Robin Askwith
Robin Mark Askwith is an English film actor, best known for his role as Timmy Lea in the Confessions sex comedies series. His debut film role was as the impudent schoolboy, Keating, in the film if.... which he later reprised in Britannia Hospital. In 1975, at Drury Lane's New London Theatre, he was voted Most Promising Newcomer – Male at the "Evening Standard British Film Awards". Askwith's most recent television role was that of musician Ritchie de Vries in Coronation Street.
Early life
Askwith was born in Southport, Lancashire, England, the eldest child of Nelson Askwiths and Hazel. His father served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War and his mother in the Women's Royal Naval Service. Askwith is a grand-nephew of the comic Robb Wilton.Education
Askwith was educated at Orley Farm in Harrow, Middlesex, where he made his first stage appearance as the Archangel Gabriel in a Nativity play and appeared in the seniors’ production of The Gondoliers; followed by Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood, Middlesex and the University of Bristol reading English and Drama.Career
''Confessions...''
Askwith appeared in many film and television roles before appearing in Antony Balch's Horror Hospital. It is a hybrid of horror and the mild titillation of the later 'Confessions...' films. Around the same time, Askwith also appeared in a Carry On film, Carry On Girls and the spin-off film version of Bless This House television sitcom, both with Sid James. These appearances led film makers Norman Cohen, Greg Smith and Michael Klinger to offer him the starring role in Confessions of a Window Cleaner, in the end directed by Val Guest. The part was turned down by several other candidates, Richard Beckinsale, Richard O'Sullivan, Nicky Henson and Dennis Waterman. The success of the film led to three sequels, Confessions of a Pop Performer, Confessions of a Driving Instructor and Confessions from a Holiday Camp.Although the Confessions series came to an end with Confessions from a Holiday Camp, a fifth and a sixth film, Confessions of a Plumber's Mate and Confessions of a Private Soldier had been planned in 1977. Askwith even expressed a desire to direct Private Soldier, but neither film materialised. Plans to shoot a further made-for-video Confessions film in the 1980s also came to nothing, although by this time he was appearing in the poorly-received ITV sitcom Bottle Boys.
Stage work
Askwith's extensive work on stage, includes numerous farces such as Run For Your Wife, Casanova's Last Stand, One For The Road plus the stage Confessions sequel The Further Confessions of a Window Cleaner and Terry Johnson's Dead Funny. From 11 December 2012 – 27 January 2013, he appeared at the Mill at Sonning, Reading, Berkshire in Ray Cooney's farce Caught in the Net.In pantomimes, Askwith has appeared with the Chuckle Brothers in Dick Whittington, with Frank Bruno and Sooty in a Wolverhampton production of Goldilocks and the 3 Bears and in various productions of Aladdin as Abanazar.
More unusual stage roles include the title role in a production of Brecht's The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, and the Child Catcher in a 2006 touring production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Television work
Early television roles saw him make appearances in Public Eye, The Main Chance, Dixon of Dock Green, Z-Cars and Randall and Hopkirk , as well as comedies such as Father, Dear Father and starring in two series of Bottle Boys. He has also had roles in the soap operas EastEnders, Doctors, Hollyoaks and Coronation Street where he played a holiday tour guide named Aidan. The episodes of the soap that featured Askwith were filmed in Malta, close to the island of Gozo where he lived for many years. Askwith returned to Coronation Street on 11 December 2013 as Ritchie de Vries.Later career
Askwith's autobiography, The Confessions of Robin Askwith, was published by Ebury Press in 1999. The book documents his early life and acting career, the success of the Confessions films, and his relationship with the actress Linda Hayden, his common-law wife during the 1970s. He was later married to actress Leonie Mellinger.Askwith made a cameo appearance in the film Run For Your Wife, released in the UK on 14 February 2013. He has been in Coronation Street as Ritchie de Vries, joining the cast in December 2013. His role in the TV comedy drama Benidorm was broadcast in January 2016.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1968 | if.... | Keating | |
| 1968 | Otley | First Kid | |
| 1969 | Alfred the Great | Shepherd | Uncredited |
| 1969 | Hans Brinker | Hans Brinker | a.k.a. Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates a.k.a. The Story of the Silver Skates |
| 1970 | Scramble | Lennie | |
| 1970 | Cool It Carol! | Joe Sickles | US Title: Dirtiest Girl I Ever Met US Bowdlerized Title: The Toughest Girl I Ever Met |
| 1970 | Bartleby | Office Boy | |
| 1971 | The Canterbury Tales | Ruffo | As Robin Asquith Italian Title: I Racconti Di Canterbury |
| 1971 | All Coppers Are... | Simmy | a.k.a. All Cops Are??? |
| 1971 | Nicholas and Alexandra | Soldier | Uncredited |
| 1972 | Tower of Evil | Des | US Title: Horror on Snape Island US Reissue Title: Beyond The Fog Canada Title: Horror of Snape Island West Germany Title: Devil's Tower – Der Schreckensturm Zombies |
| 1972 | Four Dimensions of Greta | Roger | a.k.a. Three Dimensions of Greta |
| 1972 | The Flesh and Blood Show | Simon | a.k.a. Asylum of the Insane |
| 1972 | Hide and Seek | Harvey, The Police Constable | |
| 1972 | Bless This House | Mike Abbott | |
| 1973 | Arctic Patrol | ‘Snowy’ White | An instructional film for the Ministry of Defence |
| 1973 | No Sex Please, We're British | Baker's Delivery Man | |
| 1973 | Horror Hospital | Jason Jones | US Title: Computer Killers West German Title: Frankenstein's Horror-Klinik Undefined Video Title: Doctor Blood Bath |
| 1973 | Carry On Girls | Larry Prodworthy | |
| 1974 | Confessions of a Window Cleaner | Timothy Lea | UK Complete Title: Timothy Lea's Confessions of a Window Cleaner |
| 1975 | The Hostages | Terry Sladden | |
| 1975 | Confessions of a Pop Performer | Timothy Lea | UK Complete Title: Timothy Lea's Confessions of a Pop Performer |
| 1976 | Confessions of a Driving Instructor | Timothy Lea | UK Complete Title: Timothy Lea's Confessions of a Driving Instructor |
| 1976 | Queen Kong | Ray Fay | Austria/West Germany Title: Queen Gorilla |
| 1977 | Stand Up, Virgin Soldiers | Brigg | |
| 1977 | Confessions from a Holiday Camp | Timothy Lea | UK Complete Title: Timothy Lea's Confessions from a Holiday Camp US Title: Confessions of a Summer Camp Counsellor |
| 1977 | That's Carry On! | Larry Prodworthy | Shown in cinemas as a support to the film Golden Rendezvous Includes scenes from Carry On Girls featuring Askwith |
| 1977 | Let's Get Laid | Gordon Laid | US Title: Love Trap |
| 1982 | Britannia Hospital | Ben Keating | |
| 1983 | Stagg’s Night | Robin Stagg | Shown in cinemas as a support to the Cannon and Ball film The Boys in Blue |
| 1990 | Traincare ‘90 | Narrator | Thames and Chiltern division of Network South East information film |
| 2000 | The Asylum | Neville | |
| 2000 | U-571 | British Seaman | |
| 2008 | Vincent Carney | a.k.a. – original title: Alone In The Dark a.k.a. The Raven Episode One: Evil Calls a.k.a. The Legend of Harrow Woods | |
| 2008 | Gozo Adventures: A Natural Playground | Narrator | Promotional travel film |
| 2012 | Run for Your Wife | Bus Driver |
Television appearances
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1968 | Scene: Last Bus | Robbo | |
| 1968 | Scene: The Sentence of the Court | Robbo | |
| 1968 | "Z-Cars" | Unknown episode | |
| 1969 | Randall and Hopkirk - "That's How Murder Snowballs" | Jimmy, the callboy | Uncredited US Title: My Partner the Ghost |
| 1969 | ITV Saturday Night Theatre – "The Full Cheddar" | Bassett | - |
| 1969 | There Was This Dog... | Andy | |
| 1970 | The Borderers – "The Quacksalver" | Hewie Heriot | |
| 1970 | Here Come the Double Deckers – "The Go-Carters" | Nigel Parks | a.k.a. The Double Deckers |
| 1970 | Menace – "Trespasser" | Robbie Clay | |
| 1971 | The Misfit – "... On The New Establishment" | David | |
| 1971 | On The House – "Series 2" | Harvey Micklethwaite | |
| 1971 | Father, Dear Father – "The Life of the Party" | Monty | |
| 1971 | The Fenn Street Gang – "Meet The Wizard" | Eddie | |
| 1971 | Please Sir – "A.W.O.L." | Eddie | |
| 1971 | Dixon of Dock Green – "Wingy" | Young Man | |
| 1972 | Bless This House – "A Touch of the Unknown" | Sam | |
| 1972 | The Main Chance – "The Killing Ground" | Sammy Cutforth | |
| 1973 | Beryl's Lot – "Series 1" | Fred Pickering | |
| 1975 | Public Eye – "How About a Cup of Tea" | Employment Clerk | |
| 1975 | It's A Celebrity Knockout | Himself | A special edition of It's a Knockout |
| 1975 | Beryl's Lot – "Series 2" | Fred Pickering | |
| 1976 | It's A Celebrity Knockout | Himself | A special edition of It's a Knockout |
| 1977 | It's A Celebrity Knockout | Himself | A special edition of It's a Knockout |
| 1977 | Marc | Himself | Performance of the single "Confessions" |
| 1978 | It's A Celebrity Knockout | Himself | A special edition of It's a Knockout |
| 1978 | The Kenny Everett Video Show | Himself | |
| 1978 | Star Games – "Series 1" | Himself | |
| 1978 | Christmas Star Games – "Series 1" | Himself | A special edition of Star Games |
| 1979 | Give Us a Clue | Himself | |
| 1979 | It's A Celebrity Knockout | Himself | A special edition of It's a Knockout |
| 1979 | Star Games – "Series 2" | Himself | |
| 1980 | Easter Star Games | Himself | A special edition of Star Games |
| 1980 | It's A Celebrity Knockout | Himself | A special edition of It's a Knockout |
| 1980 | Star Games – "Series 3" | Himself | |
| 1982 | The Journey | Narrator | |
| 1983 | Play of the Month – "Infidelities" | Alec | Based on Double Inconstancy |
| 1983 | What A Carry On | Larry Prodworthy | TV compilation of film clips including Askwith in Carry On Girls |
| 1984 | Good Morning Britain | Himself | Newsreader sketch |
| 1984 | Bottle Boys – "Series 1" | Dave Deacon | |
| 1985 | Bottle Boys – "Series 2" | Dave Deacon | |
| 1987 | Just For Laughs | Mike Abbott | TV compilation of film clips including Askwith in Bless This House |
| 1988 | Boon – "Peacemaker" | Bograt | |
| 1992 | TV Heaven | Himself | Included a showing of the TV commercial for TUF Boots |
| 1992 | This Is Your Life – "Frazer Hines" | Himself | |
| 1993 | GamesMaster – "Episode 3.16" | Himself | Christmas Special – Appeared alongside Robert Duncan and Wayne Morris while they were performing in Dick Whittington at the Theatre Royal, Bath |
| 1995 | Doing Rude Things | Himself | |
| 1997 | EastEnders | Jason Lafal | |
| 2000 | Sunburn – "New Opportunities, Second Chances and Dominoes" | Nigel Karver | |
| 2000 | The 100 Greatest TV Moments From Hell | Himself | Included Bottle Boys at number 97 on the countdown |
| 2001 | Mission Improbable | Himself | |
| 2004 | Doctors – "A Lion or A Sheep" | David Cordman | |
| 2004 | X-Rated – "The Films That Shocked Britain" | Himself | |
| 2005 | Sex In The '70s – "Blue Movies" | Himself | |
| 2005 | X-Rated – "The Sex Films They Tried To Ban" | Himself | |
| 2005 | Crumpet! – "A Very British Sex Symbol" | Himself | |
| 2007 | Coronation Street | Aidan | |
| 2009 | Benidorm | Gary Snelling | |
| 2011 | Hollyoaks | Earl | |
| 2012 | The 70s: Doomwatch 73–74 | Himself | |
| 2013 | Coronation Street | Ritchie de Vries | |
| 2015 | Emmerdale | Alby | |
| 2016 | Benidorm | Marcus Hornby | |
| 2016 | Casualty'' - "Step Right Up" | Ron Kleinman |
Television commercials
- Baked Beans – "brand unknown"
- Summer County – "margarine" – directed by Ridley Scott
- Smith's Crisps – "crisps" with Simon Dee
- Pepsi Cola – "drink"
- Thomson Sky Tours- "airways" – directed by Tony Scott
- Dulux Magicote – "paint"
- TUF Boots – "footwear" – – directed by Terence Donovan
- KitKat – "chocolate biscuit"
- Car Care – "part work magazine"
Stage appearances
- Play By Play – Kings Head Theatre, London
- The Further Confessions of a Window Cleaner – UK Tour
- The Further Confessions of a Window Cleaner – Rhodesia
- I Love My Wife – Prince of Wales Theatre, London
- Who Goes Bare? – UK Tour
- The Further Confessions of a Window Cleaner – New Zealand Tour
- The Further Confessions of a Window Cleaner – UK Tour
- Confessions From A Health Farm – New Zealand Tour
- Casanova's Last Stand – UK Tour
- The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui – Cambridge Theatre Company
- Aladdin – Theatre Royal, Lincoln
- Run For Your Wife – Criterion Theatre, London
- Run For Your Wife – Criterion Theatre, London
- Doctor In The House – UK Tour
- Run For Your Wife – New Zealand Tour
- Funny Peculiar – Australia Tour
- Jack and the Beanstalk – Wimbledon Theatre, London
- Run For Your Wife – New Zealand Tour
- Run For Your Wife – Criterion Theatre, London
- Aladdin – De Montfort Hall, Leicester
- Les Enfants Terribles – Avignon Drama Festival
- One For The Road – Mercury Theatre, Colchester
- Dick Whittington – Richmond Theatre
- Run For Your Wife – Jersey
- One For The Road – UK Tour
- One For The Road – Australia Tour
- One For The Road – New Zealand Tour
- Cash On Delivery – Theatre Royal, Windsor
- Dick Whittington – Theatre Royal, Bath
- Run For Your Wife – UK Tour
- Cinderella – Wimbledon Theatre, London
- Doctor In The House – UK Tour
- Dick Whittington – New Theatre, Cardiff
- Aladdin – Lyceum Theatre, Crewe
- Dick Whittington – Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield
- Dick Whittington – Darlington Civic Theatre
- Aladdin – Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford
- Jack and the Beanstalk – Theatre Royal, Nottingham
- Goldilocks and the Three Bears – Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton
- Aladdin – Theatre Royal, Newcastle upon Tyne
- Bedside Manners – Pier Theatre, Bournemouth
- Aladdin – Milton Keynes Theatre, Milton Keynes
- Aladdin – New Wimbledon Theatre, London
- Canterbury Tales – The Castle, Nottingham
- Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – Sunderland Empire Theatre
- Dead Funny – UK Tour
- Aladdin – Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea
- Aladdin – Theatre Royal, Lincoln
- Funny Money – The Mill at Sonning, Reading
- Caught In The Net – The Mill at Sonning, Reading
- Jack and the Beanstalk – Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea
- Aladdin – Darlington Hippodrome
- Aladdin - Hull New Theatre
Recordings
- 1975: Appears on the Confessions of a Pop Performer Original Soundtrack Album
- 1977: Single Confessions/This Space Is Reserved for You
- 1994: Audiobook cassette, HarperCollins Audio – Ian Botham My Autobiography – Don’t Tell Kath read by Robin Askwith