Caroline Quentin
Quentin in 2011
Born
Caroline Amanda Jane Jones

(1960-07-11) 11 July 1960 (age 63)
Reigate, Surrey, England
Occupations
  • Actress
  • presenter
  • broadcaster
Years active1980–present
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1990; div. 1998)​
Sam Farmer
​
​
(m. 2006)​
Children2

Caroline Quentin (born Caroline Amanda Jane Jones; 11 July 1960)[1] is an English actress, broadcaster and television presenter. Quentin became known for her television appearances: portraying Dorothy in Men Behaving Badly (1992–1998), Maddie Magellan in Jonathan Creek (1997–2000), Kate Salinger in Kiss Me Kate and DCI Janine Lewis in Blue Murder (2003–2009).

Early life

Quentin was born in Reigate, Surrey,[2] to Kathleen Jones and her husband Fred, a Royal Air Force pilot.[3] She has three older sisters.[3] She was educated at the independent Arts Educational School, in Tring, Hertfordshire, and appeared locally in the Pendley Open Air Shakespeare Festival.[4][5]

Career

Television

One of her earliest roles was in the Channel 4 comedy drama Hollywood Hits Chiswick, alongside Derek Newark as W.C. Fields.[6]

Between 1992 and 1998, Quentin appeared as Dorothy in all 42 episodes of the sitcom Men Behaving Badly. From 1997 until 2000, Quentin starred alongside Alan Davies in Jonathan Creek playing investigative journalist Maddie Magellan, who uses Jonathan's mind to solve murder mysteries. In 1998 she starred in the first sitcom that was specifically built around her: Kiss Me Kate; that year she started the major role of Maggie Mee in the drama Life Begins, which returned for a third series in 2006. Quentin appeared in the television film Hot Money (2001), which was based on the true story of the theft of hundreds of thousands of pounds from the Bank of England.

ITV has produced five series of the police drama Blue Murder, in which Quentin plays against type in the main role DCI Janine Lewis. The pilot aired in the UK on 18 May 2003.[7][8]

Quentin has appeared in Whose Line Is It Anyway?; in a pre-Men Behaving Badly role as a traffic warden in the Mr. Bean episode "The Trouble with Mr. Bean" in 1991; Room 101; Have I Got News for You; and the 2009–10 BBC comedy series Life of Riley, a sitcom about a dysfunctional blended family; and in the BBC Radio 4 improvisational comedy series The Masterson Inheritance, the Radio 4 comedy Any Bloke (starred with Jim Sweeney who was also in The Masterson Inheritance) and the popular BBC Radio 2 sitcom On the Blog. She appeared as Heather Babcock in an episode of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple, The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side, in 2010. Also in 2010 she started appearing, as a 1970's standard lamp, in Marks & Spencer's revamped food range advertisements.[9]

In March 2011, a documentary entitled Caroline Quentin: A Passage Through India aired on ITV in the UK. The documentary followed Quentin as she traveled from the North of India to the South.[10] Quentin presented Restoration Home on BBC Two. The programme looks into the history and families of the UK's derelict mansion houses which are being restored by their private owners.[11][12] In 2012, Quentin began working on another documentary series, Cornwall with Caroline Quentin, which shows her travelling across Cornwall, for which she received some criticism due to apparently aiming the show at potential second home owners. She returned to present a second series of the show in 2013. In 2013, she hosted another documentary series, Caroline Quentin’s National Parks for one series.[13] Quentin starred in the Comedy Central series Big Bad World where she played the role of Jan, the mother of the main character Ben (Blake Harrison).

In 2015, she played the role of Angela Sim in an episode of Doc Martin. She played the role of Mrs Bumble in Dickensian (2015–2016). In November 2016, she guest presented an episode of The One Show.

Starting in 2017, Quentin was co-presenter of the BBC Two programme The World's Most Extraordinary Homes with architect Piers Taylor; 12 episodes were completed and aired. Subsequently, the series streamed on Netflix.

In 2020, Quentin participated in the eighteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing. She was partnered with Johannes Radebe. Quentin became the fourth celebrity to be voted off on 22 November 2020.[14][15][16] Quentin later commented,"I have had the honour and privilege of working with some of the greatest dancers this country has ever known I mean I really believe it, I think they are absolutely fantastic."[17]

In May 2023 Quentin was featured in the BBC coverage of the Chelsea Flower Show, showing viewers around the garden of her home near Tiverton, Devon.[18]

Theatre

In 2019 she played Lady Fancyfull in the Royal Shakespeare Company production of The Provoked Wife.[19] Her early stage work had also included appearing in the chorus of the original English production of the musical Les Misérables in 1985. In 2022 she played Mrs Malaprop in the Royal National Theatre's production of Jack Absolute Flies Again.[20] In 2023 she played elder Emma Hamilton and Mrs Cadogan in Jermyn Street Theatre’s world premier production of Infamous by April de Angelis.[21]

Music

In July 1996, Quentin released a single, a cover of the Exciters' hit "Tell Him", with her Men Behaving Badly co-star Leslie Ash under the name of "Quentin and Ash". The single spent 3 weeks in the UK Singles Chart, reaching number 25.[22]

Recognition

Quentin received an Ian Charleson Award commendation for her Masha in The Seagull at the Oxford Theatre Company in 1991.[23]

At the British Comedy Awards in 2004, Quentin won the "Best Comedy Actress" award for her performance in Von Trapped

Book

In 2023, it was announced that Quentin had written a gardening book, titled "Drawn to the Garden", about her own experience in running a vegetable and flower garden at her home on Devon, which she began sharing on Instagram during the COVID-19 lockdown. Included throughout the book is various watercolours and sketches by Quentin. It will be released 15 February 2024.[24]

Personal life

Quentin was married to comedian Paul Merton from 1990 until their 1998 divorce.[25] Quentin met Sam Farmer in 1998 on the set of Men Behaving Badly, where he was a runner.[26] The couple have two children, Emily Rose and William.[27] Her daughter Rose is also an actress, and has appeared alongside her mother.[28] In 2006, she married Farmer in Tiverton, Devon. They lived briefly in Morebath Manor near the village of Morebath, Devon, close to Tiverton,[29] before moving to a smaller derelict farm nearby, which they renovated. Before moving to Devon, the couple lived at Walberswick, Suffolk.[30]

Quentin has coeliac disease and is the patron of Coeliac UK.[31][32][33] She is also president of the charity Campaign for National Parks.[34]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1983 Party Party Shirley
1987 Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire
2021 Father Christmas Is Back Elizabeth Christmas
2021 Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop Sarah Clarkson
2022 A Week in Paradise Helen
2022 Jack Absolute Flies Again Mrs. Malaprop
2022 Christmas in the Caribbean Amanda

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1980 The Squad Vicky Banks Episode: "Recruits"
1983 Video Stars Fritzie Lang Television film
1984 Dream Stuffing Brenda 3 episodes
1984 Play for Today Receptionist Episode: "The Groundling and the Kite"
1987 Up Line Patti Technology Four-part series
1988 This Is David Lander Tricia Worthington Episode: "Not a Pretty Site"
1989 Shadow of the Noose Mary Bennett Television mini-series
episode: "Beside the Seaside"
1989 Casualty Jane Locke Episode: "Banking for Beginners"
1990 Hale and Pace Series 3, episode 1
1990 Harry Enfield's Television Programme Various characters 4 episodes
1991 Josie Series 1, episode 3
1991 The Bill Ruth Otley Episode: "Breakout"
1991–1993 Paul Merton: The Series Dr. Gillespie/Frank's Wife 3 episodes
1992 Mr. Bean Traffic Warden Episode: "The Trouble with Mr. Bean"
1992 Don't Tell Father Kate Bancroft 6 episodes
1992–1998 Men Behaving Badly Dorothy 42 episodes
— British Comedy Award for Top TV Comedy Actress
— Nominated: British Comedy Award for Best TV Comedy Actress
1993 All or Nothing at All Rebecca Television mini-series
episode 3
1993–94 Have I Got News for You Panellist 2 episodes
1994 An Evening with Gary Lineker Monica Despacos Television film
1994 Entertainment Cops Miss Pennyfarthing Television film
1995 Jeremy Hardy Gives Good Sex Short film
1995-1996 Whose Line Is It Anyway? (UK) Herself Series 7 episodes 1, 4, 9, 11, 12 and Series 8 episodes 3, 4, 6[35]
1996 Paul Merton in Galton and Simpson's... Caroline Episode: "The Missing Page"
1996 ITV Chart Show Interviewee 1 episode
1997–2000 Jonathan Creek Maddy Magellan 18 episodes
1998–2001 Kiss Me Kate Kate Salinger 22 episodes
— Nominated: National Television Award for Most Popular Comedy Performer (1998)
1999 Hooves of Fire Vixen Voice, Television short
1999 The Nearly Complete and Utter History of Everything Marcia Bournemouth Television film
2001 The Innocent Beth Pastorov Two-part series
2001 Goodbye Mr. Steadman Gina Ravelli Television film
2001 Hot Money Bridget Watmore Television film
2002 Blood Strangers Lin Beresford Television film
2002–2003 Living Famously Narrator 9 episodes; voice
2003–2009 Blue Murder DCI Janine Lewis 19 episodes
— Nominated: National Television Award for Most Popular Actress (2005)
2004 Von Trapped Maria Moogan Television film
— British Comedy Award for Best TV Comedy Actress
2004–2006 Life Begins Maggie Mee Leading role
— British Comedy Award for Best TV Comedy Actress (2004)
— Golden Nymph Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series (2005)
— Nominated: National Television Award for Most Popular Actress (2004, 2005)
— Nominated: TV Quick Award for Best Actress (2005)
2005 Footprints in the Snow Julie Hill Television film
2009–2011 Life of Riley Maddy Riley Main role; 20 episodes
2010 Agatha Christie's Marple: The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side Heather Badcock Television film
2010 Just William Mrs. Bott 2 episodes
2012–2013 Cornwall with Caroline Quentin Presenter 2 series (18 episodes)
2012 In Love with Wilde Duchess of Berwick
2012 Dead Boss Virna Series 1, episode 5
2012 Switch Gloria Series 1, Episodes 1 and 6
2013 Dancing on the Edge Deirdre 5 episodes
2013 Caroline Quentin's National Parks Presenter 1 series
2013 Big Bad World Jan
2015, 2017, 2019 Doc Martin Angela Sim Guest role; 4 episodes
2015–2016 Dickensian Mrs Bumble 1 series
2016 Wild Animal Reunions Narrator 1 series
2016 The One Show Guest presenter 1 episode
2017–present The World's Most Extraordinary Homes Co-presenter 12 episodes
2018 Walks with My Dog Co-presenter 1 episode
2018 The World's Ugliest Pets[36][37] Presenter 1 episode
2020 The Other One Auntie Dawn 3 episodes[38]
2020 Strictly Come Dancing Herself Contestant; series 18; Eliminated 4th
2020 Bridgerton Lady Berbrooke 1 episode
2021 Midsomer Murders Helen Welles Episode: "Happy Families"
2021–present Derelict Rescue Narrator
2022 The Lazarus Project Wes Sky television. Filming
TBA The UK’s National Parks with Caroline Quentin Presenter Filming[39]

Awards

British Comedy Awards
National Television Awards
Other

See also

References

  1. ^ "Spotlight on... Caroline Quentin". Western Mail. 4 May 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2014. Early life: Born Caroline Jones in Reigate, Surrey, on July 11, 1960.
  2. ^ Griffin, Susan (25 July 2013). "At home with Restoration Woman". The Lady. Archived from the original on 27 July 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  3. ^ a b Farndale, Nigel (10 February 2002). "Behaving gladly". Irish Independent. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  4. ^ Sturges, Fiona (12 March 2010). "Caroline Quentin: 'I'm canny, but not very bright'". The Independent. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  5. ^ "Strictly Come Dancing 2020: What has Caroline Quentin been in?". 24 October 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  6. ^ [1] Hollywood Hits Chiswick
  7. ^ "Blue Murder (2003–2009)". IMDb.com. Retrieved 27 June 2013.[unreliable source?]
  8. ^ "ITV.com". ITV.com. 4 July 2007. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
  9. ^ "Marks & Spencer | Investors | Press releases | Product | Marks & Spencer Unveils New Advertising Strategy". Archived from the original on 29 March 2010. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  10. ^ "Caroline Quentin on India | Entertainment | Daybreak". ITV.com. 15 March 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
  11. ^ "BBC Two – Restoration Home, Series 1". Bbc.co.uk. 23 December 2011. Archived from the original on 22 January 2011. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  12. ^ "Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors". RICS. 18 July 2011. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  13. ^ Tweedie, Neil (7 May 2013). "Caroline Quentin's ramble in Britain's National Parks". The Daily Telegraph. London.
  14. ^ "Your Strictly 2020 couples are complete!". BBC. 17 October 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  15. ^ Deen, Sarah (22 November 2020). "Caroline Quentin crashes out of Strictly Come Dancing as Maisie Smith lands in dance off again". Metro. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  16. ^ Jeffery, Morgan (22 November 2020). "Who left Strictly Come Dancing? Fourth celebrity to be voted out revealed". Radio Times. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  17. ^ Addo, Rianne (23 November 2020). "Strictly Come Dancing: Caroline Quentin becomes the fourth contestant to be eliminated from the show as Maisie Smith lands in the dance-off AGAIN". MSN. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  18. ^ "BBC Two - RHS Chelsea Flower Show, 2023, Episode 12".
  19. ^ "The Provoked Wife". Royal Shakespeare Company. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  20. ^ "Jack Absolute Flies Again". National Theatre. 7 November 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  21. ^ "Infamous". Jermyn Street Theatre. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  22. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 445. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  23. ^ Lees, Caroline. "Classic recipes for success". Sunday Times. 9 February 1992.
  24. ^ Bayley, Sian (22 May 2023). "Frances Lincoln wins four-way auction for gardening book by Quentin". The Bookseller. ISBN 978-0711290556. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  25. ^ Barber, Lynn (29 October 2000). "Paul Merton interview: fears of a clown". The Observer. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  26. ^ Daphne Locker. "Caroline Quentin: Why Men Behaving Badly will never come back; The Telegraph". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  27. ^ Benyon, Lucy (29 November 2013). "Five things I can't live without: Caroline Quentin". Daily Express. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  28. ^ "Malvern drama is a family affair". Completely Bromsgrove. April 2023.
  29. ^ Sarah Vine. "Life | The Times". Women.timesonline.co.uk. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  30. ^ Graham, Hugh (25 February 2018). "Time and Space Caroline Quentin". The Sunday Times: Home Section. p. 38.
  31. ^ Atherton, Matt (22 November 2020). "Caroline Quentin health: Strictly Come Dancing star explains 'horrible' symptoms". The Express. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  32. ^ "Watch our Patron Caroline Quentin on ITV's This Morning". Coeliac UK. Archived from the original on 21 June 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  33. ^ "Caroline Quentin announced as Patron of Coeliac UK". Coeliac UK. Archived from the original on 21 June 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  34. ^ Rogers, Gemma (8 September 2016). "Presidents of Campaign for National Parks". Campaign for National Parks. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  35. ^ Whose Line Is It Anyway? (Comedy, Game-Show), Channel 4 Television Corporation, Hat Trick Productions, 23 September 1988, retrieved 2 July 2022
  36. ^ Houghton, Rianne (16 June 2017). "Caroline Quentin will meet the World's Ugliest Pets". Digital Spy.
  37. ^ "ITV commissions The World's Ugliest Pets". Press Centre.
  38. ^ "The Other One, Series 1, Episode 6". BBC. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  39. ^ "More4 commissions The UK's National Parks with Caroline Quentin". channel4.com. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  40. ^ Alison Flood (5 December 2012). "EL James comes out on top at National Book awards". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 5 December 2012.

External links

National Television Award for Special Recognition
Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Authority control databases
Categories