Jeffrey Holland
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey Holland is an English
actor
well known for roles in television
sitcoms, as well as BBC Radio
comedy, including Week Ending
.
, Holland joined an amateur theatre company and worked at a wine merchants and in the office of a manufacturing company before becoming a professional actor. He appeared in an episode of Dixon of Dock Green
, in several episodes of
Crossroads and as a soldier in an episode of Dad's Army
and It Ain't Half Hot Mum
. He broke through to public fame in the role of Spike Dixon, the camp comic at the Maplin's holiday camp
in Hi-de-Hi!
. He later appeared in Russ Abbot's
Madhouse.
The writers David Croft and Jimmy Perry
reprised the three key Hi-de-Hi characters and their traits:
The other Perry/Croft sitcoms in which the characters appeared were You Rang, M'Lord?
(1988–1993), in which the comedy situation was an aristocrat (Lord Meldrum) and his servants. Then written with Richard Spendlove
there was Oh, Doctor Beeching!
(1995–1997) in which the characters were the staff at a country railway station threatened with closure by Dr Beeching in the 1960s.
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...
well known for roles in television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
sitcoms, as well as BBC Radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
comedy, including Week Ending
Week Ending
Week Ending... was a satirical radio current affairs sketch show, first broadcast on BBC Radio 4, usually on Friday evenings. It was devised by writer/producers Simon Brett and David Hatch, and was originally hosted by Nationwide presenter Michael Barratt.The show's title was always announced as...
.
Early life and career
Educated at Queen Mary's Grammar SchoolQueen Mary's Grammar School
Queen Mary's Grammar School is a selective grammar school located in Sutton Road, Walsall, England, about a mile from the town centre.-Admissions:...
, Holland joined an amateur theatre company and worked at a wine merchants and in the office of a manufacturing company before becoming a professional actor. He appeared in an episode of Dixon of Dock Green
Dixon of Dock Green
Dixon of Dock Green was a popular BBC television series that ran from 1955 to 1976, and later a radio series. Despite being a drama series, it was initially produced by the BBC's light entertainment department.-Overview:...
, in several episodes of
Crossroads and as a soldier in an episode of Dad's Army
Dad's Army
Dad's Army is a British sitcom about the Home Guard during the Second World War. It was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft and broadcast on BBC television between 1968 and 1977. The series ran for 9 series and 80 episodes in total, plus a radio series, a feature film and a stage show...
and It Ain't Half Hot Mum
It Ain't Half Hot Mum
It Ain't Half Hot Mum was a British sitcom about the adventures of a Royal Artillery Concert Party, broadcast on the BBC between 1974 and 1981, and written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft, the creators of Dad's Army...
. He broke through to public fame in the role of Spike Dixon, the camp comic at the Maplin's holiday camp
Holiday camp
Holiday camp, in Britain, generally refers to a resort with a boundary that includes accommodation, entertainment and other facilities.As distinct from camping, accommodation typically consisted of chalets – small buildings arranged either individually or in blocks. Some had three or four storeys,...
in 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...
. He later appeared in Russ Abbot's
Russ Abbot
Russ Abbot is an English musician, comedian and actor who first came to public notice during the 1970s as the singer and drummer with British comedy showband the Black Abbots, later forging a prominent solo career as a television comedian with his own weekly show on British television.Continuing...
Madhouse.
The writers David Croft and Jimmy Perry
Jimmy Perry
Jimmy Perry OBE is an English writer, scriptwriter, producer, author and actor, most famous for devising and co-writing the BBC sitcoms Dad's Army with David Croft.-Education:...
reprised the three key Hi-de-Hi characters and their traits:
- Paul Shane - a dodgy, amoral character who likes to look after Number One
- Holland - a sensible, kind and very moral role to counter the roles played by Shane
- Su PollardSu PollardSusan Georgina "Su" Pollard, 7 November 1949, Nottingham) is an English comedy actress, most famous for her roles in the sitcoms Hi-de-Hi! and You Rang, M'Lord?. She is also well known for her unusual and flamboyant dress sense and her abrupt voice....
- a lovable scatterbrained character
The other Perry/Croft sitcoms in which the characters appeared were 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...
(1988–1993), in which the comedy situation was an aristocrat (Lord Meldrum) and his servants. Then written with Richard Spendlove
Richard Spendlove
Richard Spendlove MBE is a British radio producer/presenter and television writer.-Life and work:Richard Spendlove worked for the former British Railways for 35 years, and in 1963 was appointed Relief Station Master at Cambridge, one of the youngest men in that job...
there was Oh, Doctor Beeching!
Oh, Doctor Beeching!
Oh, Doctor Beeching! is a British television sitcom written by David Croft and Richard Spendlove, which, after a broadcast pilot on 14 August 1995, ran for two series from 8 July 1996, with the last episode being broadcast on 28 September 1997...
(1995–1997) in which the characters were the staff at a country railway station threatened with closure by Dr Beeching in the 1960s.
Television roles
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 to 1988 | 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... |
Spike Dixon |
| 1988 to 1993 | 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... |
James Twelvetrees |
| 1996 to 1997 | Oh, Doctor Beeching! Oh, Doctor Beeching! Oh, Doctor Beeching! is a British television sitcom written by David Croft and Richard Spendlove, which, after a broadcast pilot on 14 August 1995, ran for two series from 8 July 1996, with the last episode being broadcast on 28 September 1997... |
Cecil Parkin |