Geoffrey McGivern

Personal Info

Known For:
Acting

Birthday:
January 1, 1952

Place of Birth:
Battersea, London, England, UK

Social Media

Geoffrey McGivern

Biography

Geoffrey M. McGivern is a British actor in film, television, radio and stage, as well as a comedian. He is best known for originating the role of Ford Prefect in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

He played Ford Prefect in the radio series (1978–80) and subsequent LP releases of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams whom he knew from Cambridge University, and reprised the role for the four new series broadcast on BBC Radio 4 between 2004 and 2018. A more recent radio broadcast was in The Ape That Got Lucky and he has appeared in TV shows such as Noel's House Party, Press Gang, Chef!, Big Train, Blackadder the Third ("Dish and Dishonesty") as Ivor Biggun, Chelmsford 123, Jonathan Creek, 15 Storeys High, Armstrong and Miller, Toast of London and series three of Peep Show.

McGivern appeared in the first series of the comedy show Big Train in 1998, and later that year for the 1998 radio SciFi drama Paradise Lost in Cyberspace (Colin Swash, BBC) McGivern teamed up with old Hitchhiker's colleague Stephen Moore and Lorelei King (member of cast in the 2005 Hitchhiker's radio show sequel). He later played the Supreme Ruler in BBC2's sci-fi comedy Hyperdrive (2006–2007). In 2007, he appeared in the BBC Radio 4 comedy Peacefully in their Sleeps and in 2008 he appeared as Professor John Mycroft in the BBC2 science sitcom Lab Rats and in the 2008 BBC series Little Dorrit where he played Mr Rugg. He also appeared in episode 5 of series 3 of the TV series A Bit of Fry and Laurie. In 2015, he guest-starred in EastEnders as Dickie Ticker, the crude comic brought in by Mick Carter for Kush Kazemi's stag night. In 2016, he appeared in four episodes of the Disney Channel musical drama The Lodge, as Patrick. McGivern played the narrator Charlie Swinburne in the BBC Radio's 2013 six part dramatisation of G. K. Chesterton's The Club of Queer Trades.

In 2017, he appeared in the Channel 4 sitcom Back, written by Simon Blackwell, alongside David Mitchell and Robert Webb. Later that year, he began portraying the recurring role of Frank in the Netflix series Free Rein.

Since 2019, he has appeared as recurring character Barclay Beg-Chetwynde in the BBC comedy Ghosts. In 2022, he appeared as the main character Russ, in Radio 4 comedy No-Platformed. The show's episode guide contains a humorous note about McGivern's extensive credit list, by starting a list of his credits and then adding "oh, hundreds of things".

In 2024, he appeared as recurring character Lord Rookwood in the Apple TV+ series The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin.

Known For

Filmography

Year Movie Role
2018 Tower-D Alexander
2017 The Ghoul Morland
2016 Here Boy Des
2015 Roald Dahl's Esio Trot Shop Keeper
2011 Holy Flying Circus Dog Walker /Petitioner /Man Whose Wife Malcolm Muggeridge Said Made a Lovely Breakfast
2008 Hancock & Joan Billy Marsh
2007 Magicians Magic Shop Manager
2003 Blackball Brian Cronk
1999 Onegin Andrey Petrovitch
1997 Gobble Geoffrey Lester
1993 The Young Americans Brian Carver
1992 In Dreams Journalist/Emperor
1989 Wilt Mr. Yeo
1986 Mr. Pye Harry Portiner
Year TV Show Role
2024 The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin Lord Rookwood
2022 Sister Boniface Mysteries Malise Bonham Crane
2021 The Larkins Station Master Fox
2020 Semi-Detached Barry
2020 Quiz Lieutenant Colonel Village
2019 This Time with Alan Partridge Old Lady
2019 Ghosts Barclay
2019 Ghosts Barclay Beg-Chetwynde
2017 Quacks The Pub Landlord
2017 Back Uncle Geoff
2017 Decline and Fall Mr. Wilson
2016 Upstart Crow Sir Thomas
2015 Together Douglas the Neighbour
2014 Outlander Dr. Simms
2014 Grantchester Archdeacon
2013 Plebs Simeon
2013 Blandings Sir Roderick Glossop
2012 A Touch of Cloth Andy Preacherman
2012 A Young Doctor's Notebook Pharmacist
2011 Episodes Bob
2010 This Is Jinsy Trince
2008 Lab Rats Professor John Mycroft
2008 Little Dorrit Rugg
2007 Benidorm Beverley Westwood
2006 Hyperdrive Supreme Ruler
2003 Peep Show Gerard
2002 15 Storeys High Neville
2002 15 Storeys High Sergeant Hamilton
2002 Look Around You Schoolmaster
1998 Stressed Eric
1998 Big Train Policeman
1997 Jonathan Creek Barry Opper
1996 Annie's Bar Stiggy Bedford-Bounds
1993 Chef Bank Manager
1993 Eye of the Storm Customs Officers
1992 Heartbeat Denzil Arcourt
1992 Heartbeat Harry
1991 Murder Most Horrid Mason
1990 Ben Elton: The Man from Auntie
1990 Rita Rudner
1990 Drop the Dead Donkey Geoff
1990 Drop the Dead Donkey TV Announcer
1990 Drop the Dead Donkey Voice Over (voice)
1990 Drop the Dead Donkey Repeat introductions (voice) (uncredited)
1989 Birds of a Feather Mr Blair
1988 Chelmsford 123 Blind Man
1988 Chelmsford 123 Wolfbane
1986 Noel's Christmas Presents
1983 Blackadder Ivor Biggun
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