Nicholas Burns (actor)

Nicholas Burns (born 1977) is an English actor, best known for his comic performance as the title character in Nathan Barley (2005). He played Martin Weedon in Benidorm (2007–2009, 2014) and Alex in No Heroics (2008). His other credits include The Mighty Boosh (2005), The IT Crowd (2007), Doctor Who, The Crown, (both 2017), Manhunt (2019), Strike (2020), The Serpent Queen (2022–present), A Small Light and Black Mirror (both 2023).

Nicholas Burns
Burns at the IFFR 2015
Born1977 (age 46–47)
Derbyshire, England
Alma materLondon Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
OccupationActor
Years active2002–present
Known forNathan Barley
Benidorm

Early life

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Burns was born in Derbyshire,[1] and educated at Repton School. He trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).[2]

Career

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In 2005, Burns played the titular leading role in the Channel 4 comedy Nathan Barley.[3] Burns has had recurring roles in the TV series Absolute Power,[3] Roman's Empire,[3] and the sketch show Man Stroke Woman.[3] Burns also made an appearance in The Mighty Boosh as the ruler of the planet Xooberon; in The IT Crowd as Jerome, the director of a musical called Gay!; and in episode "At Bertram's Hotel" of Agatha Christie's Marple as Jack and Joel Britten.[3] He had the role of an Australian tennis coach in The McClintock Factor, a mockumentary chronicling the rise and fall of the former media tycoon and internet blogger Jeremy McClintock.[4]

Burns played a main role as Martin Weedon in the first three series of the ITV holiday comedy Benidorm, alongside a cast that included Abigail Cruttenden, who played his wife, Sheridan Smith and Johnny Vegas.[5]

Burns' stage credits include Much Ado About Nothing at the Sheffield Crucible Theatre,[3] the satire The Madness of George Dubya and Ghost Stories,[3] both of which transferred to London's West End, Penelope Skinner's The Village Bike at the Royal Court,[3] The Recruiting Officer at the Donmar Warehouse and Pinero's The Magistrate at the Royal National Theatre,[3] a production included in season 4 of National Theatre Live.[3]

In April 2013, he returned to Benidorm as Martin Weedon, for series 6 of the show in 2014.[5]

In 2020, Burns appeared in series four of Strike and in Small Axe.[3] In 2022, he played the role of Antoine de Bourbon in Starz's The Serpent Queen, alongside Samantha Morton and Liv Hill.[3]

In 2023, he starred as Keith Holligan in the series 6 episode "Demon 79" of Netflix's Black Mirror, alongside Anjana Vasan[6] and in A Small Light as Victor Kugler.

Personal life

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Burns is a lifelong supporter of Derby County Football Club.[1] He has three sons.[1]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Film Role Notes
2013 The World's End Collaborator
2014 War Book James
2015 The Lady in the Van Giles Perry
2017 Ghost Stories Mark Van Rhys
2018 The Little Stranger Peter Baker-Hyde
2019 Hope Gap Gary
2020 Emma Mr. Cole
2021 Censor Sanderson
2022 Allelujah Minister

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2002 Surrealissimo: The Scandalous Success of Salvador Dali Young Artist Television film
The Bill Simon Beaumont Episode: "005"
EastEnders Adam 1 episode
The House That Jack Built Richard Asquith Episode: "Dogs Don't Wear Hard Hats"
2003 Manchild Max Episode #2.4
The Inspector Lynley Mysteries Mick Cambrey Episode: "A Suitable Vengeance"
Cambridge Spies Rightwing Student Episode #1.1
2003–2005 Absolute Power Nick Mayer 12 episodes
2004 A Touch of Frost DC Tranter Episode: "Dancing in the Dark"
Swiss Toni Episode: "Speed Date"
2005 The Mighty Boosh The King Episode: "Fountain of Youth"
Nathan Barley Nathan Barley 7 episodes
2005–2007 Man Stroke Woman Various 12 episodes
2006 Fear of Fanny Christopher Television film
Born Equal Michael Television film
2007 Agatha Christie's Marple Jack & Joel Britten Series 3, episode: "At Bertram's Hotel"
Roman's Empire Seb 5 episodes
The IT Crowd Jerome Episode: "The Work Outing"
Comedy Showcase Rick Parish Episode: "Other People"
2007–2009,
2014
Benidorm Martin Weedon Series regular, 23 episodes (series 1–3, 6)
2008 Never Better Charlie Episode: "First Week Euphoria"
No Heroics The Hotness 6 episodes
2009 Monday Monday Nathan Episode #1.3
Misfits PC Wilson Episode #1.2
Mister Eleven Eddie 2 episodes
2010 Trinny & Susannah: From Boom to Bust Leonard Television film
2011 The Sinking of the Laconia Captain Coutts Television film
Psychoville Mark Episode: "Hancock"
2012 New Tricks DCI Rosser Episode: "Blue Flower"
Switch Julian Episode #1.3
Eggbox Mr. Bruce Television film
2013 Agatha Christie's Poirot Inspector Meadows Episode: "The Big Four"
The Tractate Middoth George Earl Television film
2014 The Crimson Field Major Gerard Yelling Episode #1.3
2014–2017 Crackanory Various 4 episodes
Uncle Ben 11 episodes
2015 Coalition Ed Balls Television film
The Vote Kenneth Robson Television film
2015–2016 Marley's Ghosts Michael 9 episodes
2016 Houdini & Doyle Frederick Batch Episode: "In Manus Dei"
Drunk History Policeman Episode: "Battle of Waterloo/Arthur Conan Doyle"
A Midsummer Night's Dream Theseus Television film
2017 Doctor Who Lord Sutcliffe Episode: "Thin Ice"
The Crown Anthony Nutting Episodes: "Lisbon" and "Misadventure"
The Tunnel Richard Carver 2 episodes
2018 Wannabe Neil Clark 4 episodes
Midsomer Murders Barrett Lounds Episode: "Drawing Dead"
2019 Manhunt DI Richard Ambrose 3 episodes
Harlots Lord Leadsom 8 episodes
2020 Strike Torquil Episode: "Lethal White: Part 3"
Red, White and Blue Mr. Purling Part of Small Axe anthology
2022 SAS: Rogue Heroes Pilot Episode #1.3
2022–present The Serpent Queen Antoine de Bourbon 13 episodes
2023 A Small Light Victor Kugler TV miniseries, 7 episodes
Black Mirror Keith Holligan Episode: "Demon 79"

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Interview with actor and Derby County supporter Nicholas Burns". footballnews.net. 17 February 2023.
  2. ^ "Hope Can Set You Free". londonshakespeare.org.uk. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Nicholas Burns - actor credits". independenttalent.com. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  4. ^ "The McClintock Factor". Jeremy Mclintock. Retrieved 3 June 2010.
  5. ^ a b "Nicholas Burns to return to Benidorm?". femalefirst.co.uk. 25 March 2017.
  6. ^ Morgan Cormack (25 June 2023). "Meet the cast of Black Mirror season 6". radiotimes.com.
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