# Gordon Kennedy (actor)

Gordon Gilbert Kennedy (born 22 February 1958) is a Scottish actor, presenter and narrator. He starred in the Channel 4 sketch show Absolutely, and appeared in BBC drama series Robin Hood and Red Cap.

## Biography

Kennedy grew up in Tranent, East Lothian, and attended George Watson's College in Edinburgh. He then studied at the Scottish School of PE at Jordanhill College (now part of the University of Strathclyde). In 2015 he was announced as the first patron of The Fraser Centre Community Trust in Tranent. He also studied for one year at Scott Sutherland School of Architecture, Garthdee, Aberdeen around 1984.

## Career

He first rose to prominence in the sketch show Absolutely and "progressed downwards to co-host" the 'original' National Lottery show, alongside Anthea Turner, as well as appearing as himself in a Punt and Dennis spoof of Bugs entitled Plugs as the antagonist who rigs the lottery results to win £100 million on an eight-week rollover. He has appeared in several dramas, including the role of Sergeant Bruce Hornsby in the BBC drama Red Cap. He has also appeared in the BBC Scotland soap River City.
From 2006 to 2009 he starred as Little John in all three series of the BBC production of Robin Hood.
From 2010 to 2012, Kennedy narrated the British edition of Kitchen Nightmares encompassing 26 episodes, replacing the US narrators J.V. Martin and Arthur Smith for the UK.

## Sports

Alongside his acting career, Kennedy is a rugby coach with London Wasps. He has also appeared many times on Test Match Sofa. His elder brother Euan Kennedy played rugby union for Scotland winning 4 caps between 1983 and 1984. Gordon Kennedy has also completed 10km marathons with a best time of 65.34 minutes when he was in his mid 20s.

## Filmography
### Film

Film :
| Year | Title | Role |
| 1992 | Just Like a Woman | C.J. |
| 1999 | With or Without You | Ormonde |
| 2000 | The Announcement | Frank |
| 2009 | Mad Sad & Bad | Harry |
| 2013 | The Borderlands | Deacon |
| 2013 | Tank 432 | Smith |
| 2017 | T2 Trainspotting | Tulloch |

### Television

Television :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1986 | The Kenny Everett Television Show | | Episode 4.1 |
| 1986 | The Russ Abbot Show | Various characters | 8 episodes |
| 1988 | Inspector Morse | Dewar's Detective | "The Settling of the Sun" |
| 1988 | This is David Lander | Angler | |
| 1989–1993 | Absolutely | Various characters | Series regular 28 episodes |
| 1989 | Red Dwarf | Hudzen | "The Last Day" |
| 1991 | The Outsiders | Presenter | Broadcast in Scotland only. |
| 1994 | Tales of Para Handy | Constable MacLeod | "A Night Alarm" |
| 1994 | Jolly a Man for All Seasons | Charlie Chalmers | Television film |
| 1995 | Atletico Partick | Jack Roan | Main cast |
| 1998 | The Morwenna Banks Show | Various characters | |
| 1998 | Norman Ormal: A Very Political Turtle | Yob Chairman | Television film |
| 1999 | Bostock's Cup | Edgar Pendulo | Television film |
| 1999 | The Big Knights | Count Vampire/Ogre | Voice |
| 2000 | Glasgow Kiss | Ewan Sommerville | Main role |
| 2000 | Stressed Eric | Various | Voice 13 episodes |
| 2001 | Love or Money | Michael | Television film |
| 2001 | Baddiel's Syndrome | Mr Deronda | "Dream Home" |
| 2003 | The Deal | John Brown | Television film |
| 2003–2004 | Red Cap | Sgt. Bruce Hornsby | Main cast 13 episodes |
| 2005 | Where the Heart Is | Alistair Pope | "Brief Encounters" |
| 2005 | River City | Graeme Macdonald | Episode dated 6 December 2005 |
| 2005 | The Man-Eating Wolves of Gysinge | Thore Petre | Television film |
| 2006-2009 | Robin Hood | Little John | Main cast 38 episodes |
| 2007 | You Can Choose Your Friends | Pete Arden | Television film |
| 2008 | The Bill | Jim Lawson | "City Slickers" & "R.I.P P.I." |
| 2010–2012 | Kitchen Nightmares | Narrator | 26 episodes |
| 2010 | Doctors | Thomas Brucker | "Gentle Giant" |
| 2011 | Skins | Alan Precopp | "Franky" |
| 2011 | Red Faction: Origins | Corvallis | Television film |
| 2011 | Combat Hospital | Captain Fitz | "Triage" |
| 2012 | Sherlock | Gary | "The Hounds of Baskerville" |
| 2012 | Doctors | Russ Moss | "A River in Egypt" |
| 2013 | Casualty | Steven/Steve Green | "Rabbits in Headlights" & "Gone in Sixty Seconds" |
| 2013 | Common Ground | Gino | "Eleanor" |
| 2013 | Being Human | Brendan | "The Last Broadcast" |
| 2014 | Endeavour | Alderman Gerald Wintergreen | "Neverland" |
| 2015 | A Long Long Crime Ago | Judge Hatter | Main cast |
| 2016 | Casualty | Steve Bonhomme | "A Clear Conscience" |
| 2016 | Tales From The Serengeti | Various | Voice |
| 2016 | The Windsors | Alec | 3 episodes |
| 2017 | The Halcyon | Robbie | Main cast |
| 2019 | Vera | Eddie | "Cold River" |
| 2019 | Harlots | Arthur Chadwick | 4 episodes |

## Theatre

* Rocky Horror Show (1990/91) – Eddie/Dr Scott.
* Full House (2002) - Tim.
* The Hairless Diva (2002) - Mr Smith.
* The Corstorphine Road Nativity (2009) – Narrator.
* The James Plays (2014) – Murdac Stewart/Livingston/John
* The Audience (2015) - Gordon Brown

## Radio

* The Absolutely Radio Show.
* Mordrin McDonald: 21st-Century Wizard.
* Mrs Sidhu Investigates - Mrs Sidhu's Deadly Highland Game.

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Work | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
| 2017 | The Gun Man | Birmingham Film Festival | Best Actor | Nominated | |