Jeffrey Holland

Jeffrey Michael Parkes (born 17 July 1946), known professionally by his stage name, Jeffrey Holland, is a British actor from Walsall, England. He is well known for roles in television sitcoms, playing comic Spike Dixon at the 'Maplin's holiday camp' in Hi-de-Hi!, as well as BBC Radio comedy, including Week Ending. He also played leading roles in the sitcoms You Rang, M'Lord? and Oh, Doctor Beeching!. Holland was a major part of the David Croft repertoire.

Early life Born in Walsall, he was educated at Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall. Holland joined an amateur theatre company and soon found that he had a talent for comedy, but despite this he could not pursue a career in comedy until after he left home. He has said that "my father died when I was 14, so right after leaving school at 16 I secured a job to earn money to help my mother. I worked at a wine merchant's and an office in Walsall, where I was brought up".

After leaving home Holland trained at Birmingham School of Speech Training and Dramatic Art and became a professional actor. On joining the actors' union, Equity, he was forced to adopt a stage name as another actor with a similar name to his was already registered. He chose the surname 'Holland' as it had been his grandmother's maiden name. His first stage appearance was at the Alexandra Theatre in 1967, in No Fear or Favour, a play by Henry Cecil Leon.

Holland first appeared on television in Crossroads, but this was in a non-speaking role. His first speaking role came in an episode of Dixon of Dock Green in 1974. He has described Jack Warner, who played Dixon, as "a perfect gentleman". Holland once again worked alongside Paul Shane and Su Pollard in another series by David Croft, Oh, Doctor Beeching!. It ran from 1995 to 1997 and was co-written by Richard Spendlove.

In 2001 Holland performed in Goon Again, the 50th anniversary celebration of The Goon Show. He took the parts originally played by Peter Sellers.

In 2011 Holland appeared in Coronation Street as Clive Drinkwater.

In 2012 he was cast in the film version of Ray Cooney's farce Run for Your Wife as Dick Holland. The film was met with an overwhelmingly negative response from both critics and audiences.

In 2013 he debuted his short one-man play ... And This Is My Friend Mr Laurel, based on the life of Stan Laurel, at the Camden Fringe festival. This was taken on tour in the UK in 2014–2015. The play was devised by Holland and written by Gail Louw.

2017 saw Holland lead the company of The Wolverhampton Grand's in-house production, the stage adaptation of Brassed Off. The play, in which he played band leader Danny, ran from 23 August to 2 September.

In November 2020 Holland attended a virtual Hi-de-Hi! reunion via Zoom, which was streamed to YouTube. Also attending the reunion were his co-stars from the show including Su Pollard, Ruth Madoc, Nikki Kelly, Linda Regan and David Webb.

In 2021 Holland made his first appearance in the radio and podcast sitcom Barmy Dale playing the role of Rev Wilkins, he stars alongside his wife Judy Buxton who plays Mildred Wilkins. In 2025 Barmy is hoping to move from podcast to television.

In April 2021 the British Comedy Guide reported that Holland would be co-starring in a new comedy pilot called Simply Ken, set in Sheffield in the 1980s. It was reported that starring alongside Holland would be his wife Judy Buxton and Craig Shepherd in the title role. Co-creator Alan Marni expressed his confidence about the project, saying that "it’s a great script, we’re got some great actors".

On 6 February 2025, Holland published his memoirs entitled 'The First Rule Of Comedy...! Memories And Moments'. Comedy Historian Robert Ross was his co-author. The following day, Holland and Ross hosted a book launch in London at 'Nell of Old Dury Pub'. In attendance was Holland's wife, Judy Buxton, Hi-De-Hi! stars Su Pollard & David Webb, along with director Roy Gould and 'Allo 'Allo star Vicki Michelle.

Personal life Holland has been married to the actress Judy Buxton since 2004.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes2012 Run for Your Wife Dick Holland 2015 Art Ache Stephen Phillips 2016 The National Union of Space People Rupert Darling

Television