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{{short description|British actor and comedian (born 1967)}}{{redirect|Stephen Pemberton|ABC developer|Steven Pemberton}}{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}

factoids

| birth_place = Blackburn, Lancashire, England| education = Bretton Hall College of Education| occupation = Actor, comedian, director, writer| partner = Alison Rowles| children = 3| years_active = 1995–present}}Steven James Pemberton (born 1 September 1967) is a British actor, comedian, director and writer. He was a writer and actor for BBC’s The League of Gentlemen with Reece Shearsmith, Mark Gatiss, and Jeremy Dyson. Pemberton and Shearsmith also co-wrote and starred in the black comedy Psychoville and the anthology series Inside No. 9. His other notable television credits include Doctor Who, Benidorm, Blackpool, Shameless, Whitechapel, Happy Valley and Mapp and Lucia.

Early life

Steve Pemberton was born and raised in Blackburn, Lancashire and attended Saint Michael’s Church of England High School, Chorley.WEB, Townend, Jon, Steve Pembertons shows have become cult hits,www.lep.co.uk/news/opinion/steve-pembertons-shows-have-become-cult-hits-3271261, He trained as an actor at Bretton Hall College of Education where he met Mark Gatiss and Reece Shearsmith.WEB, Guardian Staff, 10 February 2001, Interview with The League of Gentlemen,www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2001/feb/10/weekend7.weekend1, 16 May 2024, The Guardian, en,

Career

Film and television

Pemberton’s television performance credits include Whitechapel, Doctor Who, Benidorm, Under the Greenwood Tree, Hotel Babylon, The Last Detective, Randall and Hopkirk, Blackpool and Shameless. In 2004, he portrayed Dr Bessner in Death on the Nile and Harry Secombe in The Life and Death of Peter Sellers. He also appeared in the film Lassie (2005).File:Steve Pemberton.jpg|thumb|Pemberton as Pauline in The League of GentlemenThe League of GentlemenPemberton is best known as being a member of the sketch comedy team The League of Gentlemen, along with fellow performers Mark Gatiss, Reece Shearsmith, and co-writer Jeremy Dyson, all of whom he met at Bretton Hall College in his late teens. The League of Gentlemen initially began as a stage act in 1995, then transferred to BBC Radio 4 as On the Town with the League of Gentlemen in 1997, and finally arrived on television on BBC Two in 1999. The latter has seen Pemberton and his colleagues awarded a British Academy Television Award, a Royal Television Society Award, and a Golden Rose of Montreux.From 2007 to 2015, Pemberton appeared as Mick Garvey in Benidorm. Pemberton appeared in 43 episodes.In the 2008 English language DVD re-release of the cult 2006 Norwegian animated film Free Jimmy, Pemberton voiced Mattis, a heavy-set and bizarrely-dressed biker member of the Lappish Mafia. In June 2009, Psychoville aired and marked Pemberton’s return to BBC Two.NEWS,www.theguardian.com/media/2008/oct/09/bbc.television, League of Gentlemen duo back with BBC2 comedy Psychoville, The Guardian, 9 October 2008, 5 February 2009, London, Ben, Dowell, WEB,www.bfi.org.uk/whatson/psychoville_panel_discussion, TV Preview: Psychoville + panel discussion, British Film Institute, 15 May 2009, dead,www.bfi.org.uk/whatson/psychoville_panel_discussion," title="web.archive.org/web/20090511155422www.bfi.org.uk/whatson/psychoville_panel_discussion,">web.archive.org/web/20090511155422www.bfi.org.uk/whatson/psychoville_panel_discussion, 11 May 2009, WEB,www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/tv/2009/wk23/thu.shtml#thu_psychoville, Psychoville, BBC, 21 May 2009, NEWS,news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7661624.stm, New show for League of Gentlemen, BBC Online, 9 October 2008, 5 February 2009, It was co-written by Pemberton and his fellow League of Gentlemen member, Reece Shearsmith. Both of them play numerous characters in the series, similar to the format of The League of Gentlemen.Pemberton portrayed Rufus Drumknott in 2010’s Terry Pratchett’s Going Postal. He appeared as Vice Principal Douglas Panch in the Donmar’s 2011 production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. In 2014, he played Georgie Pillson in an adaptation of E. F. Benson’s Mapp and Lucia. He also wrote the adaptation, which featured his League of Gentlemen colleague Mark Gatiss. It was broadcast during Christmas 2014.NEWS,www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2014/mapp-and-lucia, BBC announces adaptation of EF Benson’s Mapp and Lucia, bbc.co.uk, 3 May 2014, Since 2014, he has starred as various characters in the dark comedy anthology series Inside No. 9, which he co-created with Shearsmith, airing on BBC Two. Series six aired in 2021.WEB,www.digitalspy.com/tv/a36281263/inside-no-9-series-6-return-date/, Inside No. 9 confirms series 6 return date, Digital Spy, Chase, Stephanie, 28 April 2021, 21 October 2021, Pemberton reunited with his The League of Gentlemen colleagues in 2017 for three special episodes, transmitted in December 2017 on BBC2.WEB,www.nme.com/news/tv/league-of-gentleman-revival-and-alan-partridge-documentary-among-bbc-highlights-for-christmas-2017-2166017, ‘League of Gentlemen’ revival and ‘Alan Partridge’ documentary among BBC highlights for Christmas 2017, NME, 28 November 2017, 20 December 2017, WEB,metro.co.uk/2017/12/13/the-league-of-gentlemen-everything-you-need-to-know-about-this-cult-comedy-revival-7148078/, The League Of Gentlemen: everything you need to know about this cult comedy revival, Moreland, Alex, Metro, 13 December 2017, 21 October 2021, NEWS,www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/dec/19/the-league-of-gentlemen-review, Wollaston, Sam, The Guardian, The League of Gentlemen review Royston Vasey: just as terrifying as ever, 19 December 2017, 21 October 2021, He appeared as himself in the 2018 short film To Trend on Twitter in aid of young people with cancer charity CLIC Sargent with fellow comedians David Baddiel, Reece Shearsmith, Helen Lederer and actor Jason Flemyng.WEB,www.chortle.co.uk/news/2018/08/13/40838/top_comics_join_short_film, Top Comics Join Short Film, Chortle, 13 August 2018, 14 August 2018, In October 2021, Pemberton was nominated for Best Outstanding Comedy Actor at the inaugural National Comedy Awards for Stand Up to CancerWEB,www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/19643698.blackburn-comedians-nominated-channel-4-comedy-awards/, Blackburn comedians nominated in Channel 4 comedy awards, McGee, Sarah, Lancashire Telegraph, 13 October 2021, 27 October 2021, for his appearances in series 6 of Inside No. 9.The seventh series of Inside No. 9 premiered on 20 April 2022.WEB,www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/apr/20/tv-tonight-diane-morgan-crashes-the-league-of-gentlemen-cast-reunion, TV tonight: Diane Morgan crashes The League of Gentlemen cast reunion, The Guardian, 20 April 2022, 20 April 2022, Pemberton is a contestant on the seventeenth series of the Channel 4 show Taskmaster which launched in March, 2024.WEB, Taskmaster season 17: Release date, cast and latest news,www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/taskmaster-season-17-release-date/, 2024-03-29, Radio Times,

Theatre

Pemberton’s early work centred mainly around fringe theatre; he was a founding member of the 606 Theatre with Gordon Anderson, Tom Hadley, and producer Shane Walter. He has produced, performed in, and directed various stage productions.In 2020 it was announced that Pemberton would join Aaron Taylor-Johnson on West End stage in Martin McDonagh’s The Pillowman, directed by Matthew Dunster.WEB,www.ikonlondonmagazine.com/west-end-aaron-taylor-johnson-steve-pemberton-to-star-in-the-pillowman/, West End: Aaron Taylor-Johnson & Steve Pemberton to Star in The Pillowman, Ikon London Magazine, Tamara, Orlova-Alvarez, 28 February 2020, 28 February 2020, However, due to the Covid-19 situation, the run was postponed until 2021. Pemberton said, “It’s been a dark time for the performing arts and I can’t wait to have the theatres open again. Unfortunately, The Pillowman has to be put to bed for now, but I very much hope that we’ll be able to bring Martin’s dazzling play to the West End before too long.“WEB,britishtheatre.com/martin-mcdonaghs-the-pillowman-delayed-new-dates-announced-soon/, Martin McDonagh’s The Pillowman delayed – New dates announced soon, British Theatre, Mayo, Douglas, 4 June 2021, 20 October 2021, The play was staged from 10 June 2023 to 2 September 2023 at the Duke of York’s Theatre in London’s West End with Lily Allen, Paul Kaye, Pemberton, and Matthew Tennison.WEB,www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/martin-mcdonagh-the-pillowman-steve-pemberton-further-casting, ‘The Pillowman’, starring Steve Pemberton, announces further West End casting, London Theatre, Thomas, Sophie, 14 March 2023, 18 March 2023, WEB,playbill.com/article/paul-kaye-and-matthew-tennyson-join-west-end-revival-of-the-pillowman, Paul Kaye and Matthew Tennyson Join West End Revival of The Pillowman, Playbill, Putnam, Leah, 13 March 2023, 18 March 2023, The Guardian praised Pemberton’s performance as “unfailingly excellent”,WEB,www.theguardian.com/stage/2023/jun/22/the-pillowman-review-duke-of-yorks-london-lily-allen-martin-mcdonagh, The Pillowman review – Lily Allen fails to deliver visceral punch, The Guardian, Akbar, Arifa, 22 June 2023, 22 June 2023, although other reviews of the play were mixed.WEB,www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/the-pillowman-review-lily-allen-tickets-b2362238.html, The Pillowman review: A dark, twisted triumph despite lightweight Lily Allen’s one-note turn, The Independent, Thompson, Jessie, 22 June 2023, 22 June 2023, WEB,www.telegraph.co.uk/theatre/what-to-see/the-pillowman-duke-of-yorks-theatre-review-lily-allen/, The Pillowman, Duke of York’s Theatre, review: Lily Allen all at sea in dull revival, The Telegraph, Allfree, Claire, 21 June 2023, 22 June 2023, On 3 May 2024, it was announced that Pemberton and Shearsmith would write and star in a stage adaptation of the series called Inside No. 9 Stage/Fright which will open at the Wyndham’s Theatre in London’s West End from 18 January 2025 for a limited run until 5 April. It will be directed by Simon Evans. Tickets for the 85 shows were released on 8 May 2024.WEB,www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/steve-pemberton-and-reece-shearsmiths-inside-no-9-to-be-adapted-for-west-end, Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith’s ‘Inside No 9’ to be adapted for the West End, London Theatre, Rook, Olivia, 3 May 2024, 18 May 2024, WEB,www.radiotimes.com/going-out/tickets/inside-no-9-stage-fright-tickets/, How to get Inside No.9 Stage/Fright tickets for Pemberton and Shearsmith’s West End show, Radio Times, Garrett, Olivia, 10 May 2024, 18 May 2024, WEB,www.theguardian.com/stage/article/2024/may/03/steve-pemberton-and-reece-shearsmith-announce-stage-version-of-inside-no-9, Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith announce stage version of Inside No 9, The Guardian, Wiegand, Chris, May 2024, 18 May 2024,

Other

Pemberton has written for Variety and was the assistant editor of the International Film Guide from 1991 to 1998.

Personal life

Pemberton lives in Fortis Green, London, with his partner, Alison Rowles, and their three children.NEWS,www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/benidorms-steve-pemberton-i-had-a-heart-attack-786612, Benidorm{{’, s Steve Pemberton: I had a heart attack at 25 ... but it took me 20 years to scare me into losing two stone |last=Bletchly |first=Rachael |date=2012-04-11 |work=Daily Mirror |access-date=2018-02-17}}WEB,variety.com/2000/scene/people-news/lucas-james-pemberton-1117781605/, Lucas James Pemberton, 2000-05-31, Variety (magazine), Variety, dead,web.archive.org/web/20190220002730/https://variety.com/2000/scene/people-news/lucas-james-pemberton-1117781605/, 2019-02-20, en, 2019-02-19, WEB,www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/esmagazine/steve-pemberton-s-diary-7312084.html, Steve Pemberton’s diary, Evening Standard, 10 April 2012, He also speaks German and French.NEWS,www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/actor-steve-pemberton-reveals-secret-1697454, Actor Steve Pemberton reveals secret heartache, Daily Mirror, 20 March 2013, 29 August 2020, The University of Huddersfield awarded him an honorary doctorate of letters in 2003.WEB, 2017-04-24, Honorary Graduates, University of Huddersfield,www.hud.ac.uk/news/visitors/honorarygraduates/, 2023-04-19,web.archive.org/web/20170424011700/https://www.hud.ac.uk/news/visitors/honorarygraduates/, 24 April 2017, Pemberton is a football fan and a supporter of Blackburn Rovers F.C.{{Citation |title=Interview - Steve Pemberton |work=Blank Podcast |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2z66R9mkJ28 |access-date=2023-09-20 |language=en}}

Filmography

Film{| class“wikitable sortable”

! Year! Title! Role! class=“unsortable” | Notes2005| The League of Gentlemen’s Apocalypse| Various Characters| Co-creator, co-writerLassie (2005 film)>Lassie| Hynes|The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (film)>The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy| Mr. Prosser / Additional Vogon voices| Collectively credited as “The League of Gentlemen”| Match Point| Detective Parry| 2007The Old Curiosity Shop (2007 film)>The Old Curiosity Shop| Mr. Short|| Mr. Bean’s Holiday| Vicar (Special Participation)|| 2008| Free Jimmy| Mattis|| 2012| Football Managers| Oliver| Writer| 2018| To Trend on Twitter| Himself|| 2024Better Man (2024 film)>Better Man| Peter|“>

Television{| class“wikitable sortable”

! Year! Title! Role! class=“unsortable” | Notes| 1993| Alice in Russialand| Various Characters| TV movie| 1999–2002, 2017| The League of Gentlemen| Various Characters| Series 1–4 Co-creator, co-writer| 2000Gormenghast (TV serial)>Gormenghast| Professor Mule|| 2000–2001Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) (2000 TV series)>Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)| Sergeant Liddel| Episode #1.12004Blackpool (TV series)>Blackpool| Adrian Marr|| Agatha Christie’s Poirot: Death on the Nile| Dr Bessner|Shameless (British TV series)>Shameless| Eddie Jackson| 2005Hotel Babylon (BBC series)>Hotel Babylon|Mr Daniels| Episode #1.3| The Last Detective|Edward Netherton| Episode “Friends Reunited”| Under the Greenwood Tree| Mr Shinar| | 2007–2015Benidorm (British TV series)>BenidormList of Benidorm cast and characters#Past characters>Mick Garvey| Regular; 43 episodes (Series 1–7) 2008| Agatha Christie’s Marple| Henry Wake| Episode: “Murder is Easy”| Doctor Who| Strackman Lux| Episodes: “Silence in the Library”, “Forest of the Dead” 2009| Terry Pratchett’s Going Postal| Drumknott|Minder (TV series)>Minder|Vlad the Imposter|Episode: “A Matter of Life and Debt”| 2009–2011|Psychoville| Various Characters| Co-writer| 2009–2013Whitechapel (TV series)>Whitechapel| Edward Buchan| Writer of 2 episodes| 2012| Sport Relief 2012| Mick Garvey | 1 episode: Benidorm meets Britain’s Got Talent |2012–2013Horrible Histories (2009 TV series)>Horrible Histories| Hollywood Producer| 10 episodes| 2013| Heading Out| Vet Inspector| 1 episode2014Mapp and Lucia (BBC TV series)>Mapp and Lucia| Georgie Pillson| WriterHappy Valley (TV series)>Happy Valley| Kevin Weatherill|| Toast of LondonFrancis Bacon (artist)>Francis Bacon| Episode: “Fool in Love”| 2014–2024| Inside No. 9| Various Characters| Co-writer and director; 51 episodes2015Lewis (TV series)>Lewis| Ian Tedman| Episodes: “One For Sorrow” parts 1 and 2| Harry Hill in Professor Branestawm Returns| Professor Algebrain| One-off special2016Camping (UK TV series)>Camping| Robin| 6 episodes| Tracey Ullman’s Show| Colin| 1 episode| 2017| Midsomer Murders| Timothy Benson| 1 episode : “Red in Tooth & Claw”|2018|The Interrogation of Tony MartinTony Martin (farmer)>Tony Martin|TV film| 2019Worzel Gummidge (2019 TV series)>Worzel Gummidge| Mr Braithwaite| 2019–presentGood Omens (TV series)>Good Omens| Glozier| 2 episodes: “Hard Times” and “Nazi Zombie Flesheaters”2020Death in Paradise (TV series)>Death in Paradise| Neil Henderson| 1 episode| Killing Eve| Paul| Recurring; 5 episodes| 2022Brassic (TV series)>Brassic| Mr King| 1 episode| 2024Taskmaster (TV series)>Taskmaster| Himself| Series 17 / 10 episodes“>

Stage credits{| class“wikitable sortable”

! Year! Title! Role!Venue|2002Art (play)>Art|Mark|Whitehall Theatre|2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 |The Rocky Horror Show|Guest narrator|Various| 2007| The Drowsy Chaperone|Man in Chair|Novello Theatre| 2009| The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee| Vice Principal Douglas Panch|Donmar Warehouse| 2012| She Stoops to Conquer| Mr Hardcastle|Olivier Theatre, Royal National Theatre|2016|Dead Funny|Brian|Vaudeville Theatre| 2023| The Pillowman| Tupolski|Duke of York’s Theatre| 2025| Inside No. 9 Stage/Fright| TBA| Wyndham’s Theatre“>

Awards and nominations{| class“wikitable”

! Year! Award! Category! Work! Result! {{Abbr|Ref|References}}| 2015| Royal Television Society| Best Comedy Performance - Male| For Inside No.9| {{won}}Writers’ Guild of Great Britain| Best TV Situation Comedy| With Reece Shearsmith, For episode ‘Zanzibar’| {{won}}WRITERS’ GUILD OF GREAT BRITAIN>ACCESS-DATE=16 JANUARY 2018,writersguild.org.uk/writers-guild-awards-winners-2018/, | 2019| Royal Television Society| Best Comedy Performance - Male| For Inside No.9| {{won}}2019 British Academy Television Awards| Best Male Comedy Performance| Steve Pemberton| {{won}}BAFTA>ACCESS-DATE=11 FEBRUARY 2020ARCHIVE-URL=HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20200214064520/HTTP://WWW.BAFTA.ORG/TELEVISION/AWARDS/TV-2019URL-STATUS=LIVE, | 2021Stand Up to Cancer (UK)>Stand Up to Cancer| Best Outstanding Comedy Actor| For Inside No. 9| Nominatedwww.pbjmgt.co.uk/clients/steve-pemberton/, Steve Pemberton, 2006, PBJ Management, 3 June 2008,www.pbjmgt.co.uk/clients/steve-pemberton/," title="web.archive.org/web/20080503100117www.pbjmgt.co.uk/clients/steve-pemberton/,">web.archive.org/web/20080503100117www.pbjmgt.co.uk/clients/steve-pemberton/, 3 May 2008,

External links

• {{IMDb name|0671487}}

{{The League of Gentlemen}}{{Navboxes|title = Awards for Steve Pemberton|list ={{British Academy Television Award for Best Male Comedy Performance}}{{RTS Programme Award for Best Comedy Performance}}{{RTS Programme Award for Best Comedy Performance by a Male Actor}}}}{{Authority control}}