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TürkçeNicholas Parsons (Christopher Nicholas Parsons)
Biography
Grantham, Lincolnshire, England, UK
Nicholas Parsons is without doubt one of the UK's most popular and beloved television and radio personalities. Few have had such a long entertainment career. The son of a doctor, he was raised in Lincolnshire until the age of eight, when the family moved to London. He was educated at St. Paul's School, London. He trained as an engineer but really wanted to become an actor and decided to pursue his dream. He performed in weekly repertory in Bromley for two years, playing a wide range of parts. Read more... he became the resident comedian at the Windmill Theatre. Much work in radio followed.
Parsons acted in several British films during the 1950s and 1960s, including dramas such as The Third Key (1956) and Eyewitness (1956) and comedies such as Doctor in Love (1960) and Carry on Regardless (1961). On television he worked with Eric Barker and most notably on The Arthur Haynes Show (1956) as Haynes' straight man. In 1967 he became presenter of "Just a Minute", a comedy panel show on BBC Radio 4 which also featured regular appearances by Kenneth Williams over the next 20 years. Through the 1970s and into the 1980s, Parsons hosted the hugely popular ITV game show Sale of the Century (1971).
In 1989, having become so closely associated with comedy and light entertainment, Parsons surprised many when he returned to a dramatic role. He brought great depth and sensitivity to his portrayal of Reverend Wainwright, a tormented clergyman whose faith is tested to the limit by the horrors of the Second World War and the resurrection of a Viking curse in Doctor Who: The Curse of Fenric: Part One (1989), one of the most unusual and complex characterisations ever created for the Doctor Who (1963) series. Parsons later described this guest appearance as "one of the most treasured memories".
Parsons celebrated his 90th birthday in 2013 and he was joined at the party by stars including Esther Rantzen, Paul Merton and Gyles Brandreth. A performer of remarkable longevity, he was still taking his one-man show to the Edinburgh Fringe.
Parsons acted in several British films during the 1950s and 1960s, including dramas such as The Third Key (1956) and Eyewitness (1956) and comedies such as Doctor in Love (1960) and Carry on Regardless (1961). On television he worked with Eric Barker and most notably on The Arthur Haynes Show (1956) as Haynes' straight man. In 1967 he became presenter of "Just a Minute", a comedy panel show on BBC Radio 4 which also featured regular appearances by Kenneth Williams over the next 20 years. Through the 1970s and into the 1980s, Parsons hosted the hugely popular ITV game show Sale of the Century (1971).
In 1989, having become so closely associated with comedy and light entertainment, Parsons surprised many when he returned to a dramatic role. He brought great depth and sensitivity to his portrayal of Reverend Wainwright, a tormented clergyman whose faith is tested to the limit by the horrors of the Second World War and the resurrection of a Viking curse in Doctor Who: The Curse of Fenric: Part One (1989), one of the most unusual and complex characterisations ever created for the Doctor Who (1963) series. Parsons later described this guest appearance as "one of the most treasured memories".
Parsons celebrated his 90th birthday in 2013 and he was joined at the party by stars including Esther Rantzen, Paul Merton and Gyles Brandreth. A performer of remarkable longevity, he was still taking his one-man show to the Edinburgh Fringe.
Actor
Character:
Passport Official
To Dorothy a Son 1954
1
Character:
News Interviewer
An Alligator Named Daisy 1955
6
Character:
T.V. Producer
Simon and Laura 1955
4
Character:
Brian
Upstairs and Downstairs 1959
4
Character:
Rodgers
Carlton-Browne of the F.O. 1959
1
Character:
Dr. Hinxman
Doctor in Love 1960
1
Character:
R.A.F. Officer
Let's Get Married 1960
3
Character:
Himself - United Kingdom Vote Announcer
The Eurovision Song Contest 1963
16
Character:
Dr. Crump
Murder Ahoy 1964
2
Character:
Julian Goddard
Every Day's a Holiday 1964
14
Character:
Alan Frazer Scrope
The Wrong Box 1966
5
Character:
Algernon Rowthorpe Plumley
The Ghost Goes Gear 1966
6
Character:
Dudley Heath
Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River 1968
1
Character:
The Phantom Prowler / Mask Boutique Staffer / King Charles / Various
The Best of Benny Hill 1974
25
Character:
Nicholas Parsons
Lady Godiva 2008
3
Character:
TV Presenter
Caught in a Trap 2008
0
0
Character:
Himself - Audience Member
Another Audience with Shirley Bassey 2006
0
Character:
Himself
ITV 50 Greatest Shows 2005
0
Character:
Himself
Christmas Mania 2005 2005
0
Character:
Himself - Audience Member
2005 TV Moments 2005
0
Character:
Himself - Audience Member
An Audience with Harry Hill 2004
0
Character:
Himself
This Week 2003
0
Character:
Himself
Mark Lawson Talks to... 2003
0
Character:
Wheelchair Man
Hospital! 1997
0
Character:
Himself - Audience Member
An Audience with Ronnie Corbett 1997
0
Character:
Himself
An Audience with Bruce Forsyth 1997
0
Character:
Himself - Host
Naruhodo: The World! 1991
0
Character:
Himself
The Funny Side of the News 2007
0
Character:
Himself
The Very Famous Paul Ross Show 1996
0
0
Character:
Police Constable Bates
The Third Key 1956
0
Character:
Himself
Arena 1975
1
Character:
Himself
The New Statesman 1987
0
Character:
Charles Poole
Brothers in Law 1957
0
Character:
Himself
Waves of Laughter 0
0
Character:
Himself
Episode #1.3 0
0
Character:
Himself - Host
Episode #1.1 0
0
Character:
Himself - Host
Episode #1.2 0
0
Character:
Himself - Host
Episode #1.3 0
0
Character:
Himself - Host
Episode #1.4 0
0
Character:
Himself - Host
Episode #1.5 0
0
Character:
Himself - Host
Episode #1.6 0
0
Character:
Himself - Host
Episode #1.7 0
0
Character:
Himself - Host
Episode #1.8 0
0
Character:
Himself - Host
Episode #1.9 0
0
Character:
Himself - Host
Episode #1.10 0
0
Character:
Himself
Episode #5.3 0
0
Character:
Himself
Heston's Gothic Feast 0
0
Character:
Himself
Chat 0
0
Character:
Himself
Nicholas Parsons 0
0
Character:
Himself
Episode #3.10 0
0
Character:
Himself
Nicholas Parsons 0
0
Character:
Himself
Episode #3.4 0
0
Character:
Himself
Intelligence 0
0
Character:
Himself
Episode #4.1 0
1
Character:
Himself
Episode #5.8 0
0
Character:
Himself
Episode #1.7 0
0
Character:
Himself
Episode #1.2 0
0
Character:
Father Gorman
The Pale Horse 0
0
Character:
Himself
Episode #1.9 0
1
Character:
Himself
Episode #1.104 0
0
Character:
Himself
Episode #1.9 0
0
Character:
Himself
The New Statesman 0
0
Character:
Himself
Episode #1.6 0
0
Character:
Himself
The Comic Songbook 0
40
Character:
Himself
Clement Freud: In His Own Words 0
0
Character:
Himself
Episode #1.2 0
0
Character:
Himself
Episode #1.3 0
0
Character:
Himself
Episode #1.4 0
0
Character:
Himself
Episode #1.5 0
0
Character:
Himself
Episode #9.76 0
0
Character:
Himself
Episode #1.5 0
0
Character:
Guy Shelmerdine
The Rescue 0
0