James Fleet

British actor (born 1952) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

James Edward Fleet (born 11 March 1952) is an English 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.

Quick Facts Born, Alma mater ...
James Fleet
Born
James Edward Fleet

(1952-03-11) 11 March 1952 (age 72)
Alma materRoyal Conservatoire of Scotland
OccupationActor
Years active1979–present
SpouseJane Booker (m. 1984)
Children1
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Early life

Fleet was born in Bilston, Staffordshire,[2][3] to a Scottish mother, Christine, and an English father, Jim. He lived in Bilston until he was 10 but, when his father died, he moved to Aberdeenshire with his mother.[4] He studied engineering at university in Aberdeen, where he joined the university dramatic society.[5] Afterwards, he studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow.

Career

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Stage

Fleet began his career in the RSC, appearing in several plays in the early 1980s.[6][7][8] He has since appeared in touring productions of, among others, Habeas Corpus [9] and In the Club,[10] as well as in Festen and Mary Stuart [11] and others in the West End. 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.[citation needed] 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.[12] 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.[13] When Fleet appeared on the quiz show School's Out,[14] 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.[15]

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 lives in Sibford Gower, Oxfordshire with his wife, actress Jane Booker, and their son Hamish.[4]

Filmography

Film

More information Year, Title ...
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 North Star Actor aka My Mother's Wedding (U.S. title)
2024 Broken Bird Mr. Thomas
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Television

More information Year, Title ...
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
1994–2020 The Vicar of Dibley Hugo Horton Series 1–3 & various specials; 29 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 6 episodes
TBA The Feud Derek Abshire 6 episodes. Completed[16]
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Radio dramas

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Role Radio Notes Ref.
1986 The Vacillations of Poppy Carew Victor BBC Radio 4 [17]
1996–1999 Chambers Hilary Tripping
2000 As You Like It Touchstone BBC Radio 3 Sunday Play [18]
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 [19]
2018–2020 Quanderhorn Professor Darius Quanderhorn
2019 Coriolanus Menenius Agrippa BBC Radio 3 [20]
2023 Henry IV, Part 2 Robert Shallow [21]
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Theatre

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Role Director Venue Notes Ref.
1981 The Witch of Edmonton Somerton Barry Kyle The Other Place Press night
1981–1982 Money Club Member / Servant Bill Alexander Barbican Theatre
A Midsummer Night's Dream Francis Flute Ron Daniels Royal Shakespeare Theatre [22]
1982 Henry IV, Part 1 Peto Trevor Nunn Barbican Theatre [23]
Henry IV, Part 2 Peto / Francis Feeble [24]
Within a Word Performer Cicely Berry Gulbenkian Studio
The Twin Rivals Subtleman John Caird Pit Theatre Press night
1982–1983 Peter Pan Slightly Trevor Nunn & John Caird Barbican Theatre World premiere [25]
1983 The Dillen Joshua Farr / Postmaster / Walt Clack Barry Kyle The Other Place Press night
A New Way to Pay Old Debts Amble / Creditor Adrian Noble
The Time of Your Life Willie Howard Davies
Volpone Peregrine Bill Alexander .
1984 Gulbenkian Studio
Pit Theatre
1984–1985 A New Way to Pay Old Debts Amble / Creditor Adrian Noble Barbican Theatre
Waste John Barton
1987 The Taming of the Shrew Hortensio Jonathan Miller Royal Shakespeare Theatre [26]
Hyde Park Barry Kyle Barbican Theatre
1987–1988 The Jew of Malta Lodowick [27]
1988 The Churchill Play Captain Thompson
1989 As You Like It Oliver Tim Albery The Old Vic [28]
1990 Berenice Arsace Royal National Theatre [29]
1991 The Government Inspector Bobchinsky Matthew Francis Greenwich Theatre
Just Between Ourselves Neil Terry Johnson Bristol Old Vic [30]
1999 The Late Middle Classes Charles Smithers / Holly in 40s Harold Pinter Watford Palace Theatre [31]
2005 Mary Stuart Sir Amyas Paulet Phyllida Lloyd Donmar Warehouse [32]
2005–2006 Apollo Theatre [33]
2009 Cloud 9 Clive Thea Sharrock Almeida Theatre [34]
Twelfth Night Sir Andrew Aguecheek Gregory Doran Courtyard Theatre [35]
The Observer Saunders Richard Eyre Royal National Theatre [36]
2011 The Heretic Professor Kevin Maloney Jeremy Herrin Royal Court Theatre [37]
The Ladykillers Major Courtney Sean Foley Gielgud Theatre [38]
2016 Les Blancs Dr. Willy Dekoven Yaël Farber Royal National Theatre [39]
2023 Noises Off Selsdon Mowbray Lindsay Posner Theatre Royal Haymarket [40]
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References

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