Michael Knowles (actor)

Michael Sydney Knowles (born 26 April 1937)[1] is an English actor and scriptwriter. He is best known for his roles in BBC sitcoms written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft.

Michael Knowles
Knowles at a Dad's Army event in Norfolk, May 2011
Born	Michael Sydney Knowles (1937-04-26) 26 April 1937 Spondon, Derby, England
Occupation	Actor, Scriptwriter

Early life

Knowles attended Bemrose Grammar School for Boys, Derby (now Bemrose School), where he stayed on into the 6th form and played the lead role in the school’s production of Shakespeare's Henry V.[2]

Career

Knowles is best known for his role as Captain Jonathan Ashwood in the 1970s sitcom It Ain't Half Hot Mum (1974–81). He also played The Honourable Teddy Meldrum in the BBC comedy You Rang, M'Lord? (1988–93), and starred in the sitcom Come Back Mrs Noah (1977–78).

Knowles starred alongside Donald Hewlett in the BBC Radio sitcom Anything Legal in 1984.

Knowles did the voice of the Head of the Air Force in the animated movie The BFG, based on the novel by Roald Dahl for Cosgrove Hall. His television career started in 1969 with the role of several different characters, including Captains Cutts and Stewart, in Dad's Army, a series he later adapted (with Harold Snoad) for radio. With Snoad, he wrote It Sticks Out Half a Mile, a radio sequel to Dad's Army. Together they also adapted It Sticks Out Half a Mile for television, with a pilot called Walking the Planks for the BBC in 1985. When nothing eventuated from that, they wrote a seven-part series for Yorkshire Television called High & Dry in 1987. He is also credited as one of the writers for Are You Being Served, appearing in two episodes.

Selected filmography

Film and television

Year	Title	Role
1969-1972	Dad's Army	Several Guest Characters
1970	Up Pompeii!	Caushus
1971	Sykes and a Big Big Show
1972	His Lordship Entertains	Mr Smith, the food inspector
1972	Scott On... The Sex War
1972	The Flesh and Blood Show	Curran
1972	That's Your Funeral	Man with Car (Petrol Station)
1972-1973	Comedy Playhouse	Rupert / The Customer
1972	Casanova '73	Judge
1972–1975	Are You Being Served?	The Bold Check / The Customer
1975	The Rough with the Smooth	Vicar
1975	Against the Crowd	Rev. Foster
1976	Yes, Honestly	Assistant Manager
1975-1976	Rogue's Rock	Nigel
1976	Two's Company	Forbes
1976	Spy Story	Milkman
1977	Jackanory Playhouse	Duke
1977-1978	Come Back Mrs. Noah	Fanshaw
1977	Rings on Their Fingers	Leslie
1975-1981	The Dick Emery Show
1974–1981	It Ain't Half Hot Mum	Captain Jonathan Ashwood
1983	Cannon and Ball	Ship Captain
1986	The End of the World Man	Sir George
1988	Vampire's Kiss	Andrew
1988	Brush Strokes	Vicar
1988	Vampire's Kiss	Andrew
1988–1993	You Rang, M'Lord?	The Honourable Edward "Teddy" Meldrum
1989	The BFG	Head Of The Air Force
1995	DJ Kat Show	Norrinton Byng
2016	Walliams & Friend	Dad

Radio

Year	Title	Role
1983-1984	It Sticks Out Half a Mile	Ernest Woolcott
1984-1985	Anthing Legal	George

Writing credits

Year	Title	Episodes/Notes
1974-1976	Dad's Army	Radio adaption of TV series written with Harold Snoad
1974-1975	Are You Being Served?	4 episodes: "Cold Comfort", "Big Brother", "Shoulder to Shoulder", "New Look"
1979	Share and Share Alike	BBC Radio 4 sitcom written with Harold Snoad. An untransmitted pilot was recorded in 1975.
1983-1984	It Sticks Out Half a Mile	Radio sequel series to Dad's Army written with Harold Snoad
1985	Walking the Planks	Pilot episode written with Harold Snoad, later developed into High & Dry
1987	High & Dry	Series written with Harold Snoad

Personal life

Knowles is married to actress Linda James. They have twin daughters.[3]

References

1. Rippon, Nicola (2006). Derbyshire's Own. Sutton Publishing. Retrieved 20 May 2020 - via Google Books
2. Derby - The Fifties and Sixties at Northbridge Publishing. Retrieved 29 November 2014
3. https://www.historyforsale.com/michael-knowles-autographed-signed-photograph-circa-1984/dc146335

External links

• Michael Knowles on IMDb