Peter Richardson
Encyclopedia
Peter Richardson is an English actor, comedian
, director
, and writer, best known for The Comic Strip Presents...
television series. He is also a long time comedy partner
with Nigel Planer
.
, England. His parents ran a children's summer camp school. He moved to London
when he was seventeen, having decided he wanted to be an actor. He appeared as one of the schoolboys in Alan Bennett
's Forty Years On
. This work led to him getting an agent and performing in TV plays as an extra. At one point he was a lifeguard
at a swimming pool
. He then attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
(LAMDA). It was here in the second year he became reacquainted with Nigel Planer
, who he knew from working at Richardson's parent's summer camp. The pair shared an interest in rock music, and wanted to mix music with a comedy show, in Richardson's words "we felt we'd like to try something like what Frank Zappa
was doing on records, which was being funny but using music as well.". Around this time Richardson and Planer were heavily influenced by U.S. comedians Sal's Meat Market, an early duo of John Ratzenberger
and Ray Hassett, as well as the group Alberto y Lost Trios Paranoias
.
With the assistance of Caroline Jay, they produced a show called "Rank", inspired by the police raid of the 1974 Windsor
Rock Festival
, which premiered at The Roundhouse Downstairs in August 1976. Planer and Richardson played all the characters in the play, which numbered around forty. The play was well received and enabled the pair to get an Arts Council
grant to take it on tour. However though critically acclaimed at the end of the tour, Richardson and Planer found themselves with no money and had to pursue other work. Richardson claims at this time he was squatting.
After Rank Richardson toured with a band in Italy
and also helped run drama courses for children at his parent's house in Devon. One of the dramas produced from these courses became a show called The Wild Boys, based on the book by William Burroughs. Richardson performed this show at the ICA
in London as well as touring the show with the group Furious Pig
. Through this Richardson first met Michael White
with whom he planned to take the show into the West End, although this came to nothing.
in 1979, calling themselves "The Outer Limits". They performed short sketches parody
ing different television styles, for example sitcom and American police drama. They used visual comedy and often mime
d over-the-top scenes of cartoon violence
. At this point, various television companies were taking note of the rapidly growing "alternative comedy
" scene, and BBC
producer Peter Jackson
being the first to commission a programme from regualr performers at the Comedy Store. However his decision to only showcase Planer's Neil character instead of The Outer Limits duo angered Richardson, who began a long standing feud
with Jackson.
Richardson was originally to play Mike in BBC comedy The Young Ones
, however he did not take part for reasons partly connected to his earlier disagreement with Peter Jackson. Richardson was replaced by Christopher Ryan
.
in the Raymond Revue Bar, run by Paul Raymond. Richardson called it The Comic Strip
, taking with him a core group from The Comedy Store. It opened in October 1980 and ran until 1981, when the troupe went on a national tour. and Richardson was approached by Jeremy Isaacs
to make a series of comedy films for the newly formed Channel 4
.
The Comic Strip Presents... ran from 1982 to 1988 on Channel 4, and then continued from 1990 to 1993 on the BBC
. Richardson wrote more than half of the shows together with his long time writing partner Pete Richens
, and he also directed most of the BBC series. Richardson also writes and directed the Comic Strip film The Supergrass, along with Adrian Edmondson
, Jennifer Saunders
and featuring many other Comic Strip performers.
Richardson also wrote (again with Richens) and directed the film The Pope Must Die
, which starred Comic Strip regulars Robbie Coltrane
and Adrian Edmondson.
Richardson had a 1992 film called Carry On Columbus
, along with Rik Mayall, Alexei Sayle
and his double act Nigel Planer.
, Mark Caven, Phil Cornwell
, Sara Stockbridge, George Yiasoumi and Gary Beadle
, and went on to star them in the "The Glam Metal Detectives". The series was a hit with critics, and did well enough in the ratings, but spiralling production costs and internal wranglings at the BBC meant it only ran for one series.
Apart from the Comic Strip, Richardson's best-known work is the sitcom Stella Street
, which he directs and co-writes with impressionists John Sessions
and Phil Cornwell
. A Stella Street feature film was released in 2004. He also directed the mock documentary Lust for Glorious about comedian Eddie Izzard
with Mark Caven and Phil Kay
.
, Devon
.
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...
, director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, and writer, best known for The Comic Strip Presents...
The Comic Strip
The Comic Strip is a group of British comedians, known for their television series The Comic Strip Presents.... The core members are Adrian Edmondson, Dawn French, Rik Mayall, Nigel Planer, Peter Richardson and Jennifer Saunders, with frequent appearances by Keith Allen, Robbie Coltrane and...
television series. He is also a long time comedy partner
Double act
A double act, also known as a comedy duo, is a comic pairing in which humor is derived from the uneven relationship between two partners, usually of the same gender, age, ethnic origin and profession, but drastically different personalities or behavior...
with 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...
.
Early career
Richardson was born in DevonDevon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, England. His parents ran a children's summer camp school. He moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
when he was seventeen, having decided he wanted to be an actor. He appeared as one of the schoolboys in Alan Bennett
Alan Bennett
Alan Bennett is a British playwright, screenwriter, actor and author. Born in Leeds, he attended Oxford University where he studied history and performed with The Oxford Revue. He stayed to teach and research mediaeval history at the university for several years...
's Forty Years On
Forty Years On (play)
Forty Years On is a 1968 play by Alan Bennett. It was his first West End play.-Subject:The play is set in a British public school called Albion House , which is putting on an end of term play in front of the parents, i.e. the audience...
. This work led to him getting an agent and performing in TV plays as an extra. At one point he was a lifeguard
Lifeguard
A lifeguard supervises the safety and rescue of swimmers, surfers, and other water sports participants such as in a swimming pool, water park, or beach. Lifeguards are strong swimmers and trained in first aid, certified in water rescue using a variety of aids and equipment depending on...
at a swimming pool
Swimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
. He then attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art is a leading British drama school in west London. LAMDA's president is Timothy West and its new principal is Joanna Read, who recently succeeded Peter James...
(LAMDA). It was here in the second year he became reacquainted with 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...
, who he knew from working at Richardson's parent's summer camp. The pair shared an interest in rock music, and wanted to mix music with a comedy show, in Richardson's words "we felt we'd like to try something like what Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
was doing on records, which was being funny but using music as well.". Around this time Richardson and Planer were heavily influenced by U.S. comedians Sal's Meat Market, an early duo of John Ratzenberger
John Ratzenberger
John Deszo Ratzenberger is an American actor, voice actor, and entrepreneur. He is best known for his role as Cliff Clavin in Cheers.-Early life:...
and Ray Hassett, as well as the group Alberto y Lost Trios Paranoias
Alberto y Lost Trios Paranoias
Alberto y Lost Trios Paranoias were a comedy rock band, formed in Manchester, England in 1973. Their story is told in the book When We Were Thin...
.
With the assistance of Caroline Jay, they produced a show called "Rank", inspired by the police raid of the 1974 Windsor
Windsor
Windsor may refer to:*Windsor , defunct American automobile maker*Windsor , serif typeface used in the credits of Woody Allen films*Windsor cap, soft men's cap*Windsor chair, type of chair with a solid wood seat and turned legs...
Rock Festival
Rock festival
A rock festival, or a rock fest, is a large-scale rock music concert, featuring multiple acts.The first rock festivals were put on in the late 1960s and were important socio-cultural milestones. In the 1980s a minor resurgence of festivals occurred with charity as the goal.Today, they are often...
, which premiered at The Roundhouse Downstairs in August 1976. Planer and Richardson played all the characters in the play, which numbered around forty. The play was well received and enabled the pair to get an Arts Council
Arts council
An arts council is a government or private, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the arts mainly by funding local artists, awarding prizes, and organizing events at home and abroad...
grant to take it on tour. However though critically acclaimed at the end of the tour, Richardson and Planer found themselves with no money and had to pursue other work. Richardson claims at this time he was squatting.
After Rank Richardson toured with a band in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and also helped run drama courses for children at his parent's house in Devon. One of the dramas produced from these courses became a show called The Wild Boys, based on the book by William Burroughs. Richardson performed this show at the ICA
ICA
- Business :* Empresas ICA , large construction company in Mexico* ICA AB, a Swedish corporate group in the food retail business, formerly named ICA Ahold AB....
in London as well as touring the show with the group Furious Pig
Furious Pig
Furious Pig were a British band, active briefly during the post-punk era, composed of Martin Kent, Stephen Kent, Jonathan Davis and Dominic Weeks. They formed in Totnes Devon, and initially employed traditional rock instruments, but largely rejected these in favour of a mostly a cappella style,...
. Through this Richardson first met Michael White
Michael White (producer)
Michael White is a British theatrical impresario and film producer.Theatre impresario and film producer Michael White was born in Scotland on 16 January 1936, and educated at the Sorbonne in Paris....
with whom he planned to take the show into the West End, although this came to nothing.
"The Outer Limits"
Reuinited with Planer the pair started performing at London's Comedy StoreThe Comedy Store, London
The Comedy Store is a comedy club located in Soho, London, England, opened in 1979 by Don Ward and Peter Rosengard.It was named after The Comedy Store club in the United States, which Rosengard had visited the previous year...
in 1979, calling themselves "The Outer Limits". They performed short sketches parody
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
ing different television styles, for example sitcom and American police drama. They used visual comedy and often mime
Mime
The word mime is used to refer to a mime artist who uses a theatrical medium or performance art involving the acting out of a story through body motions without use of speech.Mime may also refer to:* Mime, an alternative word for lip sync...
d over-the-top scenes of cartoon violence
Violence in cartoons
Many cartoons contain situations in them that contain blood, hitting, guns, pushing, name calling, and more serious stuff such as chopping off of heads which is considered as violence. Violence has been seen in cartoons more and more as time as increased...
. At this point, various television companies were taking note of the rapidly growing "alternative comedy
Alternative comedy
Alternative comedy is a term that originated in the 1980s for a style of comedy that makes a conscious break with the mainstream comedic style of an era, and typically avoids relying on a standardised structure of a sequence of jokes with punch lines. Patton Oswalt defines it as "comedy where the...
" scene, and 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...
producer Peter Jackson
Peter Jackson
Sir Peter Robert Jackson, KNZM is a New Zealand film director, producer, actor, and screenwriter, known for his The Lord of the Rings film trilogy , adapted from the novel by J. R. R...
being the first to commission a programme from regualr performers at the Comedy Store. However his decision to only showcase Planer's Neil character instead of The Outer Limits duo angered Richardson, who began a long standing feud
Feud
A feud , referred to in more extreme cases as a blood feud, vendetta, faida, or private war, is a long-running argument or fight between parties—often groups of people, especially families or clans. Feuds begin because one party perceives itself to have been attacked, insulted or wronged by another...
with Jackson.
Richardson was originally to play Mike in BBC comedy The Young Ones
The 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...
, however he did not take part for reasons partly connected to his earlier disagreement with Peter Jackson. Richardson was replaced by Christopher Ryan
Christopher Ryan
Christopher Ryan is an English actor. Ryan is perhaps best known for his role as Mike "The Cool Person" in the BBC comedy series The Young Ones.-Early life:...
.
The Comedy Strip Presents
As a result of searching for a West End venue to stage The Wild Boys, Richardson and Michael White sourced a new possible venue for his own comedy club, the Boulevard TheatreBoulevard theatre
Boulevard theatre is a theatrical aesthetic which emerged from the boulevards of Paris's old city.-Origin:Starting from the second half of the 18th century, popular and bourgeois theatre alike took up residence on the boulevard du Temple, then nicknamed Boulevard of Crime due to the many...
in the Raymond Revue Bar, run by Paul Raymond. Richardson called it The Comic Strip
The Comic Strip
The Comic Strip is a group of British comedians, known for their television series The Comic Strip Presents.... The core members are Adrian Edmondson, Dawn French, Rik Mayall, Nigel Planer, Peter Richardson and Jennifer Saunders, with frequent appearances by Keith Allen, Robbie Coltrane and...
, taking with him a core group from The Comedy Store. It opened in October 1980 and ran until 1981, when the troupe went on a national tour. and Richardson was approached by Jeremy Isaacs
Jeremy Isaacs
Sir Jeremy Isaacs is a British television producer and executive, winner of many BAFTA awards and international Emmy Awards. He was also General Director of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden .-Early life:...
to make a series of comedy films for the newly formed 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...
.
The Comic Strip Presents... ran from 1982 to 1988 on Channel 4, and then continued from 1990 to 1993 on 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...
. Richardson wrote more than half of the shows together with his long time writing partner Pete Richens
Pete Richens
Peter "Pete" Richens Richens is perhaps best known as the writing partner of Peter Richardson, writer/director/star of the long-running TV series The Comic Strip Presents.-Biography:...
, and he also directed most of the BBC series. Richardson also writes and directed the Comic Strip film The Supergrass, along with Adrian Edmondson
Adrian Edmondson
Adrian Charles "Ade" Edmondson is an English comedian. He is probably best known for his comedic roles in the television series The Young Ones and Bottom , for which he also wrote together with his long-time collaboration partner Rik Mayall.-Early life:Edmondson, the second of four children, was...
, Jennifer Saunders
Jennifer Saunders
Jennifer Jane Saunders is an English comedienne, screenwriter, singer and actress. She has won two BAFTAs, an International Emmy Award, a British Comedy Award, a Rose d'Or Light Entertainment Festival Award, two Writers' Guild of Great Britain Awards, and a Peoples Choice Award.She first came into...
and featuring many other Comic Strip performers.
Feature film work
Richardson directed the 1987 film Eat the Rich, written by himself and Pete Richens, about a gay waiter at Bastard's, an exclusive restaurant. He is soon fired for conduct more obnoxious than even the maitre d at a restaurant named Bastard's can stand. Fallen on hard times, his obnoxiousness is channelled into a mock class rage and, with the first of a quartet of cohorts, he starts out on a rampage that ends in mock tragedy.Richardson also wrote (again with Richens) and directed the film The Pope Must Die
The Pope Must Die
The Pope Must Die is a 1991 comedy film starring Robbie Coltrane, Adrian Edmondson, Annette Crosbie, Alex Rocco and Peter Richardson who also directed.-Plot:...
, which starred Comic Strip regulars Robbie Coltrane
Robbie Coltrane
Robbie Coltrane, OBE is a Scottish actor, comedian and author. He is known both for his role as Dr...
and Adrian Edmondson.
Richardson had a 1992 film called Carry On Columbus
Carry On Columbus
Carry On Columbus is the 31st and last film in the Carry On series, following 1978's Carry On Emmannuelle. The only main series regulars present are Jim Dale , Bernard Cribbins , Leslie Phillips , Jon Pertwee and June Whitfield...
, along with Rik Mayall, Alexei Sayle
Alexei Sayle
Alexei David Sayle is a British stand-up comedian, actor and author. He was a central part of the alternative comedy circuit in the early 1980s. He was voted the 18th greatest stand-up comic on Channel 4's 100 Greatest Stand-ups in 2007...
and his double act Nigel Planer.
Other television work
During the last series of Comic Strip films, Peter introduced a new group of performers, Doon MackichanDoon Mackichan
Doon Mackichan is an English comedienne and actress.-Biography:Born in London, Mackichan was brought up in Surrey until the age of 9 when she moved with her family to Upper Largo, Fife. She is a graduate of Manchester University...
, Mark Caven, Phil Cornwell
Phil Cornwell
Phil Cornwell is an English comedian, actor, impressionist and writer. He is probably best known as being part of the Dead Ringers television and radio series...
, Sara Stockbridge, George Yiasoumi and Gary Beadle
Gary Beadle
Gary Beadle is an English actor, best known for playing Paul Trueman in EastEnders and Gary Barwick in Operation Good Guys....
, and went on to star them in the "The Glam Metal Detectives". The series was a hit with critics, and did well enough in the ratings, but spiralling production costs and internal wranglings at the BBC meant it only ran for one series.
Apart from the Comic Strip, Richardson's best-known work is the sitcom Stella Street
Stella Street
Stella Street is a British television comedy programme, originally screened on BBC Two between 1997 and 2001. It focuses on the antics of a group of British and American celebrities who all happen to live on Stella Street in Surbiton ....
, which he directs and co-writes with impressionists John Sessions
John Sessions
John Gibb Marshall , better known by the stage name John Sessions, is a Scottish actor and comedian. He is known for comedy improvisation in television shows such as Whose Line Is It Anyway?; as a panellist on QI; and as a character actor in numerous films, both in the UK and in Hollywood.-Early...
and Phil Cornwell
Phil Cornwell
Phil Cornwell is an English comedian, actor, impressionist and writer. He is probably best known as being part of the Dead Ringers television and radio series...
. A Stella Street feature film was released in 2004. He also directed the mock documentary Lust for Glorious about comedian Eddie Izzard
Eddie Izzard
Edward John "Eddie" Izzard is a British stand-up comedian and actor. His comedy style takes the form of rambling, whimsical monologue and self-referential pantomime...
with Mark Caven and Phil Kay
Phil Kay
Phil Kay is a Scottish stand-up comedian.-Early career:Kay became known to the public when he won the newcomer's competition, 'So You Think You're Funny', at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1989. He then went on to be nominated for the prestigious Perrier Award in 1993. He also won the award for...
.
Production work
In 2004, Richardson founded the production company Great Western Features, which is based in TotnesTotnes
Totnes is a market town and civil parish at the head of the estuary of the River Dart in Devon, England within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
.
Actor
- The Comic Strip Presents...The Comic StripThe Comic Strip is a group of British comedians, known for their television series The Comic Strip Presents.... The core members are Adrian Edmondson, Dawn French, Rik Mayall, Nigel Planer, Peter Richardson and Jennifer Saunders, with frequent appearances by Keith Allen, Robbie Coltrane and...
(39 episodes) (1982–2005) - The SupergrassThe SupergrassThe Supergrass is a 1985 British comedy film written and directed by Peter Richardson. Film starred Richardson, Adrian Edmondson, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Keith Allen, Nigel Planer, Alexei Sayle, Ronald Allen and Robbie Coltrane. After returning from a holiday in the West Country he...
(1985) - Eat the Rich (1987)
- The Pope Must DieThe Pope Must DieThe Pope Must Die is a 1991 comedy film starring Robbie Coltrane, Adrian Edmondson, Annette Crosbie, Alex Rocco and Peter Richardson who also directed.-Plot:...
(1991) - Carry On ColumbusCarry On ColumbusCarry On Columbus is the 31st and last film in the Carry On series, following 1978's Carry On Emmannuelle. The only main series regulars present are Jim Dale , Bernard Cribbins , Leslie Phillips , Jon Pertwee and June Whitfield...
(1992)
Director
- The SupergrassThe SupergrassThe Supergrass is a 1985 British comedy film written and directed by Peter Richardson. Film starred Richardson, Adrian Edmondson, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Keith Allen, Nigel Planer, Alexei Sayle, Ronald Allen and Robbie Coltrane. After returning from a holiday in the West Country he...
(1985) - Eat the Rich (1987)
- The Comic Strip PresentsThe Comic StripThe Comic Strip is a group of British comedians, known for their television series The Comic Strip Presents.... The core members are Adrian Edmondson, Dawn French, Rik Mayall, Nigel Planer, Peter Richardson and Jennifer Saunders, with frequent appearances by Keith Allen, Robbie Coltrane and...
(17 episodes) (1988–2005) - The Pope Must DieThe Pope Must DieThe Pope Must Die is a 1991 comedy film starring Robbie Coltrane, Adrian Edmondson, Annette Crosbie, Alex Rocco and Peter Richardson who also directed.-Plot:...
(1991) - The Glam Metal DetectivesThe Glam Metal DetectivesThe Glam Metal Detectives is a comedy show produced by the BBC in 1995. Shown on BBC2 on Thursday nights at 9pm—a slot renowned as a breeding ground for new and more experimental comedy—it combined both sketch and sitcom elements,...
(1995) - Lust for Glorious (1997)
- Stella StreetStella StreetStella Street is a British television comedy programme, originally screened on BBC Two between 1997 and 2001. It focuses on the antics of a group of British and American celebrities who all happen to live on Stella Street in Surbiton ....
(TV series) (1997) - Stella Street (film) (2004)
- Churchill: The Hollywood YearsChurchill: The Hollywood YearsChurchill: The Hollywood Years is a 2004 film, directed by Peter Richardson. It stars Christian Slater as Winston Churchill, and Neve Campbell as Elizabeth II...
(2004)