearly all his life. Tomlinson was born in Bispham because his mother, Peggy, was evacuated there due to the Liverpool Blitz
Liverpool Blitz
The Liverpool Blitz was the heavy and sustained bombing of the British city of Liverpool and its surrounding area, at the time mostly within the counties of Lancashire and Cheshire but commonly known as Merseyside, during the Second World War by the German Luftwaffe.Liverpool, Bootle, and the...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. On 22 March 1962 he married his first wife Marlene; they had three children.
A trained and qualified plasterer by trade, he worked on various building sites for many years, becoming actively involved in politics (firstly with the far-right, then more predominantly with the far-left). In 1968 he joined the National Front in support of less immigration after Enoch Powell
Enoch Powell
John Enoch Powell, MBE was a British politician, classical scholar, poet, writer, and soldier. He served as a Conservative Party MP and Minister of Health . He attained most prominence in 1968, when he made the controversial Rivers of Blood speech in opposition to mass immigration from...
's Rivers of Blood speech. His views gradually changed over time and in 1972 he joined the flying pickets in a building workers' dispute in Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
. In 1973, Tomlinson was sentenced to two years in prison after being found guilty of 'conspiracy to intimidate' as one of the so-called Shrewsbury Two
Des Warren
Des Warren was a British construction worker, trade union activist and – with Ricky Tomlinson – one of the 'Shrewsbury Two' imprisoned for 'conspiracy to intimidate' whilst picketing in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, during 1972...
. After his release in 1975, he disrupted the TUC
Trades Union Congress
The Trades Union Congress is a national trade union centre, a federation of trade unions in the United Kingdom, representing the majority of trade unions...
conference by shouting from the wings after he had been prevented from speaking from the stage. It was revealed in 2002 that MI5
MI5
The Security Service, commonly known as MI5 , is the United Kingdom's internal counter-intelligence and security agency and is part of its core intelligence machinery alongside the Secret Intelligence Service focused on foreign threats, Government Communications Headquarters and the Defence...
had monitored him during the 1970s.
In his 2003 autobiography, he admitted that between 1968 and 1972, prior to his involvement with trade union politics, he was a member of the National Front
British National Front
The National Front is a far right, white-only political party whose major political activities took place during the 1970s and 1980s. Its popularity peaked in the 1979 general election, when it received 191,719 votes ....
, which he now bitterly regrets and which he puts down to being "politically naive and poorly educated".
Career and business
As an actor he has found considerable success, appearing as Bobby GrantBobby Grant
Bobby Grant is a fictional character from British soap opera, Brookside played by Ricky Tomlinson. Bobby appeared in Brookside from the first episode in 1982 until the character's departure in 1988...
in the 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,...
Brookside
Brookside
Brookside is a defunct British soap opera set in Liverpool, England. The series began on the launch night of Channel 4 on 2 November 1982, and ran for 21 years until 4 November 2003...
between 1982 and 1988, as DCI Charlie Wise in Cracker
Cracker (UK TV series)
Cracker is a British crime drama series produced by Granada Television for ITV and created and principally written by Jimmy McGovern. The series is centered on a criminal psychologist , Eddie "Fitz" Fitzgerald, played by Robbie Coltrane. Set in Manchester, it consists of three series which were...
and as Jim Royle in the sitcom The Royle Family
The Royle Family
The Royle Family is a popular, BAFTA award-winning television comedy drama produced by Granada Television for the BBC, which ran for three series between 1998 and 2000, and specials from 2006 onwards...
.
He also made a song called We're Gonna Win With Capello
In 2002 Tomlinson starred in the BBC TV Series Nice Guy Eddie playing a Liverpool private investigator. Using down-to-earth cases - actually based upon real life cases by Liverpool private investigator
Private investigator
A private investigator , private detective or inquiry agent, is a person who can be hired by individuals or groups to undertake investigatory law services. Private detectives/investigators often work for attorneys in civil cases. Many work for insurance companies to investigate suspicious claims...
Tony Smith - the show also starred Tom Ellis
Tom Ellis (actor)
Tom Ellis is a Welsh actor best known for playing Dr. Oliver Cousins in the BBC soap opera EastEnders and Detective Sergeant Sam Speed in a Life on Mars parody on the The Catherine Tate Show...
and John Henshaw
John Henshaw
John Henshaw is a British actor, best-known for his roles as Ken the landlord in Early Doors, Wilf Bradshaw in Born and Bred and PC Roy Bramwell in The Cops. He is often associated with playing "hard men"...
.
He featured heavily in series two of Paul Abbott
Paul Abbott
Paul Abbott is a BAFTA award-winning English television screenwriter and producer. Abbott has become one of the most critically and commercially successful television writers working in Britain today, following his work on many popular series, including Coronation Street, Cracker and Shameless,...
's series Clocking Off
Clocking Off
Clocking Off is a British television drama series which ran on the BBC One network for four series from 2000 to 2003. It was produced for the BBC by the independent Red Production Company, and created by Paul Abbott...
, in a BAFTA nominated episode written by Danny Brocklehurst
Danny Brocklehurst
Danny Brocklehurst is a BAFTA and International Emmy -winning English screenwriter. Brocklehurst worked as a journalist for several years before becoming a full-time screenwriter.He has written acclaimed television drama...
.
He has also starred in several films, notably Mike Bassett: England Manager
Mike Bassett: England Manager
Mike Bassett: England Manager is a 2001 satirical comedy film directed by Steve Barron, following the fortunes of the manager of Division One football club Norwich City, Mike Bassett, who having led his side to the 'Mr Clutch Cup', is appointed England manager.The film takes the form of a...
, Raining Stones
Raining Stones
Raining Stones is a 1993 film directed by Ken Loach and starring Bruce Jones, Julie Brown, Ricky Tomlinson, Tom Hickey and Gemma Phoenix. It tells the story of a man who cannot afford to buy his daughter a First Communion dress, and makes disastrous choices in trying to raise the money...
and Hillsborough, a made-for-TV film about the families' of the victims of the Hillsborough Stadium disaster
Hillsborough disaster
The Hillsborough disaster was a human crush that occurred on 15 April 1989 at Hillsborough, a football stadium, the home of Sheffield Wednesday F.C. in Sheffield, England, resulting in the deaths of 96 people, and 766 being injured, all fans of Liverpool F.C....
, in which he portrayed John Glover - the father of victim Ian Glover.
Tomlinson has fronted a series of television adverts for the utility company British Gas
Centrica
Centrica plc is a multinational utility company, based in the United Kingdom but also with interests in North America. Centrica is the largest supplier of gas to domestic customers in the UK, and one of the largest suppliers of electricity, operating under the trading names "Scottish Gas" in...
. In January 2010 he began to appear in a series of advertisements for the frozen food chain Farmfoods.
In 2003 he published an autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
, entitled Ricky, which spent five weeks at the top of the UK best selling new books chart. In the book Tomlinson admitted to having a number of affairs as well as describing in detail his time in prison.
Tomlinson is also a keen banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
and harpsichord player, and has played the instruments in many episodes of The Royle Family
The Royle Family
The Royle Family is a popular, BAFTA award-winning television comedy drama produced by Granada Television for the BBC, which ran for three series between 1998 and 2000, and specials from 2006 onwards...
. In 2001 he teamed up with fellow Brookside
Brookside
Brookside is a defunct British soap opera set in Liverpool, England. The series began on the launch night of Channel 4 on 2 November 1982, and ran for 21 years until 4 November 2003...
actor, Michael Starke
Michael Starke (actor)
Michael Starke , is a British actor best known for his role as Thomas 'Sinbad' Sweeney which he played for 16 years in the soap opera Brookside...
and other friends for his own rendition of well-known folk songs including "It's A Long Way To Tipperary" and a cover of The Pogues
The Pogues
The Pogues are a Celtic punk band, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before...
' "Are You Lookin' At Me?". A CD album entitled Music My Arse was released the same year, it managed to peak at Number 127 in the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
. He released a single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
at Christmas 2006 entitled Christmas My Arse which reached #25 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
On 19 June 2006 Tomlinson made his debut as the guest celebrity in Dictionary Corner on the popular and long-running UK 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...
game show 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...
. In the summer of 2006, Tomlinson toured at theatres across the UK with his show An Evening with Ricky Tomlinson where he was interviewed about his life by Elton Welsby
Elton Welsby
Roger Elton Welsby is an English television sports presenter.-Education:Welsby was educated at the independent school Liverpool College in the city of Liverpool in Merseyside....
. In December 2006 he presented a programme in Five's Disappearing Britain
Disappearing Britain
Disappearing Britain was a three-part TV mini-series broadcast on the Five channel in Britain. The series contained rare archive film of Thatcher-era Britain, with a retrospective commentary, and interviews with the general public....
series entitled When Coal was King, in which he made controversial comments about Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
's potential death.
In March 2007, Tomlinson presented BBC's One Life: Guilty My Arsehttp://blogs.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ianwylie/2007/03/ricky_tomlinson_guilty_my.html, detailing his version of the Shrewsbury Two case, in which he compared his political activism as a trade unionist to the work of the suffragettes. In June 2007, Tomlinson Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
-based Royle Motors garage joined Good Garage Scheme (Forte), an online Forte Libricants association requiring its member garages to adhere to strict customer service guidelines. On 19 October 2007 Tomlinson had a major heart operation and underwent a quadruple heart bypass at Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
's Cardiothoracic Centre. Consultant cardiac surgeon Aung Oo said: "The operation went according to plan and he is now recovering within the hospital's critical care unit."
During 2008 and 2009 Tomlinson took his Laughter Show theatrical revue on the road with fellow comedians Tony Barton, Duncan Norvelle and Pauline Daniels.
In 2009 he had a leading role as the Head Judge in the "VMH Club Star Talent Trail", a local talent-based competition held at the VMH Club in Garston, Liverpool. A large number of North-West based performers entered the competition which was ultimately won by 14 year old Shaun Walsh from Liverpool.
In May 2010 Tomlinson opened his own cabaret club in Liverpool, The Green Room. The comic has teamed up with brothers Richard and Simon Wallace, from Liverpool production company Red Hot Media, to open the 250-seater cabaret lounge on Duke Street, Liverpool.
In March 2011 Tomlinson acted in an advertising campaign for furniture and furnishing store, The Range.
Politics
Tomlinson is a personal friend of Arthur ScargillArthur Scargill
Arthur Scargill is a British politician who was President of the National Union of Mineworkers from 1982 to 2002, leading the union through the 1984–85 miners' strike, a key event in British labour and political history...
and often appears on party election broadcasts for Scargill's Socialist Labour Party
Socialist Labour Party (UK)
The Socialist Labour Party is a far left socialist political party in the United Kingdom. The party is led by former trade union leader Arthur Scargill, who established it in 1996 as a breakaway from the Labour Party...
, most recently for the 2009 European Parliament elections, being its most prominent celebrity supporter since its formation in 1996 following a split by left-wing Labour members in response to Tony Blair's
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
re-writing of Clause IV which ended the party's committment to nationalisation.
He has also shown his support for the Campaign for a New Workers' Party
Campaign for a New Workers' Party
The Campaign For A New Workers' Party is an initiative of the Socialist Party of England and Wales that argues for the establishment of a new mass workers' party, involving trade union activists, socialists, anti-capitalists, and community, anti-war and environmental activists. It was launched at...
. A public meeting was hosted by the CNWP in Liverpool on Monday 12 February 2007 which was addressed by Ricky Tomlinson alongside Tommy Sheridan
Tommy Sheridan
Tommy Sheridan is a Scottish socialist politician. He has had various prominent roles within the socialist movement in Scotland and is currently one of two co-convenors of the left-wing Scottish political party Solidarity....
and Tony Mulhearn
Tony Mulhearn
Anthony Mulhearn is a British political campaigner known for being a prominent member of the Socialist Party and its predecessor, the Militant tendency...
in which he used the slogan "New Labour my arse".
He is mentioned in the Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba is a British musical group who have, over a career spanning nearly three decades, played punk rock, pop-influenced music, world music, and folk music...
song, "I'm not sorry, I was having fun", in reference to his support for the Socialist Labour Party.
On 5 February 2010, Tomlinson revealed his plan to stand as the Socialist Labour Party's candidate for the Liverpool Wavertree constituency at the 2010 General Election in protest at the selection of Luciana Berger
Luciana Berger
Luciana Clare Berger is a British Labour Co-operative politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Liverpool Wavertree since 2010...
, a 28-year old Londoner as the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
candidate. However, Kim Singleton was ultimately selected for the seat. In a statement, the SLP said that he could not contest the election due to "personal and contractual commitments". Mr Tomlinson added: "I am disappointed not to be able to stand. But I am pleased to give the chosen candidate my wholehearted support."He has also commented that there is now "no difference between the Conservatives and New Labour".
Earlier in his life, Tomlinson was a member of the far right National Front. He now regrets this association.He has openly expressed his dislike of Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
(Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
prime minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990), who was deeply unpopular on Tomlinson's native Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
as the area suffered from some of the United Kingdom's highest unemployment levels, as well as severe civil unrest, during her premiership.
Charitable works
In 2008, Tomlinson donated £200,000 as Patron of the Human Milk Bank of Cheshire and North Wales. The charity provides babies on Special Care Baby Units with milk from donor mothers, significantly improving their chances of survival and long term development. He is quoted as saying: "Due to my own recent experiences with my health, I know how much hospitals and appeals appreciate help and assistance. This is such an important service which can help so many families and I'm very honoured to be the patron."In November 2010 it was reported that Tomlinson donated £1,000,000 to the Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool two years previously.
Filmography
- Boys from the BlackstuffBoys from the BlackstuffBoys from the Blackstuff is a British television drama series of five episodes, originally transmitted from 10 October to 7 November 1982 on BBC2....
(1982) - BrooksideBrooksideBrookside is a defunct British soap opera set in Liverpool, England. The series began on the launch night of Channel 4 on 2 November 1982, and ran for 21 years until 4 November 2003...
(TV series) (1982–1988) - Riff-Raff (1990)
- Raining StonesRaining StonesRaining Stones is a 1993 film directed by Ken Loach and starring Bruce Jones, Julie Brown, Ricky Tomlinson, Tom Hickey and Gemma Phoenix. It tells the story of a man who cannot afford to buy his daughter a First Communion dress, and makes disastrous choices in trying to raise the money...
(1993) - RoughnecksRoughnecksRoughnecks can refer to:*Roughnecks , a 1990s BBC One programme about oil rig workers*Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles, a CGI animation television series*Calgary Roughnecks, a Canadian lacrosse team...
(TV series) (1994–1995) - CrackerCracker (UK TV series)Cracker is a British crime drama series produced by Granada Television for ITV and created and principally written by Jimmy McGovern. The series is centered on a criminal psychologist , Eddie "Fitz" Fitzgerald, played by Robbie Coltrane. Set in Manchester, it consists of three series which were...
(TV series) (1994–1996) - Butterfly KissButterfly KissButterfly Kiss is a 1995 British film, directed by Michael Winterbottom and written by Frank Cottrell Boyce. It stars Amanda Plummer and Saskia Reeves...
(1995) - Bob's Weekend (1996)
- HillsboroughHillsborough-In Canada:*Hillsborough, New Brunswick*Hillsborough, Nova Scotia, in Inverness County*Hillsborough , a defunct Prince Edward Island federal electoral district-In New Zealand:* Hillsborough, Auckland...
(1996) - Das Leben ist eine Baustelle (1997)
- Preaching to the PervertedPreaching to the PervertedPreaching to the Perverted is a 1997 British comedy film written and directed by Stuart Urban.The film stars Guinevere Turner as Tanya Cheex, a New York dominatrix. Tom Bell plays Henry Harding MP and Christien Anholt plays Peter Emery...
(1997) - Mojo (1997)
- Playing the FieldPlaying the FieldPlaying the Field is a BBC television drama series following the lives of the Castlefield Blues, a fictitious female football team from South Yorkshire.-Outline:...
(TV series) (1998–2002) - The Royle FamilyThe Royle FamilyThe Royle Family is a popular, BAFTA award-winning television comedy drama produced by Granada Television for the BBC, which ran for three series between 1998 and 2000, and specials from 2006 onwards...
(TV series) (1998–present) - DockersDockers (TV programme)Dockers is a British feature-length television drama produced for Channel 4 about the struggles of a small group of Liverpool dockers who were sacked and subsequently spent 2 years picketing during the Liverpool Dockers' Strike of 1995 to 1998....
(TV drama) (1999) - The Greatest Store in the WorldThe Greatest Store in the WorldThe Greatest Store in the World is a book by Alex Shearer and later made into a telemovie which was broadcast on 24 December 1999. The story is told in flashback by Livvie , a bright young girl who is in police custody on Christmas Day...
(1999) - Nasty Neighbours (2000)
- Mike Bassett: England ManagerMike Bassett: England ManagerMike Bassett: England Manager is a 2001 satirical comedy film directed by Steve Barron, following the fortunes of the manager of Division One football club Norwich City, Mike Bassett, who having led his side to the 'Mr Clutch Cup', is appointed England manager.The film takes the form of a...
(2001) - The 51st StateThe 51st StateThe 51st State is a 2001 British action comedy film written by Stel Pavlou and directed by Ronny Yu. Produced by Focus Films Ltd. . The film stars Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Carlyle, Emily Mortimer, Ricky Tomlinson, Sean Pertwee, Rhys Ifans and Meat Loaf...
(2001) - DerekDerekDerek is a male name derived from the same root as the Old German Theodoric, meaning power of the tribe or ruler of the people. Variants recently revived are Deryk, Deric, Derak, the Dutch form Dirk, popularised by the actor Dirk Bogarde, and the Low German Dirk...
(2001) - Once Upon a Time in the MidlandsOnce Upon a Time in the MidlandsOnce Upon a Time in the Midlands is a 2002 film directed and co-written by Shane Meadows and set in an anonymous town in the Midlands. It was filmed on location in Nottingham.-Plot:...
(2002) - Al's LadsAl's LadsAl's Lads is a 2002 British crime/drama film.-Plot:Three Englishmen working as waiters on a cruise ship in 1927 are given a chance to work for the Al Capone gang.-Cast:*Marc Warren as Jimmy...
(2002) - The Virgin of Liverpool (2003)
- Mike Bassett: ManagerMike Bassett: ManagerMike Bassett: Manager is a British TV comedy series, which began transmitting from 29 September 2005 on ITV. It is a follow-up to the film Mike Bassett: England Manager, and stars Ricky Tomlinson in the title role Steve Edge as his assistant, and Amanda Redman as his long-suffering wife, Karine...
(TV series) (2005) - Stepdad (2007)
- Nativity! (2009)
- Football My Arse (DVD 2007)
- Laughter Show- Live (DVD 2008)
- FlutterFlutter (film)Flutter is an upcoming British independent dark comedy film about gambling, written by Stephen Leslie and directed by Giles Borg currently filming in England...
(2010)
External links
- BBC profile, retrieved December 14, 2007
- "Ricky Tomlinson: Royle Rebel", BBC, 28 September 2001
- Detailed account of Ricky Tomlins
- http://www.thegreenroomliverpool.com/The_Greenroom_Liverpool/The_Greenroom.html The Green Room caberet club in Liverpool