Steve Pemberton

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Steve Pemberton
Steve Pemberton
Pemberton after winning a BAFTA for Inside No. 9 in 2019
Born (1967-09-01) 1 September 1967 (age 56)
Occupation(s)Actor, comedian, director, writer
Years active1995–present
PartnerAlison Rowles
Children3

Steven James Pemberton (born 1 September 1967) is a British actor, comedian, director and writer. He is best known as a member of The League of Gentlemen with Reece Shearsmith, Mark Gatiss, and Jeremy Dyson. Pemberton and Shearsmith also co-wrote and starred in the black comedy Psychoville and the anthology series Inside No. 9. His other notable television credits include Doctor Who, Benidorm, Blackpool, Shameless, Whitechapel, Happy Valley and Mapp and Lucia.

Early life[edit]

Steve Pemberton was born and raised in Blackburn, Lancashire and attended Saint Michael's Church of England High School, Chorley.[1]

Career[edit]

Film and television[edit]

Pemberton's television performance credits include Whitechapel, Doctor Who, Benidorm, Under the Greenwood Tree, Hotel Babylon, The Last Detective, Randall and Hopkirk, Blackpool and Shameless. In 2004, he portrayed Dr Bessner in Death on the Nile and Harry Secombe in The Life and Death of Peter Sellers. He also appeared in the film Lassie (2005).

Pemberton as Pauline in The League of Gentlemen

Pemberton is best known as being a member of the sketch comedy team The League of Gentlemen, along with fellow performers Mark Gatiss, Reece Shearsmith, and co-writer Jeremy Dyson, all of whom he met at Bretton Hall College in his late teens. The League of Gentlemen initially began as a stage act in 1995, then transferred to BBC Radio 4 as On the Town with the League of Gentlemen in 1997, and finally arrived on television on BBC Two in 1999. The latter has seen Pemberton and his colleagues awarded a British Academy Television Award, a Royal Television Society Award, and a Golden Rose of Montreux.

From 2007 to 2015, Pemberton appeared as Mick Garvey in Benidorm. Pemberton appeared in 43 episodes.

In the 2008 English language DVD re-release of the cult 2006 Norwegian animated film Free Jimmy, Pemberton voiced Mattis, a heavy-set and bizarrely-dressed biker member of the Lappish Mafia. In June 2009, Psychoville aired and marked Pemberton's return to BBC Two.[2][3][4][5] It was co-written by Pemberton and his fellow League of Gentlemen member, Reece Shearsmith. Both of them play numerous characters in the series, similar to the format of The League of Gentlemen.

Pemberton portrayed Rufus Drumknott in 2010's Terry Pratchett's Going Postal. He appeared as Vice Principal Douglas Panch in the Donmar's 2011 production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. In 2014, he played Georgie Pillson in an adaptation of E. F. Benson's Mapp and Lucia. He also wrote the adaptation, which featured his League of Gentlemen colleague Mark Gatiss. It was broadcast during Christmas 2014.[6] Since 2014, he has starred as various characters in the dark comedy anthology series Inside No. 9, which he co-created with Shearsmith, airing on BBC Two. Series six aired in 2021.[7]

Pemberton reunited with his The League of Gentlemen colleagues in 2017 for three special episodes, transmitted in December 2017 on BBC2.[8][9][10] He appeared as himself in the 2018 short film To Trend on Twitter in aid of young people with cancer charity CLIC Sargent with fellow comedians David Baddiel, Reece Shearsmith, Helen Lederer and actor Jason Flemyng.[11]

In October 2021, Pemberton was nominated for Best Outstanding Comedy Actor at the inaugural National Comedy Awards for Stand Up to Cancer[12] for his appearances in series 6 of Inside No. 9.

The seventh series of Inside No. 9 premiered on 20 April 2022.[13]

In 2024, it was confirmed Pemberton would take part in the seventeenth series of Taskmaster.

Theatre[edit]

Pemberton's early work centred mainly around fringe theatre; he was a founding member of the 606 Theatre with Gordon Anderson, Tom Hadley, and producer Shane Walter. He has produced, performed in, and directed various stage productions.

In 2020 it was announced that Pemberton would join Aaron Taylor-Johnson on West End stage in Martin McDonagh's The Pillowman, directed by Matthew Dunster.[14] However, due to the Covid-19 situation, the run was postponed until 2021. Pemberton said, "It's been a dark time for the performing arts and I can't wait to have the theatres open again. Unfortunately, The Pillowman has to be put to bed for now, but I very much hope that we'll be able to bring Martin's dazzling play to the West End before too long."[15] The play was staged from 10 June 2023 to 2 September 2023 at the Duke of York's Theatre in London's West End with Lily Allen, Paul Kaye, Pemberton, and Matthew Tennison.[16][17] The Guardian praised Pemberton's performance as "unfailingly excellent",[18] although other reviews of the play were mixed.[19][20]

Other[edit]

Pemberton has written for Variety and was the assistant editor of the International Film Guide from 1991 to 1998.

Personal life[edit]

Pemberton lives in Fortis Green, London, with his partner, Alison Rowles, and their three children.[21][22][23] He speaks German and French.[24] The University of Huddersfield awarded him an honorary doctorate of letters in 2003.[25]

Pemberton is a football fan and a supporter of Blackburn Rovers F.C.[26]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2005 The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse Various Characters Co-creator, co-writer
Lassie Hynes
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Mr. Prosser / Additional Vogon voices Collectively credited as "The League of Gentlemen"
Match Point Detective Parry
2007 The Old Curiosity Shop Mr. Short
Mr. Bean's Holiday Vicar (Special Participation)
2008 Free Jimmy Mattis
2012 Football Managers Oliver Writer
2018 To Trend on Twitter Himself
2024 Better Man Peter

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1993 Alice in Russialand Various Characters TV movie
1999–2002, 2017 The League of Gentlemen Various Characters Series 1–4
Co-creator, co-writer
2000 Gormenghast Professor Mule
2000–2001 Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) Sergeant Liddel Episode #1.1
2004 Blackpool Adrian Marr
Agatha Christie's Poirot: Death on the Nile Dr Bessner
Shameless Eddie Jackson
2005 Hotel Babylon Mr Daniels Episode #1.3
The Last Detective Edward Netherton Episode "Friends Reunited"
Under the Greenwood Tree Mr Shinar
2007–2015 Benidorm Mick Garvey Regular; 43 episodes (Series 1–7)
2008 Agatha Christie's Marple Henry Wake Episode: "Murder is Easy"
2008 Doctor Who Strackman Lux Episodes: "Silence in the Library", "Forest of the Dead"
2009 Terry Pratchett's Going Postal Drumknott
2009 Minder Vlad the Imposter Episode: "A Matter of Life and Debt"
2009–2011 Psychoville Various Characters Co-writer
2009–2013 Whitechapel Edward Buchan Writer of 2 episodes
2012 Sport Relief 2012 Mick Garvey 1 episode: Benidorm meets Britain's Got Talent
2012–2013 Horrible Histories Hollywood Producer 10 episodes
2013 Heading Out Vet Inspector 1 episode
2014 Mapp and Lucia Georgie Pillson Writer
Happy Valley Kevin Weatherill
Toast of London Francis Bacon Episode: "Fool in Love"
2014–present Inside No. 9 Various Characters Co-writer and director; 45 episodes
2015 Lewis Ian Tedman Episodes: "One For Sorrow" parts 1 and 2
Harry Hill in Professor Branestawm Returns Professor Algebrain One-off special
2016 Camping Robin 6 episodes
Tracey Ullman's Show Colin 1 episode
2017 Midsomer Murders Timothy Benson 1 episode : "Red in Tooth & Claw"
2018 The Interrogation of Tony Martin Tony Martin TV film
2019 Worzel Gummidge Mr Braithwaite
2019–present Good Omens Glozier 2 episodes: "Hard Times" and "Nazi Zombie Flesheaters"
2020 Death in Paradise Neil Henderson 1 episode
Killing Eve Paul Recurring; 5 episodes
2022 Brassic Mr King 1 episode
2024 Taskmaster Himself Series 17 / 10 episodes

Stage[edit]

Year Title Role Venue
2002 Art Mark Whitehall Theatre
2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 The Rocky Horror Show Guest narrator Various
2007 The Drowsy Chaperone Man in Chair Novello Theatre
2009 The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Vice Principal Douglas Panch Donmar Warehouse
2012 She Stoops to Conquer Mr Hardcastle Olivier Theatre, Royal National Theatre
2016 Dead Funny Brian Vaudeville Theatre
2023 The Pillowman Tupolski Duke of York's Theatre

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year Award Category Work Result Ref
2015 Royal Television Society Best Comedy Performance - Male For Inside No.9 Won
2018 Writers' Guild of Great Britain Best TV Situation Comedy With Reece Shearsmith, For episode 'Zanzibar' Won [27]
2019 Royal Television Society Best Comedy Performance - Male For Inside No.9 Won
2019 2019 British Academy Television Awards Best Male Comedy Performance Steve Pemberton Won [28]
2021 National Comedy Awards for Stand Up to Cancer Best Outstanding Comedy Actor For Inside No. 9 Nominated [29]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Townend, Jon. "Steve Pembertons shows have become cult hits".
  2. ^ Dowell, Ben (9 October 2008). "League of Gentlemen duo back with BBC2 comedy Psychoville". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 5 February 2009.
  3. ^ "TV Preview: Psychoville + panel discussion". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 11 May 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
  4. ^ "Psychoville". BBC. Retrieved 21 May 2009.
  5. ^ "New show for League of Gentlemen". BBC Online. 9 October 2008. Retrieved 5 February 2009.
  6. ^ "BBC announces adaptation of EF Benson's Mapp and Lucia". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  7. ^ Chase, Stephanie (28 April 2021). "Inside No. 9 confirms series 6 return date". Digital Spy. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  8. ^ "'League of Gentlemen' revival and 'Alan Partridge' documentary among BBC highlights for Christmas 2017". NME. 28 November 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  9. ^ Moreland, Alex (13 December 2017). "The League Of Gentlemen: everything you need to know about this cult comedy revival". Metro. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  10. ^ Wollaston, Sam (19 December 2017). "The League of Gentlemen review Royston Vasey: just as terrifying as ever". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  11. ^ "Top Comics Join Short Film". Chortle. 13 August 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  12. ^ McGee, Sarah (13 October 2021). "Blackburn comedians nominated in Channel 4 comedy awards". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  13. ^ "TV tonight: Diane Morgan crashes The League of Gentlemen cast reunion". The Guardian. 20 April 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  14. ^ Orlova-Alvarez, Tamara (28 February 2020). "West End: Aaron Taylor-Johnson & Steve Pemberton to Star in The Pillowman". Ikon London Magazine. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  15. ^ Mayo, Douglas (4 June 2021). "Martin McDonagh's The Pillowman delayed – New dates announced soon". British Theatre. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  16. ^ Thomas, Sophie (14 March 2023). "'The Pillowman', starring Steve Pemberton, announces further West End casting". London Theatre. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  17. ^ Putnam, Leah (13 March 2023). "Paul Kaye and Matthew Tennyson Join West End Revival of The Pillowman". Playbill. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  18. ^ Akbar, Arifa (22 June 2023). "The Pillowman review – Lily Allen fails to deliver visceral punch". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  19. ^ Thompson, Jessie (22 June 2023). "The Pillowman review: A dark, twisted triumph despite lightweight Lily Allen's one-note turn". The Independent. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  20. ^ Allfree, Claire (21 June 2023). "The Pillowman, Duke of York's Theatre, review: Lily Allen all at sea in dull revival". The Telegraph. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  21. ^ Bletchly, Rachael (11 April 2012). "Benidorm's Steve Pemberton: I had a heart attack at 25 ... but it took me 20 years to scare me into losing two stone". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  22. ^ "Lucas James Pemberton". Variety. 31 May 2000. Archived from the original on 20 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  23. ^ "Steve Pemberton's diary". Evening Standard. 10 April 2012.
  24. ^ "Actor Steve Pemberton reveals secret heartache". Daily Mirror. 20 March 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  25. ^ "Honorary Graduates". University of Huddersfield. 24 April 2017. Archived from the original on 24 April 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  26. ^ "Interview - Steve Pemberton", Blank Podcast, retrieved 20 September 2023
  27. ^ "Writers' Guild Awards winners 2018". Writers' Guild of Great Britain. 15 January 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  28. ^ "BAFTA Television 2019: Winners of the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards + British Academy Television Craft Awards". BAFTA. 12 May 2019. Archived from the original on 14 February 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  29. ^ McGee, Sarah (13 October 2021). "Blackburn comedians nominated in Channel 4 comedy awards". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 27 October 2021.

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