Nigel Planer

**Nigel George Planer** (born 22 February 1943) is an English actor, comedian, novelist and playwright.

He played Neil in the cult BBC comedy _The Young Ones_ and Ralph Filthy in _Filthy Rich & Catflap_. He has been in many West End musicals.

He won a BRIT award in 1977 and has been nominated for Olivier, TMA, What's On Stage, and BAFTA awards.

## Early life

Planer was born in Westminster, London. He studied at the University of Sussex. He left to become an actor.

## Career

He is a founding member of the London Comedy Store. He is an original member of The Comic Strip. They were pioneers of the alternative comedy movement in the United Kingdom. Planer worked with Peter Richardson. They were a double act called "The Outer Limits". Planer and Richardson also wrote the _That's Life!_ parody on _Not the Nine O'Clock News_.

He went on to star in film, theatre and television. He created the spoof actor character "Nicholas Craig", with help from Christopher Douglas. The Craig character appears in book, radio, TV and articles as well as live. The character appeared at the Royal Festival Hall, London, in Stewart Lee's _At Last the 1984 show_.

Planer is also the author of several books, plays, radio plays, and TV scripts as well as a small volume of poetry. In June 2011, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Arts degree from Edinburgh Napier University.

### Television

Planer is best known for his role as Neil, the hippie housemate in the cult BBC comedy _The Young Ones_. The series ran from 1982 to 1984. He has starred in _The Comic Strip Presents..._, a series of short films broadcast from 1975 onwards, as various odd outsiders.

In 1995, Planer played Professor Dumbledore in a Harry Potter parody, _Harry Potter and the Secret Chamber Pot of Azerbaijan_.  He appeared on a BBC 4 programme in the guise of "Nicholas Craig" in 1999, in which he was interviewed by Mark Lawson.

Planer guest-starred in "The Pale Horse", a 2010 episode of _Agatha Christie's Marple_. In 2011's _The Hunt for Tony Blair_, he played Peter Mandelson.

In 1998-2001, He Was Narrator in UK Dub of First Base and His Friends and William and Millie, Meanwhile Alan Marriott, He Was Narrator in US Dub of First Base and His Friends and Animal Stories While Alec Baldwin Narrator William and Millie and Thomas and Friends - Series 5-6.

Planer's guest appearances include programmes such as _The Bill_, _French and Saunders_, _Jonathan Creek_, _Blackadder III_, _The Last Detective_, the _Paul Merton Show_, the _Lenny Henry Show_, _Death in Paradise (TV series)_ and Gary Wilmot's _Songs from the Shows_. He also guest-starred in an episode of _This is Jinsy_ entitled "Nameworm", and in the BBC series _Boomers_.  Planer played Matt LeBlanc's lawyer in the TV series _Episodes_.

Leading roles on television include _Shine on Harvey Moon_, _Filthy, Rich and Catflap_, _The Grimleys_, _King and Castle_, _Bonjour La Classe_ and _Roll Over Beethoven_. He also starred in Michael Palin's _Number 27_, Simon Gray's _Two Lumps of Ice_, Emma Tennant's _Frankenstein's Baby_, and _Blackeyes_ by Dennis Potter.

### Theatre

His first break in the theatre was understudying David Essex as Che Guevara in the original West End run of _Evita_.

Planer played Amos Hart in the original London cast of _Chicago_.

He played Pop in the original West End cast of Ben Elton's Queen musical _We Will Rock You_.

In 1990, he replaced Michael Gambon in Alan Ayckbourn's _Man of the Moment_ in the West End. Leading roles followed in other productions at the Bush Theatre, the Lyric Theatre, the Traverse, the Young Vic, the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Regent's Park Open-Air Theatre, Chichester Festival Theatre, Plymouth Drum and the Hampstead Theatre.

In 2006, he was the narrator in _The Rocky Horror Show_, taking on the role in Manchester and Bromley. He then starred as The Wizard in the original West End production of _Wicked_ alongside Idina Menzel. The show opened at the Apollo Victoria Theatre on 27 September 2006. Planer ended his run on 7 June 2008 and was replaced by Desmond Barrit.

In 2009, he took over the role of Wilbur in the West End production of _Hairspray_.

In 2010, Planer returned to the role of the narrator in the UK Tour of _The Rocky Horror Show_, playing in Cambridge and Northampton. He reprised the role of Wilbur in Manchester and Leeds. He was in _Doctor Who: Live_ touring the UK, as Vorgenson The Inter-Galactic Showman. He then played Captain Hook in Pantomime at the Lyceum Theatre in Sheffield.

In 2013, Planer starred as Grandpa Joe in the original production of _Charlie and the Chocolate Factory_ in London's West End.

From September 2018 to November 2018, Planer toured with Ade Edmondson in a play that they wrote together called Vulcan 7.

### Film

Planer has appeared in films, including _Flood_, _Virgin Territory_, _Bright Young Things_, _Hogfather_, _The Colour of Magic_, _The Wind in the Willows_, _The Land Girls_, _Clockwork Mice_, _Carry on Columbus_, _Brazil_, _The Supergrass_, _I Give It a Year_, _The Apple Picker_ and _Yellowbeard_.

### Music

Planer played Den Dennis, one of the four members of the 1980s spoof rock band, _Bad News_. They made two albums which were produced by Brian May. They also performed at the Hammersmith Apollo as well as the Donington and Reading Rock Festivals.

In 1984, as Neil from _The Young Ones_, Planer had a number two hit single called "Hole in My Shoe". This had originally been a hit for 1960s band Traffic). A cover of Tomorrow's "My White Bicycle" was a less successful follow up, only reaching No.97 in the charts. After that, an album was produced, entitled _Neil's Heavy Concept Album_. Planer also toured Neil's stage act in the "Bad Karma in The UK" tour. This culminated in a month-long run at St. Mary's Hall at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

In 1986, _The Young Ones_ appeared on Cliff Richard's charity rerecording of "Living Doll". This spent three weeks at number one in the UK. Planer has a silver and a gold disc and has a Brit award from his musical career.

In 2015 he started a new music project called Rainsmoke with Chris Wade, of Dodson and Fogg, and Roger Planer.

In 2017 he recorded two songs for the album _Wit & Whimsy - Songs by Alexander S. Bermange_. One he performed solo and one featured all of the album's 23 artists. It reached No. 1 in the iTunes comedy album chart.

### Voice acting

Planer is the main reader for the audiobook editions of many of Terry Pratchett's _Discworld_ novels. He also appeared in the television adaptations of both _Terry Pratchett's Hogfather_ and _The Colour of Magic_, and performed as a voice artist in the games _Discworld 2_ and _Discworld Noir_.

#### Discworld Audiobooks narrated by Planer

(the number in brackets indicates the order of the book in the Discworld series)

- _The Colour of Magic_ (1)
- _The Light Fantastic_ (2)
- _Mort_ (4)
- _Sourcery_ (5)
- _Wyrd Sisters_ (6)
- _Pyramids_ (7)
- _Guards! Guards!_ (8)
- _Moving Pictures_ (10)
- _Reaper Man_ (11)
- _Witches Abroad_ (12)
- _Small Gods_ (13)
- _Lords and Ladies_ (14)
- _Men at Arms_ (15)
- _Soul Music_ (16)
- _Interesting Times_ (17)
- _Maskerade_ (18)
- _Feet of Clay_ (19)
- _Hogfather_ (20)
- _Jingo_ (21)
- _The Last Continent_ (22)
- _Carpe Jugulum_ (23)

#### Other voice roles

Planer was the narrator of _Grizzly Tales for Gruesome Kids_, the title character of _Romuald the Reindeer_, and Dr. Marmalade in an episode of _SpongeBob SquarePants_ (alongside Young Ones co-stars Christopher Ryan and Rik Mayall).

Planer has also been the narrator of many of BBC Four's _Britannia_ series of documentaries, including _Prog Rock Britannia_, _Blues Britannia_ and _Heavy Metal Britannia_.

Planer voiced Frodo in _The Adventures of Tom Bombadil_ from the 1992 radio series _Tales from the Perilous Realm_. He was a narrator in a direct-to-video version of Val Biro's _Gumdrop_ book series in 1994. He also narrated two short surreal monologues on the album _In A Strange Slumber_, by Dodson and Fogg, Chris Wade's progressive folk rock project.

Planer narrated as a thirty-something Adrian Mole in the radio adaptation of _Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years_.

In 2018, he voiced the character of Henry Davenant Hythe in the Big Finish Productions original production, Jeremiah Bourne in Time, which he also wrote.

## Credits

His television comedy and satire work includes:
- _Boom Boom...Out Go The Lights_ (1980)
- _Shine on Harvey Moon_ (1982)
- _The Young Ones_ (12 episodes) (1982–84)
- _Yellowbeard_ (1983)
- _The Comic Strip Presents…_ (25 episodes) (1983–2012)
- _Roll Over Beethoven_ (9 episodes) (1985)
- _Brazil_ (1985)
- _King and Castle_ (12 episodes) (1986–88)
- _Filthy Rich & Catflap_ (6 episodes) (1987)
- _Blackeyes_ by Dennis Potter (1989)
- _Frankenstein's Baby_ (1990)
- _Nicholas Craig – The Naked Actor_ (1990)
- _Nicholas Craig's Interview Masterclass_ (1990)
- _Oh, No! Not THEM!_ (1990)
- _Nicholas Craig's Masterpiece Theatre_ (1992)
- _The Nicholas Craig Masterclass_ (1992)
- _Carry On Columbus_ (1992)
- _The Magic Roundabout_ (English adaptation and narrator on previously unseen episodes)
- _Bonjour la Classe_ (1993)
- _Sherlock Holmes_ (1993)
- _Let's Get Divorced_ (1994)
- _Wake Up! With Libby And Jonathan_ (1994)
- _Blackadder the Third_
- _French & Saunders_
- _Jonathan Creek_
- _The Grimleys_ (1997–2001)
- _Grizzly Tales for Gruesome Kids_ (1999–2007)
- _First Base and His Friends_ (1998–2001) (UK Dub)
- _William and Millie_ (1998—2001) (UK Dub)
- _Wicked_ (2006–08)
- _Terry Pratchett's Hogfather_ (2006)
- _Flood_ (2007)
- _Terry Pratchett's The Colour of Magic_ (2008)
- _Hairspray_ (2009)
- _M.I.High_ (2009)
- _Death in Paradise (TV series)_ (2018)

He has published several books including the novels _The Right Man_ (2000) () and _Faking It_ (2003) (). Planer also wrote _A Good Enough Dad_ (1992) () after his first son was born, talking about coping with becoming a father.

### Discography

- "Hole in My Shoe" (1984)
- _Neil's Heavy Concept Album_ (1984)
- "Living Doll" (1986)
- "Rough with the Smooth" (1986)
- _Bad News_ (1987)
- Bad News _Bootleg_ (1988)
- Bad News _The Cash In Compilation_ (1992)
- _The Last Night_ (1993)
- _Chicago_ cast recording (1995)
- _The Dreaded Lurgie_ (1998)
- _Three Men in a Boat_ (1999)
- _Adrian Mole the Cappuccino Years_ (2000)
- There was also a soundtrack to _The Grimleys_ (2000), Planer's character appearing on the album.
- _We Will Rock You (The Original London Cast Recording)_ (2002)
- _Cabaret_ (2005)
- _The Robe of Skulls_ (2008)
- _Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (The Original London Cast Recording)_ (2013)
- _Dodson and Fogg – In A Strange Slumber_ (2014)

## Other websites

- Official Nigel Planer website
- The Times Article  September 2006 article about Planer

## Infobox (person)

- **name**: Nigel Planer
- **image**: Nigel_Planer.jpg
- **caption**: Planer after receiving his Honorary Doctor of Arts degree from Edinburgh Napier University in 2003
- **birth name**: Nigel George Planer
- **birth place**: Westminster, London, England, UK
- **occupation**: Actor, comedian, novelist, playwright
- **years active**: 1966–present