Ken Morley

Kenneth William Morley (born 17 January 1943) is an English actor and comedian, best known for playing Reg Holdsworth in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street from 1989 to 1995. He also played General Leopold von Flockenstuffen in the BBC sitcom 'Allo 'Allo! from 1988 to 1991.

Early life Kenneth William Morley was born on 17 January 1943 at Chorley Hospital in Chorley, Lancashire, the only child born to engineer father Frank Morley and his mother Phyllis Morley ( Owen). He was educated at St. Peter's Church of England School and Elementary School until the age of twelve and then he attended Ashworth College until he was fifteen. Morley left school with no qualifications. Morley trained as an apprentice mechanic and in September 1963 he enrolled at Alston Hall College where he gained six O-levels and two A-levels. In 1966, he moved to London to become a primary school teacher in Holloway Road, before moving back to Lancashire to become a supply teacher, mainly in History and English. Later in his teaching career, Ken was a teacher at Smithills High School in Bolton, Craigmount School in Edinburgh and Archbishop Tenison's School in London.

Career Morley made his acting debut in the 1966 film Alfie in an uncredited role, and subsequently the sequel Alfie Darling in 1975. He appeared in an episode of The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin as well as playing various characters in The Punch Review in 1977, later appearing in an episode of A Soft Touch in 1978, before making frequent appearances in British television series throughout the 1980's. His first major television role was playing General Leopold von Flockenstuffen in the BBC war sitcom 'Allo 'Allo! starring in the show from 1988 to 1991. In 1988, Morley appeared as a twitcher in the Christmas special on the TV comedy series Watching. In 1997, he appeared as a Librarian in the children's television show Woof! and guest starred as Nazi Captain Voorhese in the sitcom Red Dwarf. In 1998, he appeared in an episode of the television show The Grand as Harry Frindel. He has also appeared in Emmerdale spin-off show Emmerdale: Don't Look Now! - The Dingles in Venice playing Reg Holdsworth.

In 2003 to 2004, Morley starred in the sitcom Hardware as Rex alongside Martin Freeman. In 2005, he was a contestant in the ITV television show Celebrity Fit Club, where he lost over . Morley also appeared in adverts for Safestyle UK double glazing windows, featuring as a character similar to Reg Holdsworth.

Morley appeared in several pantomimes including Jack and the Beanstalk, Aladdin, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty In 2010, Morley returned to Coronation Street in the 50th Anniversary Special Coronation Street: A Knights Tale alongside former Coronation Street actor Kevin Kennedy who played Curly Watts. In 2011, he appeared in an episode of the children's television show Sooty as Hurbert Fanshawe. In 2014, he guest-starred in the ITV sitcom Benidorm as Herbert, and was a contestant in the BBC cookery show Celebrity Masterchef.

In January 2015, Morley participated in the fifteenth series of the Channel 5 show Celebrity Big Brother. He entered the house on Day 1, 7 January, as a Housemate and Contestant. On 12 January he was removed from the Big Brother house for using "racist and sexist language". Ofcom had earlier received 233 complaints about his behaviour. His wife defended Morley, explaining: "I think possibly—how should I put it—he's been reading lots of Jacobean and Shakespearean drama. He will have watched Breaking Bad as well. I know my son's got it. He would have got it from there." Morley apologised "unreservedly" for his remarks and for anyone he "disappointed by saying what [he] said".

Personal life Morley married secondary school teacher Susan Staples on 27 July 1989 at Woolwich Town Hall. They had a son, born in 1991.

In 2002, Morley was the victim of a mugging by a group of youths who stole his trademark glasses, which were later recovered. In October 2007, Morley's wife was attacked during an armed raid on their house.

Morley had a fascination with cars from a young age and was an avid car collector. His collection included a 1956 Ford Fairlane, a 1959 pink Cadillac Coupe de Ville and two 1976 Cadillac Fleetwood Broughams.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1966 Alfie Man Film role; uncredited 1975 Alfie Darling Film role 1977 The Punch Review Various Television series 1977 The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin Arthur Episode: "The Four Untrustworthy Men" 1978 A Soft Touch Simon Staines Episode: "Now Take my Wife" 1981 Funny Man Tom Episode: "The Good of the Cause" 1984 Smith & Jones Nigel Simms Episode: "Desert" 1986 All Passion Spent Journalist 1 episode 1987 Bulman PC Reid Episode: "Chicken of the Baskervilles" 1987 Little Dorrit Mr. Wobbler Film role 1988 The Return of the Antelope Removal man Episode: "Home Again" 1988 The Management Fat Charlie Episode: "The Whelks" 1988 Chelmsford 123 Scipio Episode: "What's Your Poison?" 1988 Les Girls Middle-aged man Television series 1988 Blind Justice M.P on News Episode: The One About the Irishman 1988–1991 'Allo 'Allo! General Leopold von Flockenstuffen Series regular 1988 Watching Eric Ward Episode: "Twitching" 1988 You Rang, M'Lord? Mr. Challon Episode: "Pilot" 1989–1995 Coronation Street Reg Holdsworth Series regular; 409 episodes 1990 KYTV FA Director Episode: "Big Fight Special" 1996 Zig and Zag's Dirty Deeds Ken Morley 2 episodes 1997 Woof! Librarian Episode: "When My Sheep Comes In" 1997 Red Dwarf Captain Vooherse Episode: "Stoke Me a Clipper" 1998 The Grand Harry Frindel 1 episode 1999 Coronation Street: After Hours Reg Holdsworth Coronation Street spin-off; 4 episodes 1999 Emmerdale: Don't Look Now! - The Dingle's in Venice Reg Holdsworth Emmerdale spin-off 2003–2004 Hardware Rex Series regular 2003 Margery & Gladys Bill Nightingale Television film 2005 Celebrity Fit Club Himself Participant 2010 Coronation Street: A Knights Tale Reg Holdsworth Coronation Street spin-off 2011 Sooty Hubert Fanshawe Episode: "Run Rabbit Run" 2014 Benidorm Herbert 1 episode 2014 Celebrity MasterChef Himself Contestant 2015 Celebrity Big Brother Himself Contestant Sources:

Guest appearances Supermarket Sweep (1993) – 1 episode Celebrity Squares (1993) – 3 episodes Surprise Surprise (1994) – 1 episode Live Talk (2000) – 1 episode This Morning (2000) – 1 episode The Weakest Link (2003) – Soap Star Special – 1 episode This Morning (2003) – 1 episode Celebrities Under Pressure (2004) – 1 episode Today with Des and Mel (2004) – 1 episode Dick and Dom in da Bungalow (2004) – 1 episode Loose Women (2006) – 1 episode Richard & Judy (2009) – 1 episode Come Dine with Me (2010) – Coronation Street Special – 1 episode Loose Women (2010) – 2 episodes This Morning (2010) – 1 episode BBC Breakfast (2011) – 1 episode Pointless Celebrities (2012) – 1 episode Loose Women (2012) – 1 episode Celebrity Five Go To... (2012) – 4 episodes Piers Morgan's Life Stories (2013) – 1 episode