Larry Lamb

The importance of Larry Lamb in today's society is undeniable. Whether as a public figure, as a topic of debate, or as part of history, Larry Lamb has left his mark on the lives of many people. In this article we will explore its influence in different aspects, from its impact on popular culture to its contributions in the scientific field. Through in-depth analysis, we will be able to better understand the role Larry Lamb has played in the world and the relevance it continues to have today.

For other uses, see Larry Lamb (disambiguation).

Larry Lamb
Born
Lawrence Douglas Lamb

(1947-10-01) 1 October 1947 (age 77)
Edmonton, Middlesex, England
Occupations
  • Actor
  • radio presenter
Years active1975–present
Spouses
Anita Wisbey
​
​
(m. 1969; div. 1970)​
Linda Martin
​
​
(m. 1979; div. 1996)​
Partners
  • Clare Burt (1996–2016)
  • Marie Victorine (2016–present)
Children4, including George

Lawrence Douglas Lamb (born 1 October 1947)[1] is an English actor and radio presenter. He played Archie Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, Mick Shipman in the BBC comedy series Gavin & Stacey and Ted Case in the final series of the BBC drama New Tricks. He also appeared on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! in 2016.

Early life

Lamb was born in Edmonton, Middlesex, to Jessie White and Ronald Douglas Lamb, the eldest of four including his brother, Wesley, and a sister Penelope. Lamb had a turbulent childhood; he was verbally abused by his father and often had to keep his parents from fighting.[2]

In 2011, Lamb participated in the BBC series Who Do You Think You Are? and discovered that he is descended from a line of proprietors of a well-known travelling menagerie, Day's Menagerie, and a lion tamer named Martini Bartlett.[3]

Lamb attended Edmonton County School and on leaving school he worked as a lorry driver's mate (assistant) for at that time the UK's largest Waste Paper Merchant J & J Maybank. Later, he joined the oil industry, which resulted in his working in Libya and Canada, where he attended St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. This developed his amateur interest in acting to a professional level, and he performed at Canada's Stratford Festival in 1975–1976. Lamb is distantly related to Edward Buckton Lamb (1806–1869), a Victorian architect who designed St Martin's Gospel Oak and St Mary Magdalene Church in Addiscombe.

Career

Acting

After returning to Britain from Canada, Lamb became a regular cast member, along with Kate O'Mara, in the BBC's North Sea ferry-based soap Triangle (1981–83), in which he played Matt Taylor, the ship's chief engineer.

Other credits include The New Avengers, The Professionals, Fox, Minder, Lovejoy, Get Back, A Touch of Frost, Our Friends in the North, Taggart, Casualty, Kavanagh QC, Spooks, Midsomer Murders, and The Bill.

Between 2007 and 2010, Lamb appeared in Gavin & Stacey playing Gavin's father, Michael "Mick" Shipman. He returned to the role for a Christmas special in 2019 and again for the show finale in 2024.[4]

In 2008, Lamb began playing Archie Mitchell, the father of Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell in EastEnders. He based his portrayal of Archie on his own father.[5] He left the show in April, 2009, but returned in July the same year, around the same time that Danniella Westbrook returned to her role of Archie's niece, Sam Mitchell. Archie was killed off in a murder story line at Christmas, 2009. In 2009, Lamb starred alongside Liam Cunningham in Blood: The Last Vampire, in the role of General McKee. On 19 February 2010, Lamb appeared with his son, George Lamb, in EastEnders Live: The Aftermath, after Stacey Slater was revealed to be Archie's killer in the closing moments of the 25th-anniversary live episode.

In April, 2011, BBC Learning launched "Off By Heart Shakespeare", a school-recital contest for secondary school pupils. For the project, Larry took on the role of Jaques from the play As You Like It, and delivered the speech: "All the world's a stage".[6]

It was announced that Lamb would join the cast of New Tricks as Ted Case in series 12.

Lamb's films include Buster and Essex Boys. In 1983, he had a small speaking role in Superman III.

In September 2023, Lamb appeared in the Channel 5 drama series The Inheritance, appearing alongside Samantha Bond, Jemima Rooper, Gaynor Faye, Rob James-Collier and Adil Ray.[7]

Theatre

Theatre work includes:

  • Educating Rita as Frank - Dir. Jeremy Sams - Chocolate Factory
  • The Five Wives of Maurice Pinder as Maurice - Dir. Sarah Frankcom - National Theatre
  • Fool for Love as Old Man - Dir. Lindsay Posner - Apollo West End/NIMAX
  • The Price as Victor - Dir. Sean Holmes - Tricycle/Apollo West End/National Tour
  • Hamlet as Claudius - Dir. Steven Pimlott - RSC
  • The Prisoner's Dilemma as The Professor - Dir. Michael Attenborough - RSC
  • Art as Marc - Dir. Rachel Kavanaugh - Wyndhams West End
  • Inherit the Wind as Drummond - Dir. Dan Crawford - King's Head
  • Nine as Guido - Dir. David Leveaux - Donmar
  • The Sisters Rosensweig as Kantlowitz - Dir. Michael Blakemore - Old Vic/Greenwich
  • Butterfly Kiss as Teddy - Dir Steven Pimlott - Almeida
  • Lulu as Rodrigo - Dir. Jonathan Kent - Almeida
  • La Musica as Him - Dir. Joseph Blatchley - Hampstead
  • Making It Better as The Husband - Dir. Michael Rudman - Hampstead/Criterion West End
  • A Madhouse in Goa as Niko/Oliver - Dir. Robert Alan Ackerman - Hammersmith/Apollo West End
  • Greenland as Brian - Dir. Simon Curtis - Royal Court
  • Insignificance as The Ball Player - Dir. Max Stafford-Clark - Royal Court
  • Seduced as Raul - Dir. Les Waters - Royal Court
  • Filomena as The Plumber - Dir. Franco Zefirelli - Lyric West End]
  • Comedians as George McBrian - Dir. Mike Nicholls - Music Box/Broadway

Other work

In 2013, Lamb began presenting a regular Sunday morning show on LBC. He is an occasional reporter for the BBC programme The One Show. Lamb took part in Gareth's All Star Choir in 2014, as part of the BBC's Children in Need appeal.

In 2016, he appeared in the sixteenth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!.[8] He became the 6th celebrity to be voted out of the jungle in the 2016 series.[9]

Personal life

Lamb's first marriage was to Anita Wisbey, with whom he had a daughter, Vanessa Lamb (born 1969).[10] Lamb stated on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! that Vanessa has a daughter. Lamb's second marriage was to Linda Martin, with whom he has a son, radio DJ and television presenter George Lamb (born 1979).[10]

Lamb was in a relationship with Clare Burt from 1996 to 2014. They had two daughters, Eloise Alexandra (born 1998), and Eva-Mathilde (born 2003).[10] Lamb currently[when?] resides in Cornwall, and is in a relationship with artist Marie Hugo.[10]

Lamb's autobiography Mummy's Boy was published in 2011.[11]

Awards and nominations

Lamb won the award for Best Villain at the 2010 British Soap Awards.[12]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1978 Superman 1st Reporter
1983 Superman III 2nd Miner
1984 Flight to Berlin Specialist Dale Sizemore
My Friend Washington Ben Carlson Original title: Mon ami Washington
1985 Shadey Dick Darnley
Underworld Roy Bain
1986 Ubac Larry
1987 Hearts of Fire Jack Rosner
1988 Buster Bruce Reynolds
1998 Place Vendôme Christopher Makos
2000 Essex Boys Peter Chase
One of the Hollywood Ten Will Geer
2001 Home Sweet Home (voice) Documentary film
2004 Deadlines Paul Baker
Fakers Harvey Steed
2009 Blood: The Last Vampire General McKee
2011 Two Minutes William Short films
2013 Verona Capulet
2014 Rose, Mary and Time Barney's Dad
Beachcomber Stephen
2015 Meet Pursuit Delange: The Movie Sam Walters
The Briny Peter Short film
2017 The Hatton Garden Job Brian Reader
Rise of the Footsoldier 3: The Pat Tate Story Mr. Harris
2019 Brighton Derek
2021 Me, Myself and Di Clifford
2022 Old Windows Harry Short film
Hounded Gregory
2025 The 7th Man Narrator

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1977 The New Avengers Williams Series 2; episode 6: "Trap"
1979 Hazell Ned Barrow Series 2; episode 12: "Hazell and the Public Enemy"
The Dick Francis Thriller: The Racing Game Steve Episode 5: "Horsenap"
1980 Armchair Thriller CPO Chalky White Series 2; episodes 7–10: "Dead Man's Kit: Parts 1–4"
Fox Joey Fox Episodes 1–13
The Professionals Jack Craine Series 4; episode 2: "Wild Justice"
1981–1983 Triangle Matt Taylor Series 1–3; 78 episodes
1982 Saturday Night Thriller Albert Episode 3: "A Gift of Tongues"
1983 Jemima Shore Investigates Max Highams Episode 11: "The Damask Collection"
1984 Minder Greg Collins Series 4; episode 6: "If Money Be the Food of Love, Play On"
The World Walk Watkins Television film
1985 Christopher Columbus Don Castillo Mini-series; episodes 1–4
1986 Boon Alan Prendergast Series 1; episode 7: "Northwest Passage to Acock's Green"
Slip-Up Ronald Arthur Biggs Television film. Alternative title: The Great Paper Chase
1987 Theatre Night The Sergeant Series 2; episode 1: "The Devil's Disciple"
Sunday Premiere Terry Stewart Episode: "Harry's Kingdom"
1988 Due fratelli Mauro Barberi Mini-series; episodes 1–3
1989 Twist of Fate Davi Mini-series; Parts I & II. Original / UK title: Pursuit
1990 The Paradise Club James Dexter Series 2; episode 6: "Lord of the Files"
A Little Piece of Sunshine Desmond Hannah Television film
1991 ScreenPlay Ron Bannister Series 6; episode 2: "Broke"
1992 Lovejoy Gerald Somers Series 3; episodes 12 & 13: "Highland Fling: Parts One & Two"
Between the Lines Dennis Ralston Series 1; episode 12: "Nobody's Fireproof"
Fool's Gold: The Story of the Brink's-Mat Robbery Kenneth Noye Television film
1992–1993 Get Back Albert Sweet Series 1 & 2; 15 episodes
1994 In Suspicious Circumstances Weldon Atherstone Series 4; episodes 9 & 10: "Death Scene: Parts 1 & 2"
White Goods Jonnie Dow Television film
Screen One Ken Series 6; episode 7: "Doggin' Around"
The Wimbledon Poisoner Dr. Donald Templeton Mini-series; episodes 1 & 2
1995 A Touch of Frost Mike Ross Series 3; episode 3: "Dead Male One"
Class Act Jimmy Hunt Series 2; episode 2
1996 Our Friends in the North Alan Roe Mini-series; episodes 6 & 7: "1979" & "1984"
Annie's Bar Terry Dunning Episodes 1–10
Strangers Leonard Episode 2: "The One You Love"
1997 The Missing Postman Trevor Ramsay Television film
1998 Supply & Demand Det. Supt. Simon Hughes Mini-series; episodes 1–6
1999 The Blonde Bombshell Will Humphreys Mini-series; episodes 1 & 2
Taggart Martin Strange Series 16; episode 3: "Fearful Lightning"
Casualty Father Peter Harker Series 14; episode 7: "Everybody Hurts"
2001 Kavanagh QC Alan Rainer Episode: "The End of Law"
Midsomer Murders Melvyn Stockard Series 4; episode 4: "Who Killed Cock Robin?"
2004–2005 The Bill Jonathan Fox Series 20 & 21; 20 episodes
2005 Cathedral Thomas Becket Mini-series; episodes 1–5
Murphy's Law George Garvey Series 3; episodes 3–6
2006 Silent Witness Max Wheaton Series 10; episodes 5 & 6: "Body of Work: Parts 1 & 2"
Spooks Iain Kallis Series 5; episode 3: "The Cell"
2007–2010, 2019, 2024 Gavin & Stacey Mick Shipman All 22 episodes
2008–2010 EastEnders Archie Mitchell 154 episodes
2013 Love and Marriage Tommy Sutherland All 6 episodes
2015 New Tricks Ted Case Series 12; episodes 2–10
2017 The Keith and Paddy Picture Show Dr. Houseman Series 1; episode 1: "Dirty Dancing"
Mount Pleasant Callum Series 7; episode 1: "The Finale"
2019 Pitching In Frank All 4 episodes
Thunderbirds Are Go Gomez (voice) Series 3; episode 17: "Getaway"
2023 The Inheritance Dennis All 4 episodes
2024 Curfew Rhys All 6 episodes
Whitstable Pearl Dickie Masters Series 3; episode 4: "Prisoners of the Past"
Conflict Sir Martin Wright Mini-series; episodes 3 & 4: "Vastarinta" & "Petos"
2025 The Feud Terry Dobson Episodes 1–6

References

  1. ^ Lamb, Larry (10 October 2016). "It's such a joy to get these birthday greetings but to put everyone in the clear my DOB was 01/10/47 not 10/01 ..but many thanks anyway!!LL" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ^ Colin Daniels and Paul Millar (20 June 2010). "Larry Lamb: 'I ran away from my daughter'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  3. ^ "Who Do You Think You Are?". National Fairground Archive. University of Sheffield. Archived from the original on 15 November 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  4. ^ "James Corden: Gavin and Stacey is returning for final episode". BBC News. 3 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Larry Lamb inspired by 'evil' dad". Metro. 2 December 2008. Retrieved 27 March 2009.
  6. ^ "Schools – Teachers – Off By Heart Shakespeare: As You Like It "All the world's a stage"". BBC. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  7. ^ Robinson, Abby (4 September 2023). "The Inheritance cast: Meet the characters in Channel 5 drama". Radio Times. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  8. ^ Who is Larry Lamb? Everything you need to know about the I'm A Celebrity 2016 contestant Archived 1 December 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "Larry's long-lost daughter hope". The Bolton News. 5 December 2016. p. Main-8. Retrieved 6 June 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b c d "'Retirement? Not with young kids on the go. I'll be working until I conk out'". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 27 May 2017. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  11. ^ Lamb, Larry (3 March 2011). Mummy's Boy: My Autobiography. Coronet Books. ISBN 978-1444715279.
  12. ^ "Villain of the Year – British Soap Awards 2010 – Pictures – Tvradio". Retrieved 8 July 2011.