Geoffrey Whitehead

Geoffrey Whitehead (born 1 October 1939) is an English actor. He has appeared in a range of television, film and radio roles.

Early life Whitehead was born on 1 October 1939 in Grenoside, Sheffield. After his father was killed in the Second World War, he received an RAF benevolent grant which sent him to a minor public school. He later attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where he became friends with fellow student John Thaw.

Career Whitehead's television appearances include Bulldog Breed (1962); Z-Cars (1964–1965 and 1972–1975), playing two different regular characters; Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em (1973); The Sweeney, Season 2 Episode 6 "Trap" (1975); Thriller (1 episode, 1974); Wodehouse Playhouse, ("Rodney Fails to Qualify"); The Doll, 1975; Robin's Nest (1977); Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson (1979–1980, as Sherlock Holmes); "Gerald Pinkerton" in Pinkerton's Progress (1983); Peter the Great (1986); Chelmsford 123 (1988–1990); War and Remembrance (1988); Second Thoughts (1991–1994); The House of Eliott (1991); Executive Stress; Little Britain; and The Worst Week of My Life.

His radio roles include featuring in the third and fourth episodes of the fifth series of the BBC Radio 4 comedy series Old Harry's Game in the role of Roland Kingworthy, as Prior Robert in the 1980s BBC radio dramatisations of Cadfael, as John Barsad in the radio dramatisation of Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities and as Justice Wargrave in the BBC Radio 4 dramatisation of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None on 13 November 2010. He has starred on BBC radio in many comic roles, including Bleak Expectations, featuring as five entire families between 2007 and 2012. He appeared in two series of the BBC remake Reggie Perrin as Reggie's father-in-law, William.

Whitehead's film appearances have included The Raging Moon (1971), Kidnapped (1971), the vengeful woodsman in And Now the Screaming Starts! (1972), S.O.S. Titanic (1979) as shipbuilder Thomas Andrews, Inside the Third Reich (1982), Shooting Fish (1997) and Love/Loss (2010).

In 2011, Whitehead joined the cast of Not Going Out in its fourth series, playing Geoffrey Adams, the father of Lucy and Tim. This character had been recurring since 2007, but had previously been played by Timothy West. He played the role until 2023.

In 2013, Whitehead appeared on Comic Relief playing the vicar in a Simon Cowell wedding sketch.

He played Dr Fagan in Evelyn Waugh's Decline and Fall on radio, first broadcast in 2015.

From 2015 to 2019, Whitehead played Mr (Wilburn) Newbold in BBC One's Still Open All Hours.

Selected filmography

Television 1965Armchair TheatreAnthony Shields/ Paul/

Film

Radio Cabin Pressure – Mr Birling Old Harry's Game – Roland Kingworthy Ayres on the Air – Gordon Weak at the Top – Sir Marcus Rigor Mortis – Professor Donaldson Ed Reardon's Week – Stan Potting On – Gordon Grant, radio husband of comedian and poet Pam Ayres Bleak Expectations – the Hardthrasher, Sternbeater, Whackwallop, Grimpunch and Clampvulture families Cadfael – Prior Robert Troy – Nikanor The Genuine Particle – Shale Hair in the Gate – Brian Melvyn The Architects – Sir Lucien The Skull Beneath the Skin – Inspector Grogan Adaptations of Terry Pratchett's novels Eric and Mort - Death The Newly Discovered Casebook of Sherlock Holmes – Professor Moriarty Adaptation of House of Cards - Henry 'Hal' Collingridge, Prime Minister Adaptation of Kind Hearts and Coronets - Prison Governor

Personal life Whitehead is the uncle of broadcaster Celina Hinchcliffe. He is a Sheffield Wednesday supporter.