Shane Richie

Shane Richie
Shane Richie as Alfie Moon in EastEnders
Born	(1964-03-11) March 11, 1964 Harlesden, London, England
Occupation(s)	Comedian, Actor, Singer and Television Presenter
Spouse	Christie Goddard

Shane Richie (born Shane Patrick Roche, 11 March 1964) is an English actor, television personality, comedian, actor, singer and television presenter. Richie is probably best known for playing Alfie Moon in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders. He is set to guest star is series 2 of British teen drama Skins

Early Life

Richie was a member of a youth theatre as a child, and began his professional career as a bluecoat entertainer in Pontins holiday camps whilst still a teenager. He progressed to the live stand up circuit - receiving a nomination for best new stand-up at the inaugural British Comedy Awards - and made his first high-profile television appearances as one of five comics on the BBC One sketch show You Gotta Be Jokin' (1991).

He later branched out into anchoring game shows after proving successful as host of the kids' quiz Run The Risk which was played during the BBC Saturday morning show Going Live. He moved into mainstream presenting with Caught In The Act, Win, Lose or Draw, The Shane Richie Experience (later revamped as Love Me Do) and Lucky Numbers. He also replaced Danny Baker in the 'doorstep challenge' TV ads for Daz detergent - ironically, he had previously replaced Baker as host of Win, Lose Or Draw.

Musicals Acts

Richie was a success in musicals - including the 1970s-based Boogie Nights and a London production of Grease - so tried branching out into other types of singing and acting. He released two albums, to limited appeal, and almost scored a Number 1 single in the UK Singles Chart, with his Children In Need single, a cover version of George Michael's "I'm Your Man". It occupied the top spot going into Sunday of its first week on the chart, but was eventually outsold by Will Young's "Leave Right Now".

Over Christmas 2005, Richie appeared in an acclaimed touring run of Scrooge: The Musical.

Television Roles

From 2002 to 2003, Richie played villainous Danny Dexter on Night and Day. He won supporting roles in low-profile British films, Dead Clean and Distant Shadow, and in 2003, invested a six-figure sum into the budget of the film Shoreditch. Ritchie also starred in the project which ultimately made little profit.

As Alfie Moon, Richie received immediate acclaim for bringing humour to a programme often panned for being too depressing. The role won him numerous awards including the award for Best male european actor at the Rose D'or Festival and National Television Award for Most popular actor in 2005, shortly before he left the programme.

In 2007, Richie will star in a new ITV1 drama The Good Samaritan, and Father Frank for BBC One.

Film Career

In 2006, Richie played a rat called Sid in the Aardman Animation film Flushed Away and appeared in What we did on our holidays for ITV1. He has recently been seen in the UK stage tour of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and heard as a presenter on Virgin Radio, where he interviewed Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet, who claimed that the band could reunite for their 30th anniversary in 2010. He was Executive Producer for the much maligned British film 'Shoreditch' in which he also acted in a lead role.

He has been cast as the male lead in Carry On London, the latest film in the iconic series. He will be seen in the film Prisoners of the Sun with Former EastEnders Co-Star Michael Higgs.

Autobiography

In 2003 he released his autobiography Rags To Richie, which was a best-seller. In the book, he claims to have had sex with six girls in a chalet, during his time as a Pontins Bluecoat and he broke the law by orchestrating ticket touts outside the production of his Grease show. He also claims to have given free tickets to the touts, who went on to sell them at a large profit for Richie.

Personal life

Richie was born in Kensington and is the son of Irish parents; his father was a dustman.

Richie married Coleen Nolan in 1990, but they divorced in 1999. They have two sons Shane and Jake.

He proposed to his fiancé Christie Goddard at her 26th birthday party in April 2005, and on April 23, 2006 she gave birth to their baby boy, Mackenzie. Shane and Christie got married on 21st July 2007.

He is a big fan of Manchester United.

External links

• Shane Richie as Alfie Moon on the BBC's EastEnders page
• Official MySpace page
• Shane Richie appearing in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest at The Mayflower Theatre Southampton
• Shane Richie from the beginning