# Charlie Quirke

Charles Paul Sheen (born 23 September 1994), known professionally as Charlie Quirke, is an English actor and businessman. He is best known for his role as Travis Stubbs in the ITV sitcom Birds of a Feather (2014–2017) and is the co-owner of The Taps bars, located in Buckinghamshire and Beaconsfield.

## Early life

Charles Paul Sheen was born in Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England on 23 September 1994, as the only child to Pauline Quirke (born 1959), a retired actress, and her husband, Stephen John Churchill "Steve" Sheen (born 1961), a producer. He has an elder half-sister, Emily Esther R Key (born 1985), from his mother's first marriage.
Quirke was enrolled in an acting camp by his mother at the age of 10. He showed no interest in acting during his school years, opting to play football instead. After failing to find somewhere that worked for their son, his parents opened the first Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts (PQA) in 2007. He attended the National Youth Theatre and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, a private drama school, in New York City.
Quirke grew up with the actresses Linda Robson and Lesley Joseph, friends of his mother. He is extremely close with both of them.

### Name

Quirke briefly worked under his birth surname, before selecting his mother's maiden name as his stage surname, due to there already being a Charlie Sheen in the acting world.

## Career

Quirke made his acting debut on 6 June 2006, with an unknown, uncredited role in the BBC Two television film The Thieving Headmistress, alongside his mother, Pauline Quirke, who appeared in the lead role as Colleen McCabe.
Quirke portrayed Daniel 'Danny Boy' Parks in the eighth episode in the twenty-first series of the BBC One medical drama series Casualty. The episode, "Born to Be Wild", was broadcast on 4 November 2006, where he was credited as Charlie Sheen.
On 25 September 2013, it was announced that Quirke had joined the cast for the ITV revival of the BBC One sitcom Birds of a Feather as Travis Stubbs—born in Tipperary, Ireland on Christmas Eve 1998, during the 1998 Christmas special, "Holy Ground", which was broadcast on 24 December—the younger son of Tracey Stubbs (Linda Robson) and her then-husband Darryl (Douglas McFerran), and the nephew of Sharon Theodopolopodous (Pauline Quirke). He made his debut appearance during the first episode in the tenth series, "Gimme Shelter", which was broadcast on 2 January 2014. He made his final appearance during the 2017 Christmas special, "The House for the Rising Sons", which was broadcast on 18 December. On 16 May 2021, it was reported that the series had been cancelled following his mother's exit. He appeared on the recurring cast for 26 episodes. The role of Travis Stubbs was never handed to him, he had to go through an "excessive amount" of auditions. He originally portrayed Travis Stubbs in The Comedy Theatre Company's stage version of Birds of a Feather, alternating the role with Linda Robson's son Louis Dunford, which embarked on a UK tour from 1 March to 7 July 2012. The success of the tour led to the revival of the series.
Quirke appeared on the ITV breakfast television programme Lorraine on 30 January 2014, to promote the revival series of Birds of a Feather. He appeared on the episode with his mother. Later that day, the fifth episode in the current series, "Tattoo You", was broadcast.
Quirke appeared on Birds of a Feather: Flock Again, a special feature available exclusively on "The Complete ITV Series 1" DVD, which was released on 10 March 2014.
Quirke portrayed Travis Stubbs in a Birds of a Feather sketch, featuring Paul O'Grady as Santa Claus, for the ITV charity initiative Text Santa. The telethon aired live on 19 December 2014.
Quirke has appeared on the ITV breakfast television programme Good Morning Britain twice. His first appearance was broadcast on 23 December 2014, where he spoke to Richard Arnold on the set of Birds of a Feather. He made his second appearance on the episode broadcast on 15 January 2015, to promote the eleventh series. He appeared on the episode with his co-star Samuel James. Later that day, the fourth episode in the current series, "The Girls with the Pearl Buttons", was broadcast.
Quirke voiced Terry in the debut episode of the BBC Radio 4 radio comedy series The Lentil Sorters. The episode, "Standard Deviation", was broadcast on 11 November 2015.
Quirke has appeared on four episodes of the ITV talk show Loose Women, mainly as an audience member. He appeared on the episode broadcast on 21 December 2016, co-guesting with his mother, alongside panellists Linda Robson, Kaye Adams, Janet Street-Porter, and Martine McCutcheon.
Quirke appeared as Dandini in the 2016–2017 pantomime Cinderella, alongside his mother, as The Fairy Godmother.
Quirke appeared on the YouTube monologue series The Beast Will Rise. The monologues, written by Philip Ridley, were performed online by the cast of Ridley's play The Beast of Blue Yonder, which was scheduled to be performed at the Southwark Playhouse on 2 April 2020, however, the play was cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Quirke portrayed Trevor in the comedy film Brighton. The film was released on 4 June 2021.
Quirke is featured in the music video for "Sweet Love" by Lock-In. The video was released on 21 December 2022.
Quirke appears in a television advertisement for the non-carbonated bottled soft drink, Oasis.
Quirke is the co-owner of The Taps Gerrards Cross (The Taps @ GX), a dog-friendly craft beer and wine bar in Buckinghamshire, which opened to the public on 24 February 2023. His business partner, Pete Bridges, is the other co-owner.
Quirke appeared on the Channel 5 documentary Birds of a Feather: 30 Years of Laughs, which was broadcast on 17 June 2023.
Quirke and Bridges opened a second venue, The Taps Beaconsfield (The Taps @ Beaconsfield) in Beaconsfield, to the public on 23 June 2023, after spinning their two establishments into The Taps bars.

## Charity work

Quirke took part in a football match at Brisbane Road, the Leyton Orient F.C. stadium, on 17 May 2015, in aid of St Joseph's Hospice and Haven House Children's Hospice.
Quirke took part in a football game between RAF Select XI and Celebrity XI at Sixfields in Northampton on 5 May 2017, in aid of Help for Heroes and Once Upon A Smile.

## Personal life

Quirke is an avid football fan. He supports the Premier League club West Ham United F.C. and is a season ticket holder.

## Filmography
### As an actor

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2006 | The Thieving Headmistress | | Television film; Uncredited |
| 2006 | Casualty | Danny 'Danny Boy' Parks | Episode: "Born to Be Wild", Credited as; Charlie Sheen |
| 2013 | Grace's Story | Jamie | Short film |
| 2014–2017 | Birds of a Feather | Travis Stubbs | 26 episodes |
| 2014 | Text Santa | Travis Stubbs | |
| 2017 | Sunday, Sunday | Footballer (Blue Team) | Short film |
| 2017 | Grimaldi: The Funniest Man in the World | Henry Kimble | Short film |
| 2019 | Brighton | Trevor | |
| 2021 | Bounce | Freddie | Short film |
| 2023 | Vincent and Agostina | Dancing Man | Short film |

### As himself

| Year | Title | Notes |
| 2014 | Birds of a Feather: Flock Again | Video |
| 2014 | Lorraine | 1 episode |
| 2014, 2015 | Good Morning Britain | 2 episodes |
| 2016 | Loose Women | 4 episodes |
| 2020 | The Beast Will Rise | 1 episode |
| 2023 | Birds of a Feather: 30 Years of Laughter | Television special |
Source(s):

### Theatre

| | Title | Role | Production | |
| | Alfie the Wonderkid | Vivian | Bristol Old Vic | |
| 2012 | Birds of a Feather | Travis Stubbs | UK tour | Alternating role with Louis Dunford |
| 2016–2017 | Cinderella | Dandini | QDos | |
| 2017 | Peter Pan | John Darling | Arena Pantos | |
| | The Sweet Science | Dylan | Tramp | |
| 2018 | Early Birds | Alan McKeown/Mr Timms | Q Productions | |
| | Our Boys | Parry | Q Productions | |
| | The Goal! | Brian Thorp | The Courtyard | |