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{{Short description|English actor}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2012}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2012}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Stephen Tompkinson
| name = Stephen Tompkinson
| imagesize =
| image = Tompkin_upload.png
| caption = Stephen Tompkinson
| imagesize =
| birth_name =
| caption = Tompkinson in 2013
| birth_name = Stephen Phillip Tompkinson<ref>{{cite web |last1=Radcliffe |first1=Allan |title=TV times: Stephen Tompkinson |url=https://archive.list.co.uk/the-list/2001-02-15/120/ |publisher=The List |access-date=5 July 2019 |date=15 February 2001}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1965|10|15|df=y}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1965|10|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Stockton-on-Tees]], [[England]]
| birth_place = [[Stockton-on-Tees]], [[County Durham]], England
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_date =
| othername =
| death_place =
| othername =
| education = [[Central School of Speech and Drama]], [[London]]
| occupation = Actor
| nationality = [[British people|British]]
| yearsactive = 1987 present
| education = [[Central School of Speech and Drama]]
| occupation = Actor
| partner = Elaine Young<br>(2007 &ndash; present)
| children = Daisy Ellen
| yearsactive = 1987–present
| parents = Brian Tompkinson (Ret.)<br>Josephine Tompkinson (Dec.)
| partner = Jessica Johnson (2017–2021)
| spouse = Celia Anastasia (divorced)<br />Nicci Taylor (divorced 2006)<br />Elaine Young (2007–2016)
| influences = [[Pete Postlethwaite]]
| influenced =
| children = 1
| known for = [[DCI Banks]]<br>[[Wild at Heart (TV series)|Wild at Heart]]<br>[[Grafters]]<br>[[Brassed Off]]<br>[[Ballykissangel]]<br>[[Drop the Dead Donkey]]
| known for = ''[[DCI Banks]]<br />[[Wild at Heart (British TV series)|Wild at Heart]]<br />[[Grafters]]<br />[[Brassed Off]]<br />[[Ballykissangel]]<br />[[Drop the Dead Donkey]]<br />[[Trollied]]''
| signature =
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| website =
| website =
}}
}}
'''Stephen Tompkinson''' (born 15 October 1965) is an [[England|English]] [[actor]]. He is best known for his work in television drama and comedy productions, such as ''[[DCI Banks]]'', ''[[Wild at Heart (TV series)|Wild at Heart]]'', ''[[Ballykissangel]]'', ''[[Grafters]]'' and ''[[Drop the Dead Donkey]]'', and for the movie ''[[Brassed Off]]''. For 25 years he has been seen year after year on British television in high-quality dramas that are both commercially successful and critically acclaimed. His stage performances have drawn equal acclaim as either "comic genius" or menacing "devil in a Savile Row three piece" &mdash; an actor who "can be relied upon to play characters from all walks of life and make them memorable for audiences of television, film and radio."


'''Stephen Phillip Tompkinson''' (born 15 October 1965) is an English actor, known for his television roles as Marcus in ''[[Chancer]] '' (1990), Damien Day in ''[[Drop the Dead Donkey]]'' (1990–1998), Father Peter Clifford in ''[[Ballykissangel]]'' (1996–98), Trevor Purvis in ''[[Grafters]]'' (1998–1999), Danny Trevanion in ''[[Wild at Heart (British TV series)|Wild at Heart]]'' (2006–2013) and Alan Banks in ''[[DCI Banks]]'' (2010–2016). He won the [[British Comedy Awards#1994|1994 British Comedy Award for Best TV Comedy Actor]]. He also starred in the films ''[[Brassed Off]]'' (1996) and ''[[Hotel Splendide (2000 film)|Hotel Splendide]]'' (2000).
== Early Life and Education ==
Stephen was born in [[Stockton-on-Tees]] on 15 October 1965. When he was about age 4, his family moved to [[Scarborough, North Yorkshire]], and then to [[Lytham St Annes]], [[Lancashire]], where he grew up and attended St Bede's Roman Catholic High School in Lytham and St Mary's Sixth Form in [[Blackpool]].


==Early life==
His parents &mdash; father Brian Tompkinson, who is a retired bank manager, and his mother Josephine who was a school teacher &mdash; blessed him and his older brother, John, with a stable and traditional upbringing. Stephen retains fond memories of an idyllic childhood, playing cricket and spending time on the pier after school, as well as holiday trips back to Stockton-on-Tees and to [[Scotland]] with his family.<ref name="travel">[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/celebritytravel/7965445/Stephen-Tompkinsons-holiday-heaven-and-hell.html Stephen Tompkinson's holiday heaven and hell, ''Telegraph Travel'', 26 Aug 2010]</ref> But his Dad tells the real story of Stephen's boyhood misadventures:
Tompkinson was born in [[Stockton-on-Tees]]. When he was about age 4, his family moved to [[Scarborough, North Yorkshire|Scarborough]], [[North Riding of Yorkshire]]<ref>At this point Scarborough was still part of the North Riding of Yorkshire. Please do not change.</ref> and then to [[Lytham St Annes]], [[Lancashire]], where he grew up and attended [[St Bede's Catholic High School, Lytham St Annes|St Bede's Roman Catholic High School]] in Lytham and St Mary's Sixth Form in [[Blackpool]].<ref name="fylde">{{Cite web|url=https://www.lancashirelife.co.uk/people/celebrity-interviews/actor-stephen-tompkinson-has-fylde-at-heart-1-1634095|title=Actor Stephen Tompkinson has Fylde at heart|website=Lancashire Life|access-date=18 April 2019}}</ref><ref name="boro">{{cite news |last=Bonner |first=Neil |date=2 February 2004 |title=A donkey, a tractor & the Boro |url=https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/local-news/donkey-tractor--boro-3834033 |work=Teesside Gazette |access-date=11 April 2019}}</ref> Tompkinson's first lead was as a red admiral butterfly in ''The Plotters of Cabbage Patch Corner''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/4793054/Class-act.html|title=Class act|last=Hewitt|first=Roz D'Ombraine|date=4 April 2003|access-date=18 April 2019|issn=0307-1235}}</ref>
<blockquote>"I remember going into his room to kiss him goodnight as I always did, and when I spoke to him there was no reply....I pulled back the covers and there was no Stephen, just the pillows. He'd snuck out of the window to Blackpool with his friends. The window was locked when he got back though. Also, we were having some works done on the house so were living somewhere else temporarily for six months. There was a small gap he squeezed through out of the window. He slipped. It was an 80-ft drop below him and he was hanging on by his fingertips. His brother pulled him back up to safety, but he might not have been with us today. We're lucky to have him. I'm very proud of what both Stephen and John have achieved. They are both very close and they had a lovely childhood here in St Annes."<ref name="fylde">[http://lancashire.greatbritishlife.co.uk/article/actor-stephen-tompkinson-has-fylde-at-heart-922/ Actor Stephen Tompkinson has Fylde at Heart, ''Lancashire Life'', undated]</ref></blockquote>


He went on to train at the [[Central School of Speech and Drama]] in London, alongside [[James Nesbitt]] and [[Rufus Sewell]], and graduated in 1988.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/IN+THE+FRAME+-+Stephen+Tompkinson;+MONDAY.-a080172440|title=IN THE FRAME - Stephen Tompkinson; MONDAY. - Free Online Library|website=www.thefreelibrary.com|access-date=18 April 2019}}</ref> Tompkinson's acting career began straight out of drama school.<ref name="northeast">[http://www.northeasttimes.co.uk/ArticleDetail.aspx?id=2525 Keeping the faith: Alison Cowie speaks to actor Stephen Tompkinson, ''NorthEast Times,'' undated] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006222103/http://www.northeasttimes.co.uk/ArticleDetail.aspx?id=2525 |date=6 October 2013 }}</ref><ref name="boro" /> During his last year at the London School of Speech and Drama he won the 1987 [[Carleton Hobbs]] Bursary,<ref name="carleton">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/soundstart/roll.shtml|title=BBC - Radio Drama - SoundStart - Who's won Radio Drama's acting prizes since 1953?|website=www.bbc.co.uk|access-date=18 April 2019}}</ref> gaining a contract as a member of the [[BBC]]'s [[Radio Drama Company]],<ref>"Radio and audio book companies", in Lloyd Trott, ed., ''Actors and Performers Yearbook 2016'', pp. 353-354</ref> and had roles in radio dramas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.radiolistings.co.uk/programmes/p/pr/pravda.html|title=Pravda|website=www.radiolistings.co.uk|access-date=18 April 2019}}</ref>
Speaking of his parents, he said, "I couldn't have achieved anything without their support."<ref name="lovers">[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1172660/Why-DO-lovers-drop--like-Dead-Donkey-Stephen-Tompkinson-speaks-rocky-relationships.html#ixzz1y5iG3koa Why DO all my lovers drop me... like a Dead Donkey? Stephen Tompkinson speaks about his rocky relationships, ''Mail Online'', 23 Apr 2009]</ref> He especially credits his grandfather &mdash; who Stephen describes as "a comic genius" &mdash; with teaching him comic timing through the films of [[Laurel and Hardy]]. Of this formative experience, Stephen said:
<blockquote>"My first memory of television was watching Laurel and Hardy with my grandad. Everyone else was laughing at Ollie's pratfalls. My grandad sat me on his knee and said 'watch Stan'. To me it seemed like he was doing nothing but grandad could see his genius. That's what made me want to become an actor."<ref name="boro">[http://icteesside.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/columnists/mondayinterview/content_objectid=13906364_method=full_siteid=50080_headline=-A-donkey--a-tractor---the-Boro-name_page.html A donkey, a tractor &amp; the Boro, ''Evening Gazette'', 2 Feb 2004]</ref></blockquote>


Along with Ewan Bailey, he performed a two-part radio drama titled ''Say What You Want to Hear'' (Swywth), written by Tim Wright and broadcast in 2010 on [[BBC Radio 4]]. His narrated radio documentaries include ''Brass Britain'', which aired in 2008 and was reprised in 2010 on BBC Radio 2.<ref>[http://www.madeinmanchester.tv/2008/05/03/brass-britain-bbc-radio-2/ ''Brass Britain, BBC Radio 2'', 3 May 2008] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006164235/http://www.madeinmanchester.tv/2008/05/03/brass-britain-bbc-radio-2/ |date=6 October 2013 }}</ref>
Jeff Lynam, English teacher at St Bede's, shared his love of drama by staying after school to put on plays with his students.<ref>[http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6033469 My Best Teacher -- Stephen Tompkinson, ''TES Newspaper'', 15 Jan 2010]</ref> Stephen's first lead was as a red admiral butterfly in "The Plotters of Cabbage Patch Corner." Through drama he allowed his imagination to run wild, but he also came to appreciate [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]] and to realise that the truths of the Bard's plays never change. Stephen fondly remembers his teachers:
<blockquote>"Jeff was so inspirational that you wanted to do your best and I got As in O-level English language and literature....[He] is the sort of teacher who makes you want to succeed because you feel you are representing him."<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/4793054/Class-act.html Class Act &mdash; The Teacher Who Inspired Stephen Tompkinson, ''The Telegraph'', 5 Apr 2003]</ref></blockquote>


==Career==
<blockquote>"My teachers Anne Bouget and Steven Brennan were [also] massive influences on me. [Mr. Brennan] decided that as part of studying ''[[The Crucible]]'' by [[Arthur Miller]] we should put the play on. I got to play [[John Proctor]], which was such a huge part for me to be playing. Up until that point I was going to read English at university so I had something as a fall back. But that performance changed everything. My mum and dad were so moved by it; they could see my talent was growing and they wanted me to strike while the iron was hot."<ref name="fylde" /></blockquote>
===Television===
====1980s====


In 1988, Tompkinson appeared with [[Ken Goodwin (comedian)|Ken Goodwin]] and [[Freddie Davies]] in a [[Channel 4]] short titled ''Treacle'', directed by [[Peter Chelsom]]. It received a 1988 BAFTA nomination in the category of Best Short Film.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.superiorpics.com/peter_chelsom/|title=The Peter Chelsom Picture Pages|website=www.superiorpics.com|access-date=18 April 2019}}</ref>
Stephen went on to train at the [[Central School of Speech and Drama]] in [[London]], alongside [[James Nesbitt]] and [[Rufus Sewell]]. He graduated in 1988.<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/IN+THE+FRAME+-+Stephen+Tompkinson%3B+MONDAY.-a080172440 IN THE FRAME: Stephen Tompkinson, ''Daily Post'', Liverpool, 17 Nov 2001]</ref><ref>[http://www.cssd.ac.uk/alumni/distinguished-alumni?page=5 Central School of Speech and Drama: Distinguished Alumni]</ref>


During the next few years he was cast in several single-episode parts on ''[[All at No 20]]'', ''[[Shelley (TV series)|Shelley]]'', ''[[After Henry (TV series)|After Henry]]'', ''[[Casualty (TV series)|Casualty]]'', ''Made in Heaven'', and ''[[Boon (TV series)|Boon]]''. He also played in three episodes of ''[[The Manageress]]'' (1989).<ref name="imdb">{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0867017/|title=Stephen Tompkinson|website=IMDb|access-date=18 April 2019}}</ref>
<blockquote>"While doing my A-Levels, I auditioned for drama schools. The first audition was for the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. It had the best reputation of all and I was lucky enough to get a place there at 18. I felt I'd entered an Aladdin's cave when I started my three-year course. I knew only the basics of acting and there I was in a place where [[Laurence Olivier]], [[Judi Dench]] and [[Peggy Ashcroft]] had studied."<ref name="allswell">[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Mirror+Works%3A+My+CV%3A+Stephen+Tompkinson%3A+All%27s+well+that+ends+swill.-a099844289 Mirror Works: My CV: Stephen Tompkinson: All's well that ends swill, ''The Mirror'', London, 10 Apr 2003]</ref></blockquote>


Also in 1989 he appeared in his first full-length made-for-TV movie. Based on a 1977 play by [[Cecil Philip Taylor|C.P. Taylor]], ''[[And a Nightingale Sang]]'' was a romantic comedy-drama adapted for television by [[Jack Rosenthal]].
== Career ==
Stephen's prolific career began straight out of drama school. He has worked constantly in a wide variety of roles, demonstrating versatility and skill in deftly managing to avoid the bane of most actors &mdash; being cast repeatedly in the same type of role. He has said, "I’ve always been delighted if something came along that was completely different from the last job. It keeps me interested and hopefully the audiences won't get bored. It's also helped me to not get type cast."<ref name="northeast" /> And, "It's great to be given the opportunity to switch from comedy to drama and back again. Not everyone gets that chance and I'm very grateful."<ref name="boro" />


=== Radio ===
====1990s====
He was cast in three episodes of ''[[Tales of Sherwood Forest]]'' (1989), nine episodes of ''[[Chancer]]'' (1990), and nine episodes of ''[[Minder (TV series)|Minder]]'' (1991)<ref name="imdb" /> It received the 1990 [[Prix Europa| Prix Europa Special]] award for the film in the category "TV Fiction".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000752/1990/1/|title=Prix Europa (1990)|website=IMDb|access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref>
During his last year at the London School of Speech and Drama he won the 1987 [[Carleton Hobbs]] Bursary Award<ref name="carleton">[http://www.bbc.co.uk/soundstart/roll.shtml BBC Soundstart: tuning in to new talent &mdash; Who's won Radio Drama's acting prizes since 1953?]</ref> and was rewarded with a plethora of roles in radio dramas, including the opportunity to work with [[Anthony Hopkins]]. Of this early fortuitous experience, he has said:
Between 1990 and 1998, Tompkinson starred in 66 episodes{{citation needed|reason=Including the pilot?|date=September 2014}} of the satirical comedy ''[[Drop The Dead Donkey]]''. He played the ambitious but unethical reporter Damien Day, and won the 1994 [[British Comedy Awards]] "Best TV Comedy Actor" award.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.britishcomedyawards.com/past-winners/1994.aspx|title=The British Comedy Awards - The British Comedy Awards - Winners 1994|website=www.britishcomedyawards.com|access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref>
<blockquote>"In my final year at drama school I entered [a BBC student competition] and won the Carleton Hobbs Award, which gave one boy and one girl a [[bursary]], an [[Equity Card|equity card]] and a seven-month radio contract [with the [http://www.bbc.co.uk/soundstart/rdc.shtml BBC Radio Drama Company (RDC)]]. My first job was performing 54 radio plays."<ref name="northeast">[http://www.northeasttimes.co.uk/ArticleDetail.aspx?id=2525 Keeping the faith: Alison Cowie speaks to actor Stephen Tompkinson, ''NorthEast Times,'' undated]</ref></blockquote>


In 1994, he was Private Simon 'Spock' Matlock, a history teacher and intellectual in BBC comedy drama ''[[All Quiet on the Preston Front]]'', written by [[Tim Firth]] and set in Lancashire. [[Alistair McGowan]] replaced him after the first series because Tompkinson had other commitments.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/preston_front/about/|title=About All Quiet On The Preston Front|website=British Comedy Guide|access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref> That same year he was in ''[[Downwardly Mobile]]''&nbsp;– a [[ITV Yorkshire|Yorkshire Television]] sitcom about a group of Yuppies&nbsp;– aired for one season but failed to make an impression and was not recommissioned.<ref>[http://www.phill.co.uk/comedy/mobile/index.html British TV Comedy: Downwardly Mobile, undated] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120802124658/http://www.phill.co.uk/comedy/mobile/index.html |date=2 August 2012 }}</ref>
<blockquote>"It was the best start to a career that I could possibly have wished for &mdash; the variety of accents and size of roles etc. I have found unparalleled. I never expected to work with so many wonderfully experienced directors, writers and actors, and it has helped me appreciate the importance of scripts (and the written word and intention of an individual writer) more than any other medium."<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/soundstart/prospectus2011.doc BBC Soundstart, Carleton Hobbs Bursary Awards Program 2011, p. 15]</ref></blockquote>


From 1996 to 1998 he portrayed, in the popular ''[[Ballykissangel]]'', the struggles of a young English Roman Catholic priest assigned as [[curate]] to a church in Ireland's 'back of beyond'. In 1998 he starred as Jim Harper in the three-part [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] psychological thriller ''[[Oktober (TV series)|Oktober]]'', about a naive English teacher at a posh school in [[Switzerland]]. His character becomes a guinea pig in the trials of a new mind-altering drug. Tompkinson performed his own stunts.<ref name="oktoberfilm">[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/ALL-ACTION+HERO%3b+OKTOBER+Thursday+ITV+9pm.-a060689252 All-Action Hero: OKTOBER, ''The Mirror (London)'', 28 March 1998]</ref> He says that "I grabbed this project because I'd never been asked to do anything like this before. And the chance to do stunts was one reason it was so appealing."<ref name="oktoberfilm" />
<blockquote>"It was just the best training, helping you hone your vocal talents to try and make dialogue as entertaining as possible. You're performing to an audience of one, because the listener has to do so much of the work as to where the play's set, what the characters look like, and no two people are going to share exactly the same vision."<ref>[http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/leisure/4400339.Stephen_Tompkinson_talks_about_Sign_of_the_Times_at_the_Oxford_Playhouse/ Stephen Tompkinson talks about ''Sign of the Times'' at the Oxford Playhouse, ''The Oxford Times'', 27 May 2009]</ref></blockquote>


Also in 1998, and again in 1999, he co-starred with [[Robson Green]] in two series of ''[[Grafters]]'', about two [[Geordie]] labourers who attempt to go into business together renovating an old London house owned by a pair of [[Yuppies]].<ref name="barb">[http://www.barb.co.uk/viewing/weekly-top-30?_s=3 Broadcasting Audience Research Board (BARB) Weekly Top 30 Programmes]</ref> Tompkinson's performance was praised by James Rampton of ''[[The Independent]]'':
Over the years he has continued to perform radio dramas and readings of books and stories for BBC Radio whenever the opportunity arises &mdash; as solitary readings or dramatised with other well-known actors. As these now number probably close to 100 performances, only a small sample is listed in the table below. [[Gillian Reynolds]], radio critic of ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' wrote, "Some readings still make the spine tingle in memory, [for example] Stephen Tompkinson reading ''[[A Kestrel for a Knave|Kes]]'' on Radio 2 on Friday nights."<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/3554597/Radio-the-natural-home-of-great-storytelling.html Radio: the natural home of great storytelling?, ''The Telegraph'', 17 Jun 2008]</ref>
<blockquote>It is Tompkinson who&nbsp;– despite having the less showy part&nbsp;– really catches the eye. In the shadow of a more successful brother and a domineering wife, he precisely captures an air of despondent, hen-pecked resignation. Like [[Eeyore]], he seems to be pursued by his own personal raincloud. Nobody does defeated better. Tompkinson is an actor who's become a winner by playing the loser....Trevor can be added to the actor's growing gallery of characters whom viewers watch and think, 'I know that bloke.'<ref name="damien">[https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/on-air-no-more-mr-nice-guy-1180789.html On Air: No more Mr Nice Guy, ''The Independent'', 26 October 1998]</ref></blockquote>


Tompkinson and ''Ballykissangel'''s [[Dervla Kirwan]] worked together again in 1999 on the TV version of Tim Firth's ''[[The Flint Street Nativity]]''. They also co-starred in the 2001 mini-series ''[[Shades (TV series)|Hereafter]]'', which never aired in the UK but was released on DVD under the title ''[[Shades (TV series)|Shades]]'' in the United States and Canada in 2012.<ref>[http://www.acornmedia.com/press/Shades.cfm ''Shades,'' starring Dervla Kirwan (Ballykissangel) and Stephen Tompkinson, released 14 February 2012] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120506041004/http://www.acornmedia.com/press/Shades.cfm |date=6 May 2012 }}</ref>
Along with [[Ewan Bailey]], Stephen performed a two-part radio drama titled ''Say What You Want to Hear'' (Swywth), written by Tim Wright and broadcast in 2010 on [[BBC Radio 4]]. It was the story of two [[.com|dotcom]] entrepreneurs, Erik (Stephen) and Mike (Ewan), and their adventures as they pursued love, fortune and football stars across Europe. They set up a website where the audience was invited to submit their own 'Swywths', as well as via [[Facebook]], [[Twitter]], [[Flickr]], and [[YouTube]]. The submitted thoughts &mdash; "those voices inside your head telling you what you want to hear" &mdash; were recorded by well-known Radio 4 voices, and some were incorporated into the two plays. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNRXToIlUd0 VIDEO: ''A Quick Guide to Swywths'']<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNRXToIlUd0 VIDEO: ''A Quick Guide to Swywths,'' YouTube, 10 Feb 2010]</ref>


====2000s====
Stephen has also narrated radio documentaries, including ''Brass Britain'', which aired in 2008 and was reprised in 2010 on BBC Radio 2. The four-part programme explored Britain's love affair with brass instruments and bands, including the origins of brass, its role in Britain's turbulent history, brass band dynasties and the movement's highly competitive streak, as well as how brass has permeated Britain's popular culture through TV and film themes and pop music, and the future of brass bands.<ref>[http://www.madeinmanchester.tv/2008/05/03/brass-britain-bbc-radio-2/ ''Brass Britain, BBC Radio 2'', 3 May 2008]</ref>
In 2001, he co-starred with ''[[Heartbeat (British TV series)|Heartbeat]]'' star [[Nick Berry]] in the mini-series ''[[In Deep (TV series)|In Deep]]'', as part of [[BBC One|BBC1]]'s Crime Doubles season. The promotional material described his performance as "Tompkinson as you have never seen him before" and a career "gamble". He agreed with that assessment: "''In Deep'' is a very gritty drama and not the kind of thing that I'm normally associated with".<ref name="indeep">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1174103.stm Tompkinson goes In Deep, ''BBC News: Entertainment'', 18 February 2001]</ref>


Tompkinson and [[Claire Skinner]] appeared as a couple in Series 1 of the comedy ''[[Bedtime (TV series)|Bedtime]]'', which aired August and September 2001.<ref>[http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/feature/a3536/bbc-one-autumn-schedule.html BBC One Autumn schedule, ''Digital Spy'', 14 August 2001]</ref><ref>
'''Radio Dramas, Documentaries, and Readings'''<br>
Tompkinson returned to the TV screen in 2001 with his co-star from [[Ballykissangel]], [[Dervla Kirwan]] in a six part series entitled [[Shades]], in which their two characters are dead but temporarily stuck on the earth as spirits trying to redeem themselves by fixing some complications and wrongs they have left behind.
<small>''(chronologically descending)''</small>
{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
|-
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Broadcast Date
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Author
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Station
|- valign="top"
| 17 Jul 2012 || ''The Gift'' || Jane Thornton || [[BBC Radio 4]]
|- valign="top"
| 9 Feb 2010<br>9 Mar 2010 || ''Say What You Want to Hear'' || Tim Wright || [[BBC Radio 4]]
|- valign="top"
| 19 May 2008 || ''Brass Britain'' || Rosemary Foxcroft,<br>Ashley Byrne,<br>Phil Collinge || [[BBC Radio 2]]
|- valign="top"
| 4 Feb 2007 || ''Two Men from Delft'' || [[Stephen Wakelam]] || [[BBC Radio 3]]
|- valign="top"
| 2 Oct 2006 || ''[[Small Island]]'' || [[Andrea Levy]] || [[BBC Radio 7]]
|- valign="top"
| 19 Mar 2004 || ''[[Billy Liar]]'' || [[Keith Waterhouse]] || [[BBC Radio 4]]
|- valign="top"
| 3 Oct 2003 || ''[[A Kestrel for a Knave|Kes]]'' || [[Barry Hines]] || [[BBC Radio 7]]
|- valign="top"
| 16 Feb 2000 || ''[[The Big Town All Stars]]: If You Scratch My Back'' || [[Bill Dare]] || [[BBC Radio 4]]
|- valign="top"
| 13 Sep 2000 || ''Breakfast in Brighton'' || Nigel Richardson || [[BBC Radio 4]]
|- valign="top"
| 2 Aug 1994 || ''Virtual Radio'' || Andrew Dallmeyer || [[BBC Radio 4]]
|- valign="top"
| 14 Nov 1991 || ''[[The Cabaret of Dr Caligari]]: Comedian's Moon'' || Alan Gilbey || [[BBC Radio 4]]
|- valign="top"
| 3 Jul 1991 || ''The Ashes'' || [[Sue Townsend]] || [[BBC Radio 3]]
|- valign="top"
| 15 Sep 1990 || ''The Murder on the Links'' * || [[Agatha Christie]],<br>adapted by [[Michael Bakewell]] || [[BBC Radio 4]]
|- valign="top"
| 9 Jul 1990 || ''Cloud Cuckoo Land'' || Catherine Czerkawska || [[BBC Radio 4]]
|- valign="top"
| 22 Mar 1989 || ''Haunted by More Cake'' || Steve Walker || [[BBC Radio 4]]
|- valign="top"
| 1 Mar 1988 || ''Tickertape and V-Signs'' || Peter Cox || [[BBC Radio 3]]
|}
<small>*90-minute radio play presented on the centenary of Agatha Christie's birth</small>


[http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/03/03/1078191378580.html The Age: Entertainment/TV & Radio (Australia), 4 March 2004]</ref> In 2002, he appeared as the character 'Ted' with co-star [[Dawn French]] in the comedy drama mini-series ''[[Ted and Alice]]''.<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/A+deep+and+meaningful+police+role.-a082243956 A deep and meaningful police role, ''Liverpool Echo'', 21 January 2002]</ref> The sitcom ''[[Mr. Charity]]'' (2001), which aired on BBC2, was panned by the critics, drew poor viewer ratings, and was axed after six episodes.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2001/dec/14/broadcasting.bbc|title=Mr Charity axed|last=Deans|first=Jason|date=14 December 2001|work=The Guardian|access-date=23 April 2019|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
=== Television ===


In 2003, after a long delay, ITV aired the mini-series ''[[Lucky Jim (2003 film)|Lucky Jim]]''. Tompkinson had bought the rights to the Kingsley Amis novel, which had not been adapted for some time, with the intention of playing the central character. Jack Rosenthal did the screenplay. The cast included [[Keeley Hawes]] as his co-star and love interest Christine, [[Robert Hardy]], [[Helen McCrory]], [[Denis Lawson]], [[Hermione Norris]] and [[Penelope Wilton]].<ref name="luckyjim">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/lucky+HIM;+Stephen+Tompkinson%27s+got+a+spring+in+his+step+and+a+real...-a099548749|title=lucky HIM; Stephen Tompkinson's got a spring in his step and a real purpose in life. - Free Online Library|website=www.thefreelibrary.com|access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref> ''[[The Guardian]]'' praised it as "deftly adapted by Jack Rosenthal&nbsp;... immaculately done, not least because of Stephen Tompkinson's performance as Jim, with stellar support from [the rest of the cast, especially] Helen McCrory."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2003/apr/13/features.review157|title=No one loves a fairy when he's 40|last=Flett|first=Kathryn|date=13 April 2003|work=The Observer|access-date=23 April 2019|issn=0029-7712}}</ref> In December 2004, he appeared as Detective Inspector Slack in a new adaptation of [[Agatha Christie]]'s ''[[The Murder at the Vicarage]]''.<ref>[https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/mystery/vicarage/actors.html Mystery!&nbsp;– Marple: The Murder at the Vicarage, The Actors and their Roles, PBS website]</ref>
In 1988, barely out of drama school, Stephen appeared with [[Ken Goodwin]] and [[Freddie Davies]] in a [[Channel 4]] short titled ''Treacle''. It was [[Peter Chelsom]]'s film directing debut, and it received a 1988 BAFTA nomination in the category of Best Short Film.<ref>[http://www.superiorpics.com/peter_chelsom/ Peter Chelsom, undated]</ref>


In 2004, Tompkinson played his first fact-based role in BBC1's two-part drama ''[[In Denial of Murder]]'', playing the character of the journalist [[Don Hale]].<ref name="denial">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2004/02_february/12/denial_murder_tompkinson.shtml|title=BBC - Press Office - In Denial of Murder Stephen Tompkinson|website=www.bbc.co.uk|access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref> The drama was based on Hale's 2002 book ''Town Without Pity''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hale |first=Don |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bGq0ubxqIRAC&q=don+hale+town+without+pity |title=Town Without Pity |date=2002 |publisher=Don Hale |isbn=978-0-7126-1530-3 |language=en}}</ref> There was controversy surrounding how the case was depicted, and in preparing to portray Don Hale he struggled to make sense of it. When asked his opinion, he explained that although he had done research to prepare for the role, he was merely an actor working from a script in which he had total faith and that he believed to be fair.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle-2-15039/tompkinson-s-in-deep-1-929927|title=Tompkinson's in Deep|website=www.scotsman.com|access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref>
During the next couple years he was cast in several single-episode parts on ''[[All at No 20]]'' (with [[Martin Clunes]]), ''[[Shelley (TV series)|Shelley]]'', ''[[After Henry (TV series)|After Henry]]'' (with [[Prunella Scales]]), ''[[Casualty (TV series)|Casualty]]'', ''Made in Heaven'', and ''[[Boon (TV series)|Boon]]''. He also began adding more substantial roles to his [[Curriculum vitae|CV]], including three episodes of ''[[The Manageress]]'' (1989), three episodes of ''Tales of Sherwood Forest'' (1989), nine episodes of ''[[Chancer]]'' (1990), and nine episodes of ''[[Minder (TV series)|Minder]]'' (1991).<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0867017/filmoseries?mode=desktop Stephen Tompkinson: Filmography by TV Series, Internet Movie Database (IMDB)]</ref>


In 2005, ''[[Marian, Again]]'' was a psychological drama about the horrors that could lie within any community and just beyond anyone's front door. [[Owen Teale]] co-starred, along with [[Kelly Harrison]] in the title role and [[Samantha Beckinsale]].<ref>[http://www.companypictures.co.uk/production.aspx?id=30 ''Marian, Again'', Company Pictures, September 2005] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110922091533/http://www.companypictures.co.uk/production.aspx?id=30 |date=22 September 2011 }}</ref>
====''And a Nightingale Sang''====


Of his role in ''[[Prime Suspect]]'', Tompkinson says "I had a call from my agent who told me they were to film the last-ever ''Prime Suspect'' with [[Helen Mirren]]. And I said, 'Yes!' before she could finish. She said, 'There is a part you might be interested in...' and I said, 'I meant ''Yes, I'll do it,'' not ''Yes, please continue!'' I mean, here is a chance to work with one of the greatest actresses there is. Taking a part in the final ''Prime Suspect'' was the quickest decision I've ever made!"<ref>[https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/primesuspect7/notes_actors.html Production Notes: Prime Suspect By The Numbers &mdash; The Actors on Their Roles: Stephen Tompkinson]</ref>
Also in 1989 Stephen appeared in his first full-length made-for-TV movie. ''[[And a Nightingale Sang]]'' is a 1977 play by British playwright [[Cecil Philip Taylor|C.P. Taylor]] that was commissioned by the [[Live Theatre Company]] in [[Newcastle-upon-Tyne]]. Jack Rosenthal adapted it into a TV movie for [[Tyne Tees Television]], and it also aired on [[Masterpiece Theatre]] in the U.S. Tyne Tees Television received the 1990 [[Prix Europa| Prix Europa Special]] award for the film in the category "TV Fiction."<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000752/1990 Internet Movie Database: Prix Europa]</ref>


ITV drama series ''[[Wild at Heart (British TV series)|Wild at Heart]]'', created by [[Ashley Pharoah]], began airing in the UK in January 2006 and ran for seven series. Tompkinson played Bristol veterinarian Danny Trevanion, who relocated with his family to [[South Africa]] where they attempted to build up a successful wildlife preserve and veterinary surgery. Tompkinson was also co-executive producer for 33 episodes and executive producer for one.<ref>[http://www.digitalspy.com/british-tv/interviews/a233222/stephen-tompkinson-dci-banks-aftermath.html Stephen Tompkinson (DCI Banks: Aftermath), ''Digital Spy'', 17 September 2010]</ref>
The story is a romantic comedy drama set in Newcastle toward the end of [[World War II|WWII]]. Stephen played enlisted soldier Eric who impulsively marries into the slightly dysfunctional and eccentric Stott family, then is shipped off to battle, only to be frustrated by the ambivalence of his war-bride Joyce ([[Pippa Hinchley]]) each time he rushes home on leave. It also starred [[Joan Plowright]], [[Tom Watt (actor)|Tom Watt]], and [[Phyllis Logan]]. The film is an accurate depiction of how an average working-class family endured and tried to cope with the hardships of air raids and rationing, and the vagaries of wartime romance. It is bittersweet, lighthearted, and funny yet poignant all at the same time.<ref>[http://allaboutwarmovies.com/2010/11/13/and-a-nightingale-sang-1989-a-very-realistic-british-wwii-tv-romancedrama/ And a Nightingale Sang: A Very Realistic British WWII TV Romance/Drama]</ref>


====''Drop the Dead Donkey''====
====2010s====
In 2010 he was cast as [[Inspector Alan Banks]] in ''[[DCI Banks| DCI Banks: Aftermath]]'', a two-part television pilot adaptation of one of [[Peter Robinson (novelist)|Peter Robinson]]'s crime novels.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/viewers-face-a-very-different-crime-wave-as-a-new-set-of-police-heroes-hits-the-small-screen-1958011.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/viewers-face-a-very-different-crime-wave-as-a-new-set-of-police-heroes-hits-the-small-screen-1958011.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Viewers face a very different crime wave as a new set of police heroes|date=30 April 2010|website=The Independent|access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref> ''DCI Banks: Aftermath'' drew seven million viewers, beating BBC1's ''[[Spooks (TV series)|Spooks]]'' in the ratings battle for the same timeslot.<ref name="people">[http://www.people.co.uk/celebs-tv/celebrity-interview/2011/09/25/wild-at-heart-star-stephen-tompkinson-returns-as-dci-banks-in-dark-and-gritty-new-series-102039-23443290/ Wild at Heart star Stephen Tompkinson returns as DCI Banks in dark and gritty new series, ''The People'', 25 September 2011] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111229191853/http://www.people.co.uk/celebs-tv/celebrity-interview/2011/09/25/wild-at-heart-star-stephen-tompkinson-returns-as-dci-banks-in-dark-and-gritty-new-series-102039-23443290/ |date=29 December 2011 }}</ref> On 14 June 2013, ITV announced that ''DCI Banks'' has been commissioned for a third six-part series.<ref name="banks">[http://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/itv-recommissions-dci-banks-stephen-tompkinson ITV recommissions DCI Banks with Stephen Tompkinson, 14 June 2013]</ref> He played a role in the BBC series ''[[Truckers (2013 TV series)|Truckers]]'' during the same year.


===Film===
1990 was the breakthrough year for Stephen &mdash; the year when he began starring in the role of the courageous but unethical reporter Damien Day in the satirical comedy ''[[Drop The Dead Donkey]]''. It was hugely popular for eight years in the UK (1990 to 1998) and has become a cult comedy classic, with re-runs appearing frequently on [[Comedy Central Extra]]. He appeared in 66 episodes, and halfway through the show's nine-year run, he won the 1994 [[British Comedy Awards]] "Best TV Comedy Actor" award for his work on the series.<ref>[http://www.britishcomedyawards.com/past-winners/1994.aspx The British Comedy Awards, Past Winners 1994, Best TV Comedy Actor]</ref> Speaking of his character, he said:
Barely out of drama school, he appeared in 1988 (as Stephen Duffell) with [[Ken Goodwin (comedian)|Ken Goodwin]] and [[Freddie Davies]] in [[Peter Chelsom]]'s 11-minute short film titled ''Treacle''. It was the tale of comedian Alfie Duffell's melodic legacy, set amid the Blackpool variety scene. The work received a 1988 BAFTA nomination in the category of Best Short Film.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/1988/film/short-film |title=BAFTA: Short Film in 1988 |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=n.d. |website=Awards.BAFTA.org |access-date=11 April 2019}}</ref>
<blockquote>"Damien is completely devious. He'd sell his grandmother to get a good story, and it's all done under the guise of the public's right to know. He's such a charlatan. He showed you could stage your own news just with a teddy bear strategically placed at a disaster. The character's an absolute monster."<ref name="damien">[http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/on-air-no-more-mr-nice-guy-1180789.html On Air: No more Mr Nice Guy, ''The Independent'', 26 Oct 1998]</ref></blockquote>


In 1996 he starred in a British-made international feature film, ''[[Brassed Off]]'', about a brass band in Grimley, a fictional [[Yorkshire]] [[coal mining|colliery]] town where the mines are being shut down by the [[Tory]] government in the name of progress.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Brassed+Off.-a019757622|title=Brassed Off. - Free Online Library|website=www.thefreelibrary.com|access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref><ref name="brassed">{{Cite web|url=http://www.urbancinefile.com.au/home/view.asp?a=380&s=interviews|title=Urban Cinefile TOMPKINSON, STEPHEN: Brassed Off!|website=www.urbancinefile.com.au|access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref>
<blockquote>"We recorded the show live in front of an audience on a Wednesday. Then, on the Thursday, they edited and two of the cast came in to do the voice-overs on the end titles with Thursday's gags and it went on air that night. It was a ground-breaking show, and that was all down to the writers [[Andy Hamilton]] and [[Guy Jenkin]]."<ref name="allswell" /></blockquote>


In 2000, he played the role of Dezmond Blanche in the bleakly satirical film ''[[Hotel Splendide (2000 film)|Hotel Splendide]]''.<ref name="splendide">[http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/delighted-to-find-a-splendide-new-role-in-a-world-of-hype-stephen-tompkinson-remains-one-of-the-lads-1.217692 Delighted to find a Splendide new role, ''Herald Scotland,'' 19 September 2000]</ref>
====''All Quiet on the Preston Front''====


In February 2012, he filmed his first lead role in a feature film titled ''Harrigan'', described on its 2013 release in Britain as having "a thin budget and cartoonish script".<ref>{{cite news |work=The Guardian |date=19 September 2013 |title=Harrigsn&nbsp;– review |first=Steve |last=Rose |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/sep/19/harrigan-review |access-date=5 October 2013}}</ref><ref>[http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/entertainment-leisure/cinema/2012/01/24/harrigan-hits-the-screen-at-last-61634-30184853/ Harrigan hits the screen at last, ''GazetteLive'', 24 January 2012] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609012147/http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/entertainment-leisure/cinema/2012/01/24/harrigan-hits-the-screen-at-last-61634-30184853/ |date=9 June 2012 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.baitroomfilm.com/about_arthur_mckenzie.php Arthur McKenzie: Biography]</ref>
Stephen was a workaholic in the finest sense of the word. The recognition of receiving a prestigious award only spurred him on to go eagerly after other parts. In 1994, he was Private Simon 'Spock' Matlock, a history teacher and intellectual in the first series (six episodes) of ''[[All Quiet on the Preston Front]]'', written by [[Tim Firth]] and set in Lancashire. It was a [[Bbc|BBC]] comedy drama about a group of friends in the fictional town of Roker Bridge, and their links to the local [[Territorial Army (United Kingdom)|Territorial Army]] infantry platoon. Stephen decided not to reprise his role as Spock in the second series due to other commitments, so [[Alistair McGowan]] was hired in his place.<ref>[http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/tv/preston_front/about/ British Comedy Guide: About ''All Quiet on the Preston Front'', undated]</ref>


===Stage===
Just across the [[Irish Sea]], however, in the tiny village of [[Avoca, County Wicklow|Avoca]] in [[Ireland]]'s [[County Wicklow]], Stephen would soon act out the role that would catapult him to television fame and make him one of the UK's most beloved TV actors and a household name.
Tompkinson has said repeatedly that he enjoys the challenge of mixing television and film roles with live stage productions.{{citation needed|date=October 2013}} He has appeared on stage in London's [[West End theatre|West End]] and in theatres across the UK. Of the 1992 production of Michael Wall's ''[[Women Laughing]]'' at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Alan Hulme of the ''[[Manchester Evening News]]'' described the cast as "superb....and the acting has the shocking eloquence of picture postcards in acid."<ref>[http://www.royalexchange.co.uk/history/1992/WOMEN%20LAUGHING.htm ''Women Laughing'' by Michael Wall, 30 April – 16 May 1992]</ref> And ''The Independent'' described ''The End of the Food Chain'' (1994) at the [[Stephen Joseph Theatre]] in Scarborough as "excellent" and "vividly acted."<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre--all-shirk-and-low-pay-paul-taylor-on-a-new-comedy-by-tim-firth-at-the-stephen-joseph-theatre-scarborough-1398719.html THEATRE / All shirk and low pay, ''The Independent'', 8 January 1994]</ref>


2003 saw him starring as Mortimer Brewster, along with [[Michael Richards]] of ''[[Seinfeld]]'' fame, in ''[[Arsenic and Old Lace (play)|Arsenic and Old Lace]]'' at [[Strand Theatre (Novello)|The Strand Theatre]] in London. The part required him to deliver his lines in a New York accent. One reviewer commented, "The fact that many American audience members...assumed that Stephen was a bone fide American confirms the authenticity of his twang."<ref name="arsenic">[http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/news/backstage-pass/article/item71477/stephen-tompkinson/ Official London Theatre: Stephen Tompkinson, undated]</ref>
====''Ballykissangel''====


In 2007, he toured in ''[[Charley's Aunt]]'', playing the role of Donna Lucia D'Alvadorez. In a review in the British Theatre Guide Sheila Connor said:
From 1996 to 1998 he portrayed, in ''[[Ballykissangel]]'', the struggles of a young English Roman Catholic priest assigned as [[curate]] to a church in Ireland's 'back of beyond'. Father Peter Clifford tries earnestly and with great sincerity to serve and be accepted by the rural Irish community, despite facing many obstacles and temptations that cause him to question his vocation. His co-star for three phenomenally successful series was [[Dervla Kirwan]], who played the feisty publican, Assumpta Fitzgerald.
<blockquote>This is Stephen Tompkinson as you have never seen him before&nbsp;– hilarious even before he dons the frock. His manner, voice, expression and actions are spot-on....totally uproariously funny....It is at Babb's entrance that the play really takes off, Tompkinson revealing himself to be an inspired comic genius to add to his multitude of diverse credits....A truly entertainingly hilarious performance, and it is to be hoped that Tompkinson will treat us to more of the same.<ref name="aunt">[http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/charleysaunt-rev ''Charley's Aunt'', ''British Theatre Guide'', undated]</ref></blockquote>


In 2008, he played the deeply sinister and complex lead character of Vindice in the [[Jacobean era|Jacobean]] bloodbath ''[[The Revenger's Tragedy]]'' at the [[Royal Exchange, Manchester|Royal Exchange Theatre]] in Manchester. He felt sympathy for the character and explained why the play appealed to him:
Stephen relates how he got the job:
<blockquote>He's not a villain, he's an anti-hero, really. You can see he has been wronged. The audience get to be voyeurs and enjoy watching him get his retribution. It's the black-and-white morality of the play, its bloodthirsty nature, that appealed to me. The way that things are dealt with, there was no red tape: it was out with the poison or the sword if you were wronged.<ref name="revenger">[https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/the-revengers-tragedy-royal-exchange-manchester-834546.html The Revenger's Tragedy, Royal Exchange, Manchester, ''The Independent'', 27 May 2008]</ref></blockquote>
<blockquote>"When I first got the scripts it really did leap off the page as being something very different. I went along for the audition on the Wednesday afternoon. Got home about 4 o'clock and then 5 o'clock there was a phone call saying 'would I fly over to [[Dublin]] that night to [[screen test]] the next morning for it'. Got another two scripts given to me that night and read them, and was even more excited by how the story developed and how the character developed. So I didn't sleep a wink, as I was that desperate to get on and try and get this job. So I screen tested the next morning at 10 o'clock. By 12 o'clock I was back at the airport and phoned my agent and found out I got the job, which I was delighted about. Flew back to London, packed my bags, flew back to Dublin on the Sunday and started on the Monday morning. It was that quick &mdash; a complete whirlwind, which worked well for the character. He finds himself as a fish out of water, and I was finding my feet at the same time as the character was in the programme."<ref name="ballykissangel">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3088Eppl48&feature VIDEO: Ballykissangel Behind The Scenes &ndash; Part One, YouTube, uploaded 16 May 2007]</ref></blockquote>


In 2009, he toured in ''Sign of the Times'', playing the character of Frank Tollit, who has spent the past 25 years putting up letters on buildings but dreams of becoming a novelist. His colleague Alan (Tom Shaw), 30 years his junior, wants to be a rock star. Tompkinson said, "The play is a comedy but much more. It is about having dreams and ambition; it's about happiness and failure. Frank's good at his job; he does enjoy it, but he has bigger dreams. I think everyone will be able to relate to it."<ref name="sign">[https://archive.today/20130420034411/http://www.epsomguardian.co.uk/leisure/4317013.Living_the_Dream/ Living the Dream, ''Epsom Guardian'', 24 April 2009]</ref>
And from Director Paul Harrison's point of view:
<blockquote>"When we were casting for Fr. Peter we saw an awful lot of people, and an awful lot of people screen tested for it...a lot of very good people, and there were a lot of contenders. Stephen walked through the door and everybody to a man said 'There's your priest.' Everybody."<ref name="ballykissangel" /></blockquote>


When [[Shaun Prendergast]], who is a friend, wrote ''Faith and Cold Reading'' he created the part of a villain called Freddie the Suit for Tompkinson. The staging of that play at the [[Live Theatre Company|Live Theatre]] in Newcastle in February–March 2011 is his most recent stage run.<ref name="northeast" />
At its height, ''Ballykissangel'' commanded UK ratings of 14-15 million viewers weekly.<ref name="barb" /> It also aired in [[Australia]] and on PBS affiliates in the U.S., as well as other countries. Fans traveled from all over by the busload to visit the village of Avoca while filming was in progress. The show became a tabloid sensation, especially when it was revealed that the co-stars had begun a relationship in real life during the break between filming of Series 1 and 2.


Tompkinson made his musical theatre debut in London's West End in the lead role of [[King Arthur]] in [[Monty Python]]'s ''[[Spamalot]]'' at the [[Playhouse Theatre]] 20 November 2012.<ref>[https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/stephen-tompkinson-to-play-king-arthur-in-spamalot Stephen Tompkinson to play King Arthur in Spamalot, ''LondonTheatre.co.uk'', 22 October 2012]</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/165506/british-tv-favorite-stephen-tompkinson-on-donning-king-arthurs-crown-in-a-rebooted-west-end-spamalot/|title=British TV Favorite Stephen Tompkinson on Donning King Arthur's Crown in a Rebooted West End Spamalot|website=Broadway.com|access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref>
The pair decided mutually to leave the show at the end of its third season because they felt their storyline had "run a very full and natural course."<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/I+wept+as+my+Dervla+filmed+tragic+death+scene%3b+Ballykissangel...-a061049896 I wept as my Dervla filmed tragic death scene; Ballykissangel couple's sad farewell, ''The Mirror (London)'', 12 Dec 1997]</ref> Despite advance warning, viewers were still horrified when ''Ballykissangel'' creator and writer [[Kieran Prendiville]] wrote out Ms. Kirwan's role by having her die in a shockingly tragic accident in "The Reckoning," the penultimate episode of the third series. Even though Dervla wanted her character to be killed,<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/I+nodded+off+on+the+mortuary+slab...but+was+so+happy+Assumpta%27s+gone.-a060653555 I nodded off on the mortuary slab...but was so happy Assumpta's gone, ''Sunday Mirror (London)'', 3 May 1998]</ref> it was extremely disturbing to the fans &mdash; who had been following the pair's evolving relationship attentively for three seasons &mdash; to have Peter and Assumpta's story shattered so abruptly and with such devastating finality, within a mere few minutes.


In 2018, he played Yvan in the UK tour of [[Art (play)|''Art'']], having previously played the role at the [[Wyndham's Theatre]] in [[West End theatre|London's West End]] in 2000.
When a fan questioned Kieran Prendiville about this, he replied, "Looking back, I think you're right. We didn't give them enough time to enjoy their love and to explore everyone's reaction....Sorry...I think we just got it wrong."<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/ballykissangel/interview_kieran02.shtml Kieran Prendiville, creator of ''Ballykissangel'', answers your questions, ''Ballykissangel Examiner'' (fictional), BBC Website]</ref> It was equally, if not more, difficult for Stephen: "The tears were real enough. Seeing the woman you love stretched out dead in front of you is a terrible thing. There was no acting involved on my part in that scene."<ref name="oktoberfilm" />


During the Christmas 2018 season he played [[Ebenezer Scrooge]] in [[Jack Thorne|Jack Thorne's]] new adaptation of [[A Christmas Carol (2017 play)|''A Christmas Carol'']] at [[The Old Vic|The Old Vic, London]].
====''Oktober''====


In 2019 he is touring a production of Willy Russell's Educating Rita, co-starring with Jessica Johnson. This has been very well received by both critics and audiences.
In 1998 Stephen starred as Jim Harper in the three-part [[ITV]] psychological thriller ''Oktober'', about a naive English teacher at a posh school in [[Switzerland]] who unwittingly gets embroiled in the dodgy deals of a multinational drug company. Jim's life turns into a nightmare (literally) when he becomes a guinea pig in the trials of a new mind-altering drug. The action called for plenty of [[stunt|stunts]], which Stephen did himself. Some of the shooting was done near [[Chamonix]] at 12,000 feet in the [[French Alps]]. "I think 23 members of the crew were ill and had to wear oxygen masks," he said. "That included the nurse, which was a little disturbing. At one point we lost three out of four of the cameramen."<ref name="oktoberfilm">[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/ALL-ACTION+HERO%3b+OKTOBER+Thursday+ITV+9pm.-a060689252 All-Action Hero: OKTOBER, ''The Mirror (London)'', 28 Mar 1998]</ref> Then he spent two days at sea level with his character fighting for his life in the freezing cold water of the [[English Channel]].
<blockquote>"I grabbed this project because I'd never been asked to do anything like this before. And the chance to do stunts was one reason it was so appealing. As soon as I read the script I knew there hadn't been anything like this on British TV for a very long time. It has elements of ''[[The 39 Steps (1959 film)|The 39 Steps]]'' running through it. It asks how an ordinary person manages to deal with a set of quite extraordinary events.</blockquote>


===Presenter===
<blockquote>"I hadn't done any stunts before because no one had asked me. It was all new and great fun to do. I loved it, I was like a kid in a sweet shop....Just knowing the show would have ground to a halt if I'd felt a bit woozy spurred me on. There was a lot of responsibility attached to what I was doing. A [[stunt man]] can look a bit naff. If the audience sees that I'm doing these things, I think they connect a lot more easily."<ref name="oktoberfilm" /></blockquote>
Tompkinson has hosted or narrated a number of other UK television programs, including a [[FIFA]] ''100 Years of Football'' documentary. In 1999, he presented the BBC2 documentary ''Great Railway Journeys: Singapore to Bangkok,'' part of Series 4 of the popular ''[[Great Railway Journeys]]'' travel documentaries that aired over many years in the UK and on PBS in the U.S.<ref name="lifetravel">{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/my-life-in-travel-stephen-tompkinson-actor-2178835.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/my-life-in-travel-stephen-tompkinson-actor-2178835.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=My life In Travel: Stephen Tompkinson, actor|date=8 January 2011|website=The Independent|access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref>


In 2009, he took part in the documentary, ''Stephen Tompkinson's Great African Balloon Adventure'', a three-part series inspired by [[Jules Verne]]'s first novel ''[[Five Weeks in a Balloon]]''. It followed Tompkinson and his guide, [[hot air ballooning]] expert Robin Batchelor, as they travelled 6,108 miles in six weeks from coast to coast, above and on the ground in [[Tanzania]], [[Rwanda]], [[Zambia]], [[Botswana]] and [[Namibia]]. The series aired on ITV in the UK in June 2009 and was later distributed by American Public Television in the U.S.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://aptonline.org/catalog.nsf/vLinkTitle/GREAT+AFRICAN+BALLOON+ADVENTURE+THE|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120526233524/http://aptonline.org/catalog.nsf/vLinkTitle/GREAT+AFRICAN+BALLOON+ADVENTURE+THE|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 May 2012|title=GREAT AFRICAN BALLOON ADVENTURE, THE {{!}} American Public Television|date=26 May 2012|access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref> The African balloon series was well received, and ITV commissioned a three-part follow-up series that aired on ITV1 in 2010, titled ''Stephen Tompkinson's Australian Balloon Adventure''.
<blockquote>"It's the nearest I've ever come to action hero territory....The worst moment was hanging on to the outside of a train, held up only by a wire harness which was fed through my flies! There's a very authentic look of fear of my face. I was beaten up regularly, electrocuted and stabbed. I was usually well padded up, but still ended up bruised all over, and I smashed my knee quite badly when I went hurtling into some rocks in the English Channel. It was very exciting and great to be able to do something different."<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Revealed%3a+Assumpta%27s+Ballykiss-off%3b+QUESTION+OF+FAITH...+Stephen+with...-a060749861 Revealed: Stephen in his new role in Oktober, ''Sunday Mercury (Birmingham), 8 Feb 1998]</ref><ref name="oktober">[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/One+day+I'm+an+Irish+village+priest%2c+the+next+I'm+on+the+run......-a060659055 One day I'm an Irish village priest, the next I'm on the run..., ''Sunday Morning (London), 18 Jan 1998]</ref></blockquote>


====''Grafters''====
===Narrator/voice-over===
He has done a variety of [[voice-over]] work, including adverts,<ref>[http://www.castaway.org.uk/clients/voices/stto.htm Steve Tompkinson, voice-over credits, undated]</ref> audio books, and narration. His many adverts include{{citation needed|date=October 2013}} BT Childline, British Midland, Motorola, Alton Towers, Comet, Eurostar, Laphroaig Whisky, Mercury & Kwiksave, Bulmers Cider, Tetley Tea and the [[People's Dispensary for Sick Animals]].<ref>[http://www.marketingmagazine.co.uk/news/rss/657699/Direct-Choice-PDSA/ Direct Choice: PDSA, 16 May 2007]</ref><ref>[http://www.pdsa.org.uk/about-us/media-pr-centre/news/782_pdsa-creates-animal-magic! PDSA creates animal magic!, undated] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007043431/http://www.pdsa.org.uk/about-us/media-pr-centre/news/782_pdsa-creates-animal-magic! |date=7 October 2013 }}</ref>


His narrated TV programmes and shows include ''[[Little Red Tractor]]'',<ref name="boro" /> ''Trail of Guilt: Harold Shipman: Addicted to Murder'' (2000), ''When Snooker Ruled the World'' (2002), ''A Band for Britain'' (2010)<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Band for Britain[08/03/2010] (2010) |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8dcdce97 |access-date=2023-06-07 |website=BFI |language=en}}{{dead link|date=October 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> and ''[[Choccywoccydoodah]]'' (2014).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/episode/c44r5w/choccywoccydoodah--series-5---1-choccywoccydoodah-starstruck-wesley-snipes|title=Choccywoccydoodah|date=26 June 2023 |publisher=Radio Times}}</ref> In addition, he has narrated numerous audiobooks.
Also in 1998, and again in 1999, Stephen co-starred with [[Robson Green]] in two series of ''[[Grafters]]'', about two [[Geordie]] laborers who attempt to go into business together renovating an old house owned by a pair of [[Yuppies]] in London. Trevor (played by Stephen) is a bit of a bumbler who's struggling with a disintegrating marriage, while Joe (Green) is a divorced and inveterate womanizer. Episodes of ''Grafters'' consistently received ratings of between 9 to 11.5 million viewers.<ref name="barb">[http://www.barb.co.uk/report/weekly-top-programmes-overview?_s=3 Broadcasting Audience Research Board (BARB) Weekly Top 30 Programmes]</ref> About his character, he said:
<blockquote> "Trevor is an old-fashioned, decent character....His brother Joe (Robson) thinks more on his feet and lives by his wits. Trevor gives Joe moral guidance, while Joe pulls Trevor through when he is out of his depth. [I have] an older brother John....We are very close. Subconciously, I have probably been bringing that to work. Like Trevor and Joe, we are always there for each other too."<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Celebrity+questionnaire%3a+Stephen+Tomkinson%3b+STEPHEN+TOMPKINSON+TALKS...-a060651141 Celebrity questionnaire: Stephen Tompkinson, ''Sunday Mirror (London)'', 18 Oct 1998]</ref></blockquote>


===Director===
James Rampton of ''[[The Independent]]'' wrote:
In 2006, Tompkinson made his directing debut in the Midlands, at the helm of the BBC1 afternoon drama ''The Lightning Kid''. He was shadowed by a film crew making the documentary ''Director's Debut: Stephen Tompkinson's Story'' that aired immediately prior to the drama, with the intent of revealing the challenges faced by a new director.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4524972.stm Actor Tompkinson directs TV drama, ''BBC News: Entertainment'', 13 December 2005]</ref>
<blockquote>"It is Tompkinson who &mdash; despite having the less showy part &mdash; really catches the eye. In the shadow of a more successful brother and a domineering wife, he precisely captures an air of despondent, hen-pecked resignation. Like [[Eeyore]], he seems to be pursued by his own personal raincloud. Nobody does defeated better. Tompkinson is an actor who's become a winner by playing the loser....Trevor can be added to the actor's growing gallery of characters whom viewers watch and think, 'I know that bloke.'"<ref name="damien" /></blockquote>


==Other involvements==
====''Shades''====
Tompkinson has supported various causes by providing promotional videos or voiceovers. These include a fundraising effort toward research to find a cure for [[Duchenne muscular dystrophy|Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)]]<ref>[http://joiningjack.org/supporters/stephen-tompkinson.aspx VIDEO: Stephen Tompkinson, JoiningJack Appeal] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120827002824/http://joiningjack.org/supporters/stephen-tompkinson.aspx |date=27 August 2012 }}</ref> and a financial appeal by [[Chester Zoo]]<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Actor Stephen Tomkinson gives his backing to Chester Zoo's £225m Heart of Africa biodome project |url=https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/actor-stephen-tomkinson-gives-backing-5219338 |work=Chester Chronicle |date=2 July 2009 |access-date=11 April 2019}}</ref> He has also supported causes such as the [[Westminster]] Carers [[Time Banking|Time Bank]]<ref>[http://westcarers.org.uk/wcs/blog/2012/03/02/time-bank-lunch-a-resounding-success/ Carers Time Bank lunch a resounding success, 2 March 2012] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006101148/http://westcarers.org.uk/wcs/blog/2012/03/02/time-bank-lunch-a-resounding-success/ |date=6 October 2013 }}</ref> and, in 2008, he became an Ambassador for [[Project African Wilderness]] (PAW), a not-for-profit organisation that seeks to protect and restore the [[Mwabvi Wildlife Reserve]] in [[Malawi]].<ref>[http://www.freesun.be/news/index.php/join-the-mawabvi-ordeal-and-save-a-part-of-africas-wilderness/ Join the Mwabvi ordeal and save a part of Africa's wilderness, ''Freesun News'', Brussels, 28 September 2008] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006113048/http://www.freesun.be/news/index.php/join-the-mawabvi-ordeal-and-save-a-part-of-africas-wilderness/ |date=6 October 2013 }}</ref>


In February 2012, Tompkinson supported the launch of a foundation established by Robbie Elliot, the former Newcastle United footballer who had helped Tompkinson improve his fitness for filming ''Harrigan''. Elliott was proposing to complete a charity bicycle ride to raise funds for the [[Bobby Robson|Sir Bobby Robson Foundation]] and [[Breakthrough Breast Cancer]].<ref>[http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2012/02/16/stephen-tompkinson-lends-support-to-bike-for-bobby-event-84229-30342979/#ixzz1xlgV7O78 Stephen Tompkinson lends support to Bike For Bobby event, ''GazetteLive'', 16 February 2010] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120420111046/http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2012/02/16/stephen-tompkinson-lends-support-to-bike-for-bobby-event-84229-30342979/ |date=20 April 2012 }}</ref> Stories captured along the ride&nbsp;– from [[Lisbon]] to Newcastle&nbsp;– will be made into a documentary narrated by Tompkinson and premiered in London in late 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/robbie-elliott-prepares-epic-cycling-1371603|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505135457/http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/robbie-elliott-prepares-epic-cycling-1371603|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 May 2013|title=Robbie Elliott prepares for epic cycling challenge - Chronicle Live|date=5 May 2013|website=archive.is|access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref>
Stephen and Dervla Kirwan worked together again in 1999 on the TV version of Tim Firth's ''The Flint Street Nativity.'' And in 2001, they co-starred in the mini-series ''[[Shades (TV series)|Hereafter]]'', which never actually aired in the UK but was released on DVD under the title ''[[Shades (TV series)|Shades]]'' in the United States and Canada in 2012. It is a touching and gentle drama about two mismatched souls, Mark Jessop and Maeve O'Sullivan, who die suddenly &mdash; one in a car accident and the other during a routine medical procedure &mdash; but find themselves still in this world. They are thrown together in a quirky but poignant afterlife that explores what it means to have a chance to help, or hinder, those left behind.<ref>[http://www.acornmedia.com/press/Shades.cfm ''Shades,'' starring Dervla Kirwan (Ballykissangel) and Stephen Tompkinson, released 14 Feb 2012]</ref>


In late 2011, he recorded an advert for [[Text Santa]], a charity initiative set up by ITV to support nine UK charities at Christmas. Stars of other ITV shows made similar adverts. In January 2012, it was announced that £4,120,000 was raised for the various charities.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9Nhp4Wn6xc Text Santa Advert, 2011]</ref>
Within that central premise, the six-part mini-series manages to cover several serious sub-themes with wit, slightly edgy humour, and pathos. Mark and Maeve help a long-married elderly couple who are facing death find redemption by exploring the meaning of honesty and forgiveness in their relationship. Mark helps a young couple on the brink of marriage and commitment to appreciate and embrace the blessings in their lives. A young nanny learns to accept responsibility for the unintended outcome of a relationship with her married employer. Throughout, Mark agonizes over being able to approach the children he left behind, while being unable to truly bridge the gap between life and death. Finally, the unexpected ending touches on the need to accept the changes life thrusts upon us and let go in order to allow ourselves &mdash; and our loved ones &mdash; to move forward.


Over the years he has participated in [[Comic Relief]]'s Red Nose Day. In 2001, he was one of the team describing the work the charity does in Britain, helping victims of early [[Alzheimer's disease|Alzheimer's]] or teenagers who are HIV positive.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/discussion/comic-relief-red-nose-day-in-general/229506/ |title=£22 Million To Get Your Knickers Off? Comic Relief (Red Nose Day) in general, 17 March 2001 |access-date=19 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006061615/http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/discussion/comic-relief-red-nose-day-in-general/229506/ |archive-date=6 October 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1997, Tompkinson and Kirwan did a Comic Relief sketch titled ''Ballykissdibley''&nbsp;– with Dawn French and the cast of [[The Vicar of Dibley]]&nbsp;– in which they played their ''Ballykissangel'' characters, Fr. Peter Clifford and Assumpta Fitzgerald.<ref>[http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/tv/the_vicar_of_dibley/episodes/1997/1/ Comic Relief Special – Ballykissdibley, 14 March 1997]</ref>
====''In Deep''====


==Personal life==
Also in 2001, Stephen co-starred with ''[[Heartbeat (UK TV series)|Heartbeat]]'' star [[Nick Berry]] in the mini-series ''In Deep'', as part of [[BBC One|BBC1]]'s Crime Doubles season. The promotional material described his performance as "Tompkinson as you have never seen him before."<ref name="indeep" /> Stephen agreed with that assessment: "''In Deep'' is a very gritty drama and not the kind of thing that I'm normally associated with" &mdash; a noteworthy understatement, to be sure! Not before or since has Stephen even come close to a television role that required him to infiltrate a paedophile network in which he was obliged to act as one of them, or in one shocking scene commit a murder in cold blood. He admits:
He was married to Celia Anastasia and subsequent to the couple's divorce he became engaged to ''Ballykissangel'' co-star [[Dervla Kirwan]]. He then married Nicci Taylor, with whom he has a daughter, Daisy Ellen.<ref name="Daily Mirror1">{{cite news|last1=Randall|first1=Tim|title=Interview: Stephen Tompkinson - Daisy's My Ballykissangler|url=https://advance-lexis-com.rpa.laguardia.edu/enwiki/api/permalink/4c11aa25-f6b0-4882-ad91-e550fef322b5/?context=1516831|access-date=27 May 2018|work=Daily Mirror|date=19 August 2001}}{{subscription required|s}}</ref> It was announced in December 2006 that they had separated and would divorce.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.standard.co.uk/news/ballysplitangel-for-stephen-tompkinsons-five-year-marriage-7201782.html|title=Ballysplitangel for Stephen Tompkinson's five-year marriage|date=16 December 2006|website=Evening Standard|access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref>
<blockquote>"I thought the powers that be would come in and try to sanitise and change that ending but they didn't. I think if the audience is expecting ''Ballykissangel'' or ''Grafters'' they're in for a surprise. This is not just another police show; it was seat-of-the-pants stuff for us and the dramatic
possibilities are endless."<ref name="indeep">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1174103.stm Tompkinson goes In Deep, ''BBC News: Entertainment'', 18 Feb 2001]</ref></blockquote>


He is an avid cricket fan. He once said that if he wasn't an actor he "wouldn't mind travelling the world as a cricket commentator, enjoying endless summers."<ref name="northeastlife">{{Cite web|url=https://www.northeastlifemag.co.uk/home|title=Home|website=North East Life|access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref> In 2008 he wrote an article for ''[[The Wisden Cricketer]]'' about [[Darren Gough]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/368733.html|title=My dazzling mate|date=11 September 2008|website=Cricinfo|access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref>
Writer [[Peter Jukes]], spent weeks with real-life undercover police officers that infiltrate hard-core criminal operations, in order to find out what life is really like for them. Stephen was intrigued by the element of acting that underpins their life-threatening work.
<blockquote>"There's only about 30 of these officers in this country, and they've got no fixed abode and no safety net when things go wrong. It's terrifying really. They're always acting, pretending to be somebody else. I found that fascinating &mdash; that here was a real job with lives at risk, but where
they act all the time. So ''In Deep'' is sort of a drama within a drama. It's not a formulaic cop show &mdash; it twists and turns and leads the audience down dark alleys."<ref name="indeep" /></blockquote>


===Legal issues===
When ''In Deep'' returned for a second series, he said:
On 10 August 2022, Tompkinson pleaded not guilty to inflicting [[grievous bodily harm]] for allegedly punching a drunken man causing trouble outside his home in [[Whitley Bay]] in the early hours of the morning and causing him to fall and suffer a [[fractured skull]]. At the subsequent trial, Tompkinson was found not guilty and acquitted on 11 May 2023.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-65548524 | title=Stephen Tompkinson trial: Actor found not guilty of grievous bodily harm | work=BBC News | date=11 May 2023 }}</ref>
<blockquote>"It's not for softies. For Nick and [me] it was all there on the page &mdash; it would have been well-nigh impossible to research it, because if you're an undercover cop, you're hardly likely to talk to a journalist. It's a life of treble deceit for those guys, because they have to lie to their friends and families about what they're doing, they have to lie to their fellow officers in a lot of cases, and they also have to lie &mdash; naturally enough &mdash; to the people they are trying to nail.</blockquote>


==Filmography==
<blockquote>"There's a lot of action in this series and it was an extremely demanding schedule. There was one stunt when we appeared to blow up half of [[Liverpool]], a scene where I have to come out of a pub and go to a phone box and then the building explodes. The force of the explosion was such that instead of a few windows going up, three storeys went. Another time, I had to be bound, gagged and bundled into a car boot and then the car was sent off to the metal crusher plant. That was the day my mother decided to visit the set. I think she'd like me to play somewhat softer parts &mdash; like ''Lucky Jim''."<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Truly%2c+madly...+In+Deeply.-a096878875 Truly, madly... In Deeply, ''Sunday Mail (Glasgow)'', 26 Jan 2003]</ref></blockquote>
===Television===

{| class="wikitable"
''In Deep'' was a gamble at an important point in Stephen's career. His physical appearance changed radically in every episode, and it certainly was not the gentle, easy-to-watch, heartwarming comedy-drama he had been seen in for the past several years. Rather, he commented, "This is a drama that requires a lot of work, figuring a way through all the lies and misinformation that the two [characters] themselves are dealing with. But I think that will draw the audience in."<ref name="indeep" />
|-

! Year !! Title !! Role !! Other notes
====''Bedtime''====
|-

| 1987 || ''[[All at No 20]]'' || Police Constable || Episode: "The Prowler"
Rarely a year went by that didn't see Stephen in more than one TV drama, and 2001 was no exception. That autumn ''[[Digital Spy]]'', a British entertainment and media news website, praised the BBC for "attracting the very best of writing talent...with a fantastic slate of new stories and great classic adaptations." As viewers got ready for bed, BBC1 invited them to enter the real-time late-night world of three fictional neighbours (couples). Written by Andy Hamilton of ''Drop the Dead Donkey'' fame, ''Bedtime'' was a comedy drama that aired for three seasons. Stephen and [[Claire Skinner]] appeared as a couple in Series 1, which aired August and September 2001, along with [[Timothy West]], [[David Gillespie]], [[Emma Pierson]], and [[Meera Syal]].
|-

| rowspan="2"|1988 || ''[[Never the Twain]]'' || Darran || Episode: "Fasten Your Seat Belts"
It was set in the bedrooms of three adjoining terrace houses &mdash; with poor sound proofing &mdash; in an ordinary London suburb. Each episode gave a glimpse into how each couple communicated at the end of their day. In the case of Stephen and Claire's characters &mdash; Paul and Sarah Newcombe &mdash; the emphasis was more on drama than comedy. They portrayed a young couple trying to cope with a constantly crying new-born child. To add fuel to the fire, Sarah struggled with post-natal depression and suspicions that Paul was having a fling with his secretary. Paul, growing increasingly unable to comfort his wife or satisfy his demanding boss, has the brilliant idea that hosting a dinner party for his co-workers will help Sarah better understand his world and take her mind off her own troubled thoughts. But things turn out quite differently than expected!<ref>[http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/feature/a3536/bbc-one-autumn-schedule.html BBC One Autumn schedule, ''Digital Spy'', 14 Aug 2001]</ref><ref>[http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/03/03/1078191378580.html The Age: Entertainment/TV & Radio (Australia), 4 Mar 2004>]</ref>
|-

| ''[[Shelley (TV series)|The Return of Shelley]]'' || PC Knight || Episode: "Why Me?"
====''Ted and Alice''====
|-

| rowspan="6"|1989 || ''[[After Henry (TV series)|After Henry]]'' || Julian || Episode: "Intellectual Aspirations"
In 2002, Stephen appeared as the character 'Ted' with co-star [[Dawn French]] in the comedy drama mini-series ''Ted and Alice'', proving that without a trick of the light he could easily switch back to playing a quirky comedic role. He called it "an unabashedly romantic story."<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/A+deep+and+meaningful+police+role.-a082243956 A deep and meaningful police role, ''Liverpool Echo'', 21 Jan 2002]</ref> Ted is an alien who comes to Earth to find love. His spaceship lands in the [[Lake District]], where Alice &mdash; who works in the local tourist office &mdash; has been dreaming of finding her Mr. Darcy. Other cast members included [[Eleanor Bron]], [[David Troughton]], [[Owen Teale]], and [[David Walliams]].<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/03_march/08/tedandalice.shtml Love that is out of this world, BBC Press Release, 8 Mar 2002]</ref> ([http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/previews/index_ted_alice.shtml VIDEO: Clip of dance scene when Alice first sees Ted])
|-

| ''[[And a Nightingale Sang]]'' || Eric || TV movie
There have been a few blips along Stephen's upward career trajectory. In 1994, ''Downwardly Mobile'' &mdash; a Yorkshire Television sitcom about a group of Yuppies &mdash; aired for one season (7 episodes) but failed to make an impression and was not recommissioned.<ref>[http://www.phill.co.uk/comedy/mobile/index.html British TV Comedy: Downwardly Mobile, undated]</ref> In 2001, Stephen had high hopes for another sitcom, ''Mr. Charity'', that aired on BBC2, but it was panned by the critics, drew poor viewer ratings, and was axed after six episodes.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2001/dec/14/broadcasting.bbc No mercy for BBC2's Mr Charity, ''The Guardian'', 14 Dec 2001]</ref>
|-

| ''[[The Manageress]]'' || Jim Wilson || 3 episodes
====''Lucky Jim''====
|-

| ''Tales of Sherwood Forest'' || Kevin || 3 episodes
In 2003, after a long delay, ITV1 aired the mini-series ''Lucky Jim''. It was "a delightful feature-length adaptation of the classic [[Kingsley Amis]] comic novel. With floppy hair and spectacles, plus an unfashionable 1950s wardrobe of tank-tops and corduroy trousers, [Stephen] Tompkinson's look as accident-prone red brick university lecturer Jim Dixon is not the most flattering. Yet it was Tompkinson himself who liked the idea of the project so much that he bought the rights to the novel."<ref name="luckyjim">[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/lucky+HIM%3B+Stephen+Tompkinson%27s+got+a+spring+in+his+step+and+a+real...-a099548749 lucky HIM; Stephen Tompkinson's got a spring in his step and a real purpose in life, ''Western Mail (Cardiff, Wales), 3 Apr 2003]</ref> Stephen explained:
|-
<blockquote>"My agent realised ''[[Lucky Jim]]'' had been voted one of the books of the millennium, but it hadn't been adapted for a long time. The rights were available, and he thought I would be a good Jim, so we went for it. Next up, we got in touch with [[Jack Rosenthal]], the creator of ''[[London's Burning]]'', and to our delight he said he'd love to adapt ''Lucky Jim'', and from then on, I became involved in the production more than any other I've been on."<ref name="luckyjim" /></blockquote>
| ''[[Casualty (TV series)|Casualty]]'' || Tony Mitton || Episode: "[[Casualty (series 4)#ep41|Chain Reaction]]"

|-
The film had a glittering cast, including [[Keeley Hawes]] as Stephen's co-star and love interest Christine, [[Robert Hardy]], [[Helen McCrory]], [[Denis Lawson]], [[Hermione Norris]] and [[Penelope Wilton]]. It was received well by UK critics as "an endearing comedy of English culture."<ref name="luckyjim" /> Even ''[[The Guardian]]'' praised it as "deftly adapted by Jack Rosenthal....immaculately done, not least because of Stephen Tompkinson's performance as Jim, with stellar support from [the rest of the cast, especially] Helen McCrory (the latter outstanding as the simpering, slappable, lovelorn lecturer Margaret Peel)."<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2003/apr/13/features.review157 No one loves a fairy when he's 40, ''The Guardian | The Observer: Television'', 12 Apr 2003]</ref> However, it did not fare well in the ratings. While ITV dithered over its scheduling, ''Lucky Jim'' was aired by [[PBS]] on ''[[Masterpiece Theatre]]'' in the U.S. (in February 2002 before it was shown in the UK). It was so well appreciated by American critics and PBS viewers that ''Masterpiece Theatre'' reprised it in May 2003, after ITV finally got around to airing it in April of that year.
| ''Hit the Pitch'' || Andy || TV movie

|-
PBS also devoted a substantial website to the film, in which they called it "a rollicking adaptation of Kingsley Amis's first novel."<ref>[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/luckyjim/index.html ''Masterpiece Theatre: Lucky Jim'']</ref> Speaking of the film, Stephen said:
| rowspan="2"|1990 || ''[[Chancer]]'' || Markus Warton || 12 episodes
<blockquote>"What I loved about the filming of ''Lucky Jim'' was that our writer, Jack Rosenthal, was invariably around on set, and he was an invaluable source of relevant information to playing out those 1950s attitudes. ''Lucky Jim'' was an extraordinary book at the time, the strange period of history after the Second World War, with all these great expectations &mdash; although in many ways it was just a vacuum, with everyone waiting for the 60s to happen."<ref name="luckyjim" /></blockquote>
|-

| ''Made in Heaven'' || Woody || Episode: "A Fair Mix Up"
====''Marple: The Murder at the Vicarage''====
|-

| 1990—1998 || ''[[Drop the Dead Donkey]]'' || Damien Day || 66 episodes
in December 2004, Stephen appeared as Detective Inspector Slack in a new adaptation of [[Agatha Christie]]'s ''[[The Murder at the Vicarage]]''. It was an ITV / [[WGBH-TV]] (Boston) co-production that aired in the UK on ITV1, and on PBS in the U.S. as part of the long-running ''[[Mystery!]]'' series. The episode was titled ''Marple: The Murder at the Vicarage.'' The production had a star-studded cast, including [[Geraldine McEwan]] as the sharp-eyed Miss Jane Marple, [[Derek Jacobi|Sir Derek Jacobi]] as Colonel Protheroe, [[Janet McTeer]] as Anne Protheroe, as well as [[Jason Flemyng]], [[Tim McInnerny]], [[Robert Powell]], and several other prominent British actors. Speaking of his own character, DI Slack, Stephen said:
|-
<blockquote>"I think he's a bit annoyed with Miss Marple to begin with, especially the way she takes over and asks some very pertinent questions, but I think he's more than happy to take a back seat towards the end because he realizes he's more than met his match!...He's slightly on the back foot with her but quickly learns to gain respect for her and becomes deeply in awe of her marvelous talents."<ref>[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/mystery/vicarage/actors.html Mystery! &mdash; Marple: The Murder at the Vicarage, The Actors and their Roles, PBS website]</ref></blockquote>
| 1991 || ''[[Minder (TV series)|Minder]]'' || DC Johnny Park || 9 episodes

|-
====''In Denial of Murder''====
| 1992 || ''[[Boon (TV series)|Boon]]'' || Stephen Alwyn || Episode: "A Shot in the Dark"

|-
Up to this point Stephen's broad-ranging repertoire of television characters had been fictional. However, in 2004, in the BBC1 two-part drama ''In Denial of Murder'' he stepped into the world of fact-based drama and took on the mantle of attempting to portray a living person &mdash; a different type of career gamble. He took on this new challenge because he knew and had worked with writer Neil McKay before and greatly admired his scripts.<ref name="denial">[http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2004/02_february/12/denial_murder_tompkinson.shtml In Denial of Murder &mdash; Stephen Tompkinson plays Don Hale, BBC Press Pack, 12 Feb 2004]</ref>
| 1992—1994 || ''[[Shakespeare: The Animated Tales]]'' || Sir Andrew / Autolycus || Episodes: "The Winter's Tale" & "Twelfth Night"

|-
The role was that of crusading journalist Don Hale, who fought successfully to overturn what came to be seen as the longest-running miscarriage of justice in British legal history. It was the case in which Stephen Downing was convicted of murdering Wendy Sewell (played by [[Caroline Catz]]) in a Derbyshire cemetery. Mr. Downing was refused parole because he declined to accept responsibility for the crime, thus putting him 'in denial of murder'.
| rowspan="3"| 1994 || ''[[Performance (British TV series)|Performance]]'' || Philip Welch || Episode: "The Deep Blue Sea"

|-
There was controversy surrounding how the case was depicted, and Stephen himself struggled to make sense of it. When asked his opinion, he explained that although he had done research to prepare for the role, as any serious method actor would do &mdash; including visiting the actual cemetery where the crime occurred &mdash; he was merely an actor working from a script in which he had total faith and that he believed to be fair.<ref>[http://www.scotsman.com/news/tompkinson-s-in-deep-1-929927 Tompkinson's in Deep, ''Scotsman.com'', 28 Feb 2004]</ref>
| ''[[All Quiet on the Preston Front]]'' || Private Simon 'Spock' Matlock || 6 episodes
<blockquote>"Neil hasn't come down heavily on one side or the another, which you can't because it's such an ambiguous case. It's a mystery and for me that's what makes it fascinating and I hope makes it compelling and challenging viewing. What Neil's managed to pull off terrifically well is an unbiased way of telling the story. Viewers will be able to see his dramatisation of this open-ended case and judge it for themselves. It's telly for grown-ups &mdash; true to life because nothing is black and white, everything is shades of grey. One of the really important things Neil's script does is reveal the back story of Wendy Sewell, because it's really unfair for anyone just to be known as the 'Bakewell Tart'. That's an awful label."<ref name="denial" /><ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+amazing+ca+se+of+Mr+Hale%3b+World-famous+freedom+campaigner+Don...-a0113668326, ''Daily Post (Liverpool)'', 26 Feb 2004]</ref></blockquote>
|-

| ''[[Downwardly Mobile]]'' || Mark || 7 episodes
====''ShakespeaRe-told: The Taming of the Shrew''====
|-

| 1995 || ''[[Screen Two]]'' || Jeremy Craig || Episode: "[[Screen Two#A Very Open Prison|A Very Open Prison]]"
In 2005, BBC1 broadcast a series of adaptations titled ''[[Shakespeare ReTold|ShakespeaRe-Told]]'', which set the stories of four of Shakespeare's works in modern-day Britain. Stephen played Harry Kavanaugh in ''[[The Taming of the Shrew]]'', written by [[Sally Wainwright]] and directed by Dave Richards. [[Rufus Sewell]] starred as Harry's friend Petruchio with [[Shirley Henderson]] as Katherine (Kate). Harry has his eye on Kate's sister Bianca, but she puts him off by declaring that she won't marry until Kate does (believing this will never happen), so Harry sets about playing matchmaker with a twist. The BBC received many viewer comments, including: "Petruchio is portrayed so genuinely by Mr. Sewell, and his friend, Mr. Tompkinson...does such brilliant and original acting. Truly glorious!" And, "As for Stephen Tompkinson, forever the bewildered idiot, he did magnificently."<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/shakespeare/tamingoftheshrew/yourreviews.shtml ''ShakespeaRe-Told: The Taming of the Shrew", Viewer Reviews]</ref>
|-

| rowspan=2|1996 || ''Square One'' || || ABC Pilot
====''Marian, Again''====
|-

| ''[[Father Ted]]'' || Father Peter Clifford || Episode: "A Christmassy Ted"
Also in 2005, Stephen was back in ITV thriller land. ''Marian, Again'' was an exceedingly tense, dark psychological drama about the horrors that could lie within any community and just beyond anyone's front door. As Chris Bishop, he appears to enjoy a contented family life, until it is torn apart when he bumps into Marian, his former girlfriend, who disappeared &mdash; presumed dead &mdash; 15 years ago. Although the woman denies any knowledge of Chris, he is certain he's found his lost former lover, and he embarks on an obsessive quest to discover where Marian has been and what happened to her. His quest leads Chris and his family &mdash; especially his rebellious teenage daughter &mdash; into extreme, terrifying danger. [[Owen Teale]] co-starred, along with [[Kelly Harrison]] in the title role and [[Samantha Beckinsale]].
|-

| 1996—1998 || ''[[Ballykissangel]]'' || Father Peter Clifford || Series 1–3; 22 episodes
Certainly not for the faint of heart, ''Marian, Again'' averaged 5.9 million viewers over two 90-minute episodes. Thomas Sutcliffe of ''[[The Independent]]'' wrote, "''Marian, Again'' was a distinct cut above the usual run of ITV1 two-parters," and ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' called it "A seriously chilling thriller and all-round excellent piece of drama." Even the ''[[Daily Mirror]]'' said, "It’s creepy in the best possible way and a very encouraging start to ITV's autumn line-up."<ref>[http://www.companypictures.co.uk/production.aspx?id=30 ''Marian, Again'', Company Pictures, September 2005]</ref>
|-

| 1997 || ''[[The Vicar of Dibley|Ballykissdibley]]'' || Father Peter Clifford || Special
====''Prime Suspect: The Final Act''====
|-

| 1998 || ''[[Oktober (TV series)|Oktober]]'' || Jim Harper || 3 episodes
One day Stephen received an unexpected phone call. "I had a call from my agent who told me they were to film the last-ever ''[[Prime Suspect]]'' with [[Helen Mirren]]. And I said, 'Yes!' before she could finish. She said, 'There is a part you might be interested in...' and I said, 'I meant ''Yes, I'll do it,'' not ''Yes, please continue!'' I mean, here is a chance to work with one of the greatest actresses there is. Taking a part in the final ''Prime Suspect'' was the quickest decision I've ever made!"<ref>[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/primesuspect7/notes_actors.html Production Notes: Prime Suspect By The Numbers &mdash; The Actors on Their Roles: Stephen Tompkinson]</ref>
|-

| 1998—1999 || ''[[Grafters]]'' || Trevor Purvis || Series 1–2; 13 episodes
''Prime Suspect: The Final Act'' was another ITV and WGBH-TV (Boston) co-production, this time for PBS's ''Masterpiece Theatre''. It aired in October 2006 in the UK and the following month in the U.S. It was the final case for DCI Jane Tennison, and viewers watched her unravel painfully as she struggled to cope with alcoholism and the death of her father. Stephen's central role as Sean Phillips, a seeming family man and responsible headmaster with a dark secret, was deftly downplayed until the second part of the two-part drama, when the truth was revealed in a shattering confrontation. "Tompkinson's understated headmaster was suitably open-faced and creepy all at once."<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Helen's+a+Prime+talent%3b+PRIME+SUSPECT%2c+ITV%2c+Sunday.-a0153011047 Helen's a Prime talent: PRIME SUSPECT, ''Daily Record (Glasgow)'', 19 Oct 2006]</ref><ref>[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/primesuspect7/episodes.html Masterpiece Theatre &mdash; ''Prime Suspect: The Final Act'', Episode Summaries]</ref>
|-

| rowspan="2"|1999 || ''[[The Flint Street Nativity]]'' || Narrator / Tim Moyle || TV movie
PBS fittingly created a comprehensive website for DCI Tennison's last case, on which the ''[[Radio Times]]'' is quoted: "''Prime Suspect 7: The Final Act'' is a stop-you-in-your-tracks, brilliant drama that's thoughtful, multi-layered and exquisitely well acted, written and directed. It's a stunning piece of television."<ref>[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/primesuspect7/index.html ''Masterpiece Theatre &mdash; Prime Suspect 7: The Final Act'' website]</ref> The episode was rewarded with three [[Emmy Award|Emmys]] and a BAFTA TV award.
|-

| ''[[Dad (TV series)|Dad]]'' || Barry Martin || Episode: "Nemesis"
====''Wild at Heart''====
|-

| 2000 || ''Black Cab'' || Christopher || Episode: "Busy Body"
Stephen's next explosive hit &mdash; ITV drama series ''[[Wild at Heart (TV series)|Wild at Heart]]'', created by [[Ashley Pharoah]] &mdash; began airing in the UK in January 2006. It is the story of Bristol veterinarian Danny Trevanion, who relocated with his family to [[South Africa]] where they attempted to build up a successful wildlife preserve and veterinary surgery. From its very beginning ''Wild at Heart'' has been a massive success, capturing the imagination of millions of devoted fans across multiple generations for seven seasons. Its inaugural season of six episodes drew an average of nearly 10 million viewers. Over seven seasons it never dipped below 7.5 million on average, despite strong competition during Series 7 and an unexpected cast change that caused the writers to have to write out a primary actor on very short notice, due to an unforeseen circumstance.<ref>[http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/showbiz/2012/01/10/scots-actress-dawn-steele-reveals-how-she-had-to-cut-short-filming-in-africa-after-early-arrival-of-baby-coco-86908-23692025/ Scots actress Dawn Steele reveals how she had to cut short filming in Africa after early arrival of baby Coco, ''Daily Record (Glasgow)'', 10 Jan 2012]</ref>
|-

| rowspan="4"|2001 || ''[[Bedtime (TV series)|Bedtime]]'' || Paul Newcombe || 6 episodes
Wildlife vet Danny Trevanion &mdash; friend and saviour of [[vervet monkey]]s, [[cheetah]]s, [[white lion]]s, [[elephant]]s, [[Hippopotamus|hippos]], [[giraffe]]s, [[Rhinoceros|rhinos]], and even [[hyena]]s, [[Lycaon pictus|wild dogs]], and a wily old [[Afrikaner]] bloke called Anders DuPlessis (known affectionately as 'Dup') &mdash; is now one of the roles for which Stephen is best known and loved. The series co-starred [[Amanda Holden]] as Danny's wife Sarah; [[Lucy-Jo Hudson]] as his daughter; Deon Stewardson as the Trevanion family's business partner and friend; and [[Hayley Mills]] as Sarah's mother. When Amanda Holden opted to leave at the end of Series 3, her character died in a spectacular wildfire.<ref>[http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/tv_and_showbiz/s/1034547_stephen_feels_heat_in_wild Stephen feels heat in wild, ''Manchester Evening News'', 13 Jan 2008]</ref> Scottish actress [[Dawn Steele]] subsequently joined the cast and to the fans' delight officially became part of the Trevanion family when her character Alice and Danny were married at the start of Series 6. Series 7 saw [[Robert Bathurst]] and [[Jill Halfpenny]] join the cast.
|-

| ''[[Shades (TV series)|Shades]]'' || Mark Roberts || 6 episodes
Although the production schedule required Stephen to live in South Africa for about five months each year for seven years, and afforded him few opportunities to travel home because of the intense work schedule, he never tired of it.<ref name="titchmarsh">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_eBJ4VrYl0 VIDEO: Stephen Tompkinson &mdash; Alan Titchmarsh Show, February 2012]</ref>
|-
<blockquote>"It's been so rewarding, I just love it. I get more and more out of it each year, spending time around those animals and learning about them. It's just such a treat seeing them in the environment they are supposed to be in and a real privilege to share time with them."<ref>[http://www.cambridge-magazines.co.uk/magazine_features/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=424980 Red letter day, ''Cambridge Style'', April 2009]</ref></blockquote>
| ''Mr. Charity'' || Graham Templeton || 6 episodes

|-
Stephen was invited to be co-executive producer for 32 episodes of ''Wild at Heart'' that aired in 2009 to 2012, and executive producer for one episode that aired in 2012. Of this additional privilege he said:
| ''[[Bob the Builder]]'' || Tom || Episode: "A Christmas to Remember"
<blockquote>"I'm getting more involved in it and having the great fortune to be asked to be co-executive producer...allows me to be more involved in the story arcs and set ourselves new challenges each time. And we have an incredible crew who rise to those challenges each time and work harder and surprise us more and more each year."<ref>[http://www.digitalspy.com/british-tv/interviews/a233222/stephen-tompkinson-dci-banks-aftermath.html Stephen Tompkinson (DCI Banks: Aftermath), ''Digital Spy'', 17 Sep 2010]</ref></blockquote>
|-

| 2001—2003 || ''[[In Deep (TV series)|In Deep]]'' || DC Garth O'Hanlon || Series 1–3; 22 episodes
Series 7 aired January through March 2012. In April 2012 it was revealed that ITV would not commission an eighth series, despite consistently high average viewer ratings over Series 7 that held ''Wild at Heart'' firmly in ITV's top 10 programmes.<ref name="barb" /> Even hardened TV critics who closely follow ratings reports and network commissioning decisions &mdash; and may have previously sneered at the Sunday night feel-good, unashamedly family drama &mdash; seemed baffled by ITV's decision. The fans were gutted, and for weeks after the news hit complaints appeared on social networking sites [[Twitter]] and [[Facebook]].
|-

| rowspan="2"|2002 || ''Ted and Alice'' || Ted || 3 episodes
ITV at least commissioned a two-part Special that will bring the popular series and the story of the beloved Trevanion Family to a proper conclusion, since Series 7 ended on an ambiguous cliffhanger. The Special is expected to air on ITV1 at the end of 2012. A reporter asked Stephen about it at the [[2012 Cannes Film Festival]], and he responded benignly, "Now and again people need a change and it was our turn to make way for something else. We're doing a final hurrah....as a way to say goodbye to it. I'm looking forward to going back to South Africa in August [2012] for filming. The team have been like a big family."<ref>[http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/wild-at-heart-cast-claim-titanic-800128 We were sunk by Titanic, ''The Mirror'', 20 Apr 2012]</ref><ref>[http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/4328664/Wild-At-Heart-star-Stephen-Tompkinson-lands-first-lead-movie-role-as-a-copper-in-Harrigan.html Stephen has copped off... ''The Sun'', 21 May 2012]</ref>
|-

| ''Waiting for the Whistle'' || Billy Gowland || Episode: "Staying Up"
====''DCI Banks''====
|-

| 2003 || ''[[Lucky Jim (2003 film)|Lucky Jim]]'' || Jim Dixon || TV movie
In January 2010, it was announced that Stephen had been cast as [[Inspector Alan Banks|Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks]] in ''[[DCI Banks| DCI Banks: Aftermath]]'', a two-part television pilot adaptation of one of [[Peter Robinson (novelist)|Peter Robinson]]'s hugely popular crime novels. Francis Hopkinson of [[Left Bank Pictures]] said, "''Aftermath'' actually starts with the capture and death of a serial killer and it's about the ramifications of revealing who this man is. So it is a detective drama, but it starts where most detective dramas end."<ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/viewers-face-a-very-different-crime-wave-as-a-new-set-of-police-heroes-hits-the-small-screen-1958011.html Viewers face a very different crime wave as a new set of police heroes hits the small screen, ''The Independent'', 30 Apr 2010]</ref>
|-

| rowspan="3"|2004 || ''[[In Denial of Murder]]'' || [[Don Hale]] || 2 episodes
''DCI Banks: Aftermath'' drew seven million viewers, beating BBC1's ''[[Spooks]]'' in the ratings battle for the same timeslot &mdash; and proving Stephen continues to be one of the most popular leading men in Britain.<ref name="people">[http://www.people.co.uk/celebs-tv/celebrity-interview/2011/09/25/wild-at-heart-star-stephen-tompkinson-returns-as-dci-banks-in-dark-and-gritty-new-series-102039-23443290/ Wild at Heart star Stephen Tompkinson returns as DCI Banks in dark and gritty new series, ''The People'', 25 Sep 2011]</ref> As a result, ITV subsequently commissioned a six-part series that aired in 2011, consisting of three two-part adaptations of three ''DCI Banks'' novels: ''Playing with Fire'', ''Friend of the Devil'', and ''Cold is the Grave''. Customers who purchased Series 1 on iTunes gave it 4.5 stars, and said "Best program on TV at the moment," "Great TV worth watching," and "Absolutely cliff-hanging stuff, hurry up and produce more episodes!"<ref>[http://itunes.apple.com/gb/tv-season/dci-banks/id465325752?ign-mpt=uo%3D4 ''DCI Banks,'' iTunes, undated]</ref>
|-

| ''[[My Dad's the Prime Minister]]'' || Venning || Episode: "Desert Island"
Stephen's co-star for the pilot and Series 1 was [[Andrea Lowe]]. The second series, also consisting of three two-part dramas adapted from three Peter Robinson novels &mdash; ''Dry Bones That Dream'', ''Wednesday's Child'', and ''Strange Affair'' &mdash; will air in the UK in Autumn 2012. With Andrea Lowe taking maternity leave, Stephen will be joined in Series 2 by [[Doc Martin]] actress [[Caroline Catz]].<ref name="banks">[http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2012-03-20/dci-banks-to-return-for-a-new-six-part-series DCI Banks to return for a new six-part series, ''Radio Times'', 20 Mar 2012]</ref>
|-

| ''[[Agatha Christie's Marple]]'' || DI Slack || Episode: "[[The Murder at the Vicarage]]"
Prior to filming ''DCI Banks: Aftermath'', Stephen read all of Peter Robinson's books and traveled to the U.S. to spend time with Peter, so he could learn as much as possible about the character of Alan Banks. "I wanted to get as close [as possible] to the spirit of the character that he created in his
|-
books."<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTvdhFGlUfM AUDIO: Stephen Tompkinson Talks with David Stephenson from the on-location set of DCI Banks, Series 1]</ref> ([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTvdhFGlUfM&feature AUDIO clip: Interview with David Stephenson from set of DCI Banks Series 1])
| 2004—2007 || ''[[Little Red Tractor]]'' || Stan || 38 episodes

|-
Speaking of the difference between ''Wild at Heart'' and ''DCI Banks'', Stephen said:
| rowspan="4"|2005 || ''[[The Last Detective]]'' || Simon Dabney || Episode: "[[The Last Detective#Friends Reunited|Friends Reunited]]"
<blockquote>"This is very dark and a great contrast to ''Wild at Heart''. It felt like the right time to do something more serious. Having been associated with giraffes for the last five years it's quite nice to do something darker. I suppose any actor looks forward to variety in their roles. Variety is the spice of life and I'm spoilt rotten as an actor really."<ref name="people" /></blockquote>
|-

| ''[[New Tricks]]'' || Chris McConnel || Episode: "Old and Cold"
He relishes playing detective Alan Banks: "He takes everything personally. Banks is the sort of cop you'd want on your side because he will never ever let anything go. He's no supercop and he's not interested in opera or anything like that." Rather, Banks is more like Stephen's TV detective hero [[Columbo]], played by [[Peter Falk]] &mdash; dogged and dour in a crumpled raincoat. "I absolutely loved him. I loved his ordinariness. Banks is a bit like that."<ref name="people" /> "Bending the rules can prove very tempting but I think Banks' work ethic and moral code allow him to bend them, not break them."<ref>[http://www.itv.com/presscentre/theazofcrime/week35acbd/default.html The A to Z of Crime: Episode 1, ITV Press Packet, 17 Aug 2011]</ref>
|-
<blockquote>"He's certainly the most intense character I've ever played. He's completely married to his job, almost too emotionally involved for his own health really. He's a very humanitarian detective, so each murder case he investigates pushes him to the edge of breakdown. It's like doctors and police officers have to have a certain amount of detachment to do what they do, and Banks doesn't have that. There's a quote that Peter [Robinson] put in one of the books that Banks always keeps with him, a quote by [[John Donne]] the poet: 'any man's death diminishes me because I am involved in mankind'."<ref>[http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/drama/tv-news/interviews/stephen-tompkinson-my-new-character-is-intense/10262 Stephen Tompkinson: My New Character is Intense, whatsontv.co.uk, 24 Sep 2010]</ref><ref>[http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/story/2012/01/07/mystery-unfolds/ Mystery unfolds, ''The Morning Bulletin'', 12 Jan 2012]</ref></blockquote>
| ''[[Marian, Again]]'' || Chris Bevan || 2 episodes

|-
Author Peter Robinson has commended Stephen's dedication and his portrayal of Alan Banks, saying he is "impressed with his professionalism."
| ''[[Shakespeare ReTold|ShakespeaRe-told]]'' || Harry Kavanagh || Episode: "The Taming of the Shrew"
<blockquote>"Stephen's Banks is perhaps a bit more intense, angry, haunted and guilt-ridden than mine is, but it all works wonderfully....The drama is heightened, and we follow a man going through a terrible journey from a sense of failure to success of a kind....Stephen depicts that journey with great skill and economy, often suggesting far more than he shows."<ref>[http://www.shotsmag.co.uk/interview_view.aspx?interview_id=16 Peter Robinson: Bad Boy Banks]</ref></blockquote>
|-

| rowspan="2"|2006 || ''[[Dalziel and Pascoe (TV series)|Dalziel and Pascoe]]'' || Brian Fairmile || Episode: "[[List of Dalziel and Pascoe episodes#ep40|Guardian Angel]]"
Sally Haynes of the ITV Drama commissioning team said of the new series: "''DCI Banks'' is now established as a firm favourite within ITV's crime drama slate. We're delighted so many viewers are appreciating Robert Murphy’s adaptations and how the team at Left Bank Pictures are producing ''DCI Banks''."<ref name="banks" />
|-

| ''[[Prime Suspect]]'' || Sean Phillips || Episode: "The Final Act"
=== Film ===
|-

| 2006—2012 || ''[[Wild at Heart (British TV series)|Wild at Heart]]'' || Danny Trevanion || Series 1–7; 66 episodes
Stephen was barely out of drama school when he appeared in 1988 (as Stephen Duffell) with [[Ken Goodwin]] and [[Freddie Davies]] in [[Peter Chelsom]]'s 11-minute short film titled ''Treacle''. It was the tale of comedian Alfie Duffell's melodic legacy, set amid the Blackpool variety scene. The work received a 1988 BAFTA nomination in the category of Best Short Film.<ref>[http://www.bfi.org.uk/whatson/node/4603 BFI Film Forever: ''Treacle,'' undated]</ref>
|-

| 2010—2016 || ''[[DCI Banks]]'' || DCI Alan Banks || Series 1–5; 32 episodes
Although Stephen has a strong interest in feature films, and once told [[Alan Titchmarsh]] "It's always the most glamourous thing, seeing yourself up on the silver screen,"<ref name="titchmarsh" /> he has seen many British actors attempt to make the move to Hollywood. When ''[[Brassed Off]]'' (described below) was featured at the 1997 [[Sundance Film Festival]], [[Columbia Pictures]], [[Disney]], and [[Paramount Pictures]] invited Stephen to meet their casting directors. Stephen is British through and through and has a deep love and respect for the British way of life. He realised immediately, "If you want to get established [in Hollywood], you have to pack your bags and go. With the variety of parts I'm getting I feel I'm exactly where I want to be. I've no desire to go anywhere at the moment."<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/I%27M+NOT+OFF+TO+BALLYWOOD.-a061054350 I'm Not Off to Ballywood, ''The Mirror (London)'', 26 Dec 1997]</ref>
|-

| rowspan="2"|2013 || ''[[Harrigan (film)|Harrigan]]'' || DS Barry Harrigan || Pilot
====''Brassed Off''====
|-

| ''[[Truckers (2013 TV series)|Truckers]]'' || Malachi Davies || 5 episodes
The year 1996 saw Stephen make the leap from the small screen to a British-made international feature film release. ''[[Brassed Off]]'' is a rousing drama about a brass band in Grimley, a barely fictional [[Yorkshire]] [[coal mining|colliery]] town where the mines are being shut down by the [[Tory]] government in the name of progress. Director/writer [[Mark Herman]] doesn't try to make the miners heroic, but he does capture their wit, independence and basic decency.
|-

| 2014—2018 || ''[[Trollied]]'' || Brian || Series 4–7; 27 episodes
Danny ([[Pete Postlethwaite]]), the band's leader, is determined to keep them together. Danny's son Phil (played by Stephen) is badly in debt and must take work as a children's party clown to try to earn a few [[Pound sterling|pounds]], but he fails to prevent his wife and children walking out on him. The rest of the band, meanwhile, with their livelihood and community falling apart around them wonders why they should go on playing. Unexpectedly, an attractive young woman (Gloria, played by [[Tara Fitzgerald]]) arrives and soon proves she's as talented on the flugelhorn as she is beautiful. But she's also being secretly paid by the mine's management to compile a report on the advisability of continuing operations there.
|-

| rowspan="2"|2017 || ''[[The Keith and Paddy Picture Show]]'' || Quint || Episode: "Jaws"
Through his poignant script, Mark Herman portrays the town realistically through the miners' eyes. The plot is greatly enlivened by the stunning sound track, as the band plays many brass favorites. Although the film is not overtly political, Stephen (as Phil, of course) &mdash; from behind his red-nosed, multi-coloured clown costume &mdash; delivers a stinging attack on the impact of [[Tory Party]] politics &mdash; delivered in front of a group of pre-schoolers and their astonished mothers inside a church. ''Brassed Off'' is a ringing declaration of how important art is to a community.
|-

| ''[[Eric, Ernie and Me]]'' || Eddie Braben || TV movie
Speaking of his experience working on his first big-screen film, Stephen said:
|-
<blockquote>"Taking this role was one of the easiest decisions of my life. The character I play, Phil, has the most dramatic journey of all....[He] is a difficult character because he's not all that sympathetic...It’s his fault that his home life is such a mess. He ignores the problems [and] doesn’t communicate with his wife or his father, but I still had to find some sympathy for him. [It's a film that travels well], partly because of the music, but also because it could be about any small community facing a crisis. It's a really powerful script about this community, their grit, determination and the will to survive against the odds. It's also in some cases, about people who've almost thrown in the towel completely."<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Brassed+Off.-a019757622 Brassed Off, National Catholic Reporter, 5 Sep 1997]</ref><ref name="brassed" /> ([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0m_Bhiitio VIDEO: Brassed Off: The Best Bits])<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0m_Bhiitio VIDEO: Brassed Off: The Best Bits]</ref></blockquote>
| 2017—2020 || ''[[The Other One (2017 TV series)|The Other One]]'' || Mr. Shippen || 3 episodes

|-
====''Hotel Splendide''====
| rowspan="2"|2018 || ''[[The Split (TV series)|The Split]]'' || Davey McKenzie || 6 episodes

|-
His next dip into feature-length film was in 2000. Writer-director Terence Gross thought he would be right for the role of Dezmond Blanche in the bleakly satirical film ''[[Hotel Splendide (film)|Hotel Splendide]]'', also starring [[Toni Collette]] and [[Daniel Craig]]. It's "not your average low-budget British comedy-drama," and when Stephen was asked about it, he said:
| ''[[Torvill & Dean (film)|Torvill & Dean]]'' || George Torvill || TV movie
<blockquote>"It's given me various sleepless nights about why [Terry] thought I would be right for Dezmond &mdash; this psychopathic, mother-obsessed [[Norman Bates]] character &mdash; but I was delighted to do this and stop panicking that I would never work in film again. [The story] is gloriously bizarre. I thought it was very brave and terrific that Terry's imagination was going to be put into pictures. I think if people see it and don't want to go through a shower very shortly afterwards, then it hasn't worked."<ref name="splendide">[http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/delighted-to-find-a-splendide-new-role-in-a-world-of-hype-stephen-tompkinson-remains-one-of-the-lads-1.217692, Delighted to find a Splendide new role, ''Herald Scotland,'' 19 Sep 2000]</ref></blockquote>
|-

| 2021 || ''[[The Bay (TV series)|The Bay]]'' || Stephen Marshbrook || 1 episode
A decade after its release a blogger described it as "about as eccentric as modern British cinema gets &mdash; a [[scatological]] tale of family, isolation, romance, decay and digestion....about the undoing of tradition, the cutting of the ties that bind, and the chaos of old sewerage systems....Deliberately paced and prone to outbursts of [[slapstick]], action and other general weirdness, it’s hard to think of another British film from the last decade more surprising or deserving of investigation."<ref>[http://parkcircusblog.wordpress.com/2012/05/31/hotel-splendide-the-island-resort-of-no-return/ Hotel Splendide: The Island Resort of No Return, ''Park Circus'' blog, 31 May 2012]</ref>
|-

| 2022 || ''[[Sherwood (2022 TV series)|Sherwood]]'' || Warnock || 1 episode
====''Tabloid''====
|-

| 2023 || ''[[The Long Shadow (TV series)|The Long Shadow]]'' || David Gee || TV mini-series<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/presscentre/media-releases/long-shadow-casting-announcement|title=The Long Shadow casting announcement|website=itv.com/presscentre|accessdate=18 August 2023}}</ref>
Stephen took a stab at another piece of topical satire when he appeared with [[Matthew Rhys]], [[Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio]], [[Danny Dyer]], and [[John Hurt]] in ''Tabloid'' (2001). It is a "disturbing and dark satire on the world of celebrity TV and the ultimate consequences of uncontrolled ambition." Stephen played the role of Lomax, an investigative tabloid 'hack'.<ref>[http://www.angelfire.com/celeb/matthewrhys/filmography/tabloid.html TABLOID Falling star, ScreenIndia.com, 27 Apr 2001, (original source no longer available)]</ref>
|-

|}
====''Harrigan''====
''(In post-production)''

In February 2012, Stephen filmed his first lead role in a feature film titled ''Harrigan'', which was promoted at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival and is expected to premiere in [[London]] and [[Newcastle-upon-Tyne]] in Autumn 2012. The film is the story of fictional creation, Detective Sergeant Barry Harrigan, who represents the long arm of the law on a crime-ridden estate in [[North East England]]. It is based on the real-life experiences of retired [[Tyneside]] policeman of 31 years Arthur McKenzie, who wrote the script.<ref>[http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/entertainment-leisure/cinema/2012/01/24/harrigan-hits-the-screen-at-last-61634-30184853/ Harrigan hits the screen at last, ''GazetteLive'', 24 Jan 2012]</ref><ref>[http://www.baitroomfilm.com/about_arthur_mckenzie.php Arthur McKenzie: Biography]</ref>

Stephen was handed the script when he was doing a play at The Live Theatre in Newcastle. He said:
<blockquote>"I thought it was fantastic. I got to meet Arthur, who's a wonderful, larger-than-life character, and heard that it was based on his memories, and it really grabbed me. [The script] is a real page-turner and [Arthur's] eyes light up when he talks about his experiences. As soon as I saw it, I wanted to do it &mdash; it's great to be doing a British film."<ref>[http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2011/07/21/stephen-tompkinson-to-star-in-crime-film-set-in-north-east-61634-29094098/ Stephen Tompkinson to star in crime film set in North East, ''The Journal (Newcastle)'', 21 Jul 2011]</ref><ref name="propose" /></blockquote>

<blockquote>"It is at heart an old-fashioned western with the sheriff taking on the bad guys, and I am hugely excited about it. Harrigan sees the place he cares about has gone to rack and ruin and he needs to clean it up. He believes in a physical presence on the streets and he sets about taking on the bullies. [He] is a complex character and it [is] a fantastic role to play. [Harrigan] is like a Wild West sheriff coming back into town. I am not sure if you would call him Dirty Harry... Mucky Harry, maybe... but he does have the same principles. He's much tougher than I'll ever be."<ref name="propose" /><ref>[http://www.peterleestar.co.uk/lifestyle/entertainment/local-scene/town-street-used-as-70s-movie-set-1-4232185 Town street used as 70s movie set, ''Peterlee Star'', 27 Jun 2012]</ref><ref name="harrigan">[http://www.paulsmithassociates.co.uk/newsfile/article.ehtml?item=20120124.140257 The money expert making her dad's film dream come true, Paul Smith Associates, undated]</ref></blockquote>

Stephen was especially delighted to return to the North East for this project.
<blockquote>"There's such a creative vibe happening in the North East. ''[Harrigan]'' is very much a North East production and that's why I'm so happy to be involved. [The film] captures a certain time. It’s when these changes happened [when the 'local bobby' was taken off the streets and replaced by [[panda car]]s], and people no longer had that contact with their policeman. People like Arthur knew their areas and could just look people in the eye and they would stop what they were doing. It wasn't a case of fighting, but that look said 'I've clocked you'. There was a bit of respect there. I think we’ve lost that a bit."<ref name="hartlepool">[http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/stephen-is-not-so-wild-at-heart-1-4248296 Stephen is not so wild at heart, ''Hartlepool Mail'', 27 Jun 2012]</ref></blockquote>

The film is being produced by [http://www.talltreepictures.co.uk/ TallTree Pictures] in Newcastle and was filmed in the Newcastle area, including [[Gateshead]] and [[Hartlepool]]. Filming was completed in less than four weeks, including many night shoots in bitter cold conditions for both cast and crew. It is directed by [http://www.entrepreneursforum.net/voice/from-corporate-videos-to-the-silver-screenmovie-dream-comes-true-for-film-director-vince-woods/ Vince Woods]. Mr. McKenzie's daughter, Kirsty McKenzie Bell, is the Producer who was instrumental in raising the $2M needed to finance the project. Former [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] footballer [[Robbie Elliott]] is one of the film's major investors.<ref>[http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2012/05/19/selling-a-dream-of-crime-hit-tyneside-on-the-riviera-gallery-61634-31002563/#ixzz1xjR7NAXr Selling a dream of crime-hit Tyneside on the Riviera, ''The Journal'', 19 May 2012]</ref><ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-16813880 VIDEO: Filming begins on Newcastle detective's story, ''BBC News Tyne &amp; Wear'', 31 Jan 2012]</ref><ref>[http://www.metroradio.co.uk/news/local/harrigan/ AUDIO: Interview: Father and daughter set sites on Hollywood, ''metroradio'', 1 Feb 2012]</ref><ref>[http://www.nebusiness.co.uk/business-news/latest-business-news/2012/01/11/talltree-pictures-pledges-to-create-jobs-in-the-north-east-51140-30097954/ TallTree Pictures pledges to create jobs in the North East, ''nebusiness, The Journal'', 11 Jan 2012]</ref>

Mr. McKenzie, whose scripts have also been produced for episodes of ''[[The Bill]]'' and ''[[Wycliffe (TV series)|Wycliffe]]'' said: "After 16 years, I never gave up hope and I think, in a way, it's just coming together at the right time. I've got to thank my daughter and Vince Woods who have been the engine behind the whole thing."<ref>[http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/entertainment-leisure/cinema/2012/01/24/harrigan-hits-the-screen-at-last-61634-30184853/ Harrigan hits the screen at last, ''gazettelive.co.uk (The Journal, Newcastle)'', 24 Jan 2012]</ref>

Speaking of Arthur McKenzie, Stephen said:
<blockquote>"It's been great to have [Arthur] here. He's full of stories, some of which you would hardly believe because he was in the thick of it all. It's obviously deeply sentimental for him and we are doing it for him. Everyone looks at him and sees how passionate he is about it and that pushes everyone on. It’s also a great insight into what it was like for police then and how it all worked."<ref name="hartlepool" /></blockquote>

<blockquote>"He's the most fascinating, decent man I've ever met, and to attempt to fill his shoes is such an honour &mdash; and I don't know if I will be able to fill them, but I'm giving it my best shot. He's an extraordinary man and a joy and a national treasure." ([http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-16813880 VIDEO: ''Harrigan'' Filming Begins])<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-16813880 VIDEO: Filming begins on Newcastle detective's story, ''BBC News Tyne & Wear, 31 Jan 2012]</ref></blockquote>

=== Stage ===
Stephen enjoys the challenge of mixing television and film roles with live stage productions. He has appeared on stage in London's [[West End theatre|West End]] and in theatres across the UK. His many performances include:


===Film===
<small>''(chronologically descending)''</small>
{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
|-
|-
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Play
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Character
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Theatre
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Type
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Location
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Date
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| ''[[Hotel Splendide (2000 film)|Hotel Splendide]]'' || Dezmond Blanche || Feature Film || 2000
| ''Faith and Cold Reading'' || Freddie the Suit || [[Live Theatre Company|Live Theatre]] || Newcastle || 2011
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| ''Sign of the Times'' || Frank Tollit || On Tour || Various || 2009
| ''[[Brassed Off]]'' || Phil || Feature Film || 1996
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| ''Treacle'' || Stephen Duffell || Short Film || 1988
| ''[[The Revenger's Tragedy]]'' || Vindice || [[Royal Exchange, Manchester|Royal Exchange Theatre]] || Manchester || 2008
|- valign="top"
| ''[[Charley's Aunt]]'' || Donna Lucia D’Alvadorez || On Tour || Various || 2007
|- valign="top"
| ''[[Rattle of a Simple Man]]'' || Percy || Malvern/Comedy Theatre || London || 2004
|- valign="top"
| ''Cloaca'' || Pieter || [[Old Vic]] || London || 2004
|- valign="top"
| ''[[Arsenic and Old Lace (play)|Arsenic and Old Lace]]'' || Mortimer Brewster || [[Novello Theatre|Strand Theatre]] || London || 2003
|- valign="top"
| ''[[Art (play)|Art]]'' || Serge || [[Wyndham's Theatre]] || London || 2000
|- valign="top"
| ''[[Tartuffe]]'' || Tartuffe || On Tour || Various || 1998
|- valign="top"
| ''The End of the Food Chain'' || Bruce || [[Stephen Joseph Theatre]] || Scarborough || 1993
|- valign="top"
| ''[[Women Laughing]]'' || Tony || [[Royal Exchange, Manchester|Royal Exchange Theatre]] || Manchester || 1992
|- valign="top"
| ''[[Love's Labour's Lost]]'' || Navarre || [[Royal Exchange, Manchester|Royal Exchange Theatre]] || Manchester || 1992
|- valign="top"
| ''Across the Ferry'' || Alec || [[Bush Theatre]] || London || 1991
|- valign="top"
| ''Absent Friends'' || Colin || &nbsp; || &nbsp; || &nbsp;
|- valign="top"
| ''No One Sees the Video'' || Paul || [[Royal Court Theatre]] || London || 1990
|- valign="top"
| ''[[The Boys from Syracuse]]'' || &nbsp; || London School of Speech and Drama || London || 1987
|}
|}
<br>
Even his earliest performances on stage brought critical acclaim. Of the 1992 production of Michael Wall's ''[[Women Laughing]]'' at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Alan Hulme of the ''[[Manchester Evening News]]'' described the cast as "superb....and the acting has the shocking eloquence of picture postcards in acid."<ref>[http://www.royalexchange.co.uk/history/1992/WOMEN%20LAUGHING.htm ''Women Laughing'' by Michael Wall, 30 April &ndash; 16 May 1992]</ref> And ''The Independent'' described ''The End of the Food Chain'' (1994) at the [[Stephen Joseph Theatre]] in Scarborough as "excellent" and "vividly acted."<ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre--all-shirk-and-low-pay-paul-taylor-on-a-new-comedy-by-tim-firth-at-the-stephen-joseph-theatre-scarborough-1398719.html THEATRE / All shirk and low pay, ''The Independent'', 8 Jan 1994]</ref>

2003 saw him starring as Mortimer Brewster, along with [[Michael Richards]] of ''[[Seinfeld]]'' fame, in ''[[Arsenic and Old Lace]]'' at [[Strand Theatre (Novello)|The Strand Theatre]] in London. Stephen said, "It's going terrifically well; we're having a ball at the moment. The play has been a success for over sixty years now. It's a bit like riding a rollercoaster, it takes care of itself in a way and you just try to cling on. The [1944] film [starring [[Cary Grant]]] has always been a great favourite of mine, but I think I was able to make the role my own once I'd managed to get that inimitable voice out of my head." The part required him to deliver his lines in a New York drawl. One reviewer commented, "The fact that many American audience members...assumed that Stephen was a bone fide American confirms the authenticity of his twang."<ref name="arsenic">[http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/news/backstage-pass/article/item71477/stephen-tompkinson/ Official London Theatre: Stephen Tompkinson, undated]</ref>

Stephen toured in ''[[Charley's Aunt]]'' in 2007, playing the role of Donna Lucia D'Alvadorez. He chatted to [[Paul O'Grady]] about the play and his role: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgp-wqRmwPo VIDEO: Stephen Tompkinson on the Paul O'Grady Show]<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgp-wqRmwPo VIDEO: Stephen Tompkinson on the Paul O'Grady Show, YouTube, 28 Mar 2007]</ref> In a review in the [[British Theatre Guide]] Sheila Connor said:
<blockquote>"This is Stephen Tompkinson as you have never seen him before &mdash; hilarious even before he dons the frock. His manner, voice, expression and actions are spot-on....totally uproariously funny....It is at Babb's entrance that the play really takes off, Tompkinson revealing himself to be an inspired comic genius to add to his multitude of diverse credits....A truly entertainingly hilarious performance, and it is to be hoped that Tompkinson will treat us to more of the same."<ref>[http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/charleysaunt-rev ''Charley's Aunt'', ''British Theatre Guide'', undated]</ref></blockquote>

Comic genius one year, deadly terrifying avenger the next &mdash; Stephen's 'yin' and 'yang'. In 2008, he played the deeply sinister and complex lead character of Vindice in the [[Jacobean era|Jacobean]] bloodbath ''[[The Revenger's Tragedy]]'' at the [[Royal Exchange, Manchester|Royal Exchange Theatre]] in Manchester. Stephen felt sympathy for the character and explained why the play appealed to him:
<blockquote>"He's not a villain, he's an anti-hero, really. You can see he has been wronged. The audience get to be voyeurs and enjoy watching him get his retribution. It's the black-and-white morality of the play, its bloodthirsty nature, that appealed to me. The way that things are dealt with, there was no red tape: it was out with the poison or the sword if you were wronged."<ref name="revenger">[http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/the-revengers-tragedy-royal-exchange-manchester-834546.html The Revenger's Tragedy, Royal Exchange, Manchester, ''The Independent, 27 May 2008]</ref></blockquote>

And of returning to the stage in Manchester, "I appeared at the Royal Exchange 16 years ago. It's my favourite theatre that I've ever worked in. And I studied the play at A-level. When I told my dad he said he even had my old notes kicking around the house somewhere."<ref name="revenger" />

Stephen toured in ''Sign of the Times'' in 2009, playing the character of Frank Tollit, who has spent the past 25 years putting up letters on buildings but dreams of becoming a novelist. His colleague Alan (Tom Shaw), 30 years his junior, wants to be a rock star. Stephen said, "The play is a comedy but much more. It is about having dreams and ambition; it's about happiness and failure. Frank's good at his job; he does enjoy it, but he has bigger dreams. I think everyone will be able to relate to it."<ref name="sign">[http://www.epsomguardian.co.uk/leisure/4317013.Living_the_Dream/ Living the Dream, ''Epsom Guardian'', 24 Apr 2009]</ref>

He was correct; his unique ability to connect completely on an emotional level with the characters he portrays inspires viewers and helps them to learn about themselves. After seeing ''Sign of the Times'' one blogger wrote: "I learnt to write what you know....I learnt you can change. You shouldn't just copy your favourite authors, you need to discover your own style. That's where true talent lies....I learnt that you may not have the success you dream of &mdash; but the small successes can be just as good and fulfilling as the big ones."<ref>[http://globalwrite.wordpress.com/2009/05/01/the-plays-the-thing/ The Play’s The Thing, ''Rule of Three,'' 1 May 2009]</ref> ([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3UXhTxiv5A AUDIO: Tim Mayo Talks with Stephen Tompkinson about Tim Firth's ''Sign of the Times''])<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3UXhTxiv5A Tim Mayo Talks with Stephen Tompkinson about Tim Firth's ''Sign of the Times'']</ref>

In his most recent stage run (February to March 2011), he mesmerized a packed audience as the menacing villain Freddie the Suit in ''Faith and Cold Reading'' at the [[Live Theatre Company|Live Theatre]] in Newcastle &mdash; a role that was written especially for him by his friend of 20 years, [[Shaun Prendergast]].<ref name="northeast" /> Stephen and Max Roberts, Artistic Director of the Live Theatre, spoke to the Press about the production: [http://audioboo.fm/boos/257380-faith-cold-reading-max-roberts-and-stephen-tompkinson-talk-to-the-press AUDIO: Faith & Cold Reading &mdash; Max Roberts and Stephen Tompkinson].<ref>[http://audioboo.fm/boos/257380-faith-cold-reading-max-roberts-and-stephen-tompkinson-talk-to-the-press AUDIO: Faith & Cold Reading &mdash; Max Roberts and Stephen Tompkinson]</ref> ([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVD8Si6_ABI VIDEO: ''Faith and Cold Reading'' Trailer])<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVD8Si6_ABI VIDEO: ''Faith and Cold Reading'' Trailer, YouTube, 9 Feb 2011]</ref>

At the play's launch, Stephen said:
<blockquote>"I'd like to dedicate this to the memory of Mr. [Pete] Postlethwaite, who meant the world to me and who taught me that it starts with the script and that's why I'm here. It was a real privilege working with him, and this is the first opportunity since his death I've had to honour his memory."<ref name="faith">[http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2011/01/08/stephen-tompkinson-wild-for-new-gangster-role-61634-27950936/ Stephen Tompkinson wild for new gangster role, ''The Journal'', 8 Jan 2011]</ref></blockquote>

Speaking generally about his experiences on stage, and particularly about touring in a stage production, Stephen has said:
<blockquote>“You can feel a bit cosseted and wrapped in cotton wool in TV land and it's nice to flex all your acting muscles...It's sort of like flying without a safety net. And theatre &mdash; to get that immediate response is marvellous. It's what I trained for &mdash; three years of drama school....It does differ each night and it does differ from town to town, city to city. Comedy has always fascinated me. The best way to do it is to tour it because it always keeps you on your toes. You can never relax and think this one's in the bag. It does, humour changes. It's funny!"<ref name="bracknell">[http://www.getbracknell.co.uk/entertainment/theatre_and_dance/s/2048394_why_stephen_tompkinson_loves_our_local_theatre_ Why Stephen Tompkinson loves our local theatre, ''Bracknell Forest Standard'', 2 Apr 2009]</ref></blockquote>

And, while work in television may bring greater financial security, Stephen sometimes finds acting on stage more fulfilling.
<blockquote>"It can be frustrating to work on TV in that it's always very stop/start, whereas in a play there's always an immediate reaction from the audience, and you get to tell the story from beginning to end without interruption. But, of course, if you mess up you don't get to stop and go again. It's always the case with comedy, especially on tour [that an actor doesn't get the reaction he expects from a theatre audience]. It's very different from town to town &mdash; areas do share different senses of humour. As soon as you were hoping for a laugh and you didn't get it, that moment's already gone. You can often lose a laugh and you never work out why. You think the timing's exactly the same &mdash; it's always slightly mysterious. But it's good, it keeps you working hard and you can never take anything for granted."<ref name="voice">[http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-culture/liverpool-arts/2009/03/27/actor-stephen-tompkinson-on-his-new-show-at-liverpool-playhouse-92534-23246508/ Actor Stephen Tompkinson on his new show at Liverpool Playhouse, ''Daily Post (Liverpool)'', 27 Mar 2009]</ref></blockquote>

=== Presenter ===
In addition to his work as a character actor, Stephen has hosted or narrated a number of other UK television programs, including a [[FIFA]] ''100 Years of Football'' documentary.

In 1999, he presented the BBC2 documentary ''Great Railway Journeys: Singapore to Bangkok,'' part of Series 4 of the popular ''[[Great Railway Journeys]]'' travel documentaries that aired over many years in the UK and on PBS in the U.S. During the trip, Stephen relived luxurious colonial train travel, drank [[Singapore Sling]]s at the famous [[Raffles Hotel]] where the drink originated, enjoyed a game of [[cricket]], toured Malaysia's rubber and tea plantations, and explored the Thai countryside along the way to [[Bangkok]]. He was once asked to name the best hotel he had ever stayed in, and he replied:
<blockquote>"In 1998 I stayed at the Raffles Hotel, [[Singapore]], to film a BBC travelogue on great railway journeys. We had travelled on the [[Eastern and Oriental Express]] from Singapore through [[Malaysia]] to Bangkok. I was in the Rudyard Kipling suite, which was gorgeously colonial, refined and timeless. There was a lot of polished mahogany and white wood with fancy ceiling fans whirring away. I felt that I'd stepped into an Agatha Christie film."<ref name="lifetravel">[http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/my-life-in-travel-stephen-tompkinson-actor-2178835.html My life In Travel: Stephen Tompkinson, actor, ''The Independent,'' 8 Jan 2011]</ref></blockquote>

Six months after the death of legendary comedian [[Spike Milligan]], the cream of British comedy came together in 2002 to participate in a charity evening titled ''Spike Milligan: I Told You I Was Ill... &mdash; A Live Tribute,'' recorded at [[Guildhall, London|London's Guildhall]]. The event featured performances and readings of some of Spike's best material. Stephen contributed a poignant reading from Spike's ''War Diaries''. ([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfBa65Ri1w8 VIDEO: Stephen Tompkinson reading from Spike Milligan's ''War Diaries''])<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfBa65Ri1w8 VIDEO: Spike Milligan: I Told You I Was Ill... &mdash; A Live Tribute]</ref>

In 2009, as a result of his work on ''Wild at Heart'', Stephen was asked to film and present the documentary, ''Stephen Tompkinson's Great African Balloon Adventure'', a three-part series inspired by [[Jules Verne]]'s first novel ''[[Five Weeks in a Balloon]]''. It followed Stephen and his guide, [[hot air ballooning]] expert Robin Batchelor, as they travelled 6,108 miles in six weeks from coast to coast, above and on the ground in [[Tanzania]], [[Rwanda]], [[Zambia]], [[Botswana]] and [[Namibia]]. The series aired on ITV in the UK in June 2009 and was later distributed by American Public Television in the U.S.<ref>[http://www.aptonline.org/catalog.nsf/vLinkTitle/GREAT+AFRICAN+BALLOON+ADVENTURE+THE The Great African Balloon Adventure, American Public Television (APT), June 2010]</ref>

The journey included tracking and getting exceptionally close to a troop of elusive mountain gorillas deep in the jungle, visiting a home for Rwandan orphans, and a forced but deliberate crash landing into some bushes &mdash; complete with a rescue by [[Masai]] warriors, not far from a large thundering and trumpeting herd of elephants on the move near the [[Ngorongoro Crater]].<ref>[http://www.itv.com/presscentre/presspacks/stephentompkinsonsafricanballoonadventure/default.html Stephen Tompkinson's African Balloon Adventure, ITV Press Pack, 27 May 2009]</ref> But Stephen took it all in stride. Describing the experience afterward, he was more focused on the feeling of being on a magic carpet ride:
<blockquote>“We [didn't] get much time to explore [[Africa]] when we [were] filming ''[Wild at Heart]'', so when ITV asked if I would be interested in the ballooning project, I knew it was an amazing opportunity that I couldn't say 'no' to. [Ballooning] is the most gorgeous mode of transport....In some places in Africa, as far as the eye could see, there wasn't any sign of man. I've never had that experience before. It was almost like time had stopped and we were the only people on the planet."<ref name="northeast" /></blockquote>

<blockquote>"It's breathtaking up there. You would not believe the serenity and the apparent lack of motion when you're in the basket. Even at thirty knots, it feels like you're on a magic carpet suspended over the landscape. When you're in a plane or a helicopter, the ground zips by too quickly. But in a balloon, the sense of calm is like nothing else I've ever experienced &mdash; it's as though the ground below has been laid out especially for you. You get this extraordinary, otherworldly birds-eye view."<ref>[http://www.optimamagazine.co.uk/read/leisure/travel/254-up-up-and-away Up, Up And Away..., ''Optima Magazine'', 7 Aug 2009]</ref></blockquote>

The African balloon series was well received, and ITV commissioned a three-part follow-up series that aired on ITV1 in 2010, titled ''Stephen Tompkinson's Australian Balloon Adventure''. This series included a much more dramatic, entirely unintentional &mdash; indeed seriously life-threatening &mdash; crash landing near the Flinders mountain range in South Australia. Stephen relates the experience with delightful wit and humour:
<blockquote>"Ballooning is as safe as any human endeavour that involves defying gravity....but we found ourselves a week into a four-week shoot without having gone up on a single flight, due to the bad weather....We needed to get up in the balloon or we'd be forced to rename the programme ''Australian Sitting In The Hotel Playing Scrabble Adventure,'' [so] we convinced ourselves that the conditions were fine....We had to wait 20 minutes for the helicopter carrying another camera crew [and] the wind started to pick up....We were determined to get up there. What could possibly go wrong?...Then we got our first reality check. Heavy black storm clouds, flashing zigzags of lightning....Being not quite a rank amateur, I thought: 'That's not good.' But there's only so much you can actually do, standing there, helpless, in a laundry basket. With a madman. Well, an enthusiastic eccentric shall we say.</blockquote>

<blockquote>"As we started Robin's controlled descent, the wind...was blowing, impelling us downwards [until] we began plummeting....[Robin] decided, very calmly but decisively, that we had to land, there and then....One minute we were suspended under a giant hot-air balloon in a lidless wicker box, floating half a mile above land. The next we were coming in to land like a jet into Heathrow. As we hit the ground, at 40mph in a laundry basket, I thought: 'What a ridiculous way to earn a living.'</blockquote>

<blockquote>"The next few moments happened so quickly that there was no opportunity to register and acknowledge fear....Death looked the most likely outcome. As soon as the basket slammed into the ground, the jolt nearly drove my teeth through my brain. I was hurled upside down...then dragged along for what seemed like an eternity over a cheese grater....Finally, we came to a stop....Clambering out of the wreckage we realised we'd been dragged along for more than 300 yards. That's the length of three football pitches!...The speedy unexpected connection with the rock-hard, sunbaked ground had...shattered two of my back teeth, which fell out a couple of days later....Robin was shaking. White. Shocked. And so was I.</blockquote>

<blockquote>"It was tempting to dwell on what might have happened but...[our cameraman] Steve's desperately serious situation...stopped us thinking about ourselves. In a way I was as much worried about Robin as about Steve, although, typically, part of you is very aware you're making a television documentary so you automatically ask: 'Did you get that? Blood and all? Great! Now we've got a programme!' We examined our little basket. There was a hole in it, and the aluminium frame around the top was seriously damaged. If [one boulder] had gone the other way, into the basket, we'd have been dead. We [wanted to go] to the nearest town to get checked by a doctor [but] Parachilna has an official population of seven.</blockquote>

<blockquote>"Once we'd recovered enough to travel, we drove back to base and the storm overtook us with a ferocity that, if we'd still been airborne, would have reduced us to human smoothies....After we'd established Steve was all right, I thought: 'We've got to get back in that basket.' I knew if Robin and I dwelt on what had happened, we just wouldn't do it. I had to approach it as if I had fallen off a very big horse and had to get back on as soon as possible."<ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1297349/We-hit-ground-40mph-laundry-basket--star-TVs-Wild-Heart-wondered-possibly-wrong-balloon.html We hit the ground at 40mph in a laundry basket, ''Mail Online,'' 24 Jul 2010]</ref></blockquote>

=== Narrator/Voice-over ===
His uniquely warm and recognizable voice and his command of multiple dialects have enabled Stephen to do a variety of [[voice-over]] work, including adverts,<ref>[http://www.castaway.org.uk/clients/voices/stto.htm Steve Tompkinson, Voice-over credits, undated]</ref> audio books, and narration. His many adverts include BT Childline, British Midland, Motorola, Alton Towers, Comet, Eurostar, Laphroaig Whisky, Mercury & Kwiksave, Bulmers Cider ([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjXHHIgKigs VIDEO clip]),<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjXHHIgKigs VIDEO: Bulmers Cider celebrates the Great British Summer, 2008]</ref> and Tetley Tea ([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBOg-sK2JK4 VIDEO clip "Sidney": Just the Way You Are]).<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBOg-sK2JK4 VIDEO: ''Just the Way You Are'' advert, Tetley Tea Folk, 2011]</ref>
<blockquote>"It's the trusting tones of Father Peter Clifford, the heartbreaking lament of a forlorn ex-miner and the intonation that inspires you to buy Bulmers over all the other cider options on the supermarket shelf." ~''Liverpool Daily Post'' <ref name="voice" /></blockquote>

Stephen performed the voice-over for adverts two years in a row for the [[People's Dispensary for Sick Animals]] (PDSA), the UK's largest petcare and veterinary charity. One advert featured the song ''[[True Colors (song)|True Colours]]'' sung by Eva Cassidy, with Stephen's voice-over commentary. "The duo is an inspired choice, as Cassidy's voice has a haunting lyrical quality, while Tompkinson has a soothing and reassuring tone."<ref>[http://www.marketingmagazine.co.uk/news/rss/657699/Direct-Choice-PDSA/ Direct Choice: PDSA, 16 May 2007]</ref> Stephen said, "It was a pleasure to record the voice-over for PDSA's ad. I really admire the work they do at the PDSA &mdash; playing a TV vet is difficult enough!"<ref>[http://www.pdsa.org.uk/about-us/media-pr-centre/news/782_pdsa-creates-animal-magic! PDSA creates animal magic!, undated]</ref>

His narrated TV programmes include ''Trail of Guilt: Harold Shipman: Addicted to Murder'' (2000), ''When Snooker Ruled the World'' (2002), and ''A Band for Britain'' (2010).

Among his many narrated audiobooks are Agatha Christie's ''[[The Sittaford Mystery]]'', [[Michael Robotham]]'s ''Drowning Man'', ''The Card'' by [[Arnold Bennett]], ''Ultimate Weapon'' by [[Chris Ryan]], etc. Stephen has also narrated many children's titles, including ''Notso Hotso'' by [[Anne Fine]]; several ''Astrosaurs'' titles; ''Buried Alive'' and ''Cliffhanger'' by [[Jacqueline Wilson]]; and many others. (See more comprehensive list below.)

He was the voice of the popular cartoon tomcat called ''[[Binka]]'', who traveled to three houses for three meals a day, experiencing various adventures along the way. Twenty-six five-minute episodes were produced and screened on weekday mornings in 2001. ''Binka'' can still be seen frequently as repeats on CBBC.

Also in 2001, he performed the voice of Tom, [[Bob the Builder]]'s twin brother, in a feature-length Special titled ''Bob the Builder: A Christmas to Remember.'' Other voices were performed by [[Neil Morrissey]], [[Noddy Holder]], [[Alison Steadman]], and [[Elton John]]. The film won a 2003 [[BAFTA]] in the "Children's Animation" category.

He performed the voice of Stan for the 26-episode pre-school children's series ''[[Little Red Tractor]]'', which was shown originally in 2004&ndash;2005 on the BBC's Cbeebies channel and enjoys continued popularity around the world. It is about the adventures of Stan, the Little Red Tractor's driver and constant companion, who lives at Gosling Farm in the fictional community of Babblebrook and keeps 2 cows, a dog, and 2 pigs. It has realistic story lines, a large cast of characters, and believable animal behavior. Of this experience, Stephen said:
<blockquote>"It's a delightful show and one that I was more than happy to get involved with. It's great fun to do Stan, and I got to meet one of my all-time heroes, [[Derek Griffiths]], who provides the other voices....Every brick for the farm buildings is individually carved from [[polystyrene]], so it gives you a real depth of focus when the technical people come to light it. It really looks brilliant."<ref name="boro" /></blockquote>

Despite his success in this area, Stephen admits he sometimes doesn't care for the sound of his own voice: "It always sounds quite horrible. I never like to listen back to it. But you learn to work at certain things to make it as entertaining as possible, so you concentrate on finding all the different colours that you can."<ref name="voice" /> He was once asked whether he finds it easier to read audiobooks for adults or children and how he prepares for both:

<blockquote>"Well, you start with having a love for the book itself and a respect for whichever audience it's written for. In some ways it's easier reading for kids because they don't have a problem letting their imaginations go and being transported to wherever the book's set. But their concentration can be a bit short, so...you have to create much more contrast between the characters' voices and try and make them as entertaining as possible....I don't cover the script with coloured pen markings because I like to keep the scripts of all the work I do."<ref>[http://www.penguin.ca/nf/Author/AuthorPage/0,,1000036441,00.html?sym=QUE Penguin Audiobooks Narrator Interview, undated]</ref></blockquote>

<big>'''Audiobooks'''</big>


==Stage==
<small>''(chronologically descending)''</small><br/>
''(see above for additional detail)''
{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
|-
|-
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Author
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Author
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Theatre
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Date
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Date
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| ''[[Art (play)|Art]]'' || Yvan || [[Yasmina Reza]] || On Tour || 2019
| Rachel Joyce || ''Arabian Afternoons: The Porter and the Three Ladies'' || 2012 || With Serine Saba
|-
|[[A Christmas Carol (2017 play)|''A Christmas Carol'']]
|[[Ebenezer Scrooge]]
|[[Jack Thorne]]
|[[The Old Vic]], London
|2018-2019
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| ''White Rabbit, Red Rabbit'' || || [[Nassim Soleimanpour]] || [[Live Theatre Company|Live Theatre]], Newcastle || 2013
| [[Geoffrey Chaucer]] ||''[[Canturbury tales|The Canterbury Tales]]: [[Summoner's Tale|The Summoner's Tale]]'' III: Modern English Verse Translation || 2011 || With Timothy West,<br>Charles Kay,<br>Tim Pigott-Smith,<br>Sean Barrett,<br> Rosalind Shanks,<br> Michael Maloney
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| ''[[Spamalot]]'' || King Arthur || [[Eric Idle]] (Book & Lyrics) || [[Playhouse Theatre]], London || 2012–2013
| [[Lynne Truss]] || ''A Certain Age'', Vol. 2: Male Monologues || 2010 || With Douglas Hodge,<br>Robert Glenister,<br>Peter Capaldi,<br>Simon Russell Beale,<br>Stuart Milligan
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| ''Faith and Cold Reading'' || Freddie the Suit || [[Shaun Prendergast]] || [[Live Theatre Company|Live Theatre]], Newcastle || 2011
| [[Agatha Christie]] || ''The Sittaford Mystery'' || 2010 || Dramatised with John Moffatt
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| ''Sign of the Times'' || Frank Tollit || [[Tim Firth]] || On Tour || 2009
| [[Anne Fine]] || ''Notso Hotso'' || 2010 || &nbsp;
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| ''[[The Revenger's Tragedy]]'' || Vindice || [[Cyril Tourneur]] (Attributed) || [[Royal Exchange, Manchester|Royal Exchange]], Manchester || 2008
| [[Steve Cole]] || ''Astrosaurs: The Day of the Dino-Droids'' || 2010 || &nbsp;
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| ''Charley's Aunt'' || Donna Lucia D’Alvadorez || [[Brandon Thomas (playwright)|Brandon Thomas]] || On Tour || 2007
| [[Steve Cole]] || ''Astrosaurs: The Terror-Bird Trap'' || 2010 || &nbsp;
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| ''Rattle of a Simple Man'' || Percy || Charles Dyer || Malvern/Comedy Theatre, London || 2004
| [[Steve Cole]] || ''Astrosaurs: The Skies of Fear'' || 2010 || &nbsp;
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| ''Cloaca'' || Pieter || Maria Goos || [[Old Vic]], London || 2004
| [[Steve Cole]] || ''Astrosaurs: The Space Ghosts'' || 2010 || &nbsp;
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| ''[[Arsenic and Old Lace (play)|Arsenic and Old Lace]]'' || Mortimer Brewster || [[Joseph Kesselring]] || [[Novello Theatre|Strand Theatre]], London || 2003
| Christopher Matthew || ''When We Were Fifty'' || 2009 || With Hugh Bonneville,<br>Charles Collingwood,<br>Patricia Hodge,<br>Martin Jarvis,<br>Alison Steadman
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| ''[[Art (play)|Art]]'' || Yvan || [[Yasmina Reza]] || [[Wyndham's Theatre]], Scarborough || 2000
| [[Jacqueline Wilson]] || ''Buried Alive''|| 2008 || &nbsp;
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| [[Frank Cottrell Boyce]] || ''Millions'' || 2008 || &nbsp;
| ''[[Tartuffe]]'' || Tartuffe || [[Molière]] || On Tour || 1998
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| ''The End of the Food Chain'' || Bruce || [[Tim Firth]] || [[Stephen Joseph Theatre]], Scarborough || 1993
| Karen Wallace || ''Think of an Eel (Nature Storybooks)'' || 2008 || &nbsp;
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| ''[[Women Laughing]]'' || Tony || [[Michael Wall (playwright)|Michael Wall]] || [[Royal Exchange, Manchester|Royal Exchange]], Manchester || 1992
| Karen Wallace || ''Gentle Giant Octopus (Nature Storybooks)'' || 2008 || &nbsp;
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| ''[[Love's Labour's Lost]]'' || Navarre || [[Shakespeare]] || [[Royal Exchange, Manchester|Royal Exchange]], Manchester || 1992
| Nick Dowson || ''Tigress (Nature Storybooks)'' || 2008 || &nbsp;
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| ''Across the Ferry'' || Alec || Ted Moore || [[Bush Theatre]], London || 1991
| Vivian French || ''T. Rex (Nature Storybooks)'' || 2008 || &nbsp;
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| Nicola Davies || ''Surprising Sharks (Nature Storybooks)'' || 2008 || &nbsp;
| ''Absent Friends'' || Colin || [[Alan Ayckbourn]] || &nbsp; || &nbsp;
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| ''No One Sees the Video'' || Paul || [[Martin Crimp]] || [[Royal Court Theatre]], London || 1990
| Nicola Davies || ''Bat Loves the Night (Nature Storybooks)'' || 2008 || &nbsp;
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| ''[[The Boys from Syracuse]]'' || &nbsp; || [[Richard Rodgers]] (Music) and [[Lorenz Hart]] (Lyrics) || London School of Speech and Drama || 1987
| [[Chris Ryan]] || ''Ultimate Weapon'' || 2007 || &nbsp;
|- valign="top"
| [[Michael Robotham]] || ''The Drowning Man'' || 2006 || &nbsp;
|- valign="top"
| [[Agatha Christie]] || ''Murder on the Links'' || 2005 || Dramatised with Madeline Smith
|- valign="top"
| [[David Almond]] || ''Clay'' || 2005 || &nbsp;
|- valign="top"
| [[Brian Moses]] || ''Are We Nearly There Yet?'' || 2004 || With Emma Chambers
|- valign="top"
| [[Dick King-Smith]] || ''The Golden Goose'' || 2003 || &nbsp;
|- valign="top"
| [[Alan Gibbons]] || ''Julie and Me and Michael Owen Makes Three'' || 2003 || &nbsp;
|- valign="top"
| [[Alan Gibbons]] || ''Julie and Me: Treble Trouble'' || 2003 || &nbsp;
|- valign="top"
| [[Simon Armitage]] || ''Little Green Man''|| 2002 || &nbsp;
|- valign="top"
| Ian Whybrow || ''Jump In!'' || 2002 || &nbsp;
|- valign="top"
| Ian Whybrow, David Melling || ''All Change!'' || 2002 || &nbsp;
|- valign="top"
| [[Geraldine McCaughrean]] || ''A Pilgrim's Progress'' || 2001 || &nbsp;
|- valign="top"
| [[Jeremy Strong]] || ''My Mum's Going to Explode!'' || 2001 || &nbsp;
|- valign="top"
| [[Jacqueline Wilson]] || ''Cliffhanger'' || 1999 || &nbsp;
|- valign="top"
| [[Ernest Bramah]]<br>Sue Rodwell|| ''Thriller Playhouse: The Mysteries of Max Carrados,'' Vol. 2 || 1997 || Dramatised with Simon Callow and Lionel Jeffries
|- valign="top"
| Hugh Miller || ''Ballykissangel: The New Arrival'' || 1997 || &nbsp;
|- valign="top"
| [[Steve Barlow]] || ''Lost Diary of Eric Bloodaxe, Viking Warrior '' || 1997 || &nbsp;
|- valign="top"
| [[Rupert Everett]] || ''The Hairdressers of St.Tropez'' || 1995 || &nbsp;
|}
|}


=== Director ===
==Radio==
One day in 2006 an unexpected offer arrived that gave Stephen an opportunity to step behind the camera instead of in front of it. He had recently turned 40, which prompted him to say, "You've pretty much decided who you are by 40, but suddenly the phone rings and you can add another string to your bow, like directing."<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Wild+West+in+Stourbridcpe.-a0144834909 Wild West in Stourbridge, ''Sunday Mercury (Birmingham)'', 23 Apr 2006]</ref> He made his directing debut in the Midlands, at the helm of the BBC1 afternoon drama ''The Lightning Kid''. To add to the pressure of being in charge of a 50-strong film crew, he was shadowed by a second crew making the documentary ''Director's Debut: Stephen Tompkinson's Story'' that aired immediately afterward, with the intent of revealing the challenges faced by a new director. BBC Daytime controller Jay Hunt commented, "I'm so pleased that Stephen has agreed to share with us his first, tentative steps into the art of directing."<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4524972.stm Actor Tompkinson directs TV drama, ''BBC News: Entertainment'', 13 Dec 2005]</ref>

While many actors say they've always wanted to direct, Stephen wasn't keen when he was first approached.
<blockquote>"I was reticent. Directing wasn't something I'd thought about. But then they said I could use my own script, which interested me as I'd come up with a few ideas with actor and writer [[Shaun Prendergast]]. Shaun produced this amazing script and I came up to Birmingham to look at locations. One major stroke of luck was finding The Maverick in Amblecote, Stourbridge. It's a Western-themed pub so we didn't have to do anything to it. To find a slice of the Wild West in an ordinary street in the West Midlands was fantastic.</blockquote>

<blockquote>"As an actor I'm only used to thinking about my part, but as a director you are suddenly responsible for absolutely everything, from casting to editing. And we only had eight days to shoot a 50-minute film. It was terrifying but fascinating. I especially loved the editing, I had endless hours of fun finding little bits of magic. So I definitely want to direct again! Hopefully, next time I won't have a camera pointed at me. The fly-on-the-wall team were disappointed there were no hissy fits or dramas off-camera. At one point they asked me to pretend I had a problem, but we didn't have time to stage anything."<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Stephen%27s+big+SHOOT%3b+TV+star+turned+director+goes.-a0144834908 Stephen's big shoot: TV star turned director, ''Sunday Mercury (Birmingham)'', 23 Apr 2006]</ref></blockquote>

<blockquote>"Casting was just like picking a fantasy football team. It was like putting together your own team, and I worked out that I have known the cast collectively for about 126 years. [But] casting people I knew was an added pressure. It's me backing them to the hilt, and if they failed to deliver it would come back on me because I insisted on it. If it all goes well, I'd love to do more directing. If it's an absolute disaster, I'll stick to acting. Leading up to the first day of filming I was terrified. The technical guys were great, though. They really helped me out, but I still had the opportunity to think on my feet in setting the scenes up &mdash; I had a real freedom, and I'm delighted with the results."<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Shooting+for+the+stars+gives+a+direct+hit%3b+Best+of+this+week's+TV...-a0144857755 Shooting for the stars gives a direct hit, ''Daily Record (Glasgow)'', 22 Apr 2006]</ref></blockquote>

== Critical Acclaim ==
Kim Francis, ''Bracknell Forest Standard'': "It's fair to say that the success [Stephen Tompkinson] has enjoyed in his television career is unrivalled."<ref name="bracknell" />

Andy Richardson, ''Shropshire Star'': "Finally, there’s the most elusive category of all: TV that is both commercially successful and critically acclaimed. Such works have artistic integrity and somehow work their way into the popular consciousness....The British actor Stephen Tompkinson has made a career by creating works that fall into [this] category. He’s one of our finest actors, on his way to becoming a national treasure, and has made numerous films and TV programmes that are quality, while also have great commercial appeal....Year after year, he returns to our small screens to star in high-quality British drama....The word "integrity" runs through him like the letters in a stick of Blackpool rock. His old mate, the late Pete Postlethwaite...was entirely the same. In many ways, Tompkinson is the carrier of Postlethwaite’s flame. He’s just as likely to take time off from some big-budget TV series to appear in a gritty play....Tompkinson has been exceptional in ''Wild At Heart'', a programme that has stood the test of time because it is both popular and credible. It manages to tell a right, rollicking story but avoids excessive cliché or saccharine sentimentality."<ref>[http://www.shropshirestar.com/entertainment/telly-talk/2012/01/23/wild-at-heart-just-perfect-for-sunday-evening-slot/ ''Wild At Heart'' just perfect for Sunday evening slot, ''Shropshire Star'', 23 Jan 2012]</ref>

Ian Cain, ''The Public Reviews'': "In ''Faith and Cold Reading'', [Stephen Tompkinson] abundantly proves that his compelling television presence transfers equally well to the stage....It is, without the shadow of a doubt, Tompkinson who owns the stage throughout. His performance is menacing, sinister, funny and vulnerable by turn and he is an actor who demands your total attention and never lets go of it."<ref>[http://www.thepublicreviews.com/faith-and-cold-reading-live-theatre-newcastle-upon-tyne/ ''Faith and Cold Reading'' &mdash; The Live Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne, ''The Public Reviews,'' undated]</ref>

Tim Firth, dramatist and screenwriter, speaking of his experience working with Stephen in his lead role as Frank Tollit in ''Sign of the Times'': "It is a massive role and Stephen is a fantastic actor. The great thing about him is he hears the music of comedy. He has an interest in comedy and I never have to explain a line to him."<ref>[http://www.timfirth.com/signofthetimes.html The Official Tim Firth Website, ''Sign of the Times'' &ndash; 2009, Tim Talks...]</ref>

Jane Haase, ''Liverpool Echo'': "None of [his previous roles] prepared us for his latest starring role as the evil, murderous, revenge-seeking, throat-slashing, tongue-cutting, eye-gouging lawyer Vindice, who, in less time than it takes to butcher a rabbit, slashes his way through three generations of a nobleman's family &mdash; and twice as many throats &mdash; in ''The Revenger’s Tragedy''....That it works so well is due in no small part to Tompkinson who revels in the freedom and is a revelation, as he switches seamlessly from revenge-consumed lover to overblown dandy to murderous avenger &mdash; a smiling assassin of the first water. Even in its lightest moments Tompkinson's evil intent is never far from the surface &mdash; he is excellent and great fun too."<ref>[http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-entertainment/echo-reviews/2008/06/07/revenger-s-tragedy-royal-exchange-manchester-100252-21036113/ Revenger’s Tragedy, Royal Exchange, Manchester, ''Liverpool Echo'', 7 Jun 2008]</ref>

Katy Lewis, ''BBC Entertainment: Beds Herts and Bucks'': "Stephen Tompkinson is superb [in ''Charley's Aunt'']. As a man dressed in woman's clothing he doesn't attempt to behave like a girl at all, and as he hilariously galumphs around the stage it appears that his character is very uncomfortable in his get up! Add to that loads of energy and perfectly timed lines and facial expressions and it is a wonderful performance."<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties/content/articles/2007/04/11/charleys_aunt_review_feature.shtml BBC Entertainment: Beds Herts and Bucks, Review: ''Charley's Aunt'', 11 Apr 2007]</ref>

Brian Clover, ''Curtain Up'': In ''Rattle of a Simple Man'', Stephen Tompkinson "moves with ease from rattle-waving drunken bravado to hung-over remorse to tender vulnerability, hinting at the tragedy of an unfulfilled life."<ref>[http://www.curtainup.com/rattleofasimpleman.html London Review: Rattle of a Simple Man, ''Curtain Up'', undated]</ref>

BBC Press Pack for ''In Denial of Murder'': "Stephen Tompkinson remains one of Britain's most versatile performers, an actor who can be relied upon to play characters from all walks of life and make them memorable for audiences of television, film and radio."<ref name="denial" />

''The Northern Echo'': "''Waiting for the Whistle: Staying Up'' was cast to the hilt...but [it] belonged to the versatile Tompkinson...giving a heartfelt performance as the emotionally disturbed football fan.<ref>[http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2002/05/08/The+North+East+Archive/7074988.Last_night_s_TV__In_a_dark_and_terrible_place/ Last night's TV: In a dark and terrible place: Staying Up, ''The Northern Echo'', 8 May 2002]</ref>

Janine Bickerstaff, ''Click Lancashire'': "Stephen delivers an array of witty one liners [in ''Sign of the Times''] with expert timing and plays the warm and worldly-wise Frank to a tee, making him the old-school supervisor everyone has humoured at some time in their working lives. Audiences will leave the theatre having laughed and cried, but shockingly having thought about Frank and how he could be anyone of us. Tompkinson and Shaw are brilliant together....''Sign of the Times'' [is] a real comedy with substance that leaves you thinking but feeling good."<ref>[http://www.clicklancashire.com/culture/reviews/122854-tompkinson-returns-home-with-hit-comedy-sign-of-the-times.html Tompkinson returns home with hit comedy 'Sign of the Times', ''Click Lancashire'', 12 May 2009]</ref>

Laura Davis, ''Liverpool Echo'': "[Frank Tollit] is the sort of role Tompkinson plays well &mdash; incorporating a balance of optimism tinged with sadness."<ref name="voice" />

Chris Collett, ''THE STAGE Reviews'': "Tompkinson's Freddie [in ''Faith and Cold Reading''] is terrifying, radiating waves of menace off the stage. At times, he appears the embodiment of evil &mdash; the devil in a [[Savile Row]] three piece."<ref>[http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/31316/faith-and-cold-reading ''Faith and Cold Reading, THE STAGE Reviews'', 17 Feb 2011]</ref>

Linda Jameson, ''Exeunt Magazine'': "[Laura] Norton and Tompkinson have a strong on-stage rapport [in ''Faith and Cold Reading'']...both in terms of pacing and dialogue. They both play strong, articulate individuals who are able to discuss the play's central issue of faith without it ever sounding contrived. Tompkinson's performance in particular is engaging and complex; he's charismatic, menacing and yet also extremely superstitious (with an amusing tendency to mix his metaphors). It's a powerful piece of acting that holds the production together; he revels in the play's genuinely funny word play and the result is a rather imposing, unpredictable character."<ref>[http://exeuntmagazine.com/reviews/faith-and-cold-reading/ Review: ''Faith and Cold Reading, Exeunt Magazine'' (undated)]</ref>

Brian Pendreigh, ''The Herald (Scotland)'': "In a world of hype and pretentiousness, prima donnas and prats, Tompkinson comes across as one of the lads. Retaining the voice of a Lancashire lad, he...exhibits a fine sense of self-deprecating humour and honesty."<ref name="splendide">[http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/delighted-to-find-a-splendide-new-role-in-a-world-of-hype-stephen-tompkinson-remains-one-of-the-lads-1.217692 In a world of hype, Stephen Tompkinson remains one of the lads, ''The Herald (Scotland)'', 19 Sep 2000]</ref>

James Rampton, ''The Independent'': "Has...success turned [Stephen Tompkinson] into yet another self-important actor who is more interested in perks than in his performances? Not as far as I could gather. Given to wry grins, Tompkinson has a stealthy wit that creeps up on you and unexpectedly taps you on the shoulder. The same spark of humour lights up his roles."<ref name="damien" />

Actor Nick Berry: "We met at [an] awards ceremony and the warmth of Stephen's personality struck me. The minute I met him I knew he was genuine....He's a sharp, witty guy. Annoying really....[And] there's no such thing as friendly when you play [pool with] Steve."<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Lads%2c+you're+Nicked%3b+Nick+Berry+and+Stephen+Tompkinson+are+back+as...-a081327614 Lads, you're Nicked, ''The Mirror (London)'', 5 Jan 2002]</ref>

Teacher Anthony Holland, Ryles Park School, Bollington: "I bumped into [Stephen] and mentioned we had been talking about him only the other day at school....He actually asked if he could come in and talk to the pupils. He was extremely friendly and down to earth and gave the students an experience they will remember from their time at the school. It was fantastic for such a well-known television star to offer to come here and give up his free time." And Head of Drama at Ryles Park School, Grant Fairlie said: "The fact that he stayed and talked to our Year 7 and Year 10 Drama GCSE group for over an hour, and even joined in activities, was brilliant."<ref>[http://menmedia.co.uk/macclesfieldexpress/news/s/392811_drop_the_dead_donkey_star_pops_in_to_meet_ryles_pupils Drop the Dead Donkey star pops in to meet Ryles pupils, ''Macclesfield Express'', 18 Oct 2001]</ref>

Francine Cohen, ''The People:'' "If you meet Stephen you feel like you've known him for years. There is something very familiar about the six footer, who is the son of a Yorkshire bank manager....He comes over as calm, well mannered and sensible....Despite his considerable success, there is no sign of smugness or complacency about the successful star. He said, 'I just remember what my parents taught me: Keep a level head.'"<ref name="people" />

== Awards ==

{| class="wikitable" width="!00%"
|-
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Result
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Award
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Category
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | For
|- valign="top"
| 2012 || Nominated || National Television Awards, UK || Drama Performance: Male<ref>[http://www.digitalspy.ie/tv/news/a342357/national-television-awards-2012-the-nominees.html National Television Awards 2012: The nominees, ''Digital Spy'', 27 Sep 2011]</ref> || ''[[Wild at Heart]]'' and ''[[DCI Banks]]''
|- valign="top"
| 2011 || Nominated || National Television Awards, UK || Best Drama Performance<ref>[[16th National Television Awards|16th National Television Awards, 'Wikipedia']]</ref> || ''[[Wild at Heart]]''
|- valign="top"
| 2011 || Nominated || TV Times Awards 2011, UK || Favourite Actor<ref>[http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/tvtawards/favourite-actor TV Times Awards 2011, UK: Favourite Actor Nominees]</ref> || ''[[Wild at Heart]]'' and ''[[DCI Banks]]''
|- valign="top"
| 2010 || Nominated || Monte-Carlo TV Festival Golden Nymph Awards || Outstanding Actor &mdash; Drama Series || ''[[Wild at Heart]]''
|- valign="top"
| 2009 || Selected || Blackpool Zoo || Certificate of Recognition || Raising awareness of problems facing Africa’s wild animals in their natural habitats<ref>[http://www.worldzootoday.com/2009/05/20/award-winning-attraction-says-'thank-zoo'-to-stephen-tompkinson/ Award-Winning Attraction Says 'Thank Zoo' to Stephen Tompkinson, Blackpool Zoo, 20 May 2009]</ref>
|- valign="top"
| 2008 || Nominated || TV Quick Awards, UK || Best Actor || ''[[Wild at Heart]]''
|- valign="top"
| 2006 || Nominated || Monte-Carlo TV Festival Golden Nymph Awards || Outstanding Actor &mdash; Drama Series || ''[[Wild at Heart]]''
|- valign="top"
| 1998 || Nominated || National Television Awards, UK || Most Popular Actor || ''[[Ballykissangel]]''
|- valign="top"
| 1996 || Nominated || National Television Awards, UK || Most Popular Actor || ''[[Ballykissangel]]''
|- valign="top"
| 1994 || Won || British Comedy Awards, UK || Best TV Comedy Actor || ''[[Drop the Dead Donkey]]''
|- valign="top"
| 1987 || Won || BBC Carleton Hobbs Award || Bursary Award<ref name="carleton" /> || Student Competition
|}
''(Source: [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0867017/awards Internet Movie Database (IMDB)], unless otherwise cited)''

== Inspiration ==
Throughout his career Stephen has tended toward understating his own talent and accomplishments, in favor of praising or giving credit to those from whom he has taken inspiration, including fellow cast and crew members. He is quick to deflect attention away from himself by saying that he has been fortunate to work with great scripts provided by talented writers, and with exceptional actors and directors.

His long-term friend [[Pete Postlethwaite]] had an undoubted influence on him. He tells of a scene in ''Brassed Off'' where Pete, as the character Danny, is lying in a hospital bed: "I watched him working and, without a word of a lie, I turned away with tears in my eyes, it was so moving....I learnt that less is more."<ref name="brassed">[http://www.urbancinefile.com.au/home/view.asp?a=380&s=interviews Tompkinson, Stephen: Brassed Off!]</ref>

When Pete died in January 2011, tributes poured in from around the world. Stephen said, "He was deeply generous with his time and cared about all aspects of his craft passionately. Like all great teachers, he was inspirational and ultimately unforgettable. He will be dearly missed."<ref>[http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/showbiz/2011/01/04/the-greatest-actor-in-the-world-tributes-pour-in-for-pete-postlethwaite-86908-22825262/ "The greatest actor in the world": tributes pour in for Pete Postlethwaite, ''Daily Record'', 4 Jan 2011]</ref> And when Pete's memoirs were later published, Stephen appeared on BBC ''Breakfast'' to once again praise his friend: [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-14077829 VIDEO: ''Pete Postlethwaite: best actor in the world''].<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-14077829 VIDEO: ''Pete Postlethwaite: best actor in the world'', ''BBC News: Entertainment and Arts'', 8 Jul 2011]</ref> He also participated in a special tribute to the great actor that aired on BBC Two: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnzSGNntDVY VIDEO: ''Pete Postlethwaite: A Tribute''].<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnzSGNntDVY VIDEO: ''Pete Postlethwaite: A Tribute'', ''BBC Two'', 15 Jan 2011]</ref>

Later, Stephen dedicated his performance in ''Faith and Cold Reading'' to Pete:
<blockquote>"It was at two very pivotal points in my career that I got to work with Pete. The first was my first-ever television series called ''Tales of Sherwood Forest'', and the second was my first film role in ''Brassed Off'', where we worked very closely as father and son. It was amazing to watch him rehearse and see how much time he spent getting the scripts absolutely right. Not in a selfish way, but for the overall project. He obviously reached much dizzier heights that I ever have with Oscar nominations and Spielberg saying he was the best actor in the world. But even when he was doing Hollywood films, if the right theatre job came up, he would stop everything to do it, which I really admired. I really think that Pete would have loved ''Faith and Cold Reading'' and hopefully he’ll still be guiding me through."<ref name="northeast" /></blockquote>

Speaking of ''Brassed Off'' writer/director Mark Herman, Stephen said, "[He] is terrific: he gave us enough rope to interpret the roles ourselves....it’s rare that your emotional and political beliefs don't get compromised. It's nice to be able to speak your mind through your character."<ref name="brassed" />

Of working under the direction of [[Kevin Spacey]] on ''Cloaca'' at [[The Old Vic]], Stephen said:
<blockquote>"Kevin Spacey is absolutely brilliant. It's hard to think of many actors that appeal to every generation, but he is one of them. He has this wonderful ability to play the everyman so when he's directing and has a suggestion about a part, he immediately commands a level of respect because you know he could play the part 10 times better than anyone else. He is open to your suggestions as well though, which is always good. ''Cloaca'' is the first show that Kevin Spacey has professionally directed, and it really has been the happiest stage work I've ever done."<ref name="spacey">[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/From+cult+comedy+to+Old+Vic.-a0125818985 From cult comedy to Old Vic, ''Western Mail (Cardiff, Wales)'', 4 Dec 2004]</ref></blockquote>

Taking it a bit further, Stephen defended Mr. Spacey when his productions received mixed reviews and critics accused him of poor management as the theatre's Artistic Director:
<blockquote>"Kevin came to the Old Vic with his parents when he was a child and when he heard that it was in financial trouble he took himself out of Hollywood for four years to stop the place being turned into a car park because no one in this country was prepared to save it. For him to take himself out of films for four years at the rate of pay he could command per film, Kevin is probably doing himself out of &pound;50m in loss of earnings, which is a very big-hearted gesture."<ref name="spacey" /></blockquote>

When asked about co-starring with Michael Richards in ''Arsenic and Old Lace,'' he replied:
<blockquote>"It's been a delight. To be honest with you, that was the real big carrot that was dangled in front of me before I took the role! I'm a huge, huge fan, and this is the closest I'll ever get to working alongside somebody like [[Buster Keaton]] or [[Jacques Tati]]. That sort of opportunity only comes along once in a lifetime, and I grabbed it with both hands. He's a wonderful fellow."<ref name="arsenic" /></blockquote>

Stephen was "absolutely devastated" and in tears when he was asked to comment the day after Irish actor [[Tony Doyle (actor)|Tony Doyle]] died suddenly, just a few hours after Stephen had been with Tony and his wife Sally at a London stage premiere and first-night party. They had worked very closely together for three series of ''Ballykissangel''. Stephen said, "Tony was on very good form &mdash; as usual the life and soul of the party. As I always did with Tony, I had a great night out. We were laughing and joking at the party and he was full of life. I just can't take it in that he's gone. He was one of the most generous actors I have ever worked with and he was one of my very closest friends. My heart goes out to his family."<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/I+CAN%27T+BELIEVE+HE%27S+GONE%3B+Stephen%27s+shock+as+Ballykiss+co-star+dies...-a060820827 I Can't Believe He's Gone; Stephen's shock as Ballykissangel co-star dies after party, ''Daily Record (Glasgow), 29 Jan 2000]</ref>

Of his co-star Nick Berry in ''In Deep'': "I've known Nick Berry for six years [at that time]. Our backgrounds are very different but I was in no way apprehensive about working with him &mdash; he's a friend and he drew one of the best TV performances I've given out of me."<ref name="indeep" />

Of Tim Firth, with whom he worked on both television ''(The Flint Street Nativity)'' and stage ''(Sign of the Times)'' productions, Stephen said:
<blockquote>"Tim's a great friend, I have always had an affinity with his work, so when he asked me to star in the play I was more than happy. Tim's a national treasure, he has the ability to speak to everyone &mdash; he’s a worldwide success. Working with him doesn’t feel like work, I enjoy it so much."<ref name="sign" /></blockquote>

<blockquote>"...to be doing Tim's words [in ''Sign of the Times''] is a real honour. I’ve always found a real affinity with his work. If I ever get a call from someone like Tim, who is a writer that has always spoken to me somehow, then it doesn't feel like work. It's just an absolute treat. The phone conversations don't last too long if I know he's responsible for it."<ref name="bracknell" /></blockquote>

<blockquote>And, "I've known Tim for about 17 years now so it's just like putting on a pair of your favourite shoes. It's like having a safety net. I know exactly where he's coming from with all of his dialogue. He knows my capabilities as well."<ref name="voice" /></blockquote>

During the early series of ''Wild At Heart'', Stephen even downplayed his own contribution in favor of praising his furry friends: "Neither of us (referring to his co-star Amanda Holden) would dare say that we are the stars of the series &mdash; the animals are, and so is the land....I wake up in the mornings and look around me, and there would be wild giraffe, elephants and zebras and lord knows what other marvellous beasts, and when the morning chill had gone it was always gloriously sunny, and I think to myself 'Tompkinson, are you really getting paid to do this?' and I just cannot believe my luck."<ref name="dailyrecord">[http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-interviews/2008/01/19/wild-at-heart-actor-is-a-changed-man-86908-20290397/ Wild at Heart Actor Is A Changed Man, ''Scottish Daily Record'', 19 Jan 2008]</ref>

Speaking of actor and writer Shaun Prendergast, Stephen's mildly self-deprecating humour peeks through: "Shaun is one of my oldest and dearest friends and I think ''[Faith and Cold Reading]'' is some of the best work he's ever done. The part [of Freddie the Suit] was written with me in mind so I could hardly say 'no'. I said ‘what do you want me to do?', and he said 'play a psychopath'. I don't know what that says about our relationship."<ref name="faith" />

Taking inspiration from the character of DCI Banks, he said, "[DCI Banks] could be the show I end up being most proud of. I really admire the character for doing the job he does. I could think of no one better that you'd want on your side."<ref>[http://lifeofwylie.com/2011/09/10/dci-banks-playing-with-fire/ DCI Banks: Playing With Fire, ''Life of Wylie'', 10 Sep 2011]</ref>

Of the film ''Harrigan,'' Stephen said, "The script, which was given to me by the director Vince Woods, is brilliant. You start with a really good script with great writing and that transports the story for everyone. The whole team involved in the project are extremely passionate about it, and I am thrilled to be part of that."<ref name="harrigan" />

Praising his agent, he said, "I have been very lucky. From the early days my agent [Barry] and I wanted to take on a variety of roles so that I didn’t become pigeon holed. It stemmed from my time in radio when we did plays across all the genres."<ref name="harrigan" />

==Philanthropy / Public Service==
In June 2012, Stephen recorded a brief video statement for [http://joiningjack.org/ JoiningJack.org], a fundraising effort toward research to find a cure for [[Duchenne muscular dystrophy|Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)]], a fatal genetic disorder that affects children.<ref>[http://joiningjack.org/supporters/stephen-tompkinson.aspx VIDEO: Stephen Tompkinson, JoiningJack Appeal]</ref>

In March 2012, he supported the [[Westminster]] Carers [[Time Banking|Time Bank]] by attending a luncheon in London as the group's special guest. The event was designed to attract new people interested in contributing their time to help others in the community in various ways. The group considered the event "a resounding success," as over 100 people attended and 30 new [[carers]] signed on.<ref>[http://westcarers.org.uk/wcs/blog/2012/03/02/time-bank-lunch-a-resounding-success/ Carers Time Bank lunch a resounding success, 2 Mar, 2012]</ref>

In February 2012, he lent his support to former Newcastle United footballer Robbie Elliott, by participating at the launch of the [http://www.robbieelliottfoundation.com/ Robbie Elliott Foundation] in an event held near [[St James' Park]] in Newcastle. Stephen revealed that Robbie had helped him with a rigorous exercise regimen to put him in shape for filming ''Harrigan.'' Stephen was keen to get behind the [http://bikeforbobby.com Bike for Bobby] charity cycle ride Robbie intends to do &mdash; "3,500 miles, 8 clubs, 4 countries, 1 [[Bobby Robson|Sir Bobby Robson]]." Money raised will be split between the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and [[Breakthrough Breast Cancer]].<ref>[http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2012/02/16/stephen-tompkinson-lends-support-to-bike-for-bobby-event-84229-30342979/#ixzz1xlgV7O78 Stephen Tompkinson lends support to Bike For Bobby event, ''GazetteLive'', 16 Feb 2010]</ref>

In late 2011, Stephen recorded an advert for [[Text Santa]], a charity initiative set up by ITV to support nine UK charities at Christmas. The advert was broadcast repeatedly during December, leading up to ITV's two ''Text Santa'' holiday specials. Stars of other ITV shows made similar adverts. In January 2012, it was announced that £4,120,000 was raised for the various charities.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9Nhp4Wn6xc Text Santa Advert, 2011]</ref> ([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9Nhp4Wn6xc VIDEO: Text Santa Advert: Stephen Tompkinson])

Also in 2011, the Benfield Motor Group, the largest independent motor group in North East England, gave a substantial cash infusion to the Live Theatre in Newcastle. The money will be used to support the wealth of education and outreach work to be carried out by the Theatre over the next five years. Stephen was asked to participate in the naming ceremony for a special room at the Theatre devoted to writers, as a space for them to gather their thoughts and draw inspiration. Stephen said: "I have thoroughly enjoyed my time performing at Live Theatre over the last few weeks and when I was asked to help name this room I was delighted to be of assistance....Having a writers' room is vital because without them actors would be speechless."<ref>[http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2011/03/12/stephen-tompkinson-hails-live-theatre-cash-boost-61634-28322821/ Stephen Tompkinson hails Live Theatre cash boost, 12 Mar 2011]</ref>

In March 2011, Stephen supported the Hallmark Cards for a Cure™ Mothers Day campaign when he handed over a £25,000 donation for a breast cancer research project at [[Newcastle University]].<ref>[http://www.breastcancercampaign.org/page.aspx?pid=607 Breast Cancer Campaign: Be Part of the Cure -- Stephen Tompkinson, 2011]</ref>

In 2010, Stephen filmed a public service video in which he visited the award-winning Langley Green Hospital, Sussex Partnership [[NHS foundation trust|NHS Foundation Trust]] in [[Crawley]], [[West Sussex]]. He delivered an anti-stigma, anti-discrimination message and praised the work of the acute care staff who help patients on the road to recovery from mental illness.<ref>[http://vimeo.com/10038271 VIDEO: Let's Talk about Mental Illness]</ref>

In 2009, Stephen gave his backing to [[Chester Zoo]]’s &pound;225m project to become the largest animal attraction in Europe. He took a break from filming his ''African Balloon Adventure'' to take a closer look at the 110-acre zoo and its plans to create a conservation bio-dome titled "Natural Vision." He also provided the voiceover on the promotional video ''Chester Zoo &mdash; A Fantastic Day Out'', which is featured on the zoo's website. After meeting staff and touring the zoo, Stephen said, "We particularly enjoyed seeing behind the scenes in the [[orangutan]] enclosure and the baby black rhino. Feeding the lemurs and the penguins was a real highlight. I am delighted to be associated with Chester Zoo and the important wildlife conservation work they contribute to all around the world."<ref>[http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/chester-news/local-chester-news/2009/07/02/actor-stephen-tomkinson-gives-his-backing-to-chester-zoo-s-225m-heart-of-africa-biodome-project-59067-24051788/, Actor Stephen Tomkinson gives his backing to Chester Zoo's &pound;225m Heart of Africa biodome project, ''Chester Chronicle'', 2 Jul 2009]</ref><ref>[http://vimeo.com/27340663 VIDEO: Chester Zoo &mdash; A Fantastic Day Out]</ref> ([http://vimeo.com/27340663 VIDEO: Chester Zoo: A Fantastic Day Out])

In 2008, Stephen became an Ambassador for [[Project African Wilderness]] (PAW), a not-for-profit organisation that seeks to protect and restore the [[Mwabvi Wildlife Reserve]] in [[Malawi]]. He threw his support behind a bike ride the group had organized to draw attention to their conservation work. He said:
<blockquote>"After spending several months in Africa filming, I'm reminded how beautiful and fragile the environment is. We take for granted that it will always be there but, without organisations such as Project African Wilderness dedicating time, resources and passion to maintain conservation reserves such as Mwabvi, Africa would be a different place. I admire people who give up their time to join the cause and raise money to support a charity, and this bike ride is the ultimate test and will be a truly amazing experience. Well done to those people who have already signed up to ride across north Malawi and to those people thinking about it &mdash; what are you waiting for!!"<ref>[http://www.freesun.be/news/index.php/join-the-mawabvi-ordeal-and-save-a-part-of-africas-wilderness/ Join the Mwabvi ordeal and save a part of Africa's wilderness, ''Freesun News'', Brussels, 28 Sep 2008]</ref></blockquote>

In June 2006, he attended an event at the Trafalgar Hotel in London titled 'A Smile is a Gift', to support children and families affected by [[HIV]].<ref>[http://www.spokeo.com/Stephen+Tompkinson+1/Jun+01+2006+Other+Photos "A Smile is a Gift," Trafalgar Hotel, June 2006]</ref>

Over the years Stephen has participated in [[Comic Relief]]'s Red Nose Day. In 2001, he was one of the team describing the work the charity does in Britain, helping victims of early [[Alzheimer's disease|Alzheimer's]] or teenagers who are HIV positive.<ref>[http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/discussion/comic-relief-red-nose-day-in-general/229506/ £22 Million To Get Your Knickers Off? Comic Relief (Red Nose Day) in general, 17 Mar 2001]</ref> In 1997, Stephen and Dervla Kirwan did a Comic Relief sketch titled ''Ballykissdibley'' &mdash; with Dawn French and the cast of [[The Vicar of Dibley]] &mdash; in which they played their ''Ballykissangel'' characters, Fr. Peter Clifford and Assumpta Fitzgerald.<ref>[http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/tv/the_vicar_of_dibley/episodes/1997/1/ Comic Relief Special &mdash; Ballykissdibley, 14 Mar 1997]</ref> ([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PVpj1z-MEU VIDEO: Ballykissdibley Comic Relief])<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PVpj1z-MEU VIDEO: The Vicar Of Dibley SP03 Ballykissdibley Comic Relief, 14 Mar 1997]</ref>

==Personal life==
Early in his career (1989) Stephen married then BBC radio producer Celia Anastasia (now de Wolff); they divorced amicably after a lengthy separation. In 1998, he became engaged to ''Ballykissangel'' co-star [[Dervla Kirwan]], but the couple split in late 1999.

In November 2000, he and Nicci Taylor joyfully welcomed the arrival of their daughter, Daisy Ellen, and they married in August 2001. However, it was announced in December 2006 that they had separated and would divorce.<ref>[http://www.standard.co.uk/news/ballysplitangel-for-stephen-tompkinsons-fiveyear-marriage-7201782.html Ballysplitangel for Stephen Tompkinson's five-year marriage, ''London Evening Standard'', 16 Dec 2006]</ref>

At approximately the same time &mdash; and following the sudden and unexpected passing of his mother in 2004 &mdash; Stephen made an important change in his lifestyle so he could devote more of his available time and attention to his young daughter. Then, in May 2007, while touring in a production of ''Charley's Aunt,'' he met his current partner, Elaine Young, in Glasgow. Stephen credits Elaine with making "the most enormous difference" in his life. "She's calmed me down and made me worry less about the future. I used to be a terrible worrier &mdash; about my career, about life in general &mdash; but she's helped me realise you can't enjoy the here and now if you're always thinking about what might happen tomorrow."<ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2082617/Stephen-Tompkinson-sets-sights-marriage-number-three.html My wild days are over, ''Mail Online'', 6 Jan 2012]</ref>

He is completely devoted to and immensely proud of his daughter, Daisy. Despite his demanding professional life, he stays in constant, daily contact with her via [[Skype]], from wherever his work takes him.
<blockquote>"I actually helped deliver her into this world, which I think makes for a very special bond between father and child....Being a dad is the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me....She is the complete core of my life. She has made me feel so much more fulfilled and grounded."<ref name="dailyrecord" /></blockquote>

<blockquote>And on another occasion, "The most romantic and wonderful thing that has ever happened to me was being at the birth of my daughter Daisy and being able to deliver her. It doesn't get any more emotionally involved than that. Daisy is...my reason to get up at ridiculous times and do ridiculous things for a living."<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/You've+got+m%40il%3a+Stephen+Tompkinson%3a+Delivering+my+daughter+Daisy+was...-a084279566 You've got m@il: Stephen Tompkinson, ''The Mirror (London)'', 30 Mar 2002]</ref></blockquote>

When asked if Daisy (age 10 at the time) shows any signs of wanting to be an actor, Stephen replied: <blockquote>"She is really, really funny; she's got great comedy timing and tells great jokes. She makes them up herself. Sometimes I look at her and think 'How old are you?' 'Have you been here before?' She's spectacular. I love seeing the world through her eyes. She's fantastic company so I try to spend as much time as I can with her." And speaking of Daisy in an interview in September 2011, Stephen said, "The worst thing that could happen to me is I would be parted from her."<ref name=people /><ref>[http://moderngirlsguideto.blogspot.com/2011/09/im-never-going-to-be-hunk-of-month.html I'm Never Going To Be Hunk of the Month, ''The Modern Girl's Guide'', 16 Sep 2011]</ref><ref name="northeastlife">[http://northeast.greatbritishlife.co.uk/article/stephentomkinson-actor-ballykissangel-wildatheart-grafters-middlesbrough-18158/ ''Wild at Heart'' Star Stephen Tompkinson Talks About His Middlesbrough Roots, ''North East Life'', undated]</ref></blockquote>

At age 9 Daisy designed the hot air balloon that carried her Dad safely across two continents, and he named it "Daisy" in her honor. The balloon fittingly bears the brilliant red and white colours that are the Home Colours of "Boro" &mdash; the [[Middlesbrough Football Club|Middlesbrough F.C.]] &mdash; which her father has loyally supported since boyhood, a passion he inherited from his dad. "I'm a Boro fan through and through. I'm a long-time Boro fan, a long-suffering Boro fan."<ref name="boro" />
<blockquote>"My parents used to take me to the games when I was about seven or eight years old, every other weekend or so. I have great memories of that time, when Jack Charlton was in charge of the team. He spoke to me once and I remember running home and shouting 'Mam! Jack Charlton spoke to me &mdash; with his mouth!' I don't know what else he would have spoken to me with!"<ref>[http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2011/02/02/stephen-tompkinson-talks-up-teesside-as-he-prepares-for-stage-role-84229-28097130/2/ Stephen Tompkinson talks up Teesside as he prepares for stage role, ''Evening Gazette'', 2 Feb 2011]</ref></blockquote>

Stephen is also an avid cricket fan. He once said that if he wasn't an actor he "wouldn't mind travelling the world as a cricket commentator, enjoying endless summers."<ref name="northeastlife" /> And in 2008 he wrote an article for ''[[The Wisden Cricketer]]'' titled [http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/368733.html "Darren Gough: My Dazzling Mate"] that demonstrates he could have been quite as successful in that role as he has been in his acting career.<ref>[http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/368733.html Darren Gough: My dazzling mate, ''ESPNcricinfo'', 11 Sep 2008]</ref> The article is included in the book ''My Favourite Cricketer,'' edited by John Stern.<ref>[http://www.amazon.co.uk/My-Favourite-Cricketer-John-Stern/dp/1408123401 ''My Favourite Cricketer,'' (Hardcover and Kindle), John Wisden & Co Ltd, 11 May 2010, ISBN 978-1408123409]</ref>

While filming the ''Australian Balloon Adventure,'' Stephen let himself indulge in a bit of bragging:
<blockquote>"We had a game of cricket against the local winemakers. Suddenly there was an Australian bowler with sun cream on his nose who was trying to take my head off with a cricket ball. But, he didn't and I smacked his bowling all around the ground. I scored 37 runs and I took three wickets, so I had a very good day! It was my own private [[The Ashes|Ashes]] and I took the ball home."<ref>[http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/drama/tv-news/interviews/stephen-tompkinson-i-know-i-nearly-died/9888 Stephen Tompkinson: 'I know I nearly died!', whatsontv.co.uk, 13 Aug 2010]</ref></blockquote>

For relaxation Stephen enjoys reading, long walks, and of course &mdash; watching movies. He loves to travel and tries to go to a new place every year. What has he learned from his extensive travels? "To have a positive attitude and let things come to you. You shouldn't strive too much to achieve things and then the trip becomes yours."<ref name="lifetravel" /> What does he need for a perfect holiday? "Family and good books. I like taking [[Stephen Fry]] with me, or [[P G Wodehouse|P.G. Wodehouse]] and [[A. A. Milne|A.A. Milne]], because I like the escapism of comedy and they celebrate our uniqueness." What does he always take with him? "I always take a cheerful disposition and a politeness &mdash; because I am an Englishman abroad &mdash; and openness to other cultures."<ref name="travel" />

Despite his extraordinarily successful and varied career in front of the camera and live audiences, Stephen has said of himself, "Like most actors I hide behind the character because I'm very shy."<ref name="propose">[http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/wild-at-heart-star-stephen-tompkinson-678710 "When I propose it'll have to be spectacular": Wild At Heart star Stephen Tompkinson on love, ''The Mirrow'', 8 Feb 2012]</ref> Consequently, he tends to keep a low profile and appears in public or talks to the Press only when it is either "about the work I am doing or an interview to help promote the work."<ref name="askstephen">[http://www.sundaysun.co.uk/news/your-questions/2007/04/15/ask-stephen-tompkinson-79310-18908418/ Ask: Stephen Tompkinson, ''Sunday Sun'', 15 Apr 2007]</ref>

== Reflections ==
"I would say I do have that [[Everyman]] quality. My parents taught me to be grounded and respectful to people, to take anyone from any walk of life on the merits you meet them with. It must come over in my acting."<ref name="people" />

"I keep getting these posh people to play when really I'm a nice northern bloke adored by my grandma."<ref>[http://www.mjnewton.demon.co.uk/pfront/pers.htm ''Radio Times'', 1994 ''(Cited on'' The Preston Front Page, Cast and Characters &mdash; ''original source no longer available)'']</ref>
"You shift your priorities as you get older and become a dad. When I was in my twenties I used to spend all my time chasing my tail, expending useless energy, worrying about stuff I didn't need to. I'm much less stressed now."<ref name="people" />

"Garth (his character in ''In Deep'') has a work first sort of ethic, and I don't any more. In the past my work took over too much. On your own you can become self-obsessed and you can let yourself and your work take over. Now that I'm a father I know why I go to work and why I come home. It's to provide a great big future for my daughter."<ref name="indeep" />

In a reflective mood, Stephen responded to a question about past relationships by saying, "If you genuinely love someone and you tell them for whatever reason that the relationship is at an end, you have no better love than that....It's not in my nature to make enemies."<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Interview%3a+People+keep+asking+Where's+the+ring%3f+But+we're+both+too...-a060618097 Stephen Tompkinson on Love, Fame and His Future, ''The Mirror (London)'', 28 Oct 1998]</ref>

On travel to other countries: "I think you can only appreciate other countries for the first time by being as quiet as possible and taking it in slowly."<ref name="travel" />

On the pleasure of reading: "I love [[whodunit]]s, because they’re always situations you never actually want to be in yourself. There's this voyeurism of seeing someone else in those situations from the comfort of your own armchair. My earliest memory is of my Dad reading ''[[Treasure Island]]'' to me and my elder brother. I remember discovering ''[[Winnie the Pooh]]'' as well &mdash; that’s a book I've always stuck with. You find yourself relating to different characters in it as you approach different stages in your life. Reading is massively important, because it offers that escapism and freedom to work with your imagination. You can be transported anywhere &mdash; it's limitless. In the times we live in it's great to be able to do that."<ref>[http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/drama/wild-at-heart/interviews/stephen-tompkinson-on-his-favourite-summer-reads/9473 Stephen Tompkinson on his favourite summer reads, 2 Jul 2010]</ref> (In 2010, Stephen co-presented the "Summer Reads" series for Channel 4's TV Book Club &mdash; [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bb1Y0QcXip4 VIDEO Clip].)

Advice to young actors:
<blockquote>"Read loads of work by different playwrights and watch every style of film and TV acting. Don't decide too soon that you are a particular type of actor. And nail the art of comedy acting early, as comedy is what makes us unique as mammals."<ref name="allswell" /></blockquote>

<blockquote>"I remember seeing a [[David Attenborough]] documentary once, where he said we are the only animals capable of making each other laugh. That's a challenge for an actor. There are a myriad ways to find humour, and if you can crack that, then the rest doesn't seem quite so difficult. No matter how hard the situation, there's always a twinkle there."<ref name="damien" /></blockquote>

<blockquote>"Read as many different playwrights as you can and get to know their work. Realise that being an actor isn't glamorous and you shouldn't do it if becoming famous is your reason."<ref name="askstephen" /></blockquote>

"Radio acting is still my first love and it always will be. It is the closest you get to an author, and you really do appreciate a good script. And because the listener has to fill in the rest and no two people share the same visual imagination, you almost feel you are doing the play for just one listener. I still do as much radio drama or comedy as I can."<ref name="allswell" />

"It's always scary going on stage, but I think it's very important as an actor to go back and do it real. You can get very cosseted when you're filming. When there's no place to hide, just you and a live audience, it's much more exciting &mdash; and it makes sure all your mental faculties are working."<ref name="luckyjim" />

“A lot of [the roles I've taken have] been down to chance. As an actor, you don't really get to dictate over your own career, but if I had had control, I think I'd have taken exactly the same route again. I guess TV stuff is the most lucrative and when you’ve got a few of those under your belt you can go back to the theatre, which is more personal. Something you do for you &mdash; although it's kind of nonsensical putting yourself through that agony every night &mdash; because I do get so terribly nervous."<ref name="arsenic" />

"I'd like to play [[Richard III]] one day. He's the ultimate villain. But I like to think that some of the great roles I'm going to play haven't been written yet!"<ref name="arsenic" />

"Job satisfaction's very important and that only comes from a really good script. A good script lasts longer in people's memories than a multi-million-pound flop."<ref name="oktober" />

When asked if he ever takes time off: "Erm, no. I don't really believe in self-imposed unemployment...I never get tired of work. I'm living out my dream and doing what I always wanted to do."<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/WORKING+UP+A+SWEAT+AS+MR+CHARITY%3b+Pour+workaholic+Stephen+Tompkinson...-a079736060 Working up a sweat as Mr Charity, ''Daily Record (Glasgow)'', 3 Nov 2001]</ref>

"I got bitten by the [acting] bug by going to the cinema very early on with my brother. We'd go and see all the [[Bond films]] over and over again. It was just for the escapism. It's nice to be part of that world now."<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Interview%3a+Stephen+Tompkinson+-+Daisy's+my+Ballykiss+Angel%3b+He+may+be...-a077304424 Interview: Stephen Tompkinson &mdash; Daisy's my Ballykiss Angel, ''Daily Mirror (London)'', 19 Aug 2001]</ref>

"I think, had I not been lucky enough to fulfil my dream, I would have felt very frustrated with the world....It must be awful to live through regret."<ref name="voice" />

"If the acting all ended for me tomorrow, I would probably go down the teaching route like my Mum."<ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-1249711/In-taxi--Actor-Stephen-Tompkinson.html In a Taxi with...Stephen Tompkinson, ''Mail Online'', 13 Feb 2010]</ref>

"They [broadcasters] only need to look at theatre sales to see that people paid more in the recession to go out and be entertained and have escapism....Maybe that will transfer to TV drama again, and we will use the brilliant writers we have got. There seems to be a huge attempt to grab the 18-to-late-20s market, which I have always thought is a bit odd. Because when you are in your teens to late 20s you don't want to be staying in watching TV, you want to be out interacting with
each other. There is much more of a &mdash; not necessarily captive audience &mdash; but an audience that prefers staying in the older you get. And there are less things designed for them, which does not seem right to me."<ref>[http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/28766/tv-should-focus-on-drama-says-tompkinson TV should focus on drama, says Tompkinson, ''The Stage News'', 29 Jun 2010]</ref>

"I've always preferred to support work that's done [in the UK]. I suppose you say that when you're not getting sent great [Hollywood] film parts, but it's true....I feel established here and would simply like to keep progressing and earn respect. Alan Parker said that if he had set ''[[Fame (1980 film)|Fame]]'' in this country he would have had to change the title to 'Respected in Your Profession'. That's what I want to be: respected in my profession."<ref>[http://www.phpbbserver.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=1830&sid=712625311e8979f041bc54db55eae9a7&mforum=phoenix Made in Britain, ''The Independent'', undated ''(Retrieved from forum; original source no longer available)'']</ref>

== Filmography ==

<big>'''Television'''</big><br>
<small>''(chronologically descending)''</small>
<small>''(chronologically descending)''</small>
{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
|-
|-
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Broadcast Date
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Character
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Author
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Type
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Station
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Dates
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 13 April 2013 || ''Great Escape&nbsp;– The Justice'' || Robin Brooks<br/>Robert Radcliffe || [[BBC Radio 4]]
| ''[[DCI Banks]]'' || Alan Banks || Drama Series || 2010&ndash;present
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| ''[[Wild at Heart]]'' || Danny Trevanion || Drama Series || 2006&ndash;present
| 17 July 2012 || ''The Gift'' || Jane Thornton || [[BBC Radio 4]]
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 26 April 2010 || ''Lifecoach'' || Nick Walker || [[BBC Radio 4]]
| ''[[Prime Suspect| Prime Suspect: The Final Act]]'' || Sean Phillips || Drama (Two-Part) || 2006
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
|30 March 2010 || ''The Porter and the Three Ladies'' || Rachel Joyce || [[BBC Radio 4]]
| ''[[Dalziel and Pascoe (BBC TV series)|Dalziel and Pascoe]]: "Guardian Angel"'' || Brian Fairmile || Drama (Two-part Episode 10.7) || 2005
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 9 February 2010<br/>9 March 2010 || ''Say What You Want to Hear'' || Tim Wright || [[BBC Radio 4]]
| ''[[New Tricks (TV series)|New Tricks]]: "Old and Cold"'' || Chris McConnel || Drama (Episode 2.4) || 2005
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 19 May 2008 || ''Brass Britain'' || Rosemary Foxcroft<br/>Ashley Byrne<br/>Phil Collinge || [[BBC Radio 2]]
| ''[[The Last Detective]]: "Friends Reunited"'' || Simon Dabney || Drama (Episode 3.1) || 2005
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 26 March 2008 || ''Pier Shorts: Four Battenburgs'' || Michael Odell || [[BBC Radio 4]]
| ''[[Shakespeare ReTold|ShakespeaRe-told]]: "The Taming of the Shrew"'' || Harry Kavanagh || Comedy Drama Romance || 2005
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 16–18 April 2007 || ''[[Stormbreaker (novel)|Stormbreaker]]'' || [[Anthony Horowitz]] || [[BBC Radio 4]]
| ''[[Marian, Again]]'' || Chris Bishop || Thriller || 2005
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 4 February 2007 || ''Two Men from Delft'' || [[Stephen Wakelam]] || [[BBC Radio 3]]
| ''[[Little Red Tractor]]'' || Stan (Voice) || Animation Series || 2004&ndash;2005
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| ''[[Agatha Christie's Marple]]: [[The Murder at the Vicarage]]'' || DI Slack || Drama || 2004
| 2 October 2006 || ''[[Small Island (TV film)|Small Island]]'' || [[Andrea Levy]] || [[BBC Radio 7]]
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 30 June – 4 August 2006 || ''This Sporting Life'' || [[David Storey]] || [[BBC Radio 2]]
| ''[[My Dad's the Prime Minister]]: "Desert Island"'' || Venning || Comedy (Episode 2.3) || 2004
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 14–18 November 2005 || ''Confessions of a Bad Mother'' || Stephanie Calman || [[BBC Radio 4]]
| ''Waiting for the Whistle: "Staying Up"'' || Billy Gowland || Drama || 2004
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 5 September 2004 || ''[[The Diary of a Nobody]]'' || [[George Grossmith]]<br/>[[Weedon Grossmith]] || [[BBC Radio 4]]
| ''[[Lucky Jim]]'' || Jim Dixon || TV Movie || 2003
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 30 August – 27 September 2004 || ''[[One, Two, Buckle My Shoe (novel)|One, Two, Buckle My Shoe]]'' || [[Agatha Christie]] || [[BBC Radio 4]]
| ''[[Spike Milligan]]: I Told You I Was Ill'' || Spike Milligan (Dramatic Reading) || Comedy Live Tribute || 2002
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 19 March 2004 || ''[[Billy Liar]]'' || [[Keith Waterhouse]] || [[BBC Radio 4]]
| ''Ted and Alice'' || Ted || Comedy Mini-series || 2002
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 3 October 2003 || ''[[A Kestrel for a Knave|Kes]]'' || [[Barry Hines]] || [[BBC Radio 7]]
| ''In Deep'' || Garth O'Hanlon || Drama Series || 2001&ndash;2002
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 22 February 2003 || ''The Long Weekend'' || Jeremy Front || [[BBC Radio 4]]
| ''Bedtime'' || Paul Newcombe || Drama Series || 2001
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 13 September 2000 || ''Breakfast in Brighton'' || Nigel Richardson || [[BBC Radio 4]]
| ''Mr. Charity'' || Graham Templeton || Comedy Series || 2001
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 11 July 2000 || ''Shaggy Dog Stories: A Partner for Life'' || [[Kate Atkinson (writer)|Kate Atkinson]] || [[BBC Radio 4]]
| ''[[Bob the Builder]]: A Christmas to Remember'' || Tom || Animation Special || 2001
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 31 March 2000 || ''Latin Shorts: Taxi Driver Minus Robert De Niro'' || Fernando Ampuero || [[BBC Radio 4]]
| ''Black Cab: "Busy Body"'' || Christopher || Short Films (Episode 1.1) || 2000
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 19 March 1998 || ''[[The Big Town All Stars]]: If You Scratch My Back'' || [[Bill Dare]] || [[BBC Radio 4]]
| ''The Flint Street Nativity'' || Narrator / Tim Moyle || TV Movie || 1999
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 19 July 1997 || ''The Ingenious Mind of Rigby Lacksome'' || [[Ernest Bramah]] || [[BBC Radio 4]]
| ''[[Dad (TV series)|Dad]]: "Nemesis"'' || Barry Martin || Comedy (Special) || 1999
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 5 March 1995 || ''[[Life of Galileo]]'' || [[Berthold Brecht]] || [[BBC Radio 4]]
| ''Square One'' || &nbsp; || Series || 1999
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 2 August 1994 || ''Virtual Radio'' || Andrew Dallmeyer || [[BBC Radio 4]]
| ''[[Grafters]]'' || Trevor Purvis || Comedy Drama Series || 1998&ndash;1999
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 22 May 1994 || ''[[Shelley (TV series)|Shelley]]''<br/>(Radio adaptation of TV sitcom) || [[Peter Tilbury]] || [[BBC Radio 2]]
| ''[[Oktober]]'' || Jim Harper || Thriller Mini-Series || 1998
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 14 November 1991 || ''[[The Cabaret of Dr Caligari]]: Comedian's Moon'' || Alan Gilbey || [[BBC Radio 4]]
| ''[[Ballykissangel]]'' || Father Peter Clifford || Drama Series || 1996&ndash;1998
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 3 July 1991 || ''Hat Trick: The Ashes'' || [[Sue Townsend]] || [[BBC Radio 3]]
| ''[[The Vicar of Dibley|Ballykissdibley]]'' || Father Peter Clifford || Comedy (Special) || 1997
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 23 June 1991 || ''[[Midsummer Night's Dream|A Midsummer Night's Dream]]'' || [[William Shakespeare]] || [[BBC Radio 3]]
| ''[[Father Ted]]: A Christmassy Ted'' || Father Peter Clifford || Comedy (Special) || 1996
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 28 September 1990 || ''[[Pravda (play)|Pravda]]'' || [[David Hare (playwright)|David Hare]]<br/>[[Howard Brenton]] || [[BBC Radio 3]]
| ''A Very Open Prison'' || Jeremy Craig || Topical Comedy/Satire || 1995
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 15 September 1990 || ''[[The Murder on the Links]]'' * || [[Agatha Christie]]<br/>(adapted by [[Michael Bakewell]])|| [[BBC Radio 4]]
| ''Performance: The Deep Blue Sea'' || Philip Welch || Drama (Episode 4.3) || 1994
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 9 July 1990 || ''Cloud Cuckoo Land'' || Catherine Czerkawska || [[BBC Radio 4]]
| ''Downwardly Mobile'' || Mark || Comedy Series || 1994
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 31 March 1990 || ''Pocketful of Dreams'' || Stuart Kerr || [[BBC Radio 4]]
| ''[[All Quiet on the Preston Front]]'' || Private Simon 'Spock' Matlock || Comedy Series || 1994
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 16 January 1990 || ''The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes with Clive Merrison: The Engineer's Thumb'' || Victor Hatherley || [[BBC Radio 4]]
| ''[[Shakespeare: The Animated Tales]]: "The Winter's Tale"'' || Autolycus (Voice) || Animation (Episode 2.5) || 1994
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 22 March 1989 || ''Haunted by More Cake'' || Steve Walker || [[BBC Radio 4]]
| ''[[Shakespeare: The Animated Tales]]: "The Twelfth Night"'' || Sir Andrew (Voice) || Animation (Episode 1.6) || 1992
|- valign="top
| ''[[Boon (TV series)|Boon]]: "A Shot in the Dark"'' || Stephen Alwyn || Comedy Drama (Episode 7.13) || 1992
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| ''[[Minder (TV series)|Minder]]'' || DC Park || Drama Series || 1991
| 1 March 1988 || ''Tickertape and V-Signs'' || Peter Cox || [[BBC Radio 3]]
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 9 February 1988 || ''Madame Aubray's Principles'' || [[Dumas fils|Alexandre Dumas, fils]]|| [[BBC Radio 3]]
| ''[[Made in Heaven]]: "A Fair Mix Up"'' || Woody || Drama (Episode 1.4) || 1990
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 7 September 1987 || ''The Man That Got Away'' || [[Philip Norman (author)|Philip Norman]] || [[BBC Radio 4]]
| ''[[Chancer]]'' || Markus Warton || Drama Series || 1990
|- valign="top"
| ''[[Drop the Dead Donkey]]'' || Damien Day || Comedy Series || 1990&ndash;1998
|- valign="top"
| ''Hit the Pitch'' || Andy || TV Movie || 1989
|- valign="top"
| ''[[Casualty (TV series)|Casualty]]: "Chain Reaction"'' || Tony Mitton || Drama (Episode 4.1) || 1989
|- valign="top"
| ''[[The Manageress]]'' || Jim Wilson || Drama Series || 1989
|- valign="top"
| ''Tales of Sherwood Forest'' || Kevin || Mini-series || 1989
|- valign="top"
| ''[[And a Nightingale Sang]]'' || Eric || TV Movie || 1989
|- valign="top"
| ''[[After Henry (TV series)|After Henry]]: "Intellectual Aspirations"'' || Julian || Comedy (Episode 2.1) || 1989
|- valign="top"
| ''[[The Return of Shelley]]: "Why Me?"'' || PC Knight || Drama (Episode 1.5) || 1988
|- valign="top"
| ''[[All at No. 20]]: "The Prowler"'' || Police Constable || Drama (Episode 2.6) || 1987
|}
|}
<small>*90-minute radio play presented on the centenary of Agatha Christie's birth</small>
<br>

<big>'''Film'''</big><br>
==Awards==
<small>''(chronologically descending)''</small>

{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
{| class="wikitable" width="!00%"
|-
|-
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Character
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Result
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Type
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Award
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Date
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Category
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | For
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 2013 || Won || Royal Television Society (RTS) Yorkshire, UK || Best Drama<ref>[Announced via Twitter, no link available]</ref> || ''[[DCI Banks]]''
| ''Harrigan'' || DS Barry Harrigan || Feature Film || 2012 (In Post-Production)
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 2012 || Nominated || The Specsavers Crime Thriller Awards 2012, UK || Detective Duo of the Year<ref>[http://www.crimethrillerawards.com/filmtvaward/detective-duo-of-the-year/ The Specsavers Crime Thriller Awards 2012, ITV, undated]</ref> || ''[[DCI Banks]]''
| ''[[Hotel Splendide (film)|Hotel Splendide]]'' || Dezmond Blanche || Feature Film || 2000
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 2012 || Nominated || National Television Awards, UK || Drama Performance: Male<ref>[http://www.digitalspy.ie/tv/news/a342357/national-television-awards-2012-the-nominees.html National Television Awards 2012: The nominees, ''Digital Spy'', 27 September 2011]</ref> || ''[[Wild at Heart (UK TV series)|Wild at Heart]]'' and ''[[DCI Banks]]''
| ''[[Brassed Off]]'' || Phil || Feature Film || 1996
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 2011 || Nominated || National Television Awards, UK || Best Drama Performance<ref>[[16th National Television Awards|16th National Television Awards, 'Wikipedia']]</ref> || ''[[Wild at Heart (UK TV series)|Wild at Heart]]''
| ''Treacle'' || Stephen Duffell || Short Film || 1988
|}
<br>
<big>'''Stage'''</big><br>
<small>''(chronologically descending)''</small><br>
''(see above for additional detail)
{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
|-
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Character
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Written By
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Date
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 2011 || Nominated || TV Times Awards 2011, UK || Favourite Actor<ref>[http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/tvtawards/favourite-actor TV Times Awards 2011, UK: Favourite Actor Nominees]</ref> || ''[[Wild at Heart (UK TV series)|Wild at Heart]]'' and ''[[DCI Banks]]''
| ''Faith and Cold Reading'' || Freddie the Suit || [[Shaun Prendergast]] || 2011
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| ''Sign of the Times'' || Frank Tollit || [[Tim Firth]] || 2009
| 2010 || Won || TV Times Awards 2010, UK || Favourite Drama || ''[[Wild at Heart (UK TV series)|Wild at Heart]]''
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 2010 || Nominated || Monte-Carlo TV Festival Golden Nymph Awards || Outstanding Actor&nbsp;– Drama Series || ''[[Wild at Heart (UK TV series)|Wild at Heart]]''
| ''[[The Revenger's Tragedy]]'' || Vindice || [[Cyril Tourneur]] (Attributed) || 2008
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 2008 || Nominated || TV Quick Awards, UK || Best Actor || ''[[Wild at Heart (UK TV series)|Wild at Heart]]''
| ''Charley's Aunt'' || Donna Lucia D’Alvadorez || [[Brandon Thomas]] || 2007
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 2006 || Nominated || Monte-Carlo TV Festival Golden Nymph Awards || Outstanding Actor&nbsp;– Drama Series || ''[[Wild at Heart (UK TV series)|Wild at Heart]]''
| ''Rattle of a Simple Man'' || Percy || [[Charles Dyer]] || 2004
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 1998 || Nominated || National Television Awards, UK || Most Popular Actor || ''[[Ballykissangel]]''
| ''[[Arsenic and Old Lace]]'' || Mortimer Brewster || [[Joseph Kesselring]] || 2003
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 1996 || Nominated || National Television Awards, UK || Most Popular Actor || ''[[Ballykissangel]]''
| ''[[Art (play)|Art]]'' || Serge || [[Yasmina Reza]] || 2000
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 1994 || Won || British Comedy Awards, UK || Best TV Comedy Actor || ''[[Drop the Dead Donkey]]''
| ''[[Tartuffe]]'' || Tartuffe || [[Molière]] || 1998
|- valign="top"
|- valign="top"
| 1987 || Won || BBC Carleton Hobbs Award || Bursary Award<ref name="carleton" /> || Student Competition
| ''The End of the Food Chain'' || Bruce || [[Tim Firth]] || 1993
|- valign="top"
| ''[[Women Laughing]]'' || Tony || [[Michael Wall]] || 1992
|- valign="top"
| ''[[Love's Labour's Lost]]'' || Navarre || [[Shakespeare]] || 1992
|- valign="top"
| ''Across the Ferry'' || Alec || Ted Moore || 1991
|- valign="top"
| ''Absent Friends'' || Colin || [[Alan Ayckbourn]] || &nbsp;
|- valign="top"
| ''No One Sees the Video'' || Paul || [[Martin Crimp]] || 1990
|- valign="top"
| ''[[The Boys from Syracuse]]'' || &nbsp; || [[Richard Rodgers]] (Music) and [[Lorenz Hart]] (Lyrics) || 1987
|}
|}
''(Source: [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0867017/awards Internet Movie Database (IMDB)], unless otherwise cited)''
<br>
<big>'''Other'''</big><br>
<small>''(chronologically descending)''</small><br>
{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
|-
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Character
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Type
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Date
|- valign="top"
| ''[[Dracula: Prince of Darkness]]'' * || Self || Live Reading from [[Bram Stoker]]'s ''[[Dracula]]'' || 2012
|- valign="top"
| ''The A to Z of Crime'' || Self / Clips (DCI Banks) || Documentary<br>(Episode 1) || 2011
|- valign="top"
| ''The People's Detective: Marple/Tennison'' || Self || Documentary<br>(Episode 1.2) || 2010
|- valign="top"
| ''A Band for Britain'' || Narrator (Voice) || Documentary || 2010
|- valign="top"
| ''Dog Rescue'' || Narrator (Voice) || Public Service<br>(Episodes 1.1 and 1.3) || 2008
|- valign="top"
| ''[[Saturday Kitchen]]'' || Guest || Cookery Programme<br>(Episode 10 May) || 2008
|- valign="top"
| ''[[Movie Connections]]: Brassed Off'' || Self and Clips || Episode 1.7 || 2007
|- valign="top"
| ''[[Only Human]]: Hypochondriacs: I Told You I Was Ill'' || Narrator (voice) || Documentary (Episode 3.1) || 2007
|- valign="top"
| ''The Play's the Thing'' || Self (Uncredited) || Documentary Mini-series<br>(Episode 1.1) || 2006
|- valign="top"
| ''Director's Debut: The Lightning Kid'' || Director || Documentary || 2006
|- valign="top"
| ''[[Comedy Connections]]: [[Drop the Dead Donkey]]'' || Guest Presenter and Clips || Documentary (Episode 4.3) || 2006
|- valign="top"
| ''[[A Question of Sport]]'' || Celebrity Contestant || Quiz Show<br>(Episode 36.14) || 2006
|- valign="top"
| ''[[GMTV]]'' || Guest || Chat Show<br>(Episodes 26 Feb 2004<br>30 Jan 2006) || 2004<br>2006
|- valign="top"
| ''Call My Bluff'' || Guest Contestant || Game Show<br>(Episode 1 Jun) || 2004
|- valign="top"
| ''[[The Graham Norton Show]]'' || Guest || Chat Show<br>(Episode 3.15) || 2003
|- valign="top"
| ''Trail of Guilt: Harold Shipman : Addicted to Murder'' || Narrator || Documentary || 2000
|- valign="top"
| ''The Priory'' || Guest || Chat Show<br>(Episode 1.13) || 2000
|- valign="top"
| ''Dale's All Stars'' || Guest || Chat Show<br>(Episode 1.2) || 2000
|- valign="top"
| ''[[Great Railway Journeys]]: Singapore to Bangkok'' || Writer/Presenter || Travel Documentary<br>(Episode 4.7) || 1999
|- valign="top"
| ''[[Light Lunch|Late Lunch]]'' || Guest || Comedy Chat Show<br>(Episode 2.3) || 1998
|- valign="top"
| ''Fantasy World Cup'' || Guest || Sports Chat Show<br>(Episodes 1.5 and 1.16) || 1998
|- valign="top"
| ''[[Light Lunch]]: It's Good Craic'' || Guest || Comedy Chat Show<br>(Episode 2.85) || 1998
|- valign="top"
| ''[[Shooting Stars]]'' || Contestant || Comedy Game Show<br>(Episode 2.11) || 1996
|- valign="top"
| ''Everyman'' || Presenter || Episode || 1996
|}
<small>*Advance screening of Hammer Films restored version of 1966 film, in collaboration with [[StudioCanal UK]] &mdash; released as combined DVD + Blu-ray 5 Mar 2012<ref>[http://newempressmagazine.com/2012/02/at-the-flicker-club-with-dracula-prince-of-darkness-1966/ Special Report: Dracula Prince of Darkness (1966), 29 Feb 2012]</ref></small>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Reflist}}
<references/>


== External links ==
==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline|Stephen Tompkinson}}
*{{IMDb name|id=0867017|name=Stephen Tompkinson}}
*{{IMDb name|id=0867017|name=Stephen Tompkinson}}
*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/faces/stephen_tompkinson.shtml Stephen Tompkinson at bbc.co.uk] ''(last updated Oct 2005)''
*[https://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/faces/stephen_tompkinson.shtml Stephen Tompkinson at bbc.co.uk] ''(last updated October 2005)''

{{Authority control}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME =Tompkinson, Stephen
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =English actor best known for his work in television drama and comedy productions such as DCI Banks, Wild at Heart, Ballykissangel, Drop the Dead Donkey, and the movie Brassed Off.
| DATE OF BIRTH =15 October 1965
| PLACE OF BIRTH =[[Stockton-on-Tees]], [[England]]
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tompkinson, Stephen}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tompkinson, Stephen}}
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:Alumni of the Central School of Speech and Drama]]
[[Category:Alumni of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama]]
[[Category:British film actors]]
[[Category:English male film actors]]
[[Category:British stage actors]]
[[Category:English male radio actors]]
[[Category:British television actors]]
[[Category:English male stage actors]]
[[Category:English male television actors]]
[[Category:English male voice actors]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Middlesbrough F.C. fans]]
[[Category:Male actors from County Durham]]
[[Category:People from Stockton-on-Tees]]
[[Category:Male actors from Lancashire]]
[[Category:Actors from Stockton-on-Tees]]

[[Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[de:Stephen Tompkinson]]
[[Category:20th-century English male actors]]
[[nl:Stephen Tompkinson]]
[[Category:21st-century English male actors]]
[[Category:Male actors from Scarborough, North Yorkshire]]

Latest revision as of 13:15, 26 December 2024

Stephen Tompkinson
Tompkinson in 2013
Born
Stephen Phillip Tompkinson[1]

(1965-10-15) 15 October 1965 (age 59)
NationalityBritish
EducationCentral School of Speech and Drama
OccupationActor
Years active1987–present
Known forDCI Banks
Wild at Heart
Grafters
Brassed Off
Ballykissangel
Drop the Dead Donkey
Trollied
Spouse(s)Celia Anastasia (divorced)
Nicci Taylor (divorced 2006)
Elaine Young (2007–2016)
PartnerJessica Johnson (2017–2021)
Children1

Stephen Phillip Tompkinson (born 15 October 1965) is an English actor, known for his television roles as Marcus in Chancer (1990), Damien Day in Drop the Dead Donkey (1990–1998), Father Peter Clifford in Ballykissangel (1996–98), Trevor Purvis in Grafters (1998–1999), Danny Trevanion in Wild at Heart (2006–2013) and Alan Banks in DCI Banks (2010–2016). He won the 1994 British Comedy Award for Best TV Comedy Actor. He also starred in the films Brassed Off (1996) and Hotel Splendide (2000).

Early life

[edit]

Tompkinson was born in Stockton-on-Tees. When he was about age 4, his family moved to Scarborough, North Riding of Yorkshire[2] and then to Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, where he grew up and attended St Bede's Roman Catholic High School in Lytham and St Mary's Sixth Form in Blackpool.[3][4] Tompkinson's first lead was as a red admiral butterfly in The Plotters of Cabbage Patch Corner.[5]

He went on to train at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, alongside James Nesbitt and Rufus Sewell, and graduated in 1988.[6] Tompkinson's acting career began straight out of drama school.[7][4] During his last year at the London School of Speech and Drama he won the 1987 Carleton Hobbs Bursary,[8] gaining a contract as a member of the BBC's Radio Drama Company,[9] and had roles in radio dramas.[10]

Along with Ewan Bailey, he performed a two-part radio drama titled Say What You Want to Hear (Swywth), written by Tim Wright and broadcast in 2010 on BBC Radio 4. His narrated radio documentaries include Brass Britain, which aired in 2008 and was reprised in 2010 on BBC Radio 2.[11]

Career

[edit]

Television

[edit]

1980s

[edit]

In 1988, Tompkinson appeared with Ken Goodwin and Freddie Davies in a Channel 4 short titled Treacle, directed by Peter Chelsom. It received a 1988 BAFTA nomination in the category of Best Short Film.[12]

During the next few years he was cast in several single-episode parts on All at No 20, Shelley, After Henry, Casualty, Made in Heaven, and Boon. He also played in three episodes of The Manageress (1989).[13]

Also in 1989 he appeared in his first full-length made-for-TV movie. Based on a 1977 play by C.P. Taylor, And a Nightingale Sang was a romantic comedy-drama adapted for television by Jack Rosenthal.

1990s

[edit]

He was cast in three episodes of Tales of Sherwood Forest (1989), nine episodes of Chancer (1990), and nine episodes of Minder (1991)[13] It received the 1990 Prix Europa Special award for the film in the category "TV Fiction".[14] Between 1990 and 1998, Tompkinson starred in 66 episodes[citation needed] of the satirical comedy Drop The Dead Donkey. He played the ambitious but unethical reporter Damien Day, and won the 1994 British Comedy Awards "Best TV Comedy Actor" award.[15]

In 1994, he was Private Simon 'Spock' Matlock, a history teacher and intellectual in BBC comedy drama All Quiet on the Preston Front, written by Tim Firth and set in Lancashire. Alistair McGowan replaced him after the first series because Tompkinson had other commitments.[16] That same year he was in Downwardly Mobile – a Yorkshire Television sitcom about a group of Yuppies – aired for one season but failed to make an impression and was not recommissioned.[17]

From 1996 to 1998 he portrayed, in the popular Ballykissangel, the struggles of a young English Roman Catholic priest assigned as curate to a church in Ireland's 'back of beyond'. In 1998 he starred as Jim Harper in the three-part ITV psychological thriller Oktober, about a naive English teacher at a posh school in Switzerland. His character becomes a guinea pig in the trials of a new mind-altering drug. Tompkinson performed his own stunts.[18] He says that "I grabbed this project because I'd never been asked to do anything like this before. And the chance to do stunts was one reason it was so appealing."[18]

Also in 1998, and again in 1999, he co-starred with Robson Green in two series of Grafters, about two Geordie labourers who attempt to go into business together renovating an old London house owned by a pair of Yuppies.[19] Tompkinson's performance was praised by James Rampton of The Independent:

It is Tompkinson who – despite having the less showy part – really catches the eye. In the shadow of a more successful brother and a domineering wife, he precisely captures an air of despondent, hen-pecked resignation. Like Eeyore, he seems to be pursued by his own personal raincloud. Nobody does defeated better. Tompkinson is an actor who's become a winner by playing the loser....Trevor can be added to the actor's growing gallery of characters whom viewers watch and think, 'I know that bloke.'[20]

Tompkinson and Ballykissangel's Dervla Kirwan worked together again in 1999 on the TV version of Tim Firth's The Flint Street Nativity. They also co-starred in the 2001 mini-series Hereafter, which never aired in the UK but was released on DVD under the title Shades in the United States and Canada in 2012.[21]

2000s

[edit]

In 2001, he co-starred with Heartbeat star Nick Berry in the mini-series In Deep, as part of BBC1's Crime Doubles season. The promotional material described his performance as "Tompkinson as you have never seen him before" and a career "gamble". He agreed with that assessment: "In Deep is a very gritty drama and not the kind of thing that I'm normally associated with".[22]

Tompkinson and Claire Skinner appeared as a couple in Series 1 of the comedy Bedtime, which aired August and September 2001.[23][24] In 2002, he appeared as the character 'Ted' with co-star Dawn French in the comedy drama mini-series Ted and Alice.[25] The sitcom Mr. Charity (2001), which aired on BBC2, was panned by the critics, drew poor viewer ratings, and was axed after six episodes.[26]

In 2003, after a long delay, ITV aired the mini-series Lucky Jim. Tompkinson had bought the rights to the Kingsley Amis novel, which had not been adapted for some time, with the intention of playing the central character. Jack Rosenthal did the screenplay. The cast included Keeley Hawes as his co-star and love interest Christine, Robert Hardy, Helen McCrory, Denis Lawson, Hermione Norris and Penelope Wilton.[27] The Guardian praised it as "deftly adapted by Jack Rosenthal ... immaculately done, not least because of Stephen Tompkinson's performance as Jim, with stellar support from [the rest of the cast, especially] Helen McCrory."[28] In December 2004, he appeared as Detective Inspector Slack in a new adaptation of Agatha Christie's The Murder at the Vicarage.[29]

In 2004, Tompkinson played his first fact-based role in BBC1's two-part drama In Denial of Murder, playing the character of the journalist Don Hale.[30] The drama was based on Hale's 2002 book Town Without Pity.[31] There was controversy surrounding how the case was depicted, and in preparing to portray Don Hale he struggled to make sense of it. When asked his opinion, he explained that although he had done research to prepare for the role, he was merely an actor working from a script in which he had total faith and that he believed to be fair.[32]

In 2005, Marian, Again was a psychological drama about the horrors that could lie within any community and just beyond anyone's front door. Owen Teale co-starred, along with Kelly Harrison in the title role and Samantha Beckinsale.[33]

Of his role in Prime Suspect, Tompkinson says "I had a call from my agent who told me they were to film the last-ever Prime Suspect with Helen Mirren. And I said, 'Yes!' before she could finish. She said, 'There is a part you might be interested in...' and I said, 'I meant Yes, I'll do it, not Yes, please continue! I mean, here is a chance to work with one of the greatest actresses there is. Taking a part in the final Prime Suspect was the quickest decision I've ever made!"[34]

ITV drama series Wild at Heart, created by Ashley Pharoah, began airing in the UK in January 2006 and ran for seven series. Tompkinson played Bristol veterinarian Danny Trevanion, who relocated with his family to South Africa where they attempted to build up a successful wildlife preserve and veterinary surgery. Tompkinson was also co-executive producer for 33 episodes and executive producer for one.[35]

2010s

[edit]

In 2010 he was cast as Inspector Alan Banks in DCI Banks: Aftermath, a two-part television pilot adaptation of one of Peter Robinson's crime novels.[36] DCI Banks: Aftermath drew seven million viewers, beating BBC1's Spooks in the ratings battle for the same timeslot.[37] On 14 June 2013, ITV announced that DCI Banks has been commissioned for a third six-part series.[38] He played a role in the BBC series Truckers during the same year.

Film

[edit]

Barely out of drama school, he appeared in 1988 (as Stephen Duffell) with Ken Goodwin and Freddie Davies in Peter Chelsom's 11-minute short film titled Treacle. It was the tale of comedian Alfie Duffell's melodic legacy, set amid the Blackpool variety scene. The work received a 1988 BAFTA nomination in the category of Best Short Film.[39]

In 1996 he starred in a British-made international feature film, Brassed Off, about a brass band in Grimley, a fictional Yorkshire colliery town where the mines are being shut down by the Tory government in the name of progress.[40][41]

In 2000, he played the role of Dezmond Blanche in the bleakly satirical film Hotel Splendide.[42]

In February 2012, he filmed his first lead role in a feature film titled Harrigan, described on its 2013 release in Britain as having "a thin budget and cartoonish script".[43][44][45]

Stage

[edit]

Tompkinson has said repeatedly that he enjoys the challenge of mixing television and film roles with live stage productions.[citation needed] He has appeared on stage in London's West End and in theatres across the UK. Of the 1992 production of Michael Wall's Women Laughing at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Alan Hulme of the Manchester Evening News described the cast as "superb....and the acting has the shocking eloquence of picture postcards in acid."[46] And The Independent described The End of the Food Chain (1994) at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough as "excellent" and "vividly acted."[47]

2003 saw him starring as Mortimer Brewster, along with Michael Richards of Seinfeld fame, in Arsenic and Old Lace at The Strand Theatre in London. The part required him to deliver his lines in a New York accent. One reviewer commented, "The fact that many American audience members...assumed that Stephen was a bone fide American confirms the authenticity of his twang."[48]

In 2007, he toured in Charley's Aunt, playing the role of Donna Lucia D'Alvadorez. In a review in the British Theatre Guide Sheila Connor said:

This is Stephen Tompkinson as you have never seen him before – hilarious even before he dons the frock. His manner, voice, expression and actions are spot-on....totally uproariously funny....It is at Babb's entrance that the play really takes off, Tompkinson revealing himself to be an inspired comic genius to add to his multitude of diverse credits....A truly entertainingly hilarious performance, and it is to be hoped that Tompkinson will treat us to more of the same.[49]

In 2008, he played the deeply sinister and complex lead character of Vindice in the Jacobean bloodbath The Revenger's Tragedy at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester. He felt sympathy for the character and explained why the play appealed to him:

He's not a villain, he's an anti-hero, really. You can see he has been wronged. The audience get to be voyeurs and enjoy watching him get his retribution. It's the black-and-white morality of the play, its bloodthirsty nature, that appealed to me. The way that things are dealt with, there was no red tape: it was out with the poison or the sword if you were wronged.[50]

In 2009, he toured in Sign of the Times, playing the character of Frank Tollit, who has spent the past 25 years putting up letters on buildings but dreams of becoming a novelist. His colleague Alan (Tom Shaw), 30 years his junior, wants to be a rock star. Tompkinson said, "The play is a comedy but much more. It is about having dreams and ambition; it's about happiness and failure. Frank's good at his job; he does enjoy it, but he has bigger dreams. I think everyone will be able to relate to it."[51]

When Shaun Prendergast, who is a friend, wrote Faith and Cold Reading he created the part of a villain called Freddie the Suit for Tompkinson. The staging of that play at the Live Theatre in Newcastle in February–March 2011 is his most recent stage run.[7]

Tompkinson made his musical theatre debut in London's West End in the lead role of King Arthur in Monty Python's Spamalot at the Playhouse Theatre 20 November 2012.[52][53]

In 2018, he played Yvan in the UK tour of Art, having previously played the role at the Wyndham's Theatre in London's West End in 2000.

During the Christmas 2018 season he played Ebenezer Scrooge in Jack Thorne's new adaptation of A Christmas Carol at The Old Vic, London.

In 2019 he is touring a production of Willy Russell's Educating Rita, co-starring with Jessica Johnson. This has been very well received by both critics and audiences.

Presenter

[edit]

Tompkinson has hosted or narrated a number of other UK television programs, including a FIFA 100 Years of Football documentary. In 1999, he presented the BBC2 documentary Great Railway Journeys: Singapore to Bangkok, part of Series 4 of the popular Great Railway Journeys travel documentaries that aired over many years in the UK and on PBS in the U.S.[54]

In 2009, he took part in the documentary, Stephen Tompkinson's Great African Balloon Adventure, a three-part series inspired by Jules Verne's first novel Five Weeks in a Balloon. It followed Tompkinson and his guide, hot air ballooning expert Robin Batchelor, as they travelled 6,108 miles in six weeks from coast to coast, above and on the ground in Tanzania, Rwanda, Zambia, Botswana and Namibia. The series aired on ITV in the UK in June 2009 and was later distributed by American Public Television in the U.S.[55] The African balloon series was well received, and ITV commissioned a three-part follow-up series that aired on ITV1 in 2010, titled Stephen Tompkinson's Australian Balloon Adventure.

Narrator/voice-over

[edit]

He has done a variety of voice-over work, including adverts,[56] audio books, and narration. His many adverts include[citation needed] BT Childline, British Midland, Motorola, Alton Towers, Comet, Eurostar, Laphroaig Whisky, Mercury & Kwiksave, Bulmers Cider, Tetley Tea and the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals.[57][58]

His narrated TV programmes and shows include Little Red Tractor,[4] Trail of Guilt: Harold Shipman: Addicted to Murder (2000), When Snooker Ruled the World (2002), A Band for Britain (2010)[59] and Choccywoccydoodah (2014).[60] In addition, he has narrated numerous audiobooks.

Director

[edit]

In 2006, Tompkinson made his directing debut in the Midlands, at the helm of the BBC1 afternoon drama The Lightning Kid. He was shadowed by a film crew making the documentary Director's Debut: Stephen Tompkinson's Story that aired immediately prior to the drama, with the intent of revealing the challenges faced by a new director.[61]

Other involvements

[edit]

Tompkinson has supported various causes by providing promotional videos or voiceovers. These include a fundraising effort toward research to find a cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)[62] and a financial appeal by Chester Zoo[63] He has also supported causes such as the Westminster Carers Time Bank[64] and, in 2008, he became an Ambassador for Project African Wilderness (PAW), a not-for-profit organisation that seeks to protect and restore the Mwabvi Wildlife Reserve in Malawi.[65]

In February 2012, Tompkinson supported the launch of a foundation established by Robbie Elliot, the former Newcastle United footballer who had helped Tompkinson improve his fitness for filming Harrigan. Elliott was proposing to complete a charity bicycle ride to raise funds for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and Breakthrough Breast Cancer.[66] Stories captured along the ride – from Lisbon to Newcastle – will be made into a documentary narrated by Tompkinson and premiered in London in late 2012.[67]

In late 2011, he recorded an advert for Text Santa, a charity initiative set up by ITV to support nine UK charities at Christmas. Stars of other ITV shows made similar adverts. In January 2012, it was announced that £4,120,000 was raised for the various charities.[68]

Over the years he has participated in Comic Relief's Red Nose Day. In 2001, he was one of the team describing the work the charity does in Britain, helping victims of early Alzheimer's or teenagers who are HIV positive.[69] In 1997, Tompkinson and Kirwan did a Comic Relief sketch titled Ballykissdibley – with Dawn French and the cast of The Vicar of Dibley – in which they played their Ballykissangel characters, Fr. Peter Clifford and Assumpta Fitzgerald.[70]

Personal life

[edit]

He was married to Celia Anastasia and subsequent to the couple's divorce he became engaged to Ballykissangel co-star Dervla Kirwan. He then married Nicci Taylor, with whom he has a daughter, Daisy Ellen.[71] It was announced in December 2006 that they had separated and would divorce.[72]

He is an avid cricket fan. He once said that if he wasn't an actor he "wouldn't mind travelling the world as a cricket commentator, enjoying endless summers."[73] In 2008 he wrote an article for The Wisden Cricketer about Darren Gough.[74]

[edit]

On 10 August 2022, Tompkinson pleaded not guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm for allegedly punching a drunken man causing trouble outside his home in Whitley Bay in the early hours of the morning and causing him to fall and suffer a fractured skull. At the subsequent trial, Tompkinson was found not guilty and acquitted on 11 May 2023.[75]

Filmography

[edit]

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Other notes
1987 All at No 20 Police Constable Episode: "The Prowler"
1988 Never the Twain Darran Episode: "Fasten Your Seat Belts"
The Return of Shelley PC Knight Episode: "Why Me?"
1989 After Henry Julian Episode: "Intellectual Aspirations"
And a Nightingale Sang Eric TV movie
The Manageress Jim Wilson 3 episodes
Tales of Sherwood Forest Kevin 3 episodes
Casualty Tony Mitton Episode: "Chain Reaction"
Hit the Pitch Andy TV movie
1990 Chancer Markus Warton 12 episodes
Made in Heaven Woody Episode: "A Fair Mix Up"
1990—1998 Drop the Dead Donkey Damien Day 66 episodes
1991 Minder DC Johnny Park 9 episodes
1992 Boon Stephen Alwyn Episode: "A Shot in the Dark"
1992—1994 Shakespeare: The Animated Tales Sir Andrew / Autolycus Episodes: "The Winter's Tale" & "Twelfth Night"
1994 Performance Philip Welch Episode: "The Deep Blue Sea"
All Quiet on the Preston Front Private Simon 'Spock' Matlock 6 episodes
Downwardly Mobile Mark 7 episodes
1995 Screen Two Jeremy Craig Episode: "A Very Open Prison"
1996 Square One ABC Pilot
Father Ted Father Peter Clifford Episode: "A Christmassy Ted"
1996—1998 Ballykissangel Father Peter Clifford Series 1–3; 22 episodes
1997 Ballykissdibley Father Peter Clifford Special
1998 Oktober Jim Harper 3 episodes
1998—1999 Grafters Trevor Purvis Series 1–2; 13 episodes
1999 The Flint Street Nativity Narrator / Tim Moyle TV movie
Dad Barry Martin Episode: "Nemesis"
2000 Black Cab Christopher Episode: "Busy Body"
2001 Bedtime Paul Newcombe 6 episodes
Shades Mark Roberts 6 episodes
Mr. Charity Graham Templeton 6 episodes
Bob the Builder Tom Episode: "A Christmas to Remember"
2001—2003 In Deep DC Garth O'Hanlon Series 1–3; 22 episodes
2002 Ted and Alice Ted 3 episodes
Waiting for the Whistle Billy Gowland Episode: "Staying Up"
2003 Lucky Jim Jim Dixon TV movie
2004 In Denial of Murder Don Hale 2 episodes
My Dad's the Prime Minister Venning Episode: "Desert Island"
Agatha Christie's Marple DI Slack Episode: "The Murder at the Vicarage"
2004—2007 Little Red Tractor Stan 38 episodes
2005 The Last Detective Simon Dabney Episode: "Friends Reunited"
New Tricks Chris McConnel Episode: "Old and Cold"
Marian, Again Chris Bevan 2 episodes
ShakespeaRe-told Harry Kavanagh Episode: "The Taming of the Shrew"
2006 Dalziel and Pascoe Brian Fairmile Episode: "Guardian Angel"
Prime Suspect Sean Phillips Episode: "The Final Act"
2006—2012 Wild at Heart Danny Trevanion Series 1–7; 66 episodes
2010—2016 DCI Banks DCI Alan Banks Series 1–5; 32 episodes
2013 Harrigan DS Barry Harrigan Pilot
Truckers Malachi Davies 5 episodes
2014—2018 Trollied Brian Series 4–7; 27 episodes
2017 The Keith and Paddy Picture Show Quint Episode: "Jaws"
Eric, Ernie and Me Eddie Braben TV movie
2017—2020 The Other One Mr. Shippen 3 episodes
2018 The Split Davey McKenzie 6 episodes
Torvill & Dean George Torvill TV movie
2021 The Bay Stephen Marshbrook 1 episode
2022 Sherwood Warnock 1 episode
2023 The Long Shadow David Gee TV mini-series[76]

Film

[edit]

(chronologically descending)

Title Character Type Date
Hotel Splendide Dezmond Blanche Feature Film 2000
Brassed Off Phil Feature Film 1996
Treacle Stephen Duffell Short Film 1988

Stage

[edit]

(chronologically descending)
(see above for additional detail)

Title Role Author Theatre Date
Art Yvan Yasmina Reza On Tour 2019
A Christmas Carol Ebenezer Scrooge Jack Thorne The Old Vic, London 2018-2019
White Rabbit, Red Rabbit Nassim Soleimanpour Live Theatre, Newcastle 2013
Spamalot King Arthur Eric Idle (Book & Lyrics) Playhouse Theatre, London 2012–2013
Faith and Cold Reading Freddie the Suit Shaun Prendergast Live Theatre, Newcastle 2011
Sign of the Times Frank Tollit Tim Firth On Tour 2009
The Revenger's Tragedy Vindice Cyril Tourneur (Attributed) Royal Exchange, Manchester 2008
Charley's Aunt Donna Lucia D’Alvadorez Brandon Thomas On Tour 2007
Rattle of a Simple Man Percy Charles Dyer Malvern/Comedy Theatre, London 2004
Cloaca Pieter Maria Goos Old Vic, London 2004
Arsenic and Old Lace Mortimer Brewster Joseph Kesselring Strand Theatre, London 2003
Art Yvan Yasmina Reza Wyndham's Theatre, Scarborough 2000
Tartuffe Tartuffe Molière On Tour 1998
The End of the Food Chain Bruce Tim Firth Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough 1993
Women Laughing Tony Michael Wall Royal Exchange, Manchester 1992
Love's Labour's Lost Navarre Shakespeare Royal Exchange, Manchester 1992
Across the Ferry Alec Ted Moore Bush Theatre, London 1991
Absent Friends Colin Alan Ayckbourn    
No One Sees the Video Paul Martin Crimp Royal Court Theatre, London 1990
The Boys from Syracuse   Richard Rodgers (Music) and Lorenz Hart (Lyrics) London School of Speech and Drama 1987

Radio

[edit]

(chronologically descending)

Broadcast Date Title Author Station
13 April 2013 Great Escape – The Justice Robin Brooks
Robert Radcliffe
BBC Radio 4
17 July 2012 The Gift Jane Thornton BBC Radio 4
26 April 2010 Lifecoach Nick Walker BBC Radio 4
30 March 2010 The Porter and the Three Ladies Rachel Joyce BBC Radio 4
9 February 2010
9 March 2010
Say What You Want to Hear Tim Wright BBC Radio 4
19 May 2008 Brass Britain Rosemary Foxcroft
Ashley Byrne
Phil Collinge
BBC Radio 2
26 March 2008 Pier Shorts: Four Battenburgs Michael Odell BBC Radio 4
16–18 April 2007 Stormbreaker Anthony Horowitz BBC Radio 4
4 February 2007 Two Men from Delft Stephen Wakelam BBC Radio 3
2 October 2006 Small Island Andrea Levy BBC Radio 7
30 June – 4 August 2006 This Sporting Life David Storey BBC Radio 2
14–18 November 2005 Confessions of a Bad Mother Stephanie Calman BBC Radio 4
5 September 2004 The Diary of a Nobody George Grossmith
Weedon Grossmith
BBC Radio 4
30 August – 27 September 2004 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe Agatha Christie BBC Radio 4
19 March 2004 Billy Liar Keith Waterhouse BBC Radio 4
3 October 2003 Kes Barry Hines BBC Radio 7
22 February 2003 The Long Weekend Jeremy Front BBC Radio 4
13 September 2000 Breakfast in Brighton Nigel Richardson BBC Radio 4
11 July 2000 Shaggy Dog Stories: A Partner for Life Kate Atkinson BBC Radio 4
31 March 2000 Latin Shorts: Taxi Driver Minus Robert De Niro Fernando Ampuero BBC Radio 4
19 March 1998 The Big Town All Stars: If You Scratch My Back Bill Dare BBC Radio 4
19 July 1997 The Ingenious Mind of Rigby Lacksome Ernest Bramah BBC Radio 4
5 March 1995 Life of Galileo Berthold Brecht BBC Radio 4
2 August 1994 Virtual Radio Andrew Dallmeyer BBC Radio 4
22 May 1994 Shelley
(Radio adaptation of TV sitcom)
Peter Tilbury BBC Radio 2
14 November 1991 The Cabaret of Dr Caligari: Comedian's Moon Alan Gilbey BBC Radio 4
3 July 1991 Hat Trick: The Ashes Sue Townsend BBC Radio 3
23 June 1991 A Midsummer Night's Dream William Shakespeare BBC Radio 3
28 September 1990 Pravda David Hare
Howard Brenton
BBC Radio 3
15 September 1990 The Murder on the Links * Agatha Christie
(adapted by Michael Bakewell)
BBC Radio 4
9 July 1990 Cloud Cuckoo Land Catherine Czerkawska BBC Radio 4
31 March 1990 Pocketful of Dreams Stuart Kerr BBC Radio 4
16 January 1990 The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes with Clive Merrison: The Engineer's Thumb Victor Hatherley BBC Radio 4
22 March 1989 Haunted by More Cake Steve Walker BBC Radio 4
1 March 1988 Tickertape and V-Signs Peter Cox BBC Radio 3
9 February 1988 Madame Aubray's Principles Alexandre Dumas, fils BBC Radio 3
7 September 1987 The Man That Got Away Philip Norman BBC Radio 4

*90-minute radio play presented on the centenary of Agatha Christie's birth

Awards

[edit]
Year Result Award Category For
2013 Won Royal Television Society (RTS) Yorkshire, UK Best Drama[77] DCI Banks
2012 Nominated The Specsavers Crime Thriller Awards 2012, UK Detective Duo of the Year[78] DCI Banks
2012 Nominated National Television Awards, UK Drama Performance: Male[79] Wild at Heart and DCI Banks
2011 Nominated National Television Awards, UK Best Drama Performance[80] Wild at Heart
2011 Nominated TV Times Awards 2011, UK Favourite Actor[81] Wild at Heart and DCI Banks
2010 Won TV Times Awards 2010, UK Favourite Drama Wild at Heart
2010 Nominated Monte-Carlo TV Festival Golden Nymph Awards Outstanding Actor – Drama Series Wild at Heart
2008 Nominated TV Quick Awards, UK Best Actor Wild at Heart
2006 Nominated Monte-Carlo TV Festival Golden Nymph Awards Outstanding Actor – Drama Series Wild at Heart
1998 Nominated National Television Awards, UK Most Popular Actor Ballykissangel
1996 Nominated National Television Awards, UK Most Popular Actor Ballykissangel
1994 Won British Comedy Awards, UK Best TV Comedy Actor Drop the Dead Donkey
1987 Won BBC Carleton Hobbs Award Bursary Award[8] Student Competition

(Source: Internet Movie Database (IMDB), unless otherwise cited)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Radcliffe, Allan (15 February 2001). "TV times: Stephen Tompkinson". The List. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  2. ^ At this point Scarborough was still part of the North Riding of Yorkshire. Please do not change.
  3. ^ "Actor Stephen Tompkinson has Fylde at heart". Lancashire Life. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  4. ^ a b c Bonner, Neil (2 February 2004). "A donkey, a tractor & the Boro". Teesside Gazette. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
  5. ^ Hewitt, Roz D'Ombraine (4 April 2003). "Class act". ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  6. ^ "IN THE FRAME - Stephen Tompkinson; MONDAY. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  7. ^ a b Keeping the faith: Alison Cowie speaks to actor Stephen Tompkinson, NorthEast Times, undated Archived 6 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ a b "BBC - Radio Drama - SoundStart - Who's won Radio Drama's acting prizes since 1953?". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  9. ^ "Radio and audio book companies", in Lloyd Trott, ed., Actors and Performers Yearbook 2016, pp. 353-354
  10. ^ "Pravda". www.radiolistings.co.uk. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
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  14. ^ "Prix Europa (1990)". IMDb. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  15. ^ "The British Comedy Awards - The British Comedy Awards - Winners 1994". www.britishcomedyawards.com. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
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  17. ^ British TV Comedy: Downwardly Mobile, undated Archived 2 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ a b All-Action Hero: OKTOBER, The Mirror (London), 28 March 1998
  19. ^ Broadcasting Audience Research Board (BARB) Weekly Top 30 Programmes
  20. ^ On Air: No more Mr Nice Guy, The Independent, 26 October 1998
  21. ^ Shades, starring Dervla Kirwan (Ballykissangel) and Stephen Tompkinson, released 14 February 2012 Archived 6 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  22. ^ Tompkinson goes In Deep, BBC News: Entertainment, 18 February 2001
  23. ^ BBC One Autumn schedule, Digital Spy, 14 August 2001
  24. ^ Tompkinson returned to the TV screen in 2001 with his co-star from Ballykissangel, Dervla Kirwan in a six part series entitled Shades, in which their two characters are dead but temporarily stuck on the earth as spirits trying to redeem themselves by fixing some complications and wrongs they have left behind. The Age: Entertainment/TV & Radio (Australia), 4 March 2004
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  33. ^ Marian, Again, Company Pictures, September 2005 Archived 22 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine
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  35. ^ Stephen Tompkinson (DCI Banks: Aftermath), Digital Spy, 17 September 2010
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  37. ^ Wild at Heart star Stephen Tompkinson returns as DCI Banks in dark and gritty new series, The People, 25 September 2011 Archived 29 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  38. ^ ITV recommissions DCI Banks with Stephen Tompkinson, 14 June 2013
  39. ^ "BAFTA: Short Film in 1988". Awards.BAFTA.org. n.d. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
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  43. ^ Rose, Steve (19 September 2013). "Harrigsn – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
  44. ^ Harrigan hits the screen at last, GazetteLive, 24 January 2012 Archived 9 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  45. ^ Arthur McKenzie: Biography
  46. ^ Women Laughing by Michael Wall, 30 April – 16 May 1992
  47. ^ THEATRE / All shirk and low pay, The Independent, 8 January 1994
  48. ^ Official London Theatre: Stephen Tompkinson, undated
  49. ^ Charley's Aunt, British Theatre Guide, undated
  50. ^ The Revenger's Tragedy, Royal Exchange, Manchester, The Independent, 27 May 2008
  51. ^ Living the Dream, Epsom Guardian, 24 April 2009
  52. ^ Stephen Tompkinson to play King Arthur in Spamalot, LondonTheatre.co.uk, 22 October 2012
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  55. ^ "GREAT AFRICAN BALLOON ADVENTURE, THE | American Public Television". 26 May 2012. Archived from the original on 26 May 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  56. ^ Steve Tompkinson, voice-over credits, undated
  57. ^ Direct Choice: PDSA, 16 May 2007
  58. ^ PDSA creates animal magic!, undated Archived 7 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
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  62. ^ VIDEO: Stephen Tompkinson, JoiningJack Appeal Archived 27 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  63. ^ "Actor Stephen Tomkinson gives his backing to Chester Zoo's £225m Heart of Africa biodome project". Chester Chronicle. 2 July 2009. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
  64. ^ Carers Time Bank lunch a resounding success, 2 March 2012 Archived 6 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  65. ^ Join the Mwabvi ordeal and save a part of Africa's wilderness, Freesun News, Brussels, 28 September 2008 Archived 6 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  66. ^ Stephen Tompkinson lends support to Bike For Bobby event, GazetteLive, 16 February 2010 Archived 20 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  67. ^ "Robbie Elliott prepares for epic cycling challenge - Chronicle Live". archive.is. 5 May 2013. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  68. ^ Text Santa Advert, 2011
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  70. ^ Comic Relief Special – Ballykissdibley, 14 March 1997
  71. ^ Randall, Tim (19 August 2001). "Interview: Stephen Tompkinson - Daisy's My Ballykissangler". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 27 May 2018.(Subscription required.)
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  73. ^ "Home". North East Life. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  74. ^ "My dazzling mate". Cricinfo. 11 September 2008. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  75. ^ "Stephen Tompkinson trial: Actor found not guilty of grievous bodily harm". BBC News. 11 May 2023.
  76. ^ "The Long Shadow casting announcement". itv.com/presscentre. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  77. ^ [Announced via Twitter, no link available]
  78. ^ The Specsavers Crime Thriller Awards 2012, ITV, undated
  79. ^ National Television Awards 2012: The nominees, Digital Spy, 27 September 2011
  80. ^ 16th National Television Awards, 'Wikipedia'
  81. ^ TV Times Awards 2011, UK: Favourite Actor Nominees
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