Phil Daniels

Phil Daniels
Philip William "Phil" Daniels (born 25 October 1958) is an English actor, musician and singer, most noted for film and television roles playing Londoners, such as the lead role of Jimmy Cooper in Quadrophenia, Richards in Scum, Stewart in The Class of Miss MacMichael, Danny in Breaking Glass, Mark in Meantime, Billy Kid in Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire, Kevin Wicks in EastEnders, DCS Frank Patterson in New Tricks, and Grandad Trotter in the Only Fools and Horses prequel Rock & Chips. He is also known for featuring on Blur's 1994 hit single "Parklife".
Career
Daniels went to Rutherford Comprehensive School in Paddington, west London from 1970 to 1975, the same school as Danny John-Jules, Paul Hardcastle and footballer Tony Grealish. After training at the Anna Scher Theatre School in Islington, Daniels has made appearances in many films and television series.
He made his film debut in 1972 in Anoop and the Elephant. He had an incidental appearance (with fellow drama students) in 1975 in Thames Television's You Must Be Joking! In 1976, at the age of 17, he featured as a waiter in Bugsy Malone. Also in 1976 he had significant roles in three television series: The Molly Wopsies, Four Idle Hands, and The Flockton Flyer. Over the following four years he appeared in Quadrophenia, Breaking Glass and Scum. He also appeared in the 1977 TV drama serial Raven.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Daniels was a member of new wave band The Cross, along with fellow actor Peter Hugo Daly. They released an album (Phil Daniels + The Cross) and single, "Kill Another Night" on RCA Records in 1979.
His musical inclinations were revealed when he starred in a 1985 British snooker musical Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire. He narrated tracks "Parklife" and "Me, White Noise" on the Parklife and Think Tank albums for Blur.
He contributed the voice of Fetcher, the dull-witted rat to the animated film Chicken Run. In recent years he has turned his attention to comedy, appearing in the series Sunnyside Farm and alongside Al Murray in the cult sitcom Time Gentlemen Please. Daniels also starred as Freddy Windrush in an episode of Gimme Gimme Gimme (Series 2, Episode 3 – "Prison Visitor").
Daniels has performed on stage with the Royal Shakespeare Company in plays such as The Merchant of Venice, The Jew of Malta and A Clockwork Orange. In 2004 he appeared in the BBC comedy-drama Outlaws as a criminal solicitor.
In 2006 he joined the cast of the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders playing Kevin Wicks. The actor temporarily left the show in early 2007; however, he returned in March 2007. He left the show in August 2007, with his character dying in a brutal car crash in December 2007. Daniels, along with his co-stars, attended a Quadrophenia Reunion at London Film and Comic Con at Earls Court on 1 and 2 September 2007. In May 2008, Daniels ran the London Marathon on behalf of the "Sparks" Charity, and, in December 2008, starred in Sheffield Theatre and Evolution Pantomimes co-production of Aladdin as "Abanazar" at Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield. In late 2008, Daniels voiced a major character in the English language re-release of the cult 2006 Norwegian animated film Free Jimmy, alongside Woody Harrelson and with dialogue written by Simon Pegg. Also in 2008, Daniels starred alongside Gary Stretch and Geoff Bell in the UK film Freebird, directed by Jon Ivay, which followed three bikers across a drug-fuelled ride in the Welsh countryside. Daniels appeared in the 2008 series of Strictly Come Dancing with dancing partner Flavia Cacace; he was the first to be eliminated from the show on 21 September 2008.
He appeared on Celebrity Mastermind: 2008/2009, finishing in second place on 24 points. On 26 June 2009, he appeared on stage with Blur at the M.E.N. Arena and then again on 28 June 2009 at Glastonbury 2009 on their song "Parklife", as well as on 2/3 July 2009 in their Hyde Park Concerts. Daniels portrayed Edward Kitchener "Grandad" Trotter in the Only Fools and Horses prequel, Rock & Chips. He co-starred with actress Kellie Bright (who played Grandad's daughter-in-law, Joan), with whom he had previously appeared alongside in EastEnders. 2012 (2013 in the UK) saw the release of the film Vinyl in which Daniels not only stars but also wrote and performs most of the film's music soundtrack. Directed by Sara Sugarman, Vinyl is the story of an aging rock group forced to con the music industry to gain radio play of future record releases. The film is based on true events faced by The Alarm that took place in the UK in 2004.
In September 2012, Daniels appeared in a production of This House at the National Theatre's Cottesloe Theatre; it transferred to the Olivier in February 2013. In 2015, it was announced that he would play the role of Thenardier in Les Misérables. Daniels revisited his role in a revival of This House at Chichester's Minerva Theatre in September 2016 and appeared in the same play (November 2016 – Feb 2017) at the Garrick Theatre in London's West End. In 2017, he recorded two songs for the album Wit & Whimsy – Songs by Alexander S. Bermange (one solo and one featuring all of the album's 23 artists), which reached No. 1 in the iTunes comedy album chart.
Daniels was a contestant in the 2020 BBC Celebrity MasterChef.
In 2021, it was announced that Daniels would star alongside Jonathan Bailey, Taron Egerton and Jade Anouka in a production of Mike Bartlett’s Cock at the Ambassadors Theatre, London, in 2022.
In April 2023, Daniels appeared as Reggie in the BBC black comedy Inside No. 9. The episode was series 8 episode 2, "Mother's Ruin".
In July 2023, Daniels featured as a special guest at Blur’s concerts at Wembley Stadium, London, for the song “Parklife”.
Personal life
Daniels had a 30-year relationship with Jan Stevens, a record industry associate whom he met in the eighties, until her death from pancreatic cancer in 2012. They had one daughter, Ella, born in 1990.
He is a supporter of Chelsea F.C.
Filmography
Television work
Inside No. 9 (2023) - Harry - Series 8 episode 2: "Mother's RuinHouse of the Dragon (2022) — Maester Gerardys
The Mallorca Files (2021) – Frank Bottomley – Episode: “Son of a Pig”
Adult Material (2020) – Dave – TV Series, 4 episodes
I Hate Suzie (2020) – Phil (Suzie's Dad) – Episode: “Guilt”
Celebrity Masterchef (2020) — ContestantEndeavour (2018) – Charlie Thursday – Episodes: “Cartouche”, “Icarus”Call the Midwife (2020) – George Benson – Episode: #9.4Soccer AM (1 episode, 2016) — Himself
Moonfleet (2 episodes, 2013) — RatseyWas It Something I Said? (1 episode, 2013) — Himself – Guest NarratorRock & Chips (3 episodes, 2010–2011) — Ted TrotterNew Tricks (2009–2010) – D.C.S. Frank Paterson – “The Last Laugh” (2009), “The Fourth Man” (2010)Midsomer Murders (2010) – Teddy Molloy – TV Series, Episode: “The Noble Art”The 100 Greatest World Cup Moments of All Time! (voice)Breakfast (2 episodes, 2008–2010) — HimselfBlur: Live at Hyde Park, London – 2 July 2009 (2010) — Himself, Guest VocalsLoose Women (3 episodes, 2008–2010) — HimselfAgatha Christie's Poirot (2009) – Inspector Hardcastle – Episode: “The Clocks”Misfits (2009) – as Keith the Dog (Voice) – TV Series, Episode: #1.1The Podge and Rodge Show (1 episode, 2009) — HimselfMastermind (1 episode, 2009) — HimselfStrictly Come Dancing (4 episodes, 2008) — HimselfStrictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two (1 episode, 2008) — HimselfThe ONE Show (1 episode, 2008) — HimselfWould I Lie to You? (1 episode, 2008) — HimselfEastEnders (2006–2008) – Kevin Wicks – TV Series, 208 episodesChildren in Need (1 episode, 2007) — Himself – PerformerBritish Film Forever (2 episodes, 2007) — HimselfThe British Soap Awards 2007 (2007) — HimselfThe 50 Greatest Television Dramas (2007) — HimselfA Question of Sport (1 episode, 2006) — HimselfCast & Crew (1 episode, 2005) — HimselfWickham Road (2005) — NarratorOutlaws (12 episodes, 2004) — Bruce DunbarWaking the Dead (1 episode, 2004) — Det Supt Andy BulmerThe Long Firm (2004) — JimmyTime Gentlemen Please (36 episodes, 2000–2002) — Terry BrooksGoodbye Charlie Bright (2001) — EddieGimme Gimme Gimme (TV) (1 episode, 2000) — Freddy WindrushNasty Neighbours (2000) — Robert ChapmanSex, Chips & Rock n' Roll (TV) (1999) — Larry ValentineSex & Chocolate (TV film) (1997) — Ian BodgerHolding On (1997) — Gary RickeySunnyside Farm (1997) — Raymond SunnysideThe World of Lee Evans (1995) – HitcherOne Foot in the Grave: The Wisdom Of The Witch (1995) — MelvinBad Behaviour (1993) — Nunn BrotherLovejoy: Swings & Roundabouts (1993) – Boyd
’’Big Deal (series 3 ‘Panel Money’ 1986)
The Pickwick Papers (1985) — Sam Weller
Meantime (TV/Film) (1984) — Mark Pollock
I Remember Nelson (TV) (1982) — Will Blackie
A Midsummer Night's Dream (1981) — Puck
Raven (1977) — Raven
The Flockton Flyer (1976, broadcast 1977) — Don Davis
Four Idle Hands (1976) — Mike Dudds
The Molly Wopsies (1976) — Alan Musgrove
The Naked Civil Servant (1975) — 1st Boy
Radio
The Old Curiosity Shop (1990) as Quilp, an adaptation for BBC Radio 4.
The Personal History of David Copperfield (1991) as Uriah Heep, an adaptation for BBC Radio 4.
The Tin Drum (1999) – Oskar Matzerath
On The Ceiling – Saturday Play, BBC Radio 4, 7 February 2009
Theatre
Aladdin Sheffield Lyceum
Fresh Kills
True West
The Green Man
The Winter's Tale
Dealer's Choice
Carousel
The Closing Number
Johnny Oil Strikes Back
The Lucky Ones
The Merchant of Venice
The Jew of Malta
Measure for Measure
The Revenger's Tragedy
A Clockwork Orange
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead
The Beggar's Opera
The God of Soho
Antony and Cleopatra
Les Miserables
This House
A Very Very Very Dark Matter
Discography
Albums
Phil Daniels + The Cross (Phil Daniels + The Cross) (1979)
Singles
"Kill Another Night" (Phil Daniels + The Cross) (1979)
"Penultimate Person" (Phil Daniels + The Cross) (1980, Europe only)
"The Stranglers and Friends – Live in Concert". Phil Daniels is one of the singers in place of Hugh Cornwell, The Stranglers' lead singer who was imprisoned at the time (1980)
"Parklife" (Blur featuring Phil Daniels) (1994)
"Free Rock and Roll" from the film Vinyl (Phil Daniels, Keith Allen and The Alarm) (2013)
Other songs
"Me, White Noise" on Think Tank (Blur featuring Phil Daniels) (2003)
References
External links
What's on TV profile
"Phil Daniels: 'Playing to thousands of people with Blur is not as daunting as doing a play in a small theatre'", Interview by Hannah Olivennes, The Observer, 19 June 2011.
1958 births
Alumni of the Anna Scher Theatre School
Living people
English male film actors
English male television actors
English male voice actors
English male soap opera actors
Actors from Islington (district)
RCA Records artists
20th-century English male actors
21st-century English male actors