Nicholas Wilton
Born
England, United Kingdom
OccupationActor
Years active1971–present
Notable workCarrott's Lib
Jackanory
EastEnders
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1991; div. 2002)​
Children2
Websitewww.nickwilton.com

Nicholas Wilton is an English actor and scriptwriter. He has appeared as Mr Lister in the BBC soap opera EastEnders as a recurring character; he has also appeared in Carrott's Lib and Jackanory.

Early life

Wilton studied English and Drama at the University of Kent.[1] His first professional engagement was in 1979 as a bluecoat entertainer at a Pontins holiday camp. He then spent two years as a stage manager in theatres, before moving into acting.[2]

Career

Acting

Wilton made his acting debut in 1980 in the Whitehall farce Simple Spymen, directed by Brian Rix,[1] and went on to play opposite Rix in the West End revival of Dry Rot at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue in 1988.[1] He has appeared in many television shows, such as the BBC soap opera EastEnders,[3][4][5][6] Doctors (twice), Casualty, Heartbeat, The Bill (three times), Carrott's Lib (two series and Election Specials), The Omid Djalili Show and the children's show Scoop.[7] He appeared as a guest in My Dad's the Prime Minister, No. 73 (five series), Saturday Superstore as Mo the Crow and as Mr Seagrove for 11 episodes in Big Meg, Little Meg.[7] He was also a writer and performer for the children's sketch show Fast Forward for 19 episodes between 1984 and 1987.

He has appeared in many stage productions, such as Michael Cooney's play Cash on Delivery at the Whitehall Theatre (now Trafalgar Studios), directed by Ray Cooney, and Tom, Dick and Harry, as well as The Railway Children, playing Mr Perks in four UK tours.[7] On radio, he appeared in and wrote for In One Ear (3 series), Son of Cliché (2 series), Cover to Cover, Aspects of the Fringe and The Story So Far. He has written dialogue and provided voices for exhibitions at the London Transport Museum; presented the comedy channel for Emirates and SriLankan Airlines from 1998 to 2010,[1] and made a recording of Ricky Gervais's biography, The Story So Far.[8] In the late eighties, he also performed cabaret.[7]

Since 2000 he has appeared as Pantomime dame every Christmas.[9] In 2011, he appeared in a Specsavers advert alongside chef Gordon Ramsay. The following year, he was cast in the film version of Ray Cooney's farce Run for Your Wife. Wilton has also starred in international stage productions such as No Sex Please - We're British, produced by the British Theatre Playhouse in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur in May 2015, and A Bedfull of Foreigners, produced by the same company in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur in September 2006.[10]

Scriptwriting

Wilton is also a scriptwriter and has written for Three of a Kind, Play Away, In One Ear (three series), The Smith and Jones Sketchbook, Smack the Pony, WYSIWYG and wrote one episode of Jackanory. In 1987 he wrote an episode for The Les Dennis Laughter Show and in 1984 he wrote four episodes of Spitting Image. Wilton also wrote for Not the Nine O'Clock News, A Kick Up the Eighties and the TV series Alas Smith and Jones.

Pantomime

He first performed in pantomime in 1987 and as a dame every Christmas since 2000.[11]

Year Show Theatre Ref.
1987 Dick Whittington Theatre Royal, Plymouth [12][13]
1991 Aladdin Millfield Theatre, Edmonton [13]
2000 Robin Hood & Babes in the Wood Salisbury Playhouse [13][14]
2001 Jack & the Beanstalk Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch [13]
2002 Mother Goose Connaught Theatre, Worthing [13][15]
2003 Aladdin Connaught Theatre, Worthing [13]
2004 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Connaught Theatre, Worthing [13]
2005 Dick Whittington Kenneth More Theatre, Ilford [13][16]
2006 Dick Whittington Theatre Rhyl [13]
2007 Jack & the Beanstalk Hull New Theatre [13][17]
2008 Aladdin Festival Theatre, Malvern [13]
2009 Snow White The Playhouse, Weston-super-Mare [18]
2017 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Theatre Royal, Bath [19]
2018 Beauty and The Beast Grand Theatre, Blackpool [20]
2019 Beauty and The Beast Theatre Royal, Bath [21]
2022 Aladdin Theatre Royal, Bath [22]

Awards and nominations

Wilton was nominated for the Perrier Award alongside his revue group, Writers Inc and won in 1982.[1] He was in the "Carrott's Lib" team that won the BAFTA for Best Light Entertainment programme in 1983.[23] On radio he was in the two Sony Award-winning comedy series Son of Cliché (best comedy 1984), with Chris Barrie and Nick Maloney, which was written by Red Dwarf creators Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, and In One Ear (best comedy 1985) with Clive Mantle, Helen Lederer and Steve Brown, produced by Jamie Rix.[24]

Personal life

Wilton was formerly married to Julie Dawn Cole, with whom he has two children.[25] He later married actress Lynette McMorrough.[26]

Filmography

Films
Year Title Role Ref.
2012 Run for Your Wife Taxi driver
2013 Off the Aisle Freddie Baker [27]
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1983 Three of a Kind Unnamed 1 episode
1982–1983 Carrott's Lib Unnamed 17 episodes
1982–1987 Saturday Superstore Mo the Crow 5 series
198? Micro Live Unnamed 1 episode
1984 Play Away Himself 4 episodes
1984 No. 73 Tony Deal 10 episodes
1984–1987 Fast Forward Himself 19 episodes
1985 Glamour Night Dave episode: "Summer Season"
1987 Hello Mum Various Roles 6 episodes
Hardwicke House Peter Philpott 2 episodes
1988 Comic Relief Himself TV special
Valentine Park Gerald episode: "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?"
Colin's Sandwich Postman episode: "Back from Bengal"
1990–1993 Jackanory Storyteller / Martins Mice 10 episodes
199? The 10 Percenters Harry Shales episode: "Libel"
1995 The Bill Barry Pringle episode: "A Year and a Day"
The Plant Rory TV movie
1997 Paul Merton in Galton and Simpson's Reporter episode: "The Clerical Error"
1998 Noah's Ark Kenny Fisher episode: "Killing Time"
Duck Patrol John Able episode: "The Siege of Mallory Wharf"
1999 The Jim Tavaré Show Scott 1 episode
The Bill Roger Carlson episode: "Long Term Investment"
2000 The Thing About Vince Mr Rogers Miniseries, 1 episode
2000–2001 Big Meg, Little Meg Mr Seagrove 11 episodes
2004 The Bill Mr. Turner episode: "242: Suicidal Thoughts"
My Dad's the Prime Minister Banker episode: "Marathoin"
2005 Casualty Robert Bewleigh episode: "Fat Chance"
2006 Heartbeat Derek Taylor episode: "Great Expectations"
2007 Bonkers Client 1 episode
2008 Nuzzle and Scratch Mr Squeaky / Launderette Man episode: "Launderette"
2008–2013, 2016–2018, 2020–2022 EastEnders Mr Lister Recurring role
2009 The Omid Djalili Show Hugh 1 episode
2009, 2010 Scoop Paulo, Rex de Lacey 2 episodes
2010, 2012 Doctors Milo Millard, Nigel Cushing 2 episodes
2023 Dreamland Doctor Beany 1 episode
Radio
Title
Son of Cliché
In One Ear
Week-Ending
Semi-Circles
Fetlock P.I.
The Story So Far
Cinderella
Puss In Boots
Peter Claytons Nightcap
Aspects of a Fringe
Uncle Charlie
Cover to Cover
Writer
Year Title Notes
1979 Not the Nine O'Clock News not defined
1981 Three of a Kind 8 episodes
A Kick Up the Eighties not defined
1984 Alas Smith and Jones not defined
Spitting Image 4 episodes
1987 Hello Mum 6 episodes
The Les Dennis Laughter Show 1 episode
1991 Jackanory 1 episode
1992 WYSIWYG not defined
(only writer credited, played eponymous character)
1999 Smack the Pony 1 episode
2006 The Smith & Jones Sketchbook 3 episodes
Online
Year Title Notes
2020 Pantomonium Online pantomime due to lockdown[28]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Nick Wilton (biography)". Retrieved 3 June 2011.
  2. ^ Craddock, Kate (4 May 2017). "Training Grounds Editorial". Theatre, Dance and Performance Training. 8 (2): 225–230. doi:10.1080/19443927.2017.1326722. ISSN 1944-3927.
  3. ^ Green, Kris (3 January 2008). "It's the day of Kevin's funeral". Digital Spy. London: Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
  4. ^ Director:Michael Owen Morris ; Executive Producer: Bryan Kirkwood; Writer: Jeff Povey (23 May 2011). "Episode dated 23/05/2011". EastEnders. BBC. BBC One.
  5. ^ Director:John Greening ; Executive Producer: Bryan Kirkwood; Writer: Christopher Reason (21 April 2011). "Episode dated 21/04/2011". EastEnders. BBC. BBC One.
  6. ^ Director: Clive Arnold; Executive Producer: Bryan Kirkwood; Writer: Jane Marlow (3 June 2011). "Episode dated 03/06/2011". EastEnders. BBC. BBC One.
  7. ^ a b c d "Burnett Crowther-Nick Wilton". Retrieved 3 June 2011.
  8. ^ "News/Nick Wilton". Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  9. ^ "BlogSpot". Retrieved 5 June 2011.
  10. ^ "British Theatre Playhouse – STARS – Kevin Oliver Jones, Billy Geraghty, Graham Lough, Bob Carlton, Peter Helmer, Matt Devitt, Steve Simmonds, Kevin Jones, Matt Devitt, Alexander Holt, Ally Holmes, Grant Dinwoodie, Sarah Whittuck, Maria Lawson, Jane Milligan".
  11. ^ Willows, Little (5 December 2019). "Top pantos to see near Bath this Christmas". Little Willows Day Nursery. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  12. ^ "It's Behind You – Pantomimes at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth". www.its-behind-you.com. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Pantomime". www.nickwilton.co.uk. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  14. ^ "robin hood + the babes in the wood". www.traditionalpantomimes.co.uk. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  15. ^ "Mother Goose, Connaught Theatre, Worthing, until January 12". The Argus. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  16. ^ "Performance Diary – 2005–2006". www.its-behind-you.com. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  17. ^ "Review: Jack And The Beanstalk, Hull New Theatre". York Press. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  18. ^ "Snow White Panto". vicki-michelle. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  19. ^ "Harriet Thorpe set to take centre stage for this year's Theatre Royal pantomime". Bath Echo. 31 July 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  20. ^ "A Grand Panto Cast Announcement". Blackpool Grand Theatre. 6 June 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  21. ^ "Review: Beauty and The Beast at Theatre Royal Bath". The Bath Magazine. 16 December 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  22. ^ "Aladdin at Theatre Royal Bath". The Bath Magazine. 8 December 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  23. ^ "Awards Database". 1983. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
  24. ^ "Radio Listings/ Son of Cliche". Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  25. ^ Eames, Tom (19 April 2019). "Here's where the kids from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory are now". Smooth Radio. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  26. ^ "Just the one for the road". BerkshireLive. 31 August 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  27. ^ Williams, Jennifer. "Off The Aisle Cast". Kate Metcalfe. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  28. ^ "REVIEW: PANTOMONIUM! The Pantomime at the Blackpool Grand Theatre (Online)". Pocket Size Theatre. Retrieved 7 May 2021.

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