# Ian Kirkby

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 & Dom in da Bungalow & Diddy TV and Sandy Toes on Swashbuckle. Additionally, he has appeared in Diddy Movies and The Slammer.

## 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. 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. 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. Kirkby also played Harry Batt in Da Dick and Dom Dairies and The Legend of Dick and Dom. During this time, he also co-wrote a programme for CBBC based around Harry Batt, which was broadcast in 2007.
Also in 2006, in a role that Kirkby was permitted to write for himself, played the role of Mr. Burgess in the talent programme The Slammer. In 2010, Kirkby was hired by Channel 4 to play commentator Terry McIlroy in the comedy Pete versus Life.

## Personal life

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

## Filmography
### Television

| Year | Series | Role | Notes |
| 1983–1989 | Dramarama | Various characters | Appeared in four episodes |
| 1985–1988 | Your Mother Wouldn't Like It | Loaf | Main cast member |
| 1987 | Hardwicke House | Unnamed pupil | |
| 1988 | Hard Cases | Peter Collinson | |
| 1990 | Palace Hill | Chelsea Bun Appeared in all seven episodes | |
| 1994 | Pie in the Sky | Second Police Constable | Episode 1.7: "Passion Fruit Fool" |
| 1995 | Peak Practice | Edward Turrell | Episode 3.12: "Giving Up" |
| 1998 | Picking up the Pieces | Peter | Episode 1.8 |
| 2000 | Doctors | Graham Tremain | Episode 2.52 |
| 2003 | Dangerville | Jack Jackson Appeared in thirteen episodes | |
| 2004–2006 | Dick and Dom in da Bungalow | Various characters | Appeared in the majority of series 3 and all the episodes of series 4 and 5 |
| 2004 | 55 Degrees North | Jack Timson | Episode 1.3 |
| 2005 | Wire in the Blood | Steve Bentley | Episode 3.4: "Synchronicity" |
| 2005 | Julian Fellowes Investigates: A Most Mysterious Murder – The Case of Rose Harsent | Albert Goodchild | |
| 2006–15 | The Slammer | Mr. Burgess | Appeared in all episodes |
| 2006 | Mayo | Joe Wishart | Episode 1.6 |
| 2006 | Coronation Street | Simon Stevens | Appeared in four episodes |
| 2007 | Harry Batt | Harry Batt | Also writer |
| 2007 | Casualty | Pete Frampton | Episode 22.18: "Take a Cup of Kindness Yet" and 22.19: "For Auld Lang Syne" |
| 2008 | Uncle Max | Biker dad | Episode 2.9: "Uncle Max at the Supermarket" |
| 2009–2010 | The Legend of Dick and Dom | Appeared in all three series playing over 40 characters |
| 2009–2010 | Nuzzle and Scratch | Mr Sandy Bottom | Episode 4: "Beach Attendant" |
| 2009 | Gigglebiz | Cinema Manager/Mayor/Janitor | 3 episodes |
| 2010 | Pete versus Life | Terry McIlroy | All 5 episodes |
| 2012-2014 | Diddy Movies | Various | |
| 2016–2018 | Diddy TV | Harry Batt/Various | All 19 episodes |
| 2016 | Sam & Mark's Big Friday Wind-Up | Mr. Burgess | Guest |
| 2016 | Rank the Prank | Various characters | 2 episode |
| 2016 | CBBC HQ | Harry Batt | Guest |
| 2020 | Crackerjack! | Various Characters |
| 2021-present | Swashbuckle | Sandy from (Series 7 onwards) | |

### Films

| Year | Film | Role |
| 1997 | Jilting Joe | Traffic Cop |
| 1999 | Whatever Happened to Harold Smith? | Policeman |
| 2008 | My Last Five Girlfriends | Tour guide |