Edward Tudor-Pole

Edward Felix Tudor-Pole[1] (also known as Edward Tenpole; born 6 December 1955)[2] is an English musician, television presenter and actor.

Edward Tudor-Pole
Tudor-Pole in Cardiff, 2013
Born
Edward Felix Tudor-Pole

(1955-12-06) 6 December 1955
Lambeth, London, UK
Other namesEddie "Tenpole"
OccupationTelevision presenter and actor

Originally gaining fame in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s as the lead singer of the punk rock band Tenpole Tudor, Tudor-Pole began an acting career following the group's split in 1982. Outside of his music career Tudor-Pole is probably best known in the UK as the presenter of the game show The Crystal Maze from 1993 to 1995 and in the US for his roles as Enaros in the 1997 fantasy film Kull the Conqueror and Mr Borgin in the Harry Potter film series.

Ancestry and name

Tudor-Pole's name derives from the family of John de la Pole, 2nd Duke of Suffolk (great-grandson of Geoffrey Chaucer) via Tudor-Pole's grandfather, spiritualist Wellesley Tudor Pole. Wellesley's mother was a descendant of Welsh courtier Owen Tudor, and added the 'Tudor' to her son's name.[3][4]

Musical career

Tudor-Pole formed the band Tenpole Tudor in 1977, and eventually came to prominence after appearing in the film The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle as a possible replacement for Johnny Rotten in the Sex Pistols.[5] He sang "Who Killed Bambi?", "The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle" and a cover version of "Rock Around the Clock" in the film and on the soundtrack. Tenpole Tudor returned in 1980, signing to Stiff Records and releasing two successful albums, Eddie, Old Bob, Dick and Gary and Let the Four Winds Blow.[6][7] They had three hit singles, including UK Top 10 hit "Swords of a Thousand Men" which he performed on Top of the Pops in May 1981.[8][9]

Acting career

Tudor-Pole has appeared in numerous films and plays, and was the presenter on The Crystal Maze,[10] replacing Richard O'Brien from 1993 until the show's hiatus in 1995. He appeared in Between the Lines in 1992, playing a Liverpudlian villain. His film and play credits include The Rocky Horror Show[11] (written by his Crystal Maze predecessor), Jim Cartwright's play Road at the Royal Court Theatre,[12] The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle (1980),[13] Absolute Beginners (1986),[14] Drowning by Numbers (1988),[15] White Hunter Black Heart (1990) with Clint Eastwood,[16] Princess Caraboo (1994),[17] and several films by Alex Cox including Sid and Nancy (1986),[18] Straight to Hell (1987)[19] and Walker (1987).[20]

In Kull the Conqueror (1997) he played Enaros, the antagonist of the film.[21] The following year he appeared as a slumlord in the film version of Les Misérables,[22] and as a blind man in Russell Mulcahy's horror film Tale of the Mummy.[23] He also was seen in Quills (2000),[24] The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004) as Spike Milligan,[25] and The Queen's Sister (2005).[26] Most recently he had a small part in an episode of Agatha Christie's Marple entitled "A Pocket Full of Rye", shown in 2009.[27] His appearance in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) as Mr Borgin, the owner of Borgin and Burke's store, was cut from the theatrical release, but is included in the extended edition DVD.[28] He also appeared as a ranting street preacher in season two of Game of Thrones.[29]

Personal life

Tudor-Pole was born on 6 December 1955 in Lambeth, London,[30] to David W. and Shirley C. (née Brown) Tudor-Pole, and was educated at King Edward's School in Witley, Surrey. He later attended RADA (the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art). He is the grandson of the spiritualist, Wellesley Tudor Pole. He lives in London and has one son. He was a keen biker for many years; his motorcycling skills can be witnessed in the 1997 film Tunnel of Love, in which he played the lead role of Dodge.[31]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1980The Great Rock 'n' Roll SwindleTadpole (kiosk attendant)
1986Absolute BeginnersEd the Ted
1986Sid and NancyHotelier - UK
1987Straight to HellRusty Zimmerman
1987WalkerDoubleday
1988Drowning by NumbersMr 71 Van Dyke
1990White Hunter Black HeartReissar - a British Partner
1994Princess CarabooLord Neville
1994BlackoutBrother Francis
1996Different for GirlsProsecuting Solicitor
1996La lengua asesinaFlash
1997Kull the ConquerorEnaros
1997Tunnel of LoveDodge
1998Tale of the MummyBlind Man
1998Les MisérablesLandlord
2000Some VoicesLighter Seller
2000QuillsFranval
2002Harry Potter and the Chamber of SecretsMr Borgin(scenes deleted)
2004The Life and Death of Peter SellersSpike Milligan
2005GamerZDr Denham
2005The Queen's SisterCecil BeatonTV movie
2008FaintheartLollipop Man / Death Metal Singer
2010Straight to Hell ReturnsRusty Zimmerman
gollark: This is a terrible, terrible library.
gollark: Fine, I read "Guide to Magic for Beginners" and then "Making sparks yellow and other cool tricks to impress your friends".
gollark: I read "basic bee summoning", then, as it should improve my ability to summon bees.
gollark: Fine, I read all the free books immediately.
gollark: But you said earlier that this library had (bad) free magic books.

References
  1. Dictionary of Pseudonyms: 13,000 Assumed Names and Their Origins, 5th ed. Adrian Room, p. 483
  2. GRO Births Dec 1955: TUDOR-POLE, Edward, mmn = BROWN, Lambeth 5c 1516
  3. Gerry Fenge, 'The Two Worlds of Wellesley Tudor Pole', Lorian Association, 2010.
  4. "Ed Tudor-Pole in conversation with Phil Singleton", philjens.plus.com; accessed 9 March 2013.
  5. Thomas Erlewine, Stephen. "Tenpole Tudor | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  6. "Tenpole Tudor - Eddie, Old Bob, Dick And Gary". Discogs. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  7. Let the Four Winds Blow - Tenpole Tudor | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 17 April 2020
  8. "Top of the Pops - TV Episode Calendar". episodecalendar.com. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  9. "swords of a thousand men | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  10. "The Crystal Maze[18/05/95] (1995)". BFI. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  11. "RockyMusic - The Rocky Horror Show (London Cast - The Whole Gory Story) (1990)". www.rockymusic.org. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  12. Gussow, Mel (10 July 1986). "Critic's Notebook; the Royal Court Redux". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  13. "The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle (1980)". BFI. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  14. "Absolute Beginners". Empire. 25 August 2006. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  15. "Drowning by Numbers (1988)". BFI. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  16. "White Hunter Black Heart (1990)". BFI. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  17. "Princess Caraboo (1994)". BFI. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  18. Sid and Nancy (1986) - Alex Cox | Cast and Crew | AllMovie, retrieved 17 April 2020
  19. "Straight to Hell (1987)". BFI. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  20. Walker (1987) - Alex Cox | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie, retrieved 17 April 2020
  21. Kull the Conqueror (1997) - John Nicolella | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie, retrieved 17 April 2020
  22. Les Miserables (1998) - Bille August | Cast and Crew | AllMovie, retrieved 17 April 2020
  23. "Talos the Mummy (1998)". BFI. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  24. Quills (2000), retrieved 17 April 2020
  25. McCarthy, Todd; McCarthy, Todd (22 May 2004). "The Life and Death of Peter Sellers". Variety. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  26. The Queen's Sister (2005) - Simon Cellan Jones | Cast and Crew | AllMovie, retrieved 17 April 2020
  27. "A Pocket Full of Rye (2009)". BFI. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  28. "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2003)". BFI. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  29. TV.com. "Game of Thrones: The Ghost of Harrenhal". TV.com. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  30. England & Wales, Birth Index: DEC 1954 vol 5c, p. 1516
  31. "Tunnel of Love (1997)". BFI. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
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