Derek Griffiths

Derek Griffiths
Born (1946-07-15) 15 July 1946
Woking, Surrey, England, UK
Occupation Actor
Years active 1964–present

Derek Griffiths (born 15 July 1946 in Woking, Surrey, England) is a British actor who appeared in numerous British children's television series in the 1960s to present and has more recently played parts in TV drama.

As of 2016, he is playing Freddie Smith in Coronation Street.

Career

Griffiths was best known in his early years for his Play School appearances alongside the likes of Chloe Ashcroft, Johnny Ball and Brian Cant. A talented multi-instrumentalist, he voiced over and sang the theme tune to Heads and Tails, a series of short animal films for children produced by BBC Television, and also sang and played the theme tune to the cartoon Bod. Another memorable children's TV role was in Granada TV's early '80s series Film Fun, in which he played the entire staff of a cinema (the manager, the commissionaire (with the catchphrase "Get on with it!!"), the projectionist, the usherette and also himself) while also showing cartoons such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner. He appeared on Crown Court (1973) as an accused fraudster Raoul Lapointe, from the Belgian Congo. In 1975, Griffiths played Nanki-Poo in The Black Mikado at London's Cambridge Theatre. He was also the English voice of SuperTed (SuperTed was originally made in Welsh).

Griffiths' distinctive voice can currently be heard in the UK on the CBeebies programme Little Red Tractor alongside Stephen Tompkinson, and in the voiceover for 2010's Muller Shropshire Dairy Advert on YouTube in the UK. He is the current voice of Amigo Loans in the UK.

In 1997, Griffiths originated the role of Lumière in the original West End production of Beauty and the Beast at the Dominion Theatre and played the role of the Child Catcher in the West End run of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium.

In December 2015 it was announced that Griffiths would be joining the cast of Coronation Street.[1]

Children's TV work

Comedy TV work

Other TV work

Appearances

Advertising work

Derek Griffiths is also used frequently in advertising:

He also does the voices for the current jamjar.com adverts. In the past, he has won the Italian advertising Oscar for a series of comedy commercials.

Film work

Theatre

In the theatre, Griffiths has been particularly associated with the Royal Exchange, Manchester. His roles include:[3][4]

References

  1. Dainty, Sophie (2015-12-16). "Coronation Street: Derek Griffiths joins the cast as Kylie Platt strikes up surprise friendship with a pensioner". Digitalspy.com. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
  2. Animal antics on Channel 5 web site (retrieved 19 January 2013).
  3. Murray, Braham (2007). The worst it can be is a disaster. London: Methuen Drama. ISBN 978-0-7136-8490-2.
  4. The Royal Exchange Theatre Company Words & Pictures 1976-1998, ISBN 0-9512017-1-9.
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