Nicholas Gleaves
English actor and playwright (born 1969)
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Career
Gleaves's first theatre part was as an extra in Don Carlos at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester. He did several plays there including the lead in Macbeth. When interviewed about this play, he said he never had the superstition that surrounded it, "...all that spitting and spinning round — it all seems like quite hard work".[1]
He has been in many television shows since 1992;[2] Gleaves was Rick Powell in the television drama series Playing the Field. He had the role of Ray Fairburn in Conviction. Conviction was filmed at Salford Lads' Club which delighted Gleaves because of the building's connection to The Smiths.[3] In The Chase, he was the father Tom Bedford. In 2009, he said the idea for Survivors, in which he played the scientist Whitaker, was "great".[1] He played DS Andy Roper in the first two series of Scott & Bailey. Of this role, he said, "I've done quite a few cop shows and as much as I enjoy testosterone, shouting at villains and all that, I really fell in love with this. As soon as I read it I saw something new and original. That was one of the reasons why I wanted to be involved because it was so different and very believable."[4]
In 2019, Gleaves played the title role in the 2019 revival of the classic CBBC series The Demon Headmaster.
Gleaves has also started to write shows for radio.[5]
Personal life
Originally from the Halliwell area of Bolton, Lancashire, England, Gleaves attended Sharples School from 1980 to 1985.[1][6] After completing his schooling, his mother made him attend a play and this sparked his interest in acting.[1] He is a fan of The Smiths and long time supporter of Bolton Wanderers.[3] Gleaves is married to actress Lesley Sharp. They have two sons and reside in London.[3][7]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Century | Daniel | |
| 1994 | Fever | Jo | Short film |
| 1999 | Safer | (unknown) | Short film |
| 2006 | Half Light | Dr. Robert Freedman | |
| Starter for 10 | Speaker for Nuclear Disarmament | ||
| 2007 | Mary and Mick | Mick | Short film. Also writer |
| 2008 | Incendiary | Lenny | |
| 2009 | A Congregation of Ghosts | Ellis Baxter | |
| 2010 | Chatroom | Paul | |
| 2011 | Captain America: The First Avenger | Hydra agent | |
| 2014 | United Passions | Henri Delaunay | |
| 2015 | Nightstand | Rob | Short film |
| 2019 | Spider-Man: Far From Home | Guterman |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Boon | Carl | ITV | Series 7, Episode 5: "Away from It All" |
| Casualty | George Reynolds | BBC One | Series 7, Episode 6: "Profit and Loss" | |
| 1993 | Heartbeat | Eric Doubleday | ITV | Series 2, Episode 8: "Baby Blues" |
| 1994 | Fair Game | Nigel | BBC One | Television film |
| Faith | Andy Morgan | ITV | Mini-series, Episodes 1–4 | |
| Soldier Soldier | Nicholas Pope | ITV | Series 4, Episode 4: "Second Sight" | |
| 1995 | 99-1 | PC | ITV | Series 2, Episode 6: "The Lost Ones" |
| Harry | Dean Hawkins | BBC One | Series 2, Episode 7: "A Question of Truth" | |
| Moving Story | Sam | ITV | Series 2, Episode 6: "Superstition" | |
| Capital Lives | Phil | ITV | Series 2, Episode 3: "In Cahoots" | |
| 1996 | Ellington | Bradley Stokes | ITV | Episode 5: "Getting Rid" |
| Madson | Phil Hartigan | BBC One | Series 1, Episode 6 | |
| Screen Two | Daniel | BBC Two | Series 13, Episode 6: "Century" | |
| Poldark | Stephen Cravenson | ITV | Television film | |
| 1997 | Wokenwell | PC Rudy Whiteside | ITV | Episodes 1–6 |
| Lloyds Bank Channel 4 Film Challenge | Chalky | Channel 4 | Series 4, Episode 1: "Nurse Ajax" | |
| 1998 | Out of Hours | Mr. Russell | BBC One | Mini-series, Episode 4 |
| The Bill | Danny Charlton | ITV | Series 14, Episodes 79–81: "Tainted Love: Parts 1–3" | |
| 1998–2002 | Playing the Field | Rick Powell | BBC One | Series 1–5; 23 episodes |
| 2000 | My Fragile Heart | Joe Macavoy | ITV | 2-part television film |
| 2001 | In Deep | Bradley Sullivan | BBC One | Series 1, Episodes 3 & 4: "Romeo Trap: Parts 1 & 2" |
| Perfect | Mike | ITV | Television film | |
| Now You See Her | Paul | Sky One | Television film | |
| Linda Green | Carl Williamson | BBC One | Series 1, Episode 8: "Fitness Freak" | |
| 2002 | Being April | Eddie | BBC One | Episodes 1–6 |
| 2003 | The Queen's Nose | Duncan | CBBC | Series 7, Episodes 2–6 |
| 2004 | Dalziel and Pascoe | Sam Mattis | BBC One | Series 8, Episode 4: "Soft Touch" |
| Down to Earth | Steve Benson | BBC One | Series 4, Episodes 7 & 8: "First Love" & "Unfinished Business" | |
| Doctors | Pete Preston | BBC One | Series 6, Episode 1: "Two's Company" | |
| Conviction | Ray Fairburn | BBC Three | Mini-series, 6 episodes | |
| 2005 | Heartbeat | Barry Calder | ITV | Series 14, Episode 15: "Icon" |
| Silent Witness | DSI Phil Elliott | BBC One | Series 9, Episodes 1 & 2: "Ghosts: Parts 1 & 2" | |
| 2006 | Bombshell | Sean Collins | TV One | Episode 4 |
| The Inspector Lynley Mysteries | Dr. Simon Wilson | BBC One | Series 5, Episode 1: "Natural Causes" | |
| Mysterious Creatures | Richard Nicholas | ITV | Television film | |
| 2006–2007 | The Chase | Tom Bedford | BBC One | Series 1 & 2; 20 episodes |
| 2007 | City Lights | DS Gary Tate | ITV | Episodes 1–6 |
| 2008 | Fallout | DS Matt Ryder | Channel 4 | Television film |
| 2008–2010 | Survivors | James Whitaker | BBC One | Series 1 & 2; 9 episodes |
| 2009 | Robin Hood | Thornton | BBC One | Series 3, Episode 9: "A Dangerous Deal" |
| Murderland | Oliver | ITV | Mini-series, Episodes 1–3 | |
| 2010 | Foyle's War | Larry Hains | ITV | Series 6, Episode 2: "Killing Time" |
| Ashes to Ashes | DI Geoff Bevan | BBC One | Series 3, Episode 5 | |
| Reunited | Andrew | BBC One | Television pilot | |
| 2011 | Twenty Twelve | Anthony Preston | BBC Four | Series 1, Episode 1: "Countdown" |
| Waterloo Road | Richard Whitman | BBC One | Series 7, Episodes 5–10 | |
| 2011–2012 | Scott & Bailey | DS Andy Roper | ITV | Series 1 & 2; 14 episodes |
| 2012 | Public Enemies | Trevor Brotherton | BBC One | Mini-series, Episodes 1–3 |
| 2013 | Jo | Maurice Langlois | TF1 | Mini-series, Episode 1: "Notre Dame" |
| Vera | Tim Hopkins | ITV | Series 3, Episode 1: "Castles in the Air" | |
| 2014 | Marvellous | Rev Mark | BBC Two | Television film |
| Chasing Shadows | Alex Wernley | ITV | Mini-series, Episodes 3 & 4: "Off Radar: Parts 1 & 2" | |
| 2015 | DCI Banks | Gerald Foster | ITV | Series 4, Episodes 5 & 6: "Ghosts: Parts 1 & 2" |
| Not Safe for Work | Minister | Channel 4 | Mini-series, Episode 5. Series originally called Cut | |
| 2016 | Cold Feet | Trevor Green | ITV | Series 6, Episodes 2 & 3 |
| 2017 | Death in Paradise | Peter Baxter | BBC One | Series 6, Episode 8: "Murder in the Polls" |
| 2018 | Midsomer Murders | Ray Fryer | ITV | Series 19, Episode 5: "Death by Persuasion" |
| The Split | Bill Graham | BBC One | Series 1, Episode 4 | |
| Married to a Paedophile | Alex | Channel 4 | Television film | |
| Bodyguard | Roger Penhaligon MP | BBC One | Episodes 1–5 | |
| 2018–2019 | Coronation Street | Duncan Radfield | ITV | Regular role; 22 episodes |
| 2019 | The Demon Headmaster | The Headmaster | CBBC | Main role, Episodes 1–10 |
| Bike Gangs: The Hunters & The Hunted | Himself - Narrator | Channel 5 | Television documentary film | |
| 2022 | The Rising | William Wyatt | Sky Max | Episodes 1–8 |
| The Crown | John Birt | Netflix | Series 5, Episode 8: "Gunpowder" | |
| 2023 | Silent Witness | Bob Stratton | BBC One | Series 26, Episodes 7 & 8: "Hearts of Darkness: Parts 1 & 2" |
| 2024–2026 | After the Flood | Sergeant Phil Mackie | ITV | Series 1 & 2; 12 episodes |
| 2025 | The Bombing of Pan Am 103 | Allen Feraday | BBC One | Mini-series, Episodes 1–6 |
| 2025 | Riot Women | Tony Gaskell | BBC One | Episode 1. Post-production |
Theatre
His theatre credits include:
- The Front Page. This Sam Mendes production at the Donmar in 1997 had Gleaves as the newshound Wilson.[8][9]
- Alan Jeffcote in Hindle Wakes by Stanley Houghton at the Royal Exchange, Manchester. Directed by Helena Kaut-Howson (1996 and 1998).
- On the Shore of the Wide World. In 2005, Gleaves portrayed the father Peter, first at the Royal Exchange Theatre and then at the Royal National Theatre. He was nominated for a MEN Theatre Award in the category of best actor in a leading role.[10][11]
- Macbeth. He played the lead in 2009 production at the Royal Exchange Theatre.[12]
- Dr Faustus. 2010 saw him take on the role of Mephistophilis.[13]
- Chair. In this 2012 production, Gleaves's part is that of a soldier. Lyric Theatre Studio, Hammersmith.[14]
- The Saga of Noggin the Nog. He played the nasty Uncle Nogbad in spring 2013.[15]