James Fleet

James Edward Fleet (born 11 March 1952) is a British actor of theatre, radio and screen. He is most famous for his roles as the bumbling and well-meaning Tom in the 1994 British romantic comedy film Four Weddings and a Funeral and the dim-witted but kind-hearted Hugo Horton in the BBC sitcom television series The Vicar of Dibley. Since 2020, he has played King George III in the Netflix series Bridgerton.

Early life Fleet was born in Bilston, to a Scottish mother, Christine, and an English father, Jim. His mother was a cleaner and his father a tool-maker; the family lived in Bilston, West Midlands. Fleet's father died aged 49 from muscular dystrophy, when his son was ten; James and his mother then moved to Aberdeenshire. He studied engineering at university in Aberdeen, where he joined the university dramatic society. Afterwards, he studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow.

Career Stage Fleet began his career in the RSC, appearing in several plays in the early 1980s. He has since appeared in touring productions of, among others, Habeas Corpus and In the Club, as well as in Festen and Mary Stuart and others in the West End. In 2000 he appeared in David Pugh and Sean Connery's production of the French play "Art" by Yasmina Reza at the Wyndham's Theatre in London. He played Serge alongside Stephen Tompkinson as Yvan as Serge and Michael French as Marc. He also played Alderman Fitzwarren in Dick Whittington in 2002.

In 2003, he played Kulygin in Anton Chekhov's Three Sisters alongside Kristin Scott Thomas who played Masha.

In 2009, he portrayed Sir Andrew Aguecheek in the RSC Production of Twelfth Night. In 2011 he was in Richard Bean's The Heretic directed by Jeremy Herrin at the Royal Court Theatre in London. Starting in November 2011, he was in the original line-up of The Ladykillers as Major Courtney at the Gielgud Theatre.

Radio Between 2000 and 2006, Fleet played the painfully upright and decent Captain Brimshaw in Revolting People, a BBC Radio 4 comedy set in pre-revolutionary America. He also appeared in the radio legal sitcom Chambers, which later moved onto television. As of 2005, he has starred as Duncan Stonebridge MP in the topical radio sitcom The Party Line. He also appeared as the Captain on the BBC Radio 7 series The Spaceship. He also plays the part of Sir John Woodstock in the BBC Radio 4 sitcom The Castle and Inspector Lestrade in the first, third and fourth series of The Rivals. Fleet played John Aubrey in the 2008 BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour production by Nick Warburton of Aubrey's Brief Lives.

Television From 1999–2001, Fleet was the voice of "Dog" in the children's TV show Dog and Duck. Probably his most famous role is that of Hugo in The Vicar of Dibley; he appeared in all 20 episodes, broadcast between 1994 and 2007. In 2004, he appeared in an episode of Monarch of the Glen. In 2005, he played a leading role in an episode of the long-running ITV murder mystery series Midsomer Murders. In 2007, he was a guest star in one episode of the sitcom Legit. He appeared as Frederick Dorrit in the BBC's 2008 production of Little Dorrit. When Fleet appeared on the quiz show School's Out, it was revealed that one of his teachers at Banff Academy had written in his school report that "[James] is the stupidest boy I have ever had to teach, out of all the stupid boys I have ever had to teach," and that he was the only student in his sixth form not to have been made a prefect. Despite his apparent lack of scholastic ability, he still won the show. In 2009, Fleet appeared in a cameo role in the third series of Skins.

Earlier in his career, Fleet was seen in a 1983 episode of Grange Hill as a teacher at the eponymous school's upmarket rival Rodney Bennett. In 1992, he played Paul Morgan in an episode of The Bill 'Runaway'. In 1999, he starred in the sitcom Brotherly Love.

Fleet appeared in Coronation Street in 2010. He played a character called Robbie Sloan, a recently released convict, helping escaped prisoner Tony Gordon plot revenge on his ex-wife Carla Connor. They intend to kidnap and kill her. Sloan lures Connor into her Underworld factory, and holds her at gunpoint. Leaving her tied to a chair with her mouth taped shut, Sloan also lures Hayley Cropper into the hostage situation. Sloan was eventually shot by Gordon during a siege at the factory.

In February 2011, Fleet appeared as George (senior), the father of werewolf George Sands, in Being Human.

In December 2013, the BBC aired one of their major dramas for the Christmas season, Death Comes to Pemberley, a three-part British television drama based on characters created by Jane Austen in her novel Pride and Prejudice. The first episode was broadcast on BBC One at 8.15 pm on Boxing Day 2013. It was based on the best-selling novel by P. D. James, in which the characters of Pride and Prejudice are involved in a new story involving a murder. Fleet played the part of Mr. Bennett in the series. In September 2014, Fleet appeared in the BBC Three sitcom Bad Education as Richard, an ex-boyfriend of Rosie Gulliver. He has most recently appeared in an episode of ITVs second series of Plebs, as Stylax's racing patron. In 2013, Fleet was engaged to play Scottish historian, the Reverend Dr. Reginald Wakefield, in seasons 1 and 2 of the Award-winning Starz adaptation of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander, broadcast from 2014–2016.

An April 2021 announcement stated that Fleet would be joining the cast of the second season of All Creatures Great and Small in the role of Colonel Merrick.

Fleet has recurred as King George III in the Netflix romantic period drama Bridgerton, reprising the role in spin-off series Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.

Film Fleet has appeared in numerous films. He played the role of Kevin's father in the 2000 film Kevin & Perry Go Large. He played the roles of Lefevre in the 2004 film adaptation of Phantom of the Opera, John Dashwood in 1995's Sense and Sensibility, and Lytton Strachey in the 2003 film Al Sur de Granada (South from Granada). In 2014, he played John Constable in the Mike Leigh film Mr. Turner. In 2016, he played Sir Reginald DeCourcy in Whit Stillman's Love and Friendship.

Personal life Fleet married the actress Jane Booker in 1984. The marriage produced one child. The couple reside in Sibford Gower, Oxfordshire.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1985 Defence of the Realm Ministry Man 1992 Electric Moon Simon Lidell Blue Black Permanent Jim Thorburn 1994 Four Weddings and a Funeral Tom - Wedding One 1995 The Grotesque Inspector Limp aka Grave Indiscretion and Gentlemen Don't Eat Poets Sense and Sensibility John Dashwood The Butterfly Effect Oswald 1997 Thursday Patrick Short film Remember Me? Donald 1999 Big Dreams and Paper Planes Son Short film Milk Adrian 2000 Kevin & Perry Go Large Dad 2001 Charlotte Gray Richard Cannerly 2002 Two Men Went to War Major Bates 2003 South from Granada Lytton Strachey aka Al sur de Granada (original title) Blackball Alan the Pipe 2004 The Phantom of the Opera Monsieur Lefevre 2005 Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story Simon 2007 Lady Godiva: Back in the Saddle Alan Jenkins 2011 The Decoy Bride William 2014 Mr. Turner John Constable 2016 Love & Friendship Sir Reginald DeCourcy Revolution: New Art for a New World Wassily Kandinsky (voice) Documentary film 2017 Love of My Life Tom 2018 The Spy Who Dumped Me Tom 2019 Born a King George V 2020 Blithe Spirit Harry Price 2021 Operation Mincemeat Charles Fraser-Smith 2022 Wolf Manor Oliver aka Scream of the Wolf (U.S. title) The Lost King John Ashdown-Hill 2023 My Mother's Wedding Geoff 2024 Broken Bird Mr. Thomas

Television Year Title Role Notes 1979 The Omega Factor Ian Episode 9: "Double Vision" 1983 Grange Hill Mr. Perkins Series 6; episode 5 1984 All the World's a Stage Reading from the 1572 Act of Parliament Mini-series; episode 5: "A Muse of Fire" 1985 Dempsey and Makepeace Man in Office Series 2; episode 9: "In the Dark" 1987 Still Crazy Like a Fox Bellhop Television film, aka Crazy Like a Fox: The Movie The Ruth Rendell Mysteries Neil Fairfax Series 3; episodes 4 & 5: "A Sleeping Life: Parts One & Two" 1991 Boon Keith Dawson, Prosecution Barrister Series 6; episode 3: "Trial and Error" Screen Two Bob Series 7; episode 11: "They Never Slept" 1992 Peter Wentworth Series 8; episode 8: "Common Pursuit" The Advocates Philip Jackson Series 2; episodes 1–3 The Bill Paul Morgan Series 8; episode 43: "Runaway" Screen One James Grahame Series 4; episode 6: "Running Late" 1993 Screen Two Algie Series 9; episode 4: "Femme Fatale" A Year in Provence Hugo Compton Mini-series; episode 7: "Room Service" An Exchange of Fire Michael Shanks Episodes 1 & 2 1994 Headhunters Alan Spence Episodes 1–3: "The Golden Hello", "Maradonna Land" & "Right as Rain" Murder Most Horrid Tom Series 2; episode 4: "We All Hate Granny" Cracker Michael Trant Series 2; episodes 4–6: "The Big Crunch: Parts 1–3" Milner Hugh Bonning Television film 1994–2007 The Vicar of Dibley Hugo Horton Series 1–3 and 6 specials; 20 episodes 1995 3 Steps to Heaven Harry Roberts Television films 1996 Lord of Misrule Prime Minister Eskimo Day Simon Screen Two Prime Minister Series 14; episode 1: "Crossing the Floor" The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders James Bland Mini-series; episode 3 1997 Cows Thor Johnson Pilot episode Harry Enfield and Chums Teacher, Mr. Banks Series 2; episode 3 Gobble Prime Minister (voice) Television film A Dance to the Music of Time Moreland Mini-series; episodes 2–4 Underworld William Smith Mini-series; episodes 1–6 Spark Ashley Parkerwell Episodes 1–6 1998 Frenchman's Creek Sir Harry Television films 1999 The Nearly Complete and Utter History of Everything William the Conqueror 2000 Brotherly Love Frank Robertson Episodes 1–6 2000–2001 Chambers Hilary Tipping Series 1 & 2; 12 episodes 2002 Dick Whittington Alderman Fitzwarren Television films Fields of Gold Alan Buckley Dog and Duck Dog (voice) Series 1–3; 195 episodes Young Arthur Merlin Television films 2003 Promoted to Glory Michael Prendergast 2004 Three Sisters Kulygin Family Business David Episode 5 Murder in Suburbia John Stanton Series 1; episode 5: "A Good Deal of Attention" Monarch of the Glen Liam Series 6; episode 6 2005 Midsomer Murders Ralph Plummer Series 8; episode 7: "Sauce for the Goose" Sea of Souls Findlay Morrison Series 2; episodes 1 & 2: "Amulet: Parts 1 & 2" 2007 Legit Peter Episode 5: "Danny, Champion of the World" 2008 Harley Street Max Rogers Episode 5 Little Dorrit Frederick Dorrit Mini-series; 9 episodes 2009 Skins Martin Series 3; episode 4: "Pandora" Hotel Babylon Martin Armstrong Series 4; episode 5 Micro Men Kenneth Baker Television film 2010 Coronation Street Robbie Sloan 7 episodes 2011 Being Human George Senior Series 3; episode 6: "Daddy Ghoul" 2012 Lewis Dr. Alex Falconer Series 6; episode 1: "The Soul of Genius" Comedy Showcase Arthur Marvin Series 3; episode 6: "The Function Room" Just Around the Corner Ed Television film 2013 Death in Paradise Jeremy Tipping Series 2; episode 3: "Death in the Clinic" Red Nose Day 2013 Hugo Horton Vicar of Dibley sketch for Comic Relief It's Kevin Various characters Episodes 1 & 3–5 Murder on the Home Front Professor Stephens Television film Toast of London Various characters Series 2; episode 1 Big Bad World Neil Turnbull 5 episodes Citizen Khan Professor Stevens Series 2; episode 1: "Alia's College" Death Comes to Pemberley Mr. Bennett Mini-series; episodes 1 & 2 2014 Father Brown Dr. Adam Crawford Series 2; episode 9: "The Grim Reaper" Blandings Colonel Fanshawe Series 2; episode 5: "Sticky Wicket at Blandings" Comedy Playhouse Father Abbot Series 16; episode 3: "Monks" Bad Education Richard Series 3; episodes 2 & 3: "After School Clubs" & "Sports Day" Plebs Gaius Maecenas Series 2; episode 4: "The Patron" 2014–2016 Outlander Reverend Wakefield Series 1 & 2; 6 episodes 2015 Partners in Crime Major Anthony Carter Mini-series; episodes 1–6 Top Coppers Charles Leatherby Episodes 2 & 3: "The Girdle of Randall Rogers" & "The Venom of Doctor Schafer" 2016 Billionaire Boy Mr. Darrow Television film Indian Summers Lord Hawthorne Series 2; episodes 2–5 Houdini and Doyle Dr. Pilsen Mini-series; episode 7: "Bedlam" The Hollow Crown Hastings Series 2; episodes 2 & 3: "Henry VI, Part 2" & "Richard III" 2017 Urban Myths The Professor Series 1; episode 3: "Hitler the Artist" Tracey Ullman's Show Tough Man / Award's Host / Archie Series 2; episodes 1, 5 & 6 Hospital People Neville Burley Episode 6: "The Charity Single" Midsomer Murders Michael Falconer Series 19; episode 6: "The Curse of the Ninth" 2018 Unforgotten Chris Lowe Series 3; episodes 1–6 Patrick Melrose Sir Victor Eisen Mini-series; episode 2: "Never Mind" Death on the Tyne Jack Television film 2019 One Red Nose and a Wedding Tom Television short film for Comic Relief The Importance of Being Oscar Canterville Ghost / Basil Hallward Television documentary film Thanks for the Memories Patrick Conway Mini-series; episodes 1 & 2 2020 The Pale Horse Oscar Venables Mini-series; episode 1: "Part One" Belgravia Reverend Stephen Bellasis Mini-series; episodes 2–6 The Watch Archchancellor of Unseen University Episodes 2 & 5: "Ook" & "Not on My Watch" 2020–2022 Bridgerton King George III Series 1; episodes 5 & 6, & series 2; episode 6 2021 All Creatures Great and Small Colonel Merrick Series 2; episode 2: "Semper Progrediens" 2022–2023 Dodger Judge Fang Series 1 & 2; 6 episodes 2023 Tom Jones Squire Allworthy Mini-series; episodes 1, 2 & 4 Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story King George III Mini-series; episode 6: "Crown Jewels" Beyond Paradise Ernest Buchanan Series 2; episode: "Christmas Special" 2024 The Devil's Hour Greg Wiseman Series 2; episode 3: "Something Beginning with D" 2025 Brian and Maggie Ronnie Millar Episode 1 I, Jack Wright Bobby Episodes 1–6 The Feud Derek Abshire Episodes 1–6

Radio dramas Year Title Role Radio Notes Ref. 1986 The Vacillations of Poppy Carew Victor BBC Radio 4 1996–1999 Chambers Hilary Tripping 2000 As You Like It Touchstone BBC Radio 3 Sunday Play 2000–2006 Revolting People Captain Brimshaw BBC Radio 4 2005 The Party Line Duncan Stonebridge MP The Spaceship Captain Gordon 'Flashdance' Taylor BBC Radio 7 2006 Quartermaine's Terms Mark Sackling BBC Radio 4 2007–2012 The Castle Sir John Woodstock 2008 Brief Lives John Aubrey Fortunes of War Yakimov Classic Serial Max Warp O'Reilley BBC Radio 7 Big Finish Productions 2011 Gormenghast Prunesquallor BBC Radio 4 Classic Serial The History of Titus Groan The Rivals Inspector Lestrade 2013 Greenmantle Sandy Arbuthnot BBC Radio 4 Extra 2015 Decline and Fall Prendergast BBC Radio 4 2018–2020 Quanderhorn Professor Darius Quanderhorn 2019 Coriolanus Menenius Agrippa BBC Radio 3 2023 Henry IV, Part 2 Robert Shallow

Theatre