Steve Pemberton

"Stephen Pemberton" redirects here. For ABC developer, see Steven Pemberton.

Steve Pemberton
Pemberton after winning a BAFTA for Inside No. 9 in 2019
Born	(1967-09-01) 1 September 1967 (age 57) Blackburn, Lancashire, England
Education	Bretton Hall College of Education
Occupation(s)	Actor, comedian, director, writer
Years active	1995–present
Partner	Alison Rowles
Children	3

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 performance credits include Doctor Who, Benidorm, Blackpool, Shameless, Whitechapel, Happy Valley and Mapp & Lucia.

Early life

Steve Pemberton was born in Blackburn, Lancashire on 1 September 1967^[1] and grew up around Chorley,^[2] attending Saint Michael's Church of England High School in the town.^[3] He trained as an actor at Bretton Hall College of Education where he met Mark Gatiss and Reece Shearsmith.^[2]

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).

Pemberton as Pauline in The League of Gentlemen

Pemberton 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.^[4][5][6][7] 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.^[8] 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.^[9]

Pemberton reunited with his The League of Gentlemen colleagues in 2017 for three special episodes, transmitted in December 2017 on BBC2.^[10][11][12] 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.^[13]

In October 2021, Pemberton was nominated for Best Outstanding Comedy Actor at the inaugural National Comedy Awards for Stand Up to Cancer^[14] for his appearances in series 6 of Inside No. 9.

The seventh series of Inside No. 9 premiered on 20 April 2022.^[15]

Pemberton was a contestant on the seventeenth series of the Channel 4 show Taskmaster in 2024.^[16]

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.^[17] 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."^[18] 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.^[19][20] The Guardian praised Pemberton's performance as "unfailingly excellent",^[21] although other reviews of the play were mixed.^[22][23]

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.^[24][25][26]

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 North London, with his partner, Alison Rowles, and their three children.^[27][28][29]

He also speaks German and French.^[30]

The University of Huddersfield awarded Pemberton an Honorary Doctorate of letters in 2003.^[31] In July 2024 he received an Honorary Fellowship from the University of Central Lancashire.^[32]

Pemberton is a football fan and a supporter of Blackburn Rovers F.C.^[33]

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2001	Birthday Girl	Duty Sergeant
2004	The Life and Death of Peter Sellers	Harry Secombe
	Churchill: The Hollywood Years	Chester
2005	The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse	Tubbs / Pauline / Herr Lipp/ Self	Also co-creator and co-writer
	Lassie	Hynes
	The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy	Mr. Prosser / Additional Vogon voices	Collectively credited as "The League of Gentlemen"
	Match Point	Detective Parry
2007	Mr. Bean's Holiday	Vicar
	I Could Never Be Your Woman	Censor
2008	Free Jimmy	Mattis (voice)	English version
2011	Corvus	Vic	Short film
2012	National Theatre Live: She Stoops to Conquer	Hardcastle
	Football Managers	Oliver	Writer
2018	Take Rabbit	Man	Short film
	To Trend on Twitter	Himself	Short film
2024	Better Man	Peter Williams

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1995	Alice in Russialand	Various Characters	TV film
1996	Mash and Peas	Fritz	Episode: "American Sitcoms"
1998	In the Red	Lawrence Boot-Heath	Mini-series; 2 episodes
	Lenny Goes to Town	(unknown)	Episode: "Stoke on Trent"
1999–2002, 2017	The League of Gentlemen	Various Characters	Series 1–4; 22 episodes. Co-creator and co-writer
1999	The Comedy Trail: A Shaggy Dog Story	Tubbs Tattsyrup	TV Special
2000	Gormenghast	Professor Mule	Mini-series; Episode #1.3
	Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)	Sergeant Liddel	Episode: "Drop Dead"
2002	Legend of the Lost Tribe	Viking (voice)	TV film
	Spheriks	Kaz (2002) (voice)
2004	Blackpool	Adrian Marr	Mini-series; 6 episodes
	Agatha Christie's Poirot	Dr. Bessner	Episode: "Death on the Nile"
	Shameless	Eddie Jackson	2 episodes: "Meet the Gallaghers" and "We're Going to the Moon"
2005	The Last Detective	Edward Netherton	Episode: "Friends Reunited"
	Riot at the Rite	Critic	TV film
	Under the Greenwood Tree	Mr. Shinar	TV film
2006	Hotel Babylon	Mr. Daniels	Episode #1.3
2007	The Bad Mother's Handbook	Leo Fairbrother	TV film
	Kingdom	Jack Thriplow	Episode #1.2
	The Old Curiosity Shop	Mr. Short	TV film
2007–2015	Benidorm	Mick Garvey	Regular; 43 episodes (Series 1–7)
2008	Agatha Christie's Marple	Henry Wake	Episode: "Murder is Easy"
	Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!	Eric's Drums	Episode: "Jazz"
	Doctor Who	Strackman Lux	2 episodes: "Silence in the Library" and "Forest of the Dead"
2009	Minder	Vlad the Imposter	Episode: "A Matter of Life and Debt"
2009–2011	Psychoville	Various Characters	14 episodes. Also co-writer
2009–2013	Whitechapel	Edward Buchan	18 episodes. Writer of 2 episodes
2010	Terry Pratchett's Going Postal	Drumknott	Mini-series; 2 episodes
	The First Men in the Moon	Sun	TV film
2012	Mr. Stink	Sir Derek Dimble	TV film
	Sport Relief 2012	Mick Garvey	Episode: Benidorm meets Britain's Got Talent
2012–2013	Horrible Histories	Hollywood Producer #3	3 episodes
2013	Heading Out	Jonathan Walters	Episode #1.4
	Psychobitches	Dian Fossey	Mini-series; Episode #1.2
2014	Mapp & Lucia	Georgie Pillson	3 episodes. Also writer
	Happy Valley	Kevin Weatherill	6 episodes
	Toast of London	Francis Bacon	Episode: "Fool in Love"
2014–2024	Inside No. 9	Various Characters	51 episodes. Co-writer and director
2015	Lewis	Ian Tedman	2 episodes: "One for Sorrow: Parts 1 and 2"
	Professor Branestawm Returns	Professor Algebrain	TV film
2016	Camping	Robin	Mini-series; 6 episodes
	Tracey Ullman's Show	Colin	Episode #1.2
2017	Midsomer Murders	Timothy Benson	Episode: "Red in Tooth & Claw"
2018	The Interrogation of Tony Martin	Tony Martin	TV film
	The League of Gentlemen - Live Again!	Various Characters	TV Special
2019	Bounty Hunters	(unknown)	Episode #2.1
	Britannia	Emperor Claudius	2 episodes: "Imperial Visit" and "May the Gods Speak"
2019–2021	Worzel Gummidge	Mr. Braithwaite	6 episodes
2019–2023	Good Omens	Mr. Glozier	2 episodes: "Hard Times" and "Nazi Zombie Flesheaters"
2020	Death in Paradise	Neil Henderson	Episode: "Switcharoo"
	Killing Eve	Paul	Recurring role; 5 episodes
2022	Ladhood	The Gardener	2 episodes: "Initiative" and "TV"
	Brassic	Mr. King	Episode: "Murder Mystery"
2023	The Power of Parker	Sandy	3 episodes
2024	Taskmaster	Himself - Contestant	Series 17; 10 episodes
	The Read	Narrator	Episode: "The Remains of the Day"
	The Cleaner	Donald	Series 3; Episode 2: "The Baby"
	Alma's Not Normal	Uncle Dickie	Series 2; Episodes 3 and 5
	The Party's Over	Himself	BBC2 Inside No. 9 documentary

Stage credits

Year	Title	Role	Venue
2002	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

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result	Ref
2015	Royal Television Society	Best Comedy Performance - Male	For Inside No.9	Won
2018	Writers' Guild of Great Britain	Best TV Situation Comedy	With Reece Shearsmith, For episode 'Zanzibar'	Won	[34]
2019	Royal Television Society	Best Comedy Performance - Male	For Inside No.9	Won
2019	2019 British Academy Television Awards	Best Male Comedy Performance	Steve Pemberton	Won	[35]
2021	National Comedy Awards for Stand Up to Cancer	Best Outstanding Comedy Actor	For Inside No. 9	Nominated	[14]

References

1. "x.com".
2. Guardian Staff (10 February 2001). "Interview with The League of Gentlemen". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 December 2024. Born in 1969, Reece Shearsmith grew up in Hull. where he used to decapitate his Action Men.
3. Townend, Jon (13 June 2021). "Steve Pembertons shows have become cult hits".
4. Dowell, Ben (9 October 2008). "League of Gentlemen duo back with BBC2 comedy Psychoville". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 5 February 2009.
5. "TV Preview: Psychoville + panel discussion". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 11 May 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
6. "Psychoville". BBC. Retrieved 21 May 2009.
7. "New show for League of Gentlemen". BBC Online. 9 October 2008. Retrieved 5 February 2009.
8. "BBC announces adaptation of EF Benson's Mapp and Lucia". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
9. Chase, Stephanie (28 April 2021). "Inside No. 9 confirms series 6 return date". Digital Spy. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
10. "'League of Gentlemen' revival and 'Alan Partridge' documentary among BBC highlights for Christmas 2017". NME. 28 November 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
11. Moreland, Alex (13 December 2017). "The League Of Gentlemen: everything you need to know about this cult comedy revival". Metro. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
12. Wollaston, Sam (19 December 2017). "The League of Gentlemen review Royston Vasey: just as terrifying as ever". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
13. "Top Comics Join Short Film". Chortle. 13 August 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
14. McGee, Sarah (13 October 2021). "Blackburn comedians nominated in Channel 4 comedy awards". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
15. "TV tonight: Diane Morgan crashes The League of Gentlemen cast reunion". The Guardian. 20 April 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
16. "Taskmaster season 17: Release date, cast and latest news". Radio Times. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
17. Orlova-Alvarez, Tamara (28 February 2020). "West End: Aaron Taylor-Johnson & Steve Pemberton to Star in The Pillowman". Ikon London Magazine. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
18. Mayo, Douglas (4 June 2021). "Martin McDonagh's The Pillowman delayed – New dates announced soon". British Theatre. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
19. Thomas, Sophie (14 March 2023). "'The Pillowman', starring Steve Pemberton, announces further West End casting". London Theatre. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
20. Putnam, Leah (13 March 2023). "Paul Kaye and Matthew Tennyson Join West End Revival of The Pillowman". Playbill. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
21. Akbar, Arifa (22 June 2023). "The Pillowman review – Lily Allen fails to deliver visceral punch". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
22. Thompson, Jessie (22 June 2023). "The Pillowman review: A dark, twisted triumph despite lightweight Lily Allen's one-note turn". The Independent. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
23. Allfree, Claire (21 June 2023). "The Pillowman, Duke of York's Theatre, review: Lily Allen all at sea in dull revival". The Telegraph. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
24. Rook, Olivia (3 May 2024). "Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith's 'Inside No 9' to be adapted for the West End". London Theatre. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
25. Garrett, Olivia (10 May 2024). "How to get Inside No.9 Stage/Fright tickets for Pemberton and Shearsmith's West End show". Radio Times. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
26. Wiegand, Chris (May 2024). "Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith announce stage version of Inside No 9". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
27. Bletchly, Rachael (11 April 2012). "Benidorm's Steve Pemberton: I had a heart attack at 25 ... but it took me 20 years to scare me into losing two stone". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
28. "Lucas James Pemberton". Variety. 31 May 2000. Archived from the original on 20 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
29. "Steve Pemberton's diary". Evening Standard. 10 April 2012.
30. "Actor Steve Pemberton reveals secret heartache". Daily Mirror. 20 March 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
31. "Honorary Graduates". University of Huddersfield. 24 April 2017. Archived from the original on 24 April 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
32. "BAFTA award-winner recognised by 'local' university". University of Central Lancashire. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
33. "Steve Pemberton: "It is fantastic the club reaches out to the community"". 12 December 2023 – via YouTube.
34. "Writers' Guild Awards winners 2018". Writers' Guild of Great Britain. 15 January 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
35. "BAFTA Television 2019: Winners of the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards + British Academy Television Craft Awards". BAFTA. 12 May 2019. Archived from the original on 14 February 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2020.

Sources

• "Steve Pemberton". PBJ Management. 2006. Archived from the original on 3 May 2008. Retrieved 3 June 2008.

External links

• Steve Pemberton at IMDb