Charles Collingwood

Description

Charles Collingwood was born in 1945 in New Brunswick, Canada, and joined BBC Radio 4’s The Archers as Brian Aldridge in March 1975.

Charles attended the same school, Sherborne School in Dorset, as his character Brian but otherwise he insists that he has nothing in common with Brian Aldridge! Another significant difference is that whilst Brian goes home to the long-suffering Jennifer, Charles is married to actress Judy Bennett, who is also a member of The Archers’ cast; she plays Shula Hebden-Lloyd.

After training at RADA, Charles spent his earlier years touring with rep, nation-wide, and toured the Far East with the play Relatively Speaking. He also played opposite Penelope Keith in How the Other Half Lives and starred in Tom Stoppard’s Dirty Linen for more than a year.

But the majority of Charles’ career has been in broadcasting. Television credits include: Can’t Buy Me Love, White Teeth, Midsomer Murders, Roger Roger, Bob Martin, London’s Burning, Inspector Morse, Nelson’s Column, The Bretts, Tonight at 8.30, Trouble In Mind and My Name is David Lander. Charles was also the eccentric scorer on the quiz show Telly Addicts. Charles recorded many comedy series with Jack Smethurst, Harry Worth, Richard Stilgoe and the late Roy Castle for radio.

Charles and his wife Judy met whilst recording voices for a television puppet series. More of these followed including The Munch Bunch, Cloppa Castle and Mumfie the Elephant. It was during these series that romance blossomed, and in 1975 Charles was invited to join Judy with The Archers’ cast, playing wealthy gentleman farmer Brian Aldridge or “the J.R. of Ambridge” as Charles describes him! He also spent four years as a continuity news reader for the BBC World Service but says the pronunciation got him down!

Charles has more recently appeared in a wide range of television shows, including Celebrity Weakest Link – which he won, Call My Bluff, Countdown, The Time The Place, First Things First, Fifteen to One and University Challenge. In 2003, Charles was honoured to be the subject of This is Your Life. Charles also made appearances on BBC Radio 4’s Quote Unquote, Just a Minute, Whispers and That Reminds Me.

In 1994, Charles wrote his first book with two fellow members of The Archers’ cast. It was an encyclopaedia called The Book of The Archers, and was published in 1996 in conjunction with the programme’s 45th anniversary.

Charles and Judy have spent 2000 to 2005 touring with their stage show Laughter and Intrigue. As a husband and wife team they have entertained more than 100 audiences from Thurso in the north-east of Scotland to the Isle of Scilly. Charles also performs his one man show Playing Away. He says: “I still enjoy after dinner speaking – preferably to women! I have an endless fund of theatrical anecdotes and will never forget the thrill of addressing 4,000 in Bournemouth!” He has also spoken at the Manchester United Executive Lunch and The Grosvenor House Hotel Antiques Fair.

When he has any spare time, Charles loves watching cricket and all kinds of sports. He also enjoys gardening and has a general love of the outdoors. He has two grown-up stepsons and a daughter, Jane, with his wife Judy. They live in Hampshire.