Ian Kirkby

Last updated

Ian Kirkby is a British actor and writer. He is best known for his role as DI Harry Batt on the children's programme Dick and Dom in da Bungalow & Diddy TV and Sandy Toes on Swashbuckle. Additionally, he has appeared in Diddy Movies and The Slammer.

Contents

Career

In his early years, Kirkby became a member of the Central Junior Television Workshop. From there he was selected as an extra in 1987 in ITV sitcom, Hardwicke House . [1] In 1992, Kirkby graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and was employed in a number of minor roles in theatre and television productions. He also spent a year with the Royal Shakespeare Company and performed in the West End. [2] In 2003, Kirkby was hired by the BBC to play Newcastle detective, Harry Batt on CBBC's Dick and Dom in da Bungalow. Kirkby said he based the character of Harry Batt on a "Seventies Sweeney stereotype, but with a Geordie accent." The character was only intended to be a one-time appearance; however, the character became popular so Kirkby reprised the role as a recurring character and a regular actor until the end of the programme in 2006. [3] Kirkby also played Harry Batt in Da Dick and Dom Dairies and The Legend of Dick and Dom . [4] During this time, he also co-wrote a programme for CBBC based around Harry Batt, which was broadcast in 2007. [5]

Also in 2006, in a role that Kirkby was permitted to write for himself, [3] played the role of Mr. Burgess in the talent programme The Slammer . [6] In 2010, Kirkby was hired by Channel 4 to play commentator Terry McIlroy in the comedy Pete versus Life . [7]

Personal life

Kirkby is a fan of association football; however, he had expressed a dislike of motor racing as "just a waste of petrol". [8]

Filmography

Television

YearSeriesRoleNotes
1983–1989 Dramarama Various charactersAppeared in four episodes
1985–1988 Your Mother Wouldn't Like It LoafMain cast member
1987 Hardwicke House Unnamed pupil
1988 Hard Cases Peter Collinson
1990Palace HillChelsea Bun

Appeared in all seven episodes

1994 Pie in the Sky Second Police ConstableEpisode 1.7: "Passion Fruit Fool"
1995 Peak Practice Edward TurrellEpisode 3.12: "Giving Up"
1998Picking up the PiecesPeterEpisode 1.8
2000 Doctors Graham TremainEpisode 2.52
2003DangervilleJack Jackson

Appeared in thirteen episodes

2004–2006 Dick and Dom in da Bungalow Various charactersAppeared in the majority of series 3 and all the episodes of series 4 and 5
2004 55 Degrees North Jack TimsonEpisode 1.3
2005 Wire in the Blood Steve BentleyEpisode 3.4: "Synchronicity"
Julian Fellowes Investigates: A Most Mysterious Murder The Case of Rose HarsentAlbert Goodchild
2006–15 The Slammer Mr. BurgessAppeared in all episodes
2006 Mayo Joe WishartEpisode 1.6
Coronation Street Simon StevensAppeared in four episodes
2007 Harry Batt Harry BattAlso writer
Casualty Pete FramptonEpisode 22.18: "Take a Cup of Kindness Yet" and 22.19: "For Auld Lang Syne"
2008 Uncle Max Biker dadEpisode 2.9: "Uncle Max at the Supermarket"
2009–2010 The Legend of Dick and Dom Appeared in all three series playing over 40 characters
Nuzzle and Scratch Mr Sandy BottomEpisode 4: "Beach Attendant"
2009 Gigglebiz Cinema Manager/Mayor/Janitor3 episodes
2010 Pete versus Life Terry McIlroyAll 5 episodes
2012-2014 Diddy Movies Various
2016–2018 Diddy TV Harry Batt/VariousAll 19 episodes
2016 Sam & Mark's Big Friday Wind-Up Mr. BurgessGuest
2016 Rank the Prank Various characters2 episode
CBBC HQ Harry BattGuest
2020 Crackerjack! Various Characters
2021-present Swashbuckle Sandy from (Series 7 onwards)

Films

YearFilmRoleNotes
1997Jilting JoeTraffic Cop
1999 Whatever Happened to Harold Smith? Policeman
2008My Last Five GirlfriendsTour guide

Related Research Articles

<i>Dick & Dom in da Bungalow</i> Television series

Dick & Dom in da Bungalow is a British children's television series presented by the duo Dick and Dom. The series was broadcast on weekend mornings for five series on the CBBC Channel, BBC One and BBC Two, running between 31 August 2002 and 11 March 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dick and Dom</span> British comedy double act

Dick and Dom are a British comedy double act consisting of the presenters Richard "Dick" McCourt and Dominic "Dom" Wood. They are primarily known for presenting 'the broom cupboard' presentation links on Children's BBC in the 1990s and early 2000s, before moving onto the double BAFTA Award winning Dick & Dom in da Bungalow, a children's entertainment show that was broadcast live during weekend mornings on BBC One, CBBC, and later BBC Two. The show ran for five series between 2002 and 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dominic Wood</span> English magician and presenter

Dominic Simon "Dom" Wood is an English entertainer, magician and presenter of radio and television, best known as one half of the double act Dick and Dom, with the other being Richard "Dick" McCourt. From 14 October 2007 to September 2008, he and work partner McCourt presented the Sunday morning show on BBC Radio 1 from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm, but later left the show due to TV commitments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard McCourt</span> British entertainer and presenter

Richard "Dick" McCourt is an English entertainer and presenter. He is best known as one half of the comic duo Dick and Dom, with the other being Dominic "Dom" Wood. His older brother is fellow television presenter James McCourt.

Otis the Aardvark was a puppet of an aardvark that was a presenter on Children's BBC on British television. Otis mainly presented the afternoon links on BBC One alongside the main CBBC presenters. Otis was thought to be inspired by the 1992 Children's BBC idents which ended with a voice proclaiming "Tell that aardvark it's a wrap". These idents led to much speculation as to what the phrase meant. However, these idents were dropped just before the character of Otis appeared in late 1994.

Steven Ryde is an English actor, voice-over artist and producer, best known for his role as Tatty Bogle from 1994 to 1998 in the children's TV series Wizadora. He has worked mainly in children's television for over 30 years.

Your Mother Wouldn't Like It was a children's sketch show broadcast on ITV between 1985 and 1988. A unique aspect of the show was that the performing cast were almost entirely children.

The Slammer is a talent show for children that was broadcast on CBBC from 22 September 2006 until 26 July 2014.

Harry Batt is a television pilot starring Ian Kirkby as the fictional "Geordie copper" DI Harry Batt. The article is about both the character and the show itself.

David Chapman is an English actor, presenter, puppeteer and voice artist.

<i>Basil and Barneys Swap Shop</i> British TV series or programme

Basil and Barney's Swap Shop is a British children's television series that was produced for CBBC and ran on Saturday mornings on BBC Two and CBBC Channel from 5 January 2008 to 25 September 2010. Based on the original BBC children's Saturday morning show Multi-Coloured Swap Shop, which ran on BBC One from 1976 to 1982, it was hosted by Barney Harwood, along with veteran puppet character Basil Brush, from whom the show takes its title.

The Legend of Dick and Dom is a sitcom that stars Dick and Dom as two budding young princes who are on a quest to find the antidote to a terrible plague that consumed their kingdom Fyredor because Dick accidentally dropped the original cure. The all star cast also includes Mannitol, a wizard who is really bad at doing magic, and Lutin, a thief who was released from prison. During the quest, they have to find various items e.g. a magnofish. They then put it in a special bottle to complete their potion. The programme is narrated by former Monty Python member Terry Jones. The show concluded with the series three finale, aired on 24 March 2011.

Bob Golding is an English actor and voice artist. He is best known for the voices of Milo and Max in the CBeebies show Tweenies.

Undercover Dads is a cult British television programme popular with both kids and adults. Created by format producer Howard Davidson, it first aired on BBC2 and CBBC in 2009. Presented by comedian, actor and puppeteer Dave Chapman, the show challenges a hard-working dad to get to know his kids, bring his family closer together and win them prizes....by dressing up as made-up TV expert 'Mega Nanny' and spending two whole days in their company without them realising it.

<i>Pete versus Life</i> British TV series or programme

Pete versus Life is a Channel 4 sitcom created by George Jeffrie and Bert Tyler-Moore. It stars Rafe Spall and the first episode was aired on 6 August 2010. It was recommissioned for a second series after averaging 1.6 million viewers and a young demographic during its first run, and series two started airing on 21 October 2011.

Dick and Dom's Funny Business is a British comedy television series for children, hosted by comic presenting duo Richard McCourt and Dominic Wood. The series was broadcast in a Saturday morning slot on BBC Two and simulcast on the CBBC Channel, and was Dick and Dom's return to Saturday mornings following the success of Dick & Dom in da Bungalow, which ended in Spring 2006. Unlike ...da Bungalow, which was largely broadcast live and ran for up to three hours with inserted content, ...Funny Business was a pre-recorded, self-contained one-hour programme. The first series began in January 2011 and ran for 13 episodes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kelly-Anne Lyons</span> American actress

Kelly-Anne Lyons is an American actress, television presenter, writer and model. Lyons' breakthrough role was as the female lead, Kelly-Anne Manhattan, in the BBC comedy Dick and Dom's Funny Business. Before this, Lyons played the title role in Chelsey: OMG!, produced by British comedy and entertainment company Channel X. She is known for her characters in hidden camera sketch shows such as ITV1’s "Fool Britannia" with Dom Joly and BBC1’s "Richard Hammond’s Secret Service", as well as MTV’s "Flash Prank", Channel 5 (UK) ’s "Secret Interview", and National Geographic’s "Ape Man". She plays news anchor "Felicity Bond" in the BAFTA nominated BBC comedy "DNN" and "Tess" in BBC’s sitcom "Badults".

Da Dick and Dom Dairies [sic] is a compilation series of all the "Best-Bits" from Dick & Dom in da Bungalow. It began airing during weekday mornings on BBC Two from Monday 26 January to Friday 20 February 2009 and featured newly recorded material from the original cast and the creamy muck muck finale towards the end of each episode.

<i>Diddy TV</i> British childrens comedy series

Diddy TV was a British children's sketch comedy series on CBBC. It stars Richard McCourt and Dominic Wood. It is a sequel series to the Diddy Dick and Dom sketches on Dick & Dom in da Bungalow and Diddy Movies. The series features various parodies of television series including Top of the Pops and The Great British Bake Off. Series 1 began on 14 March 2016, Series 2 began on 20 June 2016, Series 3 began on 19 March 2018 and Series 4 began on 25 June 2018. Many of the cast have been in other Dick and Dom sketch series or the sitcom The Legend of Dick and Dom.

Diddy Movies is a British children's comedy series on CBBC. It stars Richard McCourt, Dominic Wood and Ted Robbins. It is a sequel series to the Diddy Dick and Dom sketches on Dick & Dom in da Bungalow. The series features fictional blockbuster movies headlined by the duo of Dick and Dom. Series 1 began on 19 March 2012, a Christmas special was aired on 19 December 2013 and Series 2 began on 4 March 2014. Many of the cast have been in other Dick and Dom sketch series or the sitcom The Legend of Dick and Dom.

References

  1. "School's Out!". Off The Telly. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  2. "Ian Kirkby". Mercury Theatre. 22 February 1999. Archived from the original on 20 August 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  3. 1 2 "Da Bungalow Ian is back on stage". Gazette News. 20 May 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  4. https://www.imdb.com/character/ch0256233/filmotype Archived 24 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine [ user-generated source ]
  5. Written by Ian Kirkby (12 January 2007). "Harry Batt". Pilot. Episode 1. BBC. BBC1.
  6. "The Slammer". UKGameshows. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  7. "Pete Versus Life – Character Guide". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  8. "The Commentators Interview". British Comedy guide. 30 July 2010. Retrieved 24 April 2013.