Geoffrey Whitehead (born 1 October 1939)BFI biodata Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk. Retrieved 26 May 2019 is an English actor. He has appeared in a range of television, film and radio roles.
Early life Whitehead was born on 1 October 1939 in Grenoside, Sheffield. After his father was killed in the Second World War, he received an RAF benevolent grant which sent him to a minor public school. He later attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where he became friends with fellow student John Thaw.
Career Whitehead's television appearances include Bulldog Breed (1962); Z-Cars (1964–1965 and 1972–1975), playing two different regular characters; Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em (1973); The Sweeney, Season 2 Episode 6 "Trap" (1975); Thriller (1 episode, 1974); Wodehouse Playhouse, ("Rodney Fails to Qualify"); The Doll, 1975; Robin's Nest (1977); Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson (1979–1980, as Sherlock Holmes); "Gerald Pinkerton" in Pinkerton's Progress (1983); Peter the Great (1986); Chelmsford 123 (1988–1990); War and Remembrance (1988); Second Thoughts (1991–1994); The House of Eliott (1991); Executive Stress; Little Britain; and The Worst Week of My Life.
His radio roles include featuring in the third and fourth episodes of the fifth series of the BBC Radio 4 comedy series Old Harry's Game in the role of Roland Kingworthy, as Prior Robert in the 1980s BBC radio dramatisations of Cadfael, as John Barsad in the radio dramatisation of Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities and as Justice Wargrave in the BBC Radio 4 dramatisation of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None on 13 November 2010. He has starred on BBC radio in many comic roles, including Bleak Expectations, featuring as five entire families between 2007 and 2012. He appeared in two series of the BBC remake Reggie Perrin as Reggie's father-in-law, William.
Whitehead's film appearances have included The Raging Moon (1971), Kidnapped (1971), the vengeful woodsman in And Now the Screaming Starts! (1972), S.O.S. Titanic (1979) as shipbuilder Thomas Andrews, Inside the Third Reich (1982), Shooting Fish (1997) and Love/Loss (2010).
In 2011, Whitehead joined the cast of Not Going Out in its fourth series, playing Geoffrey Adams, the father of Lucy and Tim. This character had been recurring since 2007, but had previously been played by Timothy West. He played the role until 2023.
In 2013, Whitehead appeared on Comic Relief playing the vicar in a Simon Cowell wedding sketch.
He played Dr Fagan in Evelyn Waugh's Decline and Fall on radio, first broadcast in 2015.
From 2015 to 2019, Whitehead played Mr (Wilburn) Newbold in BBC One's Still Open All Hours.
Selected filmography
Television +YearTitleRoleNotes1962Bulldog BreedBilly Broadbent2 episodes1963The Plane MakersJeremy ColesEpisode: "A Question of Sources"1963- 1965Armchair TheatreAnthony Shields/ Paul/ Andrew Lafone3 episodes1964The AvengersRt. Hon. Lucien FfordshamEpisode: "Trojan Horse"1964- 1965Z-CarsPC Baker29 episodes1966RedcapPrivate OglivyEpisode: "Paterson's Private Army"1968The Wednesday PlayFather JamesStory: "A Bit of Crucifixion, Father"Never Mind the Quality, Feel the WidthStation ConstableEpisode: "I'm Dreaming of a Kosher Christmas"1969The AvengersCarterEpisode: "Pandora"The Gold RobbersPeter ConroyEpisode: "Rough Trade"HadleighMark FosterEpisode: "If You Can't Beat 'Em"1970ManhuntCaptain Speigel2 episodes1971Public EyeAlan LiptonEpisode: "Slip Home in the Dark"The Rivals of Sherlock HolmesHarry ParsketStory: "The Horse of the Invisible"The TroubleshootersMcNabEpisode: "Monopoly with Real Money"JusticeMajor BiltonEpisode: "To Help an Old School Friend"1972Upstairs, DownstairsCaptain Axel RyttsenEpisode: "The Swedish Tiger"Man of StrawFriedrich KienastEpisode: "A Suitable Match"1972- 1975Z-CarsSgt. Miller22 episodes1973Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'EmOsborneEpisode: "Love Thy Neighbour"JusticeBrian BexEpisode: "One for the Road"Owen M.D.Dr. HugoEpisode: "You Don't Get Me"1974ThrillerKestonStory: "Im the Girl He Wants to Kill"1975Crown CourtGeoffrey AppletonEpisode: "The Quest - Part 1"A LegacyGustavus von Felden4 episodesWodehouse PlayhouseRodney SpelvinStory: Rodney Fails to Qualify"The SweeneyMillsEpisode: "Trap"The DollClaude Matty3 episodes1977Robin's NestAnthonyEpisode: "A Little Competition"1977- 1978The FoundationRonnie Bartlett25 episodes1979Thomas and SarahSir George TruscottEpisode: "A Day at the Metropole"1979- 1980Sherlock Holmes and Doctor WatsonSherlock Holmes24 episodes1983The CleopatrasScipio AfricanusEpisode: "145 BC"Pinkerton's ProgressGerald Pinkerton6 episodesReilly: Ace of SpiesLubinskyEpisode: "Deadnoughts and Crosses"The ConsultantClement4 episodes1984Scarecrow and Mrs. KingThe MongooseEpisode: "To Catch a Mongoose"1986Peter the GreatPrince Vasily Golitsyn4 episodes (mini-series)The Fourth FloorMonroe3 episodes (mini-series)Kit CurranBumsteadEpisode: "The Lucky Break"Middle EnglishMr. Magnus4 episodes1987A Small ProblemPrison Governor Episode: "Curfew"1988The Return of ShelleyConsultantEpisode: "Emergency Ward 9"Executive StressPeter Davenport3 episodes1988- 1990Chelmsford 123Viatorus3 episodes1989War and RemembranceAlbert SpeerEpisode: "Part XI"Frederick Forsyth PresentsEdwardsStory: "A Casualty of War"1990Colin's SandwichThe ConsultantEpisode: "Frank"1991MinderSupt. RodenEpisode: "The Coach That Came in from the Cold"Gone to the DogsHeadmaster1 episodeRed FoxBritish Ambassador2 episodesStrauss DynastyHalmi8 episodes (mini-series)1991- 1994Second ThoughtsRichard32 episodes1992The House of EliottEdward Maddox1 episodeJewelsKing George2 episodes1992- 1994Between the LinesD.A.C. Flint3 episodes1993Drop the Dead DonkeyLawyer 1Episode: "Sally's Libel"PoirotXavier St. AlardEpisode: "The Chocolate Box"DemobBrigadier1 episode1994FaithSandy2 episodes1995Johnny and the DeadAddison Fletcher4 episodesLook at the State We're In!Howard QC5 episodesThe Adventures of Young Indiana JonesWernerEpisode: "Attack of the Hawkmen"1996Soldier, SoldierMr. John ForsythEpisode: "River Deep"1996- 1997Paul Merton in Galton and Simpson's...Various5 episodes1997Q.E.D.Justin SandersonEpisode: "Cause of Death"1998The AmbassadorRupert (The P.U.S.)Episode: "Refuge"1999People Like UsChief Inspector CarpenterEpisode: "The Police Officer"2000ChambersChristopher WakelyEpisode: "The Masons"2001Time Gentlemen PleaseVicky's Dad2 episodes2003FortysomethingMaurice Kemp1 episodeAbsolute Power Snobby ClubmanEpisode: "Country Life"2004The Rotters' ClubHeadmaster3 episodes (mini-series)2004- 2006The Worst Week of My LifeDick Cook17 episodes2005The RobinsonsMarshall1 episodeMy HeroHeadmasterEpisode: "How Green Was My Ollie"Midsomer MurdersDr. Gregory RansomEpisode: "Second Sight"2006MayoCrytchEpisode: "Requiem for a Dove"2008Little DorritDoctor5 episodes (mini-series)Burn Up!Chairman of the Board1 episode2009The FixerBob Winters1 episode2009- 2010Reggie PerrinWilliam11 episodes2011- 2012The Royal BodyguardCol. Dennis Whittington6 episodes2011- 2023Not Going OutGeoffrey29 episodes2014Midsomer MurdersGiles WildingEpisode: "The Flying Club"DoctorsTom VaeseyEpisode: "Two Roads"2015- 2019Still Open All HoursMr. Newbold31 episodes2017Upstart CrowHuntEpisode: "I Know Thee Not, Old Man"
Film +YearTitleRoleNotes1966The Christmas TreePoliceman1971The Raging MoonHaroldKidnappedLt. Duncansby1973And Now the Screaming Starts!Woodman/ Silas1979S.O.S. TitanicThomas AndrewsTV movie1982Inside the Third ReichXavier DorschTV movie1989That Summer of White RosesCinovik1997Shooting FishHorse Owner2002Jeffrey Archer: The TruthChessingtonTV movie2007Christmas at the RivieraGodfreyTV movie2008Margaret Thatcher: The Long Walk to FinchleyEntwistle/ Lt Col AllasonTV movie2010Love/ LossBill
Radio Cabin Pressure – Mr Birling Old Harry's Game – Roland Kingworthy Ayres on the Air – Gordon Weak at the Top – Sir Marcus Rigor Mortis – Professor Donaldson Ed Reardon's Week – Stan Potting On – Gordon Grant, radio husband of comedian and poet Pam Ayres Bleak Expectations – the Hardthrasher, Sternbeater, Whackwallop, Grimpunch and Clampvulture families Cadfael – Prior Robert Troy – Nikanor The Genuine Particle – Shale Hair in the Gate – Brian Melvyn The Architects – Sir Lucien The Skull Beneath the Skin – Inspector Grogan Adaptations of Terry Pratchett's novels Eric and Mort - Death The Newly Discovered Casebook of Sherlock Holmes – Professor Moriarty Adaptation of House of Cards - Henry 'Hal' Collingridge, Prime Minister Adaptation of Kind Hearts and Coronets - Prison Governor
Personal life Whitehead is the uncle of broadcaster Celina Hinchcliffe. He is a Sheffield Wednesday supporter.
References
External links
Link to interview with Geoffrey Whitehead Geoffrey Whitehead (Aveleyman)