Barry Howard
Encyclopedia
Barry Howard is an English
actor
who is best known for his role as Barry Stuart-Hargreaves in the first seven series of the long-running BBC sitcom Hi-de-Hi!
. His deadpan comedy style and classic facial expressions made him a very popular character.
in the Navy
, Barry found himself wanting to train for the theatre at the Birmingham Theatre School
. Unable to get a grant from the local authority, he worked for almost two years at the Alexandra Theatre
in a backstage role to fund his place at drama school
.
Howard has appeared in Terry and June
, You Rang, M'Lord?
, The House of Windsor and Dad
, in addition to Hi-de-Hi!.
In 2004, Barry played the character of Geoffrey in the short film Open Casket.
In November 2009 he appeared in an episode of the BBC comedy Beautiful People
.
Howard appeared in Doctor Who
, in its 2009 two-part Christmas special
, as driver of the mini-bus containing the old age pensioners' group seeking the doctor.
Howard is also a stage actor, and regularly appeared in pantomime
s as an ugly sister opposite John Inman
.
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...
who is best known for his role as Barry Stuart-Hargreaves in the first seven series of the long-running BBC sitcom Hi-de-Hi!
Hi-de-Hi!
Hi-de-Hi! is a British sitcom that aired on the BBC from 1980-1988. It was set in a holiday camp during the 1950s and 1960s and was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft, who had written Dad's Army and It Ain't Half Hot Mum. The title was the phrase used to greet the campers and in early episodes...
. His deadpan comedy style and classic facial expressions made him a very popular character.
Early life and career
Whilst completing his National ServiceNational service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
in the Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, Barry found himself wanting to train for the theatre at the Birmingham Theatre School
Birmingham Theatre School
Birmingham Theatre School is a drama school, located in Birmingham, England.The school was founded by Sir Barry Jackson in the theatre that he built, namely the Old Rep Theatre, which was also the first Repertory Theatre in the world. The school now has over 250 students on a variety of full and...
. Unable to get a grant from the local authority, he worked for almost two years at the Alexandra Theatre
Alexandra Theatre
The New Alexandra Theatre, commonly known as The Alex, is a theatre on Station Street in Birmingham, England.Construction of the theatre commenced in 1900 and was completed in 1901. The architects were Owen & Ward. The theatre was opened on 27 May 1901 as the Lyceum Theatre on John Bright Street;...
in a backstage role to fund his place at drama school
Drama school
A drama school or theatre school is an undergraduate and/or graduate school or department at a college or university; or a free-standing institution ; which specialises in the pre-professional training in drama and theatre arts, such as acting, design and technical theatre, arts administration, and...
.
Howard has appeared in Terry and June
Terry and June
Terry and June is a British sitcom that was broadcast on BBC1 from 1979 to 1987. The programme is largely a continuation of Happy Ever After, and stars Terry Scott and June Whitfield as a middle-class suburban couple, Terry and June Medford...
, You Rang, M'Lord?
You Rang, M'Lord?
You Rang M'Lord? is a British television series written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft, the creators of Dad's Army, It Ain't Half Hot Mum and Hi-de-Hi! It was broadcast between 1990 and 1993 on the BBC...
, The House of Windsor and Dad
Dad (TV series)
Dad is a BBC1 sitcom that ran for 13 episodes over two series and a Christmas special. Described by the BBC as a 'generation-gap comedy', it starred George Cole as Brian Hook, Kevin McNally as his son Alan Hook, and Toby Ross-Bryant as his son Vincent Hook and Julia Hills as his wife Beryl Hook...
, in addition to Hi-de-Hi!.
In 2004, Barry played the character of Geoffrey in the short film Open Casket.
In November 2009 he appeared in an episode of the BBC comedy Beautiful People
Beautiful People (UK TV series)
Beautiful People is a British comedy drama television series based on the memoirs of Barneys creative director Simon Doonan. The series takes place in Reading, Berkshire in 1997, where thirteen-year-old Simon Doonan and his best friend Kylie dream of escaping their dreary suburban surroundings and...
.
Howard appeared in Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
, in its 2009 two-part Christmas special
2009 Christmas specials (Doctor Who)
The End of Time is a two-part Doctor Who special, originally broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom on 25 December 2009 and 1 January 2010. This is the last story for David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor and sees his character regenerating into his eleventh incarnation, played by Matt Smith...
, as driver of the mini-bus containing the old age pensioners' group seeking the doctor.
Howard is also a stage actor, and regularly appeared in pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
s as an ugly sister opposite John Inman
John Inman
Frederick John Inman was an English actor best known for his role as Mr. Humphries in Are You Being Served?, a British sitcom in the 1970s and 1980s. Inman was also well known in the United Kingdom as a pantomime dame....
.
Television roles
- Hi-de-Hi!Hi-de-Hi!Hi-de-Hi! is a British sitcom that aired on the BBC from 1980-1988. It was set in a holiday camp during the 1950s and 1960s and was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft, who had written Dad's Army and It Ain't Half Hot Mum. The title was the phrase used to greet the campers and in early episodes...
as Barry Stuart-Hargreaves - The House of Windsor as Danny Jackson
- Doctor Who2009 Christmas specials (Doctor Who)The End of Time is a two-part Doctor Who special, originally broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom on 25 December 2009 and 1 January 2010. This is the last story for David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor and sees his character regenerating into his eleventh incarnation, played by Matt Smith...