Tony Robinson
Encyclopedia
Tony Robinson is an English actor, comedian, author, broadcaster
and political campaigner. He is best known for playing Baldrick
in the BBC
television series Blackadder
, and for hosting Channel 4
programmes such as Time Team
and The Worst Jobs in History
. Robinson is a member of the Labour Party
and has served on its National Executive Committee
. He has also written 16 children's books.
in the London Borough of Hackney
, London, Robinson attended Wanstead High School
in what is now the London Borough of Redbridge
. He performed in his first professional acting role at the age of 12, as a member of Fagin
's gang in the original production of the musical Oliver!
, including a stint as the Artful Dodger when the boy playing the role didn't turn up. Over the next five years, he appeared in a number of West End shows, in film, and on television.
At school, Robinson passed four O-Levels (English Language, English Literature, History and Geography) and went on to study for A-Levels. However, he did not complete his A Levels and decided to study at a drama school instead. Too young to attend the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
, Robinson instead studied at the Central School of Speech and Drama
. After leaving, he spent four years in repertory theatre
.
He won an Arts Council bursary to work as a director at the Midland Arts Centre, Birmingham and founded the Avon Touring Company, a Bristol
-based community theatre company, with writer David Illingworth.
He appeared in the 1974/75 season at Chichester Festival Theatre
, as Angel Chicago in the nativity
musical Follow The Star. In the 1975 season, he appeared as Hovstad in Henrik Ibsen
's Enemy of the People
. In 1976, he appeared as Feste
in Twelfth Night, and as Majorin in Monsieur Perrichon's Travels.
In the early 1970s he starred in the children's educational programme Sam on Boffs' Island and was later a presenter on Play Away
. He also appeared in the award-winning Horizon documentary Joey, and in the title role in the BBC
production of The Miracle of Brother Humphrey. He also had a minor part in the film Brannigan
starring John Wayne
.
He was also one of the Who Dares Wins team in the Channel 4
comedy/satirical show in the early/mid-1980s.
, as Edmund Blackadder
's dogsbody
Baldrick
. In the first series, broadcast as The Black Adder
, he was quite astute, while his master
was an idiot. Later series (Blackadder II
, Blackadder the Third
, Blackadder Goes Forth
) moved the duo through history and switched the relationship: the Edmund Blackadder
of Blackadder II was a brilliant schemer, whereas Baldrick had devolved into a buffoon whose catchphrase was "I have a cunning plan" (which he almost never had).
In addition to his acting on Blackadder, he also wrote and narrated several Jackanory
-style children's programmes, encouraged by Richard Curtis
. Programmes in this style included Tales From Fat Tulip's Garden
(continued in Fat Tulip Too), Odysseus
: The Greatest Hero of Them All (a retelling of the Iliad
and the Odyssey
), and Blood and Honey (tales from the Old Testament
, filmed on location).
, Robinson became the narrator and one of the lead actors for the British animated series Nellie the Elephant, based on a song of the same name. The series ran from 1989 to 1991 and was shown on Children's ITV
.
Robinson also presented the early-Saturday evening series Stay Tooned
for BBC 1, which featured a selection of classic Warner Brothers and MGM cartoons.
In the early 1990s he created the children's comedy TV series Maid Marian and her Merry Men
, a loose retelling of the legend of Robin Hood
in which he appeared as the Sheriff of Nottingham
. Four series were broadcast on BBC1 during 1989–94.
In 1994, Robinson began presenting Time Team
, a TV programme devoted to archaeological investigations limited to three days (the outcome is never guaranteed, varying from spectacular to disappointing). In 2005, Exeter University conferred an Honorary Doctorate on Robinson, and Honorary Professorships on principal presenter Mick Aston and producer Tim Taylor, to reflect its great appreciation for what Time Team has done for the public understanding of archaeology in the UK. In the 2011 episode Hitler's Island Fortress, Robinson described himself as an amateur archaeologist.
Robinson was drafted in to present other history-based shows on Channel 4
, including The Worst Jobs in History
, researching and re-enacting some of the more horrible jobs of the past millennium. He also took this show on tour around the country along with an autobiographical question and answer session. This first series was followed by The Worst Christmas Jobs in History in December 2005 and then a second series of The Worst Jobs in History on Channel 4 in April 2006.
In 1999, Robinson returned to star in a one-off Blackadder short film to celebrate the millennium, entitled Blackadder: Back & Forth
. This short film was shown in the Millennium Dome
throughout 2000 and was later aired on BBC One
in 2002.
Robinson also contributed the voiceover for the TV series Airline in its set of new series from 1999 focusing on the daily routine of EasyJet
staff at a selection of airports. The show was made for ITV
and is often repeated today on Sky Real Lives, Sky 1
, Sky 2, Sky 3 (now Pick TV) & ITV2
. He worked as the narrator for six of the remaining nine series until 2006 when the series ended.
Tony Robinson's Cunning Night Out, a largely improvised stage show, followed in early 2005 and included a mix of the many themes from his career for which Robinson is famous. He also edited and presented The Real Da Vinci Code, a documentary for Channel 4's Weird World series which countered the claims made by Dan Brown
in his novel The Da Vinci Code
.
In addition to telling his own stories, Robinson narrated the abridged audio book
versions of Terry Pratchett
's Discworld
novels. Nigel Planer
, Celia Imrie
and Stephen Briggs
narrated the unabridged versions. He also provided the voicing for several characters in the videogame Discworld. He followed on this Discworld work by playing a role in the live action television dramatisation of Hogfather, broadcast on Sky
over the Christmas season in 2006.
Robinson also presented Classic FM
's Friendly Guide to Classical Music which aired on a Sunday at 4 pm. The whole 16-episode series was repeated on 26 December 2006. He revealed on the BBC Radio 2
feature "Tracks of My Years" that his favourite songs are: "I Can Help" by Billy Swan
, "Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis
, "Chasing Cars" by Snow Patrol
, "Beautiful" by Christina Aguilera
, "Unfinished Sympathy" by Massive Attack
, "Tangled Up In Blue
" by Bob Dylan
, "Shoulda Woulda Coulda" by Beverley Knight
, "This Woman's Work" by Maxwell, "He's So Fine
" by The Chiffons
and "Falling Slowly" by The Frames
.
In 2007, Robinson narrated television advertisements for Honda
, in the humorous style of Tales From Fat Tulip's Garden
. The advertisements feature plastic cars with expressive faces (similar to Thomas the Tank Engine
). He has also done voiceovers for laundry product Vanish as of 2007.
Recently he discovered his Jewish ancestry through his grandmother's surname, Levy. The annual event, Who Do You Think You Are? LIVE also revealed his ancestry to him live on stage at the 2008 event. Robinson's most recent presenting jobs were Channel 4's, Tony Robinson's Crime and Punishment
and Catastrophe
. He is currently presenting a 4-part Channel 4 series entitled Man on Earth
, focusing on man's struggle with climate change
in the past 200,000 years.
Tony Robinson and the Paranormal was first broadcast on Channel 4 in December 2008. In this series, Robinson investigates paranormal
phenomena combining the fields of archaeology
, parapsychology
, history and spiritualism
to investigate paranormal evidence.
In July 2009, he appeared in the light-hearted BBC1 series Hotel Babylon
, as sly hit-man Arthur Barnes. The character is knocked unconscious by a flying bottle expertly lobbed by the female hotel manager during a showdown in the lobby. In February 2010 Robinson, described as the 'stunt Pratchett', read the main part of Terry Pratchett
's BBC
Richard Dimbleby Lecture
.
From 1 September 2010, Robinson hosted a brand new series on National Geographic Channel
called 'Birth of Britain' this was then repeated on Channel 4
commencing January 2011.
In 2011 he will be presenting a program entitled Tony Robinson Explores Australia, filmed in High Definition it will roughly follow a chronology: from the earliest sightings of Terra Australis Incognita through to today. Each era will be defined by a theme rather than equal blocks of time.
From 1996 to 2000, he was vice-president of the actors' union Equity
, helping with a huge restructuring programme which turned a £500,000 deficit into a small surplus. He continues to work within Equity. In 2000 he was elected to the Labour Party's National Executive Committee
, a position he held to 2004.
He was also active in the "Make Poverty History
" campaign during early 2005, in the lead-up to the G8
summit in Scotland
, and is the patron for UK-based charity Street Child Africa.
In March 2011, Robinson participated in the 'March for the Alternative' protests in Central London, which opposed the Conservative led Coalition UK Government's spending cuts programme.
In 2006 he appeared in Tony Robinson: Me and My Mum, a documentary surrounding Robinson's decision to find a nursing home for his mother, and the difficulty he had with doing so. The documentary showed his mother's death in the home. It also featured stories from other families in similar situations. It appeared as part of Channel 4
's short season of programmes entitled The Trouble With Old People.
He previously supported the football clubs Tottenham Hotspur and Stoke City, but now supports Bristol City. He also follows Spanish Liga BBVA side Valencia
, often spending his holidays in the country.
He is honorary president of the Young Archaeologists' Club of the Council for British Archaeology
.
He is a big fan of the rock band Genesis
and provided sleeve notes for the reissue of the album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
as part of the Genesis 1970–1975 box set.
In late 2009 he was invited to be guest speaker at The Pride of Craegmoor Awards, where he gave a speech about his time with his mother and finding a Care Home. He then went on to give the prizes to Craegmoor's Shining Star and Leading Light.
Robinson has shown his support for the Burma Campaign UK
, an NGO that aims to highlight human rights violations in Burma under the State Peace and Development Council
.
Robinson married Louise Hobbs on 24 June 2011.
by the University of Bristol
for his services to drama and archaeology.
In 2002 he was awarded an honorary Master of Arts
by the University of East London
.
In 2005 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Open University
for his contribution to the educational or cultural well-being of society and an honorary Doctor of Laws by the University of Exeter
for his active involvement in politics.
In 2006 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by Oxford Brookes University
.
In September 2008, he was awarded the James Joyce Award
by the Literary and Historical Society of UCD
.
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
and political campaigner. He is best known for playing Baldrick
Baldrick
Baldrick is the name of several fictional characters featured in the long-running BBC historic comedy television series Blackadder. Each one serves as Edmund Blackadder's servant and sidekick and acts as a foil to the lead character...
in 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...
television series Blackadder
Blackadder
Blackadder is the name that encompassed four series of a BBC1 historical sitcom, along with several one-off instalments. All television programme episodes starred Rowan Atkinson as anti-hero Edmund Blackadder and Tony Robinson as Blackadder's dogsbody, Baldrick...
, and for hosting 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...
programmes such as Time Team
Time Team
Time Team is a British television series which has been aired on Channel 4 since 1994. Created by television producer Tim Taylor and presented by actor Tony Robinson, each episode features a team of specialists carrying out an archaeological dig over a period of three days, with Robinson explaining...
and The Worst Jobs in History
The Worst Jobs in History
The Worst Jobs in History is a television series hosted by Tony Robinson on Channel 4. The second series was shown in March 2006 on History Television in Canada, then in April 2006 on Channel 4 in the UK. The first season is also shown with some regularity on History International...
. Robinson is a member of 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...
and has served on its National Executive Committee
National Executive Committee
The National Executive Committee or NEC is the chief administrative body of the UK Labour Party. Its composition has changed over the years, and includes representatives of affiliated trade unions, the Parliamentary Labour Party and European Parliamentary Labour Party, Constituency Labour Parties,...
. He has also written 16 children's books.
Early life
Born in HomertonHomerton
Homerton is a place in the London Borough of Hackney. It is bordered to the west by Hackney Central, to the north by Lower Clapton, in the east by Hackney Wick, Leyton and by South Hackney to the south.-Origins:...
in the London Borough of Hackney
London Borough of Hackney
The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough of North/North East London, and forms part of inner London. The local authority is Hackney London Borough Council....
, London, Robinson attended Wanstead High School
Wanstead High School
Wanstead High School , formerly Wanstead County High School, is a co-educational, non-denominational, comprehensive high school in Wanstead, London, United Kingdom.-Admissions:...
in what is now the London Borough of Redbridge
London Borough of Redbridge
The London Borough of Redbridge is a London borough in outer north-east London. Its administrative headquarters is at Redbridge Town Hall in Ilford. The local authority is Redbridge London Borough Council.-Etymology:...
. He performed in his first professional acting role at the age of 12, as a member of Fagin
Fagin
Fagin is a fictional character who appears as an antagonist of the Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist, referred to in the preface of the novel as a "receiver of stolen goods", but referred to more frequently within the actual story as the "merry old gentleman" or simply the "Jew".-Character:Born...
's gang in the original production of the musical Oliver!
Oliver!
Oliver! is a British musical, with script, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart. The musical is based upon the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens....
, including a stint as the Artful Dodger when the boy playing the role didn't turn up. Over the next five years, he appeared in a number of West End shows, in film, and on television.
At school, Robinson passed four O-Levels (English Language, English Literature, History and Geography) and went on to study for A-Levels. However, he did not complete his A Levels and decided to study at a drama school instead. Too young to attend the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art is a drama school located in London, United Kingdom. It is generally regarded as one of the most renowned drama schools in the world, and is one of the oldest drama schools in the United Kingdom, having been founded in 1904.RADA is an affiliate school of the...
, Robinson instead studied at the Central School of Speech and Drama
Central School of Speech and Drama
The Central School of Speech and Drama was founded in London in 1906 by Elsie Fogerty to offer a new form of training in speech and drama for young actors and other students...
. After leaving, he spent four years in repertory theatre
Repertory
Repertory or rep, also called stock in the United States, is a term used in Western theatre and opera.A repertory theatre can be a theatre in which a resident company presents works from a specified repertoire, usually in alternation or rotation...
.
He won an Arts Council bursary to work as a director at the Midland Arts Centre, Birmingham and founded the Avon Touring Company, a Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
-based community theatre company, with writer David Illingworth.
He appeared in the 1974/75 season at Chichester Festival Theatre
Chichester Festival Theatre
Chichester Festival Theatre, located in Chichester, England, was designed by Philip Powell and Hidalgo Moya, and opened by its founder Leslie Evershed-Martin in 1962. Subsequently the smaller and more intimate Minerva Theatre was built nearby in 1989....
, as Angel Chicago in the nativity
Nativity of Jesus
The Nativity of Jesus, or simply The Nativity, refers to the accounts of the birth of Jesus in two of the Canonical gospels and in various apocryphal texts....
musical Follow The Star. In the 1975 season, he appeared as Hovstad in Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen was a major 19th-century Norwegian playwright, theatre director, and poet. He is often referred to as "the father of prose drama" and is one of the founders of Modernism in the theatre...
's Enemy of the People
Enemy of the people
The term enemy of the people is a fluid designation of political or class opponents of the group using the term. The term implies that the "enemies" in question are acting against society as a whole. It is similar to the notion of "enemy of the state". The term originated in Roman times as ,...
. In 1976, he appeared as Feste
Feste
Feste is a jester in the Shakespeare comedy Twelfth Night or: What You Will. He is attached to the household of the Countess Olivia. Apparently he has been there for some time, as he was a "fool that the Lady Olivia's father took much delight in"...
in Twelfth Night, and as Majorin in Monsieur Perrichon's Travels.
In the early 1970s he starred in the children's educational programme Sam on Boffs' Island and was later a presenter on Play Away
Play Away
Play Away was a sister programme to Play School in the UK, aimed at slightly older children. It ran from 1971 until 1984. While Play School had a more gentle, intimate feel, featuring just two presenters in a studio with the usual collection of toys and pets, Play Away was much more lively,...
. He also appeared in the award-winning Horizon documentary Joey, and in the title role in 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...
production of The Miracle of Brother Humphrey. He also had a minor part in the film Brannigan
Brannigan (film)
Brannigan is a British action film set principally in London, directed by Douglas Hickox, and starring John Wayne and Richard Attenborough...
starring John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
.
He was also one of the Who Dares Wins team in 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...
comedy/satirical show in the early/mid-1980s.
Blackadder period (1983–1989)
Robinson came to prominence in 1983 for his role in the British historical sitcom BlackadderBlackadder
Blackadder is the name that encompassed four series of a BBC1 historical sitcom, along with several one-off instalments. All television programme episodes starred Rowan Atkinson as anti-hero Edmund Blackadder and Tony Robinson as Blackadder's dogsbody, Baldrick...
, as Edmund Blackadder
Edmund Blackadder
Edmund Blackadder is the single name given to a collection of fictional characters who appear in the BBC mock-historical comedy series Blackadder, each played by Rowan Atkinson. Although each series is set within a different period of British history, each character is part of the same familial...
's dogsbody
Dogsbody
A dogsbody, or less commonly dog robber in the Royal Navy, is a junior officer, or more generally someone who does drudge work. A rough American equivalent would be a "gofer" or a "grunt", a "lackey", or "toady".-History:...
Baldrick
Baldrick
Baldrick is the name of several fictional characters featured in the long-running BBC historic comedy television series Blackadder. Each one serves as Edmund Blackadder's servant and sidekick and acts as a foil to the lead character...
. In the first series, broadcast as The Black Adder
The Black Adder
The Black Adder is the first series of the BBC situation comedy Blackadder, written by Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson, directed by Martin Shardlow and produced by John Lloyd...
, he was quite astute, while his master
Prince Edmund (Blackadder)
Prince Edmund Plantagenet, Duke of Edinburgh is a fictional character in the first series of the BBC sitcom Blackadder.-Character overview:...
was an idiot. Later series (Blackadder II
Blackadder II
Blackadder II is the second series of the BBC situation comedy Blackadder, written by Richard Curtis and Ben Elton, which aired from 9 January 1986 to 20 February 1986...
, Blackadder the Third
Blackadder the Third
Blackadder the Third is the third series of the BBC situation comedy Blackadder, written by Richard Curtis and Ben Elton, which aired from 17 September to 22 October 1987....
, Blackadder Goes Forth
Blackadder Goes Forth
Blackadder Goes Forth is the fourth and final series of the BBC situation comedy Blackadder, written by Richard Curtis and Ben Elton, which aired from 28 September to 2 November 1989 on BBC One....
) moved the duo through history and switched the relationship: the Edmund Blackadder
Edmund Blackadder
Edmund Blackadder is the single name given to a collection of fictional characters who appear in the BBC mock-historical comedy series Blackadder, each played by Rowan Atkinson. Although each series is set within a different period of British history, each character is part of the same familial...
of Blackadder II was a brilliant schemer, whereas Baldrick had devolved into a buffoon whose catchphrase was "I have a cunning plan" (which he almost never had).
In addition to his acting on Blackadder, he also wrote and narrated several Jackanory
Jackanory
Jackanory is a long-running BBC children's television series that was designed to stimulate an interest in reading. The show was first transmitted on 13 December 1965, the first story being the fairy-tale Cap o' Rushes read by Lee Montague. Jackanory continued to be broadcast until 24 March 1996,...
-style children's programmes, encouraged by Richard Curtis
Richard Curtis
Richard Whalley Anthony Curtis, CBE is a New Zealand-born British screenwriter, music producer, actor and film director, known primarily for romantic comedy films such as Four Weddings and a Funeral, Bridget Jones's Diary, Notting Hill, Love Actually and The Girl in the Café, as well as the hit...
. Programmes in this style included Tales From Fat Tulip's Garden
Tales From Fat Tulip's Garden
Tales from Fat Tulip's Garden was a children's TV program in the mid 1980s, starring Tony Robinson. It was produced by Debbie Gates for Central Independent Television and aired on British TV network ITV from 1985-87, in a 4:00pm timeslot, with each episode lasting about 10 minutes.Robinson would...
(continued in Fat Tulip Too), Odysseus
Odysseus
Odysseus or Ulysses was a legendary Greek king of Ithaca and the hero of Homer's epic poem the Odyssey. Odysseus also plays a key role in Homer's Iliad and other works in the Epic Cycle....
: The Greatest Hero of Them All (a retelling of the Iliad
Iliad
The Iliad is an epic poem in dactylic hexameters, traditionally attributed to Homer. Set during the Trojan War, the ten-year siege of the city of Troy by a coalition of Greek states, it tells of the battles and events during the weeks of a quarrel between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles...
and the Odyssey
Odyssey
The Odyssey is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is, in part, a sequel to the Iliad, the other work ascribed to Homer. The poem is fundamental to the modern Western canon, and is the second—the Iliad being the first—extant work of Western literature...
), and Blood and Honey (tales from the Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
, filmed on location).
After Blackadder (1989–present)
After BlackadderBlackadder
Blackadder is the name that encompassed four series of a BBC1 historical sitcom, along with several one-off instalments. All television programme episodes starred Rowan Atkinson as anti-hero Edmund Blackadder and Tony Robinson as Blackadder's dogsbody, Baldrick...
, Robinson became the narrator and one of the lead actors for the British animated series Nellie the Elephant, based on a song of the same name. The series ran from 1989 to 1991 and was shown on Children's ITV
CITV
CITV is a British television channel from ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It broadcasts content from the CITV archive, as well as commissions and acquisitions. CITV itself is the programming block on the main ITV Network .The CITV channel broadcasts from 06:00 to 18:00...
.
Robinson also presented the early-Saturday evening series Stay Tooned
Stay Tooned! (TV show)
Stay Tooned is a series presented by Tony Robinson, in which he discusses in more details and explains in some depth about cartoon characters, the people behind the cartoons, studios, and also looks over the history as well...
for BBC 1, which featured a selection of classic Warner Brothers and MGM cartoons.
In the early 1990s he created the children's comedy TV series Maid Marian and her Merry Men
Maid Marian and her Merry Men
Maid Marian and her Merry Men is a British children's sitcom created and written by Tony Robinson and directed by David Bell. It began in 1989 on BBC One and ran for four series, with the last episode shown in 1994...
, a loose retelling of the legend of Robin Hood
Robin Hood
Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
in which he appeared as the Sheriff of Nottingham
Sheriff of Nottingham
The Sheriff of Nottingham was historically the office responsible for enforcing law and order in Nottingham and bringing criminals to justice. For years the post has been directly appointed by the Lord Mayor of Nottingham and in modern times, with the existence of the police force, the position is...
. Four series were broadcast on BBC1 during 1989–94.
Time Team
Time Team is a British television series which has been aired on Channel 4 since 1994. Created by television producer Tim Taylor and presented by actor Tony Robinson, each episode features a team of specialists carrying out an archaeological dig over a period of three days, with Robinson explaining...
, a TV programme devoted to archaeological investigations limited to three days (the outcome is never guaranteed, varying from spectacular to disappointing). In 2005, Exeter University conferred an Honorary Doctorate on Robinson, and Honorary Professorships on principal presenter Mick Aston and producer Tim Taylor, to reflect its great appreciation for what Time Team has done for the public understanding of archaeology in the UK. In the 2011 episode Hitler's Island Fortress, Robinson described himself as an amateur archaeologist.
Robinson was drafted in to present other history-based shows on 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...
, including The Worst Jobs in History
The Worst Jobs in History
The Worst Jobs in History is a television series hosted by Tony Robinson on Channel 4. The second series was shown in March 2006 on History Television in Canada, then in April 2006 on Channel 4 in the UK. The first season is also shown with some regularity on History International...
, researching and re-enacting some of the more horrible jobs of the past millennium. He also took this show on tour around the country along with an autobiographical question and answer session. This first series was followed by The Worst Christmas Jobs in History in December 2005 and then a second series of The Worst Jobs in History on Channel 4 in April 2006.
In 1999, Robinson returned to star in a one-off Blackadder short film to celebrate the millennium, entitled Blackadder: Back & Forth
Blackadder: Back & Forth
Blackadder: Back & Forth is a 1999 short film based on the BBC mock-historical comedy series Blackadder that marks the end of the Blackadder saga...
. This short film was shown in the Millennium Dome
Millennium Dome
The Millennium Dome, colloquially referred to simply as The Dome or even The O2 Arena, is the original name of a large dome-shaped building, originally used to house the Millennium Experience, a major exhibition celebrating the beginning of the third millennium...
throughout 2000 and was later aired on BBC One
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...
in 2002.
Robinson also contributed the voiceover for the TV series Airline in its set of new series from 1999 focusing on the daily routine of EasyJet
EasyJet
EasyJet Airline Company Limited is a British airline headquartered at London Luton Airport. It carries more passengers than any other United Kingdom-based airline, operating domestic and international scheduled services on 500 routes between 118 European, North African, and West Asian airports...
staff at a selection of airports. The show was made for 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...
and is often repeated today on Sky Real Lives, Sky 1
SKY 1
The Box is an entertainment channel in New Zealand available on SKY Network Television.The channel shows are a variety of the most recent shows such as from the United States, for example CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, The Simpsons, Family Guy, World Wrestling Entertainments hit shows, and...
, Sky 2, Sky 3 (now Pick TV) & ITV2
ITV2
ITV2 is a 24 hour, free-to-air entertainment television channel in the United Kingdom owned by ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It was launched on 7 December 1998, and is available on digital television via satellite, cable, IPTV and terrestrial platforms. The channel has the...
. He worked as the narrator for six of the remaining nine series until 2006 when the series ended.
Tony Robinson's Cunning Night Out, a largely improvised stage show, followed in early 2005 and included a mix of the many themes from his career for which Robinson is famous. He also edited and presented The Real Da Vinci Code, a documentary for Channel 4's Weird World series which countered the claims made by Dan Brown
Dan Brown
Dan Brown is an American author of thriller fiction, best known for the 2003 bestselling novel, The Da Vinci Code. Brown's novels, which are treasure hunts set in a 24-hour time period, feature the recurring themes of cryptography, keys, symbols, codes, and conspiracy theories...
in his novel The Da Vinci Code
The Da Vinci Code
The Da Vinci Code is a 2003 mystery-detective novel written by Dan Brown. It follows symbologist Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu as they investigate a murder in Paris's Louvre Museum and discover a battle between the Priory of Sion and Opus Dei over the possibility of Jesus having been married to...
.
In addition to telling his own stories, Robinson narrated the abridged audio book
Audio book
An audiobook or audio book is a recording of a text being read. It is not necessarily an exact audio version of a book or magazine.Spoken audio has been available in schools and public libraries and to a lesser extent in music shops since the 1930s. Many spoken word albums were made prior to the...
versions of Terry Pratchett
Terry Pratchett
Sir Terence David John "Terry" Pratchett, OBE is an English novelist, known for his frequently comical work in the fantasy genre. He is best known for his popular and long-running Discworld series of comic fantasy novels...
's Discworld
Discworld
Discworld is a comic fantasy book series by English author Sir Terry Pratchett, set on the Discworld, a flat world balanced on the backs of four elephants which, in turn, stand on the back of a giant turtle, Great A'Tuin. The books frequently parody, or at least take inspiration from, J. R. R....
novels. Nigel Planer
Nigel Planer
Nigel George Planer is an English actor, comedian, novelist and playwright.Planer is perhaps best known for his role as Neil Pye in the cult BBC comedy The Young Ones. He has appeared in many West End musicals, including Evita, Chicago, We Will Rock You, Wicked and Hairspray...
, Celia Imrie
Celia Imrie
Celia Diana Savile Imrie is an English actress. In a career starting in the early 1970s, Imrie has played Marianne Bellshade in Bergerac, Philippa Moorcroft in Dinnerladies, Miss Babs in Acorn Antiques, Diana Neal in After You've Gone and Gloria Millington in Kingdom...
and Stephen Briggs
Stephen Briggs
Stephen Briggs is a British writer of subsidiary works and merchandise surrounding Terry Pratchett's comic fantasy Discworld. The Streets of Ankh-Morpork, the first Discworld map, was co-designed by Briggs and Pratchett and painted by Stephen Player in 1993...
narrated the unabridged versions. He also provided the voicing for several characters in the videogame Discworld. He followed on this Discworld work by playing a role in the live action television dramatisation of Hogfather, broadcast on Sky
British Sky Broadcasting
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc is a satellite broadcasting, broadband and telephony services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with operations in the United Kingdom and the Ireland....
over the Christmas season in 2006.
Robinson also presented Classic FM
Classic FM (UK)
Classic FM, one of the United Kingdom's three Independent National Radio stations, broadcasts classical music in a popular and accessible style.-Overview:...
's Friendly Guide to Classical Music which aired on a Sunday at 4 pm. The whole 16-episode series was repeated on 26 December 2006. He revealed on the BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
feature "Tracks of My Years" that his favourite songs are: "I Can Help" by Billy Swan
Billy Swan
Billy Lance Swan is an American songwriter and singer, best known for his 1974 single, "I Can Help".-Life:Swan was born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. As a child, he learned drums, piano and guitar, and began writing songs...
, "Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis
Leona Lewis
Leona Louise Lewis is a British singer and songwriter. Lewis first came to prominence in 2006 when she won the third series of the British television series The X Factor....
, "Chasing Cars" by Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol are an alternative rock band from Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. Formed at the University of Dundee in 1994 as an indie rock band, the band is now based in Glasgow...
, "Beautiful" by Christina Aguilera
Christina Aguilera
Christina María Aguilera is an American recording artist and actress. Aguilera first appeared on national television in 1990 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994...
, "Unfinished Sympathy" by Massive Attack
Massive Attack
Massive Attack are an English DJ and trip hop duo from Bristol, England consisting of Robert "3D" Del Naja and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall. Working with co-producers, as well as various session musicians and guest vocalists, they make records and tour live. The duo are considered to be of the trip...
, "Tangled Up In Blue
Tangled Up in Blue
"Tangled Up in Blue" is a song by Bob Dylan. It appeared on his album Blood on the Tracks in 1975. Released as a single, it reached #31 on the Billboard Hot 100...
" by Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
, "Shoulda Woulda Coulda" by Beverley Knight
Beverley Knight
Beverley Knight MBE is a British soul and R&B singer, songwriter, and record producer who released her debut album in 1995. Heavily influenced by soul greats such as Sam Cooke and Aretha Franklin, Knight has released six studio albums to date...
, "This Woman's Work" by Maxwell, "He's So Fine
He's So Fine
"He's So Fine" is a recording by The Chiffons which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks in the spring of 1963. One of the most instantly recognizable Golden Oldies with its doo-lang doo-lang doo-lang background vocal, "He's So Fine" is also renowned as the plaintiff song in the now-infamous...
" by The Chiffons
The Chiffons
The Chiffons was an all girl group originating from the Bronx area of New York in 1960.-Biography:The Chiffons were one of the top girl groups of the early 1960s...
and "Falling Slowly" by The Frames
The Frames
The Frames are an Irish band based in Dublin. Founded in 1990 by Glen Hansard, the band has been influential in the Dublin rock music scene. The group has released six albums...
.
In 2007, Robinson narrated television advertisements for Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
, in the humorous style of Tales From Fat Tulip's Garden
Tales From Fat Tulip's Garden
Tales from Fat Tulip's Garden was a children's TV program in the mid 1980s, starring Tony Robinson. It was produced by Debbie Gates for Central Independent Television and aired on British TV network ITV from 1985-87, in a 4:00pm timeslot, with each episode lasting about 10 minutes.Robinson would...
. The advertisements feature plastic cars with expressive faces (similar to Thomas the Tank Engine
Thomas the Tank Engine
Thomas the Tank Engine is a fictional steam locomotive in The Railway Series books by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry and his son, Christopher. He became the most popular character in the series, and the accompanying television spin-off series, Thomas and Friends.Thomas is a tank engine, painted blue...
). He has also done voiceovers for laundry product Vanish as of 2007.
Recently he discovered his Jewish ancestry through his grandmother's surname, Levy. The annual event, Who Do You Think You Are? LIVE also revealed his ancestry to him live on stage at the 2008 event. Robinson's most recent presenting jobs were Channel 4's, Tony Robinson's Crime and Punishment
Tony Robinson's Crime and Punishment
Tony Robinson's Crime and Punishment is a British documentary for Channel 4.In a four-part series, Tony Robinson goes on a fascinating and sometimes bizarre journey to discover the origins of our laws and what we do to people when they break them...
and Catastrophe
Catastrophe (TV series)
Catastrophe is a five-part British documentary television series telling the story of the catastrophic events that shaped planet Earth. It is presented by Tony Robinson and was first aired on Channel 4 on 24 November 2008. The series producer was Stephen Marsh with researcher Dr Rhodri...
. He is currently presenting a 4-part Channel 4 series entitled Man on Earth
Man on Earth
Man on Earth is a four-part British documentary television series presented by Tony Robinson. The programme documents the effects of climate change across 200,000 years of human history. The series premiered 7 December 2009 on Channel 4 with 1.4 million viewers. Accompanying Robinson to help...
, focusing on man's struggle with climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
in the past 200,000 years.
Tony Robinson and the Paranormal was first broadcast on Channel 4 in December 2008. In this series, Robinson investigates paranormal
Paranormal
Paranormal is a general term that designates experiences that lie outside "the range of normal experience or scientific explanation" or that indicates phenomena understood to be outside of science's current ability to explain or measure...
phenomena combining the fields of archaeology
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
, parapsychology
Parapsychology
The term parapsychology was coined in or around 1889 by philosopher Max Dessoir, and originates from para meaning "alongside", and psychology. The term was adopted by J.B. Rhine in the 1930s as a replacement for the term psychical research...
, history and spiritualism
Spiritualism
Spiritualism is a belief system or religion, postulating the belief that spirits of the dead residing in the spirit world have both the ability and the inclination to communicate with the living...
to investigate paranormal evidence.
In July 2009, he appeared in the light-hearted BBC1 series Hotel Babylon
Hotel Babylon
Hotel Babylon was a BBC television drama series based on the book of the same name by Imogen Edwards-Jones, that aired from 19 January 2006 to 14 August 2009, produced by independent production company Carnival Films for BBC One...
, as sly hit-man Arthur Barnes. The character is knocked unconscious by a flying bottle expertly lobbed by the female hotel manager during a showdown in the lobby. In February 2010 Robinson, described as the 'stunt Pratchett', read the main part of Terry Pratchett
Terry Pratchett
Sir Terence David John "Terry" Pratchett, OBE is an English novelist, known for his frequently comical work in the fantasy genre. He is best known for his popular and long-running Discworld series of comic fantasy novels...
's 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...
Richard Dimbleby Lecture
Richard Dimbleby Lecture
The Richard Dimbleby Lecture was founded in the memory of Richard Dimbleby, the BBC broadcaster. It has been delivered by an influential business or political figure almost every year since 1972 ....
.
From 1 September 2010, Robinson hosted a brand new series on National Geographic Channel
National Geographic Channel
National Geographic Channel, also commercially abbreviated and trademarked as Nat Geo, is a subscription television channel that airs non-fiction television programs produced by the National Geographic Society. Like History and the Discovery Channel, the channel features documentaries with factual...
called 'Birth of Britain' this was then repeated on 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...
commencing January 2011.
In 2011 he will be presenting a program entitled Tony Robinson Explores Australia, filmed in High Definition it will roughly follow a chronology: from the earliest sightings of Terra Australis Incognita through to today. Each era will be defined by a theme rather than equal blocks of time.
DVD and live tour
In the Spring of 2007 Robinson visited 30 towns in the UK and Ireland with his one-man show, A Cunning Night Out. The show was released on DVD in the autumn of 2007.Politics and personal life
Robinson and his former wife Mary Shepherd were active in Bristol Labour politics from the early 1980s.From 1996 to 2000, he was vice-president of the actors' union Equity
British Actors' Equity Association
Equity is the trade union for actors, stage managers and models in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1930 by a group of West End performers....
, helping with a huge restructuring programme which turned a £500,000 deficit into a small surplus. He continues to work within Equity. In 2000 he was elected to the Labour Party's National Executive Committee
National Executive Committee
The National Executive Committee or NEC is the chief administrative body of the UK Labour Party. Its composition has changed over the years, and includes representatives of affiliated trade unions, the Parliamentary Labour Party and European Parliamentary Labour Party, Constituency Labour Parties,...
, a position he held to 2004.
He was also active in the "Make Poverty History
Make Poverty History
Make Poverty History is the name of a campaign that exists in a number of countries, including Australia, Canada, Denmark , Finland, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Romania, the United Arab Emirates, Great Britain and Ireland...
" campaign during early 2005, in the lead-up to the G8
G8
The Group of Eight is a forum, created by France in 1975, for the governments of seven major economies: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In 1997, the group added Russia, thus becoming the G8...
summit in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and is the patron for UK-based charity Street Child Africa.
In March 2011, Robinson participated in the 'March for the Alternative' protests in Central London, which opposed the Conservative led Coalition UK Government's spending cuts programme.
In 2006 he appeared in Tony Robinson: Me and My Mum, a documentary surrounding Robinson's decision to find a nursing home for his mother, and the difficulty he had with doing so. The documentary showed his mother's death in the home. It also featured stories from other families in similar situations. It appeared as part of 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...
's short season of programmes entitled The Trouble With Old People.
He previously supported the football clubs Tottenham Hotspur and Stoke City, but now supports Bristol City. He also follows Spanish Liga BBVA side Valencia
Valencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
, often spending his holidays in the country.
He is honorary president of the Young Archaeologists' Club of the Council for British Archaeology
Council for British Archaeology
Established in 1944, the is an educational charity working throughout the UK to involve people in archaeology and to promote the appreciation and care of the historic environment for the benefit of present and future generations...
.
He is a big fan of the rock band Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
and provided sleeve notes for the reissue of the album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
The Lamb Lies down on Broadway
The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway is a double concept album recorded and released in 1974 by the British rock band Genesis. It was their sixth studio album and the last album by the group to feature the involvement of lead singer Peter Gabriel.-Premise:...
as part of the Genesis 1970–1975 box set.
In late 2009 he was invited to be guest speaker at The Pride of Craegmoor Awards, where he gave a speech about his time with his mother and finding a Care Home. He then went on to give the prizes to Craegmoor's Shining Star and Leading Light.
Robinson has shown his support for the Burma Campaign UK
Burma Campaign UK
Burma Campaign UK founded in 1991 is a London based Non Governmental Organisation that aims to achieve the 'restoration of human rights and democracy in Burma . BCUK campaigns on behalf of the Burmese pro-democracy movement and is the largest campaigning organisation for Burma in Europe...
, an NGO that aims to highlight human rights violations in Burma under the State Peace and Development Council
State Peace and Development Council
The State Peace and Development Council was the official name of the military regime of Burma , which seized power in 1988. On 30 March 2011, Senior General Than Shwe signed a decree to officially dissolve the Council....
.
Robinson married Louise Hobbs on 24 June 2011.
Awards
In 1999 he was awarded an honorary Master of ArtsMaster of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
by the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
for his services to drama and archaeology.
In 2002 he was awarded an honorary Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
by the University of East London
University of East London
The University of East London is a university located in the London Borough of Newham, East London, England, based at two campuses in Stratford and Docklands areas...
.
In 2005 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
for his contribution to the educational or cultural well-being of society and an honorary Doctor of Laws by the University of Exeter
University of Exeter
The University of Exeter is a public university in South West England. It belongs to the 1994 Group, an association of 19 of the United Kingdom's smaller research-intensive universities....
for his active involvement in politics.
In 2006 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University is a new university in Oxford, England. It was named to honour the school's founding principal, John Brookes. It has been ranked as the best new university by the Sunday Times University Guide 10 years in a row...
.
In September 2008, he was awarded the James Joyce Award
James Joyce Award
The James Joyce Award is an award given by the Literary and Historical Society of University College Dublin for those who have achieved outstanding success in their given field...
by the Literary and Historical Society of UCD
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
.
Selected filmography
- BranniganBrannigan (film)Brannigan is a British action film set principally in London, directed by Douglas Hickox, and starring John Wayne and Richard Attenborough...
(1975) – Messenger - BlackadderBlackadderBlackadder is the name that encompassed four series of a BBC1 historical sitcom, along with several one-off instalments. All television programme episodes starred Rowan Atkinson as anti-hero Edmund Blackadder and Tony Robinson as Blackadder's dogsbody, Baldrick...
(1983–1989, 1999) – Baldrick - The Young OnesThe Young Ones (TV series)The Young Ones is a British sitcom, first broadcast in 1982, which ran for two series on BBC2. Its anarchic, offbeat humour helped bring alternative comedy to television in the 1980s and made household names of its writers and performers...
(1984–Episode entitled "Bambi") – Dr. Not-The-Nine-O'clock-News - Maid Marian and her Merry MenMaid Marian and her Merry MenMaid Marian and her Merry Men is a British children's sitcom created and written by Tony Robinson and directed by David Bell. It began in 1989 on BBC One and ran for four series, with the last episode shown in 1994...
(1989–1994) – Sheriff of Nottingham & creator/writer - The Neverending Story IIIThe NeverEnding Story IIIThe NeverEnding Story III: Return to Fantasia is a 1994 film and the second sequel to the fantasy film The NeverEnding Story...
(1994) – Engywook (male gnome) - Blood and Honey (1991) – Presenter (Storyteller)
- My Wonderful Life (1997–1999) – Alan
- FaeriesFaeries (film)Faeries is a 1999 British animated film directed by Gary Hurst and featuring the voices of Kate Winslet, Dougray Scott and Jeremy Irons.-Main cast:*Kate Winslet – Brigid*Jeremy Irons – The Shapeshifter*Dougray Scott – The Faery Prince...
(1999) – Broom (voice) - Time TeamTime TeamTime Team is a British television series which has been aired on Channel 4 since 1994. Created by television producer Tim Taylor and presented by actor Tony Robinson, each episode features a team of specialists carrying out an archaeological dig over a period of three days, with Robinson explaining...
(1994–present) – Presenter - Romans (documentary)Romans (documentary)Romans is a documentary created by Tony Robinson about the Roman Empire. It was first broadcast on Channel 4 on September 20, 2003.This documentary is 3 hours in length, consists of 4 episodes and makes extensive use of research. The first two episodes portrays the life of the Dictator Julius...
(2003) – Presenter - Britain's Real MonarchBritain's Real MonarchBritain's Real Monarch was a historical documentary presented by Tony Robinson first shown on Channel 4 on 3 January 2004. It has also been broadcast in America and Australia...
(2004) – Presenter - Spider-Plant ManSpider-Plant ManSpider-Plant Man is a parody of Spider-Man, made for the Comic Relief 2005 appeal and aired on BBC One on March 11, 2005. It featured Rowan Atkinson as Peter Piper/Spider-Plant Man and Rachel Stevens as his love-interest Jane-Mary...
(2005) - RobinRobin (comics)Robin is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, originally created by Bob Kane, Bill Finger and Jerry Robinson, as a junior counterpart to DC Comics superhero Batman... - CodexCodex (TV series)Codex is a quiz show set inside the British Museum and presented by Tony Robinson. It has been shortlisted for the gameshow Rose d'Or at the 2008 Lucerne Television Festival....
(2006–present) – Presenter - Terry Pratchett's Hogfather (2006) – Vernon Crumley
- DoomsdayDoomsday (film)Doomsday is a 2008 British science fiction film written and directed by Neil Marshall. The film takes place in the future. Scotland has been quarantined because of a deadly virus. When the virus is found in London, political leaders send a team led by Major Eden Sinclair to Scotland to find a...
(2008) – Presenter - CatastropheCatastrophe (TV series)Catastrophe is a five-part British documentary television series telling the story of the catastrophic events that shaped planet Earth. It is presented by Tony Robinson and was first aired on Channel 4 on 24 November 2008. The series producer was Stephen Marsh with researcher Dr Rhodri...
(2008) – Presenter - Big TopBig Top (2009 TV series)Big Top was a BBC television situation comedy series which first aired on 25 November 2009. The series was set in and around a travelling circus, aired on BBC One and BBC HD simultaneously. The series revolved around the performers and backstage staff of Circus Maestro. The first series consisted...
(2009) - Airline (UK TV series) – Narrator
- Hotel BabylonHotel BabylonHotel Babylon was a BBC television drama series based on the book of the same name by Imogen Edwards-Jones, that aired from 19 January 2006 to 14 August 2009, produced by independent production company Carnival Films for BBC One...
– Arthur – Series 4, Episode 3(2009) - Jam TV (2009) – Himself, Episode 5
- Man on EarthMan on EarthMan on Earth is a four-part British documentary television series presented by Tony Robinson. The programme documents the effects of climate change across 200,000 years of human history. The series premiered 7 December 2009 on Channel 4 with 1.4 million viewers. Accompanying Robinson to help...
(2009) – Presenter - CodexCodex (TV series)Codex is a quiz show set inside the British Museum and presented by Tony Robinson. It has been shortlisted for the gameshow Rose d'Or at the 2008 Lucerne Television Festival....
(2011–present) – Presenter (Tuesday Morning Channel 4 and 4 HD)
External links
- Tony Robinson presents the Birth of Britain on National Geographic Channel – starts 1 September 2010
- The Unofficial website for Tony Robinson
- The Unofficial website for Time Team
- "Tony Robinson's cunning plan" – BBC News article dated Friday 26 May 2000
- Tony Robinson – Interviews in Sherwood
- "The Worst Jobs in History" (2004) Television Series
- "The Worst Christmas Jobs in History" (December 2005)
- "The Worst Children's Jobs in History" Interview about book (November 2005)
- "Time Team" – Television series.
- Classic FM Friendly Guide to Classical Music Started September 2006
- Tony Robinson presents on Classic FM
- http://www.wtfn.com.au/productions/tony_robinson.html – Tony Robinson Explores Australia