Bob Grant was an English actor, comedian and writer, best known for playing bus conductor Jack Harper in the television sitcom On the Buses, as well as its film spin-offs and stage version. He was born at Hammersmith and educated at Aldenham School. After National Service as a 2nd Lieutenant with the Royal Artillery he trained at the Preparatory Academy to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Highgate, London. He entered show business as a stand-up comic, playing the halls from Chelsea Palace to the Glasgow Empire. He played in repertory at York, Horsham, High Wycombe, Leicester, Oxford and Scarborough and toured with many productions including Big Soft Nellie and Charley's Aunt. He played Kitely in the Theatre Workshop production of Ben Jonson's Every Man in His Humour both at Stratford and the Théâtre Sarah‑Bernhardt, Paris, for the 1960 Fourth International Season of the Theatre of the Nations Festival. He was awarded the best supporting performance at the festival by the Young Critics Circle.
On the London stage he appeared in Blitz! at the Adelphi, Sparrows Can't Sing at Wyndham's and Mrs. Wilson's Diary at the Criterion, and Houses By The Green at the Royal Court. He wrote and directed Instant Marriage at the Piccadilly, and appeared in No Time for Sergeants at Her Majesty's, the latter on both radio and television. He played the part of George Brown in Mrs. Wilson's Diary for London Weekend Television, and appeared in Z-Cars, Softly, Softly, and The Borderers for the BBC. He played the role of Jack Harper in all 74 episodes of On the Buses for Independent Television, and as a writer with Stephen Lewis for a number of episodes from series 5 onwards. He reprised the role for the three On the Buses feature films that followed the series. He performed in many radio plays for the BBC and also wrote and performed The Frosty-Fresh Man for BBC Radio 4 and ABC Radio Canberra. In the latter part of his career, he spent much of his time writing plays in collaboration with Anthony Marriott. In the 1990s, he became well-known to Pitlochry Festival Theatre audiences with appearances in The Little Foxes, The Cherry Orchard, A Month of Sundays, Spider's Web, and Death of a Salesman.
This table contains Grant's known professional theatrical roles. It also contains the occasions when he both acted and directed, and on one occasion, designed the set. It does not contain those productions where he was a director but did not appear on stage. Note, roles prior to 1954 are incomplete.
Year | Title | Theatre | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1952 | Worm's Eye View | Court Royal, Horsham[a] | Sydney | Stage début. Note, Anthony Hayward for Grant's obituary in The Independent, and Ian Herbert in Grant's Who's who entry, both state that Grant's stage début was in Worm's Eye View at the Court Royal, Horsham, in November 1952. However, there was no advertised production of the play at the Court Royal for that year and it is doubtful that this was Grant's début. A production of the play was staged at the theatre from the 4 May 1953 for six days.[3] | [4] |
1953 | John Gabriel Borkman | Rudolf Steiner House | Vilhelm Foldal | Grant also produced the second act of W. S. Gilbert's Engaged[b] | [6] |
1954 | Night Must Fall | Tower Theatre | In repertory | First production under the directorship of Neil Gibson | [7] |
1954 | The Living Room | Tower Theatre | In repertory | [8] | |
1954 | And This Was Odd | Tower Theatre | In repertory | [9] | |
1954 | The Sacred Flame | Tower Theatre | In repertory | [10] | |
1954 | Don't Listen Ladies | Tower Theatre | In repertory | Original play in French by Sacha Guitry. Adapted by Stephen Powys and Guy Bolton | [11] |
1954 | The Return | Tower Theatre | In repertory | [12] | |
1954 | It's a Boy | Tower Theatre | Dudley Leake (groom) | [13] | |
1954 | Intimate Relations | Tower Theatre | In repertory | [14] | |
1954 | Trial and Error | Tower Theatre | In repertory | [15] | |
1954 | There's Always Juliet | Tower Theatre | In repertory | [16] | |
1954 | My Wife's Lodger | Tower Theatre | In repertory | [17] | |
1954 | Meet Mr. Callaghan | Tower Theatre | In repertory | [18] | |
1954 | High Temperature | Tower Theatre | In repertory | [13] | |
1954 | The Man | Tower Theatre | In repertory | [19] | |
1954 | Nothing But the Truth | Tower Theatre | In repertory | [20] | |
1954 | The Respectful Prostitute | Tower Theatre | In repertory | [21] | |
1954 | The Browning Version | Tower Theatre | In repertory | [21] | |
1954 | Champagne for Breakfast | Tower Theatre | In repertory | [22] | |
1954 | The Astonished Ostrich | Tower Theatre | In repertory | By Archie N. Menzies | [23] |
1954 | One Wild Oat | Tower Theatre | In repertory | [24] | |
1954 | Dial M for Murder | Tower Theatre | In repertory | [25] | |
1954 | French for Love | Tower Theatre | In repertory | [26] | |
1954 | Dracula | Tower Theatre | In repertory | [27] | |
1954 | The Little Hut | Tower Theatre | In repertory | Adapted from the play La petite hutte by André Roussin | [28] |
1954 | Summer in December | Tower Theatre | In repertory | [29] | |
1954 | Flare Path | Tower Theatre | In repertory | [30] | |
1954 | The Magistrate | York Theatre Royal | Walk on part | Grant was a former York repertory actor. York Repertory Company held a reception on the stage of the Theatre Royal to celebrate its nineteenth birthday | [31] |
1954 | Lovers' Leap | Tower Theatre | In repertory | [32] | |
1954 | Someone Waiting | Tower Theatre | In repertory | [28] | |
1954 | Escapade | Tower Theatre | In repertory | [33] | |
1954 | Western Wind | Tower Theatre | In repertory | [34] | |
1954 | Romeo and Juliet | Tower Theatre | In repertory | [35] | |
1954 | Dear Charles | Tower Theatre | In repertory | [36] | |
1954 | Piccadilly Alibi | Tower Theatre | In repertory | [37] | |
1954 | Red Letter Day | Tower Theatre | In repertory | [28] | |
1954 | The Food of Love | Tower Theatre | In repertory | [38] | |
1954 | A Guardsman's Cup of Tea | Tower Theatre | In repertory | Written by Thomas Browne | [28] |
1954 | Affairs of State | Tower Theatre | In repertory | [39] | |
1955 | Just William | Tower Theatre | John Brown | [40] | |
1955 | Me and My Girl | Tower Theatre | Lupino Lane | [41] | |
1955 | Anna Christie | Tower Theatre | Walk on part | [42] | |
1955 | The Archers | Tower Theatre | Walter Gabriel | [43] | |
1955 | Honeymoon Beds | Tower Theatre | P. C. Woodhouse | By Cedric Richards | [44] |
1955 | Night Was Our Friend | Tower Theatre | Dr. John Harper | [45] | |
1955 | The Martin's Nest | Tower Theatre | Colonel Trevor Bulstrode | [46] | |
1955 | Private Lives | Intimate Theatre | Victor | [47] | |
1955 | See How They Run | Intimate Theatre[c] | Corporal Clive Winton | [49] | |
1955 | The Paragon | Intimate Theatre | Aged character cameo | [50] | |
1955 | Separate Rooms | Intimate Theatre | Gary Bryce | [51] | |
1955 | A Little of What You Fancy | Intimate Theatre | Bertie Castleford | The farce was written by Grant | [52] |
1955 | The Dashing White Sergeant | Intimate Theatre | Robert Cuningham | [53] | |
1955 | Seagulls Over Sorrento | Intimate Theatre | Badger | [54] | |
1955 | East Lynne | Intimate Theatre | Captain William Levison | Grant also directed | [55] |
1955 | Desire in the Night | Intimate Theatre | Walk on part | [56] | |
1955 | Sabrina Fair | Intimate Theatre | Chauffeur | [57] | |
1955 | For Better, For Worse | Intimate Theatre | Two different furniture men | [58] | |
1955 | Waiting for Gillian | Intimate Theatre | Honourable William Stephen Fitzharding Bule | [59] | |
1955 | Jane Steps Out | Intimate Theatre | Major-General Wilton | [60] | |
1955 | Blind Alley | Intimate Theatre | Walk on part | [61] | |
1955 | MacAdam and Eve | Intimate Theatre | Adam MacAdam | [62] | |
1955 | He Walked In Her Sleep | Intimate Theatre | Sir Andrew Tankerton | [63] | |
1955 | And Then There Were None | Intimate Theatre | Justice Lawrence John Wargrave | [64] | |
1955 | Book o the Month | Intimate Theatre | Colonel Howard Barnes-Bradley | [65] | |
1955 | The Love Match | Intimate Theatre | Bill Brown | [66] | |
1955 | The Secret Tent | Intimate Theatre | Inspector Thornton | [67] | |
1955 | Worm's Eye View | Intimate Theatre | Sam Porter | [68] | |
1955 | Rain | Intimate Theatre | Joe Horn | [69] | |
1955 | Tons of Money | Intimate Theatre | Aubrey Allington | Grant also directed | [70] |
1955 | Beside The Seaside | Intimate Theatre | Yankee dancer | [71] | |
1955 | Present Laughter | Intimate Theatre | Morris Dixon | [72] | |
1955 | Witness for the Prosecution | Intimate Theatre | Leonard Vole | Two-week run | [73] |
1955 | Where There's A Will | Intimate Theatre | Alfie Brewer (Turkish bath attendant) | [74] | |
1955 | Rising Heifer | Intimate Theatre | Set design only | [75] | |
1955 | Job For The Boy | Intimate Theatre | Walk on part | [76] | |
1955 | Random Harvest | Intimate Theatre | Lawyer | [77] | |
1955–1956 | Cinderella pantomime | Intimate Theatre | Baron Hardup | Jean Hyett took the title role | [78] |
1956 | Beauty and the Beast | Intimate Theatre | Merchant | [79] | |
1956 | Simon and Laura | Intimate Theatre | Butler | This was the last play Grant and Hyett performed for the Wycombe Repertory Theatre | [80] |
Year | Title | Theatre | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1956 | The Good Soldier Schweik | Duke of York's Theatre | Bretschneider | Produced by Joan Littlewood and her Theatre Workshop company based at Theatre Royal Stratford East, London | [81] |
1956–1957 | The Bed | Touring theatre | Leonard Jolijoli | English adaptation of Moumou (or Mou Mou) by Jean de Létraz[d] | [84] |
1957 | No Time for Sergeants | Her Majesty's Theatre | [85] | ||
1958 | Poet and Pheasant | Watford Palace Theatre | Frank Higgins | [86] | |
1958 | Always Friday Night | Watford Palace Theatre | Ben Bailey | [87] | |
1959 | Robinson Crusoe | Watford Palace Theatre | Will Atkins | [88] | |
1959 | Dry Rot | Watford Palace Theatre | Fred Phipps | [89] | |
1960 | Babes in the Wood | Watford Palace Theatre | Will Scarlet | [90] | |
1960 | Pretty as Paint | Touring theatre | Scrubby Willows | The show opened at the Opera House, Leicester, and then toured Exeter, Cardiff and the Watford Palace Theatre, before moving to London | [91] |
1960 | Ned Kelly | Theatre Royal Stratford East | Pat Quinn | Produced by Joan Littlewood and her Theatre Workshop company | [92] |
1960 | Every Man in His Humour | Théâtre Sarah‑Bernhardt | Kitely, a Merchant | Directed by Joan Littlewood. World premiere of Littlewood's production at the Fourth International Season of the Theatre of the Nations Festival | [93] |
1960 | Every Man in His Humour | Theatre Royal Stratford East | Kitely, a Merchant | [94] | |
1960 | Sparrows Can't Sing | Theatre Royal Stratford East | Fred Jug | Directed by Joan Littlewood. Written by Stephen Lewis | [95] |
1960 | Sparrows Can't Sing | East Berlin | Fred Jug | The company represented England at the 4th East Berlin Festival[e] | [98] |
1960 | Lock, Stock and Barrel | Theatre Royal, Newcastle | Lolly Larkin | [99] | |
1960 | Charley's Aunt | Oxford Playhouse | Lord Fancourt Babberley (impersonating the aunt) | Many considered Grant's rendition of the Lord Babberley role to be the best | [100] |
1961 | Sparrows Can't Sing | Wyndham's Theatre | Fred Jug | Transferred from Theatre Royal Stratford East | [101] |
1961 | Big Soft Nellie | Oxford Playhouse | Mr. Twigg | Three night run before transferring to the Theatre Royal Stratford East | [102] |
1961 | Big Soft Nellie | Theatre Royal Stratford East | Mr. Twigg | [103] | |
1962 | Blitz! | Regal, Edmonton | Alfred ("Alfie") Locke | It opened at Edmonton before transferring to the Adelphi | [104] |
1962–1963 | Blitz! | Adelphi Theatre | Alfred ("Alfie") Locke | [105] | |
1964 | Don't Ask Me, Ask Dad | State, Kilburn | George Eastwood | Book and lyrics by Grant. The original title was The Kitty and then changed to Don't Ask Me, Ask Dad, the title of one of the songs in the show. The name was changed again to Instant Marriage when it moved to the Piccadilly | [106] |
1964–1965 | Instant Marriage | Piccadilly Theatre | George Eastwood | Directed by Grant | [107] |
1965 | Twang!! | Palace Theatre, Manchester | Sheriff of Nottingham | A Birmingham opening on 21 October 1965 was scheduled and cancelled. The Manchester preview opened on 3 November 1965 at the Palace Theatre with a script that was unfinished | [108] |
1965–1966 | Twang!! | Shaftesbury Theatre | Sheriff of Nottingham | [109] | |
1967 | MacBird! | Theatre Royal Stratford East | Macbird (Lyndon B. Johnson) | Directed by Joan Littlewood[f] | [111] |
1967 | Hold on Hortense | Theatre Royal Stratford East | Bob Grant and his clowns | A second performance was played on 29 May 1967 | [112] |
1967 | Intrigues and Amours | Theatre Royal Stratford East | Constant | [113] | |
1967 | Mrs. Wilson's Diary | Theatre Royal Stratford East | George Brown and the 1st Removal Man | [114] | |
1967–1968 | Mrs. Wilson's Diary | Criterion Theatre | George Brown[g] and the 1st Removal Man | The play was transferred to the Criterion Theatre after breaking all box office records at the Theatre Royal, Stratford | [117] |
1968 | Charlie Came To Our Town | Harrogate Grand Opera House | Caretaker | Alan Plater wrote the musical specifically for the Harrogate Festival of Arts and Sciences[h] | [119] |
1968 | The Houses by the Green | Royal Court Theatre | Mervyn Molyneaux (old Jewish stockbroker) | [120] | |
1968 | The Tutor | Royal Court Theatre | Pastor | [121] | |
1968–1969 | Cinderella pantomime | New Theatre, Bromley | [122] | ||
1969–1971 | Pyjama Tops | Whitehall Theatre | Leonard Jolly | This was another English adaptation of Moumou (or Mou Mou) by Jean de Létraz | [123] |
1972 | The Londoners | Theatre Royal Stratford East | Sid | Musical based on Sparrers Can't Sing | [124] |
1972 | Stop It, Nurse! | Windmill Theatre, Great Yarmouth | Felix (the motorcyclist and eventual patient) | [125] | |
1973 | Busman's Holiday | Pavilion Theatre, Torquay | Willie Beattie | Production of the play Busman's Holiday by Sam Cree | [126] |
1973 | No Sex Please, We're British | Minerva Theatre, Sydney (Australia) | Brian Runnicles | Grant took the lead for a month from 22 November 1973[i] | [129] |
1974 | No Sex Please, We're British | The Playhouse, Weston-super-Mare | Brian Runnicles | [130] | |
1974 | Package Honeymoon | Devonshire Park Theatre | Jack | Written by Grant. It also starred Anna Karen | [131] |
1974–1975 | Cinderella pantomime | Princes Hall | [132] | ||
1975 | Darling Mr. London[j] | Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton | Curate Mark Thompson | Written by Grant and Anthony Marriott. David Jason took the lead role of Edward Hawkins | [133] |
1975 | One for the Pot | Touring theatre | Charlie Barnet | Opened at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, on 18 August 1975, and toured for ten weeks | [134] |
1975–1976 | Jack and the Beanstalk | Lewisham Concert Hall | Muddles | Stephen Lewis was cast as the King | [135] |
1976 | Pyjama Tops | Touring theatre | Leonard Jolly | This was another English adaptation of Moumou (or Mou Mou) by Jean de Létraz. The play opened at the Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton on 2 March 1976 and toured provincial theatres for twenty weeks | [136] |
1976–1977 | Dick Whittington | Cliffs Pavilion | Idle Jack | [137] | |
1977 | The Taming of the Shrew | Touring theatre | Two roles: In the induction, Christopher Sly, a tinker. In the play, Vincentio of Pisa, father of Lucentio | Starred Wendy Craig. The tour started at the Forum, Billingham on 14 February 1966, and continued until the end of April at Wilmslow, Peterborough, Richmond, Brighton, Leeds, Oxford, Norwich, Bath and Cardiff | [138] |
1977 | The Wizard of Oz | New Theatre, Cardiff | The show ran from 29 June to 23 July 1977 | [139] | |
1977 | Pygmalion | Birmingham Repertory Theatre | Alfred Doolittle | [140] | |
1977–1978 | A Christmas Carol | Birmingham Repertory Theatre | Ebenezer Scrooge | [141] | |
1978 | No Sex Please, We're British | Regal Theatre, Perth, Western Australia | Brian Runnicles | [142] | |
1978 | Two and Two Make Sex | Shanklin Theatre | George Williams, a property dealer | Two-play repertory with Shock. The two-in-one set was designed by Kenneth Turner. Directed by Grant and ran until 30 September 1978 | [143] |
1978 | Shock | Shanklin Theatre | Terry Dexter, an airline pilot | By Brian Clemens. Directed by John Newman | [143] |
1978 | Kiss Me, Kate | Birmingham Repertory Theatre | Debt collector | The show ran from 10 November to 9 December 1978 | [144] |
1978–1979 | Robinson Crusoe | Churchill Theatre | Mrs Crusoe | [145] | |
1979 | Tommy | Queens Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue | Uncle Ernie | Transferred from Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch | [146] |
1979 | Doctor in the House | Weymouth Pavilion | Bromley, hospital porter | [147] | |
1979–1980 | Jack and the Beanstalk | Ashcroft Theatre | [148] | ||
1980 | The Miracle Shirker | Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch | Written by Wally K. Daly | [149] | |
1980 | Come Play With Me | Touring theatre | It was scheduled to play theatres from March to July 1980. However, the run was cancelled at the end of May because the production company, Bob Holmes Management, had got into "financial difficulties"[k] | [151] | |
1980 | Line 'Em | Cottesloe Theatre (now the Dorfman Theatre) at the Royal National Theatre | Chaser | [152] | |
1980–1981 | Oh! Calcutta! | Touring theatre | Writer, compère, and one part as an ageing husband | National tour that opened at the Theatre Royal, Bath on 22 September 1980 | [153] |
1981 | Oh! Calcutta! | Touring theatre | Writer, compère, and one part as an ageing husband | Nationwide New Zealand tour | [154] |
1981–1982 | Cinderella pantomime | Birmingham Repertory Theatre | Ugly sister | [155] | |
1982 | Anyone For Denis? | Touring theatre | Denis Thatcher | The opening night was at York Theatre Royal. The play was taken to 24 different theatres | [156] |
1982–1983 | Cinderella pantomime | The Alexandra, Birmingham | Ugly sister | [157] | |
1983 | Comic Cuts | Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch | Byron Greenswood | [158] | |
1983 | Keeping Down With the Joneses | Richmond Theatre | Raymond Blake | The tour continued at The Hexagon from 20 September 1983, then went to the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre for four weeks from 26 September 1983 | [159] |
1983–1984 | Toad of Toad Hall | Birmingham Repertory Theatre | Ratty | [160] | |
1984 | Pyjama Tops | Pier Theatre, Bournemouth | Leonard Jolly | Grant also directed | [161] |
1984 | Pyjama Tops | Weymouth Pavilion | Leonard Jolly | Grant also directed | [162] |
1984–1985 | Treasure Island | Birmingham Repertory Theatre | Ben Gunn | [163] | |
1985 | Anyone For Denis? | Touring theatre | Denis Thatcher | The production opened in June at the Bournemouth Playhouse and moved on to Richmond, Wolverhampton, Peterborough, Birmingham, Manchester and other major cities | [164] |
1985–1986 | Cinderella pantomime | De Montfort Hall | Ugly sister (Krystle) | [165] | |
1986 | The Winter's Tale | Birmingham Repertory Theatre | Autolycus | [166] | |
1986–1987 | Cinderella pantomime | Harlequin Theatre, Redhill | Ugly sister | [167] | |
1987 | Rising Damp | Hyatt Regency Hotel, Singapore | Rupert Rigsby | Adapted from The Banana Box by Eric Chappell. Café Theatre Company tour of Central and South East Asia[l] | [169] |
1987–1988 | Jack and the Beanstalk | Palmers Green Theatre | Simple Simon | [170] | |
1988–1989 | Guys and Dolls | Leicester Haymarket Theatre | Arvide Abernathy | [171] | |
1990 | Hands Off My Crumpet | Touring theatre | Godfrey Croker, the managing director of a crumpet factory | The tour opened at Doncaster Civic Theatre on 15 January 1990[m] | [173] |
1990 | Private Lives | International Hotel, Kuwait | Café Theatre Company tour of the Middle East. The group toured Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Muscat. Sponsored by Cathay Pacific | [174] | |
1990 | Arsenic and Old Lace | Pitlochry Festival Theatre | Mr. Gibbs (lodger) | Opened on 4 May 1990. Grant was in five of the six plays scheduled for the festival | [175] |
1990 | Sailor Beware! | Pitlochry Festival Theatre | [176] | ||
1990 | Separate Tables | Pitlochry Festival Theatre | [176] | ||
1990 | The Little Foxes | Pitlochry Festival Theatre | Oscar Hubbard | [177] | |
1990 | The Cherry Orchard | Pitlochry Festival Theatre | Roger Kemp | [178] | |
1990–1991 | Seven Brides For Seven Brothers | Leicester Haymarket Theatre | Opened on 16 November 1990 | [179] | |
1991 | When Did You Last See Your Trousers? | Leicester Haymarket Theatre | [180] | ||
1991 | Piaf | Perth Theatre | Louis Leplée (Piaf's manager) | The show ran for three weeks | [181] |
1991 | Celebrity Concert | Perth Theatre | Himself | Fund raising concert for Peace Child International | [182] |
1991–1992 | Jack and the Beanstalk | Perth Theatre | Squire Skinflint | [183] | |
1992 | A Month of Sundays | Pitlochry Festival Theatre | Michael Aylott (rest home resident) | [184] | |
1992 | Spider's Web | Pitlochry Festival Theatre | [185] | ||
1992 | Death of a Salesman | Pitlochry Festival Theatre | Ben Loman | [186] | |
1993 | A Flea In Her Ear | Pitlochry Festival Theatre | Chandebise and Poche | [187] | |
1993 | Beyond Reasonable Doubt | Pitlochry Festival Theatre | Mr. Justice Treadwell (judge) | [188] | |
1993 | You Never Can Tell | Pitlochry Festival Theatre | Walter (the waiter) | [189] | |
1993 | La Vie de Bohème | Pitlochry Festival Theatre | In repertory | [190] | |
1994 | Murder at the Vicarage | Pitlochry Festival Theatre | Police Inspector | [191] | |
1994 | Hobson's Choice | Pitlochry Festival Theatre | Hobson employee | [192] | |
1994 | The Will | Pitlochry Festival Theatre | Mr. Devizes Senior (solicitor) | One of a quartet of short plays by J. M. Barrie that the company performed. The production was supported by the Post Office | [193] |
1995 | Hobson's Choice | Chichester Festival Theatre | Jim Heeler | The play finished at Chichester on 21 July 1995 | [194] |
1995 | Hobson's Choice | Touring theatre | Jim Heeler | The tour started in Guildford and finished in the Theatre Royal, Bath, at the beginning of October 1995, before heading to the Lyric Theatre | [195] |
1995–1996 | Hobson's Choice | Lyric Theatre, London | Jim Heeler | It starred Leo McKern and Nichola McAuliffe | [196] |
1997 | Breaking the Code | Pitlochry Festival Theatre | Dillwyn Knox | [197] | |
1997 | The Sunshine Boys | Pitlochry Festival Theatre | Al Lewis | [198] | |
1998 | Murder Is Easy | Devonshire Park Theatre | Luke Fitzwilliam | Summer drama season. He starred alongside Margaret Ashcroft | [199] |
1998 | Funny Money | Devonshire Park Theatre | Henry Perkins (accountant) | Last stage role | [200] |
This table contains Grant's stage work as a director. It does not include those productions in which he also appeared, which are shown in the table above.
Year | Title | Theatre | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1955 | A Question of Fact | Tower Theatre | [201] | |
1955 | As Long as They're Happy | Intimate Theatre | [202] | |
1955 | The Seven Year Itch | Intimate Theatre | [203] | |
1955 | Down Came a Blackbird | Intimate Theatre | [204] | |
1955 | The Moon Is Blue | Intimate Theatre | [205] | |
1967 | The Marie Lloyd Story | Theatre Royal Stratford East | Assistant Director | [206] |
Grant took part in many radio broadcasts in his career, including interviews, poetry readings and talks about the theatre and acting. The following is a list of plays in which he was involved.
Year[a] | Title | Episode | Station | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1959 | Thirty-Minute Theatre | I Bought a Jalopy | BBC Light Programme | Car owner | |
1959 | Dombey and Son | BBC Home Service | Mr. Toots | Adapted for radio in eight parts by Hilary Oldfield Box | |
1960 | Thirty-Minute Theatre | The Man Who Changed His Name | BBC Light Programme | The last of six plays by members of the Crime Writers' Association | |
1960 | The Saturday Matinee | A Feather in His Cap | BBC Home Service | Sergeant Smithers | By Joan Morgan |
1961 | No Bother | BBC Home Service | Written and read by Grant | ||
1963 | Lord Halewyn | BBC Third Programme | Griffons, one of Halewyn's men | By Michel de Ghelderode. Fourteen scenes/episodes were broadcast | |
1963 | For The Young Joanna Turpentine | The Rocket Witch | BBC Home Service | A dialogue story by Michael Mason | |
1963 | For The Young Joanna Turpentine | The Beefeateria Motel | BBC Home Service | ||
1963 | For The Young Joanna Turpentine | The Great Bullion Robbery | BBC Home Service | ||
1963 | Platonov | BBC Third Programme | Abram Vengerovich | ||
1964 | The Day Dumbfounded Got His Pylon | BBC Third Programme | Im | By Henry Livings | |
1965 | Abu Hassan | BBC Third Programme | Masrur | At the time, Grant was directing and appearing in Instant Marriage at the Piccadilly Theatre | |
1965 | The Sponge Room | BBC Home Service | Edwards | By Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall | |
1966 | Midday Story | A Harbour of Refuge | BBC Home Service | Read by Grant | By W. W. Jacobs |
1966 | A Man Like That | BBC Third Programme | William | By Stanley Eveling | |
1966 | Saturday Night Theatre | The Cure for Love | BBC Home Service | Harry Lancaster | By Walter Greenwood |
1967 | Saturday Night Theatre | Eden End | BBC Home Service | Charles Appleby | Theatre in the Round Company, Scarborough |
1967 | Afternoon Theatre | The Frosty-Fresh Man | BBC Radio 4 | Multiple parts: Atkins, Buster's Porridge, and Williams | Written by Grant |
1968 | The 17-Jewelled Shockproof Swiss-Made Bomb | F8 and Then Infinity | BBC Radio 2 | The Major | Episode 1. A serial in six parts by Roy Clarke |
1968 | The 17-Jewelled Shockproof Swiss-Made Bomb | Light the Blue Touch Paper and Retire | BBC Radio 2 | The Major | Episode 2 |
1968 | The 17-Jewelled Shockproof Swiss-Made Bomb | The Minestrone Thickens and is Stirred | BBC Radio 2 | The Major | Episode 3 |
1968 | The 17-Jewelled Shockproof Swiss-Made Bomb | Saraband to a Burning Fuse | BBC Radio 2 | The Major | Episode 4 |
1968 | The 17-Jewelled Shockproof Swiss-Made Bomb | Smaller Shrinks the Standing Corn | BBC Radio 2 | The Major | Episode 5 |
1968 | The 17-Jewelled Shockproof Swiss-Made Bomb | Don't Go Near The Water | BBC Radio 2 | The Major | Episode 6 |
1968 | Big Soft Nellie | BBC Radio 3 | Mr. Twigg | By Henry Livings with Bryan Pringle | |
1968 | The Events at Black Tor | Such as Sit in Darkness | BBC Radio 2 | Father Michael Probert | Episode 1. A serial in six parts by Roy Clarke. Produced by Alan Ayckbourn |
1968 | The Events at Black Tor | The Unquiet Dead | BBC Radio 2 | Father Michael Probert | Episode 2 |
1968 | The Events at Black Tor | The Fires of Hell | BBC Radio 2 | Father Michael Probert | Episode 3 |
1968 | The Events at Black Tor | The Hounds of Hell | BBC Radio 2 | Father Michael Probert | Episode 4 |
1968 | The Events at Black Tor | The Things that Emerge with the Dark | BBC Radio 2 | Father Michael Probert | Episode 5 |
1968 | The Events at Black Tor | The Deepest Dark | BBC Radio 2 | Father Michael Probert | Episode 6 |
1968 | Sunday Play | The Frosty-Fresh Man | 2CN (Australia) | Multiple parts: Atkins, Buster's Porridge, and Williams | Sold to both Australian and New Zealand radio stations[207] |
1968 | Saturday Night Theatre | Protection | BBC Radio 4 | Divisional Superintendent Collins | |
1968 | The Northern Drift | BBC Radio 3 | Himself | A selection of prose, poems, and songs from the North of England | |
1968 | Afternoon Theatre | The World of Miss Edwina Finch's Cat | BBC Radio 4 | Charlie | Written by Roy Clarke |
1969 | The Prisoner | BBC Radio 3 | Potter | Produced by Alan Ayckbourn | |
1970 | Three from the North | A Bang with a Spanner | BBC Radio 4 | John | Episode two. Written by Derek Walker |
1970 | Five from the North | A 'Napple and a 'Norange | BBC Radio 4 | Episode five. Written by Albert Rhodes | |
1972 | The Monday Play | The Prisoner | BBC Radio 4 | Potter | Included in a book of six plays called We All Come to It in the End by Don Haworth |
1974 | Thirty-Minute Theatre | Love in Triplicate | BBC Radio 4 | Stephen Watson | |
1977 | Saturday Night Theatre | Pen-Friends | BBC Radio 4 | Bill | Written by Ken Whitmore |
1977 | Morning Story | The Bored Housewife of Bradford | BBC Radio 4 | Narrated by Grant | Written and read by Grant |
1978 | Afternoon Theatre | Ahead of the Game | BBC Radio 4 | George | Written by Allen Saddler |
1979 | Just Before Midnight | BBC Radio 4 | Master | A mime for radio by Henry Livings | |
1979 | My Delight | BBC Radio 4 | Himself | Grant describes one of the pleasures of life | |
1979 | Story Time | A Rogue's Life | BBC Radio 4 | Narrated by Grant | Written by Wilkie Collins and abridged in ten parts by Elizabeth Bradbury |
1979 | Thirty-Minute Theatre | The Hitch | BBC Radio 4 | Bob Foxton | |
1980 | Urn | BBC Radio 4 | Harold | Written by Henry Livings and Bernard Cribbins | |
1980 | The Monday Play | The Adventures of the Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote de la Mancha | BBC Radio 4 | Don Quixote | Adapted for radio in two parts by John Arden. Bernard Cribbins played the role of Sancho Panza |
1980 | Hordes of the Things | Chronicle Four | BBC Radio 4 | HobLob, the Monstrous Spider | |
1980 | Carol in the Advent Calendar | BBC Radio 4 | Mr. Gorblestone and Old Father Time | Written by Ken Whitmore | |
1982 | Thirty-Minute Theatre | The Great Times Crossword Conspiracy | BBC Radio 4 | Contrabine | Written by Ken Whitmore |
1983 | Thirty-Minute Theatre | Metamorphosid Arkwright | BBC Radio 4 | Sid Arkwright | Written by John Turner and Ian McMillan |
1984 | Afternoon Theatre | The Artillery Terrace Hot Five Stomp Again | BBC Radio 4 | Grandad | Written by David Luck |
1985 | The Afternoon Play | Hoodlums | BBC Radio 4 | Max | Written by Peter Whalley |
1986 | The Afternoon Play | The Red Telephone Box | BBC Radio 4 | Chief Inspector Cockfoster | Written by Ken Whitmore |
1986 | The Afternoon Play | Down to Earth | BBC Radio 4 | Cyril | Written by Neil Shenton |
Recorded live on 4 September 1980 at the National Theatre (Cottesloe), London.
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1959 | I'm All Right Jack | Card player | Uncredited: Four workers playing cards behind the pallets. Grant is on the left and nearest the camera. The other three card players were played by David Lodge, Keith Smith, and Kenneth J. Warren | [208] |
1960 | The Criminal | Prisoner | Uncredited | [209] |
1963 | Sparrows Can't Sing | Perce | [210] | |
1965 | Help! | Cameo | Grant's scenes were cut from the film | [211] |
1969 | Till Death Us Do Part | Man in Pub | [212] | |
1971 | On the Buses | Jack Harper | [213] | |
1972 | Mutiny on the Buses | Jack Harper | [213] | |
1973 | Holiday on the Buses | Jack Harper | [213] |
The following is a list of television programmes in which Grant was involved.
Year | Title | Episode | Station | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1959 | Quatermass and the Pit | The Wild Hunt | BBC One | Ted (Electrical technician — uncredited) | Series 1, Episode 5 | [214] |
1959 | Quatermass and the Pit | Hob | BBC One | Ted (Electrical technician — uncredited) | Series 1, Episode 6. He was electrocuted while laying a power cable inside the chamber | [215] |
1961 | Sir Francis Drake | The Doughty Plot | Independent Television | Clements | [216] | |
1963 | No Hiding Place | Solomon Dancey's Luck | Independent Television | Alexander Mudgeon | [217] | |
1964 | Armchair Theatre | A Jug of Bread | Independent Television | Ben | [218] | |
1964 | The Plane Makers | Appointment in Brussels | Independent Television | Antique Dealer | Series 3, Episode 11 | [219] |
1965 | Merry-Go-Round | The Incredible Adventures of Professor Branestawm | BBC One | Professor Branestawm | Broadcast as part of the Merry-Go-Round children's education series | [a] |
1967 | Softly, Softly | James McNeil, Aged 23 | BBC One | Napier | Series 2, Episode 12 | [a] |
1968 | Z-Cars | Punch-Up: Part 1 | BBC One | Ted Griffin | Series 6, Episode 157 | [a] |
1968 | Z-Cars | Punch-Up: Part 2 | BBC One | Ted Griffin | Series 6, Episode 158 | [a] |
1969 | Mrs. Wilson's Diary | Independent Television | George Brown | It was scheduled originally to be broadcast on 23 November 1968[n] | [221] | |
1969–1973 | On the Buses | Independent Television | Jack Harper | Grant appeared in all 74 episodes and as a writer with Stephen Lewis for a number of episodes from series 5 onwards | [222] | |
1969 | All Star Comedy Carnival | Independent Television | Jack Harper | [223] | ||
1970 | Comedy Playhouse | The Jugg Brothers | BBC One | Robert Jugg | Written by Grant and Stephen Lewis. Comedy pilot for Series 9 of the Comedy Playhouse | [a] |
1970 | The Borderers | The Quacksalver | BBC Two | William Peck | Series 2, Episode 7 | [a] |
1970 | This Is Your Life | Reg Varney | Independent Television | Himself | Series 10, Episode 25 | [224] |
1971 | This Is Your Life | Doris Hare | Independent Television | Himself | Series 12, Episode 7 | [225] |
1972 | All Star Comedy Carnival | Independent Television | Jack Harper | The On the Buses segment was written by Grant and Stephen Lewis | [226] | |
1973 | Mike and Bernie Go West | Westward Television | Himself | One-off chat show hosted by Mike and Bernie Winters. Anna Karen was also interviewed. | [227] | |
1975 | It's a Celebrity Knockout | Craven Cottage | BBC One | Himself | [a] | |
1975 | Comedy Premiere | Milk-o | Independent Television | Jim Wilkins | Written by Grant and Anthony Marriott | [228] |
1976 | It's a Celebrity Knockout | Selhurst Park | BBC One | Himself | [a] | |
1977 | It's a Celebrity Knockout | Stamford Bridge | BBC One | Himself | [a] | |
1978 | It's a Celebrity Knockout | Craven Cottage | BBC One | Himself | [a] | |
1979 | It's a Celebrity Knockout | Loftus Road | BBC One | Himself | [a] | |
1980 | It's a Celebrity Knockout | Craven Cottage | BBC One | Himself | [a] | |
1981 | Grampian Television News | Interview | Grampian Television | Himself | Grant is interviewed on his role in Oh! Calcutta! | [229] |
1982 | Central News | Interview | Central Television | Himself | Geoff Meade at the New Theatre Oxford, where the satire play, Anyone for Denis, was performed. Grant is interviewed | [230] |
1985 | Central News | Interview | Central Television | Himself | Bharat Patel interview with Grant | [231] |
1987 | Central News | Interview | Central Television | Himself | Interview with Grant at East Midlands Airport where he had just arrived from Dublin. He said that "he had had little work recently and needed to be alone to sort out his life." | [232] |
1987 | The Pamela Armstrong Show | Interview | BBC Two | Himself | Interview with Pamela Armstrong | [233] |
1987 | Daytime | The price of fame: in and out of the public eye | ITV | Himself | Discussion show with Sarah Kennedy | [234] |
1990 | Wogan | Interview | BBC One | Himself | Interview with the former cast of On the Buses about plans to revive the series as Back on the Buses | [235] |
Year | Film or Production | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1960 | Every Man in His Humour | Fourth International Season of the Theatre of the Nations Festival — Young Critics Circle[236] | Best Supporting Performance | Won[o] | [238] |