Ian McNeice
Ian McNeice (born 2 October 1950) is an English film and television actor. On television, he has played government agent Harcourt in the 1985 television series Edge of Darkness, Bert Large in the comedy-drama Doc Martin, the Newsreader in historical drama Rome (2005–2007) and Winston Churchill in Doctor Who (2010–2011). He has also appeared in films including The Englishman Who Went up a Hill but Came down a Mountain, Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls and Frank Herbert's Dune.
Ian McNeice

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- Name
- Ian McNeice
- Born
- 2 October 1950
- Birthplace
- Basingstoke, Hampshire, England
- Occupation
- Actor
- Spouse
- Katie Nicholls (separated)
- Nationality
- United Kingdom
- Education
- London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art · Salisbury Playhouse · Taunton School
- Languages
- English
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Documentary evidence
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wikidata · Q1655608 · wikipedia · Ian McNeice
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Ian McNeice • Born — 2 October 1950 • Birthplace — Basingstoke, Hampshire, England • Occupation — Actor • Television — B&B (1992) Doc Martin (2004–2022) Rome (2005–2007) Doctor Who (2010–2011) • Spouse — Katie Nicholls (separated) • Children — 3 • Years Active — 1977–present
Early life and education
Early life and education
McNeice was born in Basingstoke, Hampshire. His acting training started at the Taunton School in Somerset, followed by the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) and two years at the Salisbury Playhouse. The next few years were spent in theatre, including a four-year period with the Royal Shakespeare Company and a production of Nicholas Nickleby on Broadway.
Career
Career
McNeice's television breakthrough was as Harcourt in the award-winning series Edge of Darkness. He played the alcoholic sous chef Gustave LaRoche on the television series Chef!, and went on to appear in the 2000 miniseries Frank Herbert's Dune as the evil Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, a role he later reprised for the 2003 sequel Children of Dune. His television appearances have included all ten series of Doc Martin, in which he plays Bert Large, series 4 episode 4 of Midsomer Murders, and the third episode of the second series of Lewis. He appears as the Newsreader in the HBO/BBC production Rome and as Mr. Tapling of the British diplomatic service in Hornblower- The Examination for Lieutenant. McNeice has also appeared in a number of films, including 84 Charing Cross Road, Day of the Dead, No Escape, From Hell and The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain. His breakthrough into American films occurred when he played Fulton Greenwall in Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995). He played the Nazi Gerhard Klopfer in the 2001 BBC/HBO television film Conspiracy. Since then, he has been in Around the World in 80 Days (2004) and the 2005 supernatural thriller White Noise. He also appeared as Potiphar in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. McNeice gave his distinctive voice and accent to voice-acting roles like the Vogon character Kwaltz, director of the Vogon Constructor Fleet, in the 2005 film adaptation of Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. In 2007, he made his Doctor Who debut when he guest-starred as villain Zeus in the Big Finish BBC Digital Radio 7 drama Immortal Beloved. He had a cameo role as Joachim von Kortzfleisch, a German general who refused to put his troops under the command of officers plotting to depose Hitler's government, in Valkyrie. • Illustration — McNeice in 2011 McNeice was initially cast in the role of Illyrio Mopatis in the HBO pilot of Game of Thrones, but because of scheduling conflicts the role was then given to Roger Allam. McNeice appeared as Winston Churchill in four episodes of Doctor Who in 2010 and 2011; he had previously played Churchill in the 2008 premiere production of the Howard Brenton play Never So Good, and later played him again in the 2012 stage version of The King's Speech. McNeice also starred as The Architect in the 2017 independent feature film, The House of Screaming Death.
Personal life
Personal life
He married Kate Nicholls, the daughter of Anthony Nicholls (actor), and lived in Broad Campden in Gloucestershire. McNeice has three children.
Selected filmography
Selected filmography
• Illustration — Ian McNeice in The Optimist
Television
Television
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1982 — Voice Over — "Fats" Bannerman — TV Movie • 1982 — The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby — Wackford Squeers / Scaley / Croupier — 3 episodes (TV mini-series) • 1983 — The Cleopatras — Alexander — 2 episodes (TV mini-series) • 1984 — Minder — Eric Morgan — Episode: "Rocky Eight and a Half" • 1985 — The Optimist — Thug — Episode: "The Light Fantastic" • 1985 — Edge of Darkness — Harcourt — 5 episodes (TV mini series) • 1987 — Sputniks, Bleeps and Mr.Perry — Geoffrey Perry — TV drama/ documentary • 1987 — A Perfect Spy — Sefton Boyd — 1 episode (TV mini-series) • 1988 — Wipe Out — Phillip Benton — 5 episodes (TV mini-series) • 1989 — Boon — Graham Barker — Episode: "In For the Monet" • 1989 — Around the World in 80 Days — Batcular — 3 Episodes (TV mini series) • 1991 — Lovejoy — Gervais Rackham — Episode: "The Italian Venus" • 1991 — The Ruth Rendell Mysteries — Ivan Teal — 3 episodes • 1992 — B&B — Horace Gilbert — TV Movie • 1992 — Miss Pym's Day Out — Vicar of Finstock — TV Movie • 1992 — The Cloning of Joanna May — Dr. Holly — 2 episodes (TV mini-series) • 1992 — The Blackheath Poisonings — George Collard — 3 episodes (TV mini series) • 1992 — An — Dick Baker — TV Movie • 1993 — Watching — Minister — Episode: "Knotting" • 1993 — Inspector Morse — Pathologist — Episode: "Deadly Slumber" • 1993 — Stay Lucky — Franklyn Bysouth — 10 episodes • 1993 — Age of Treason — Casca — TV Movie • 1993 — Don't Leave Me This Way — Oscar Ghilardi — TV Movie • 1994 — Ain't Misbehavin' — Chuck Pervis — Series 1, Episode 4 • 1994 — Minder — Hargreaves — Episode: "All Quiet on the West End Front" • 1994 — Chef! — Gustave LaRoche — 3 episodes • 1994– 1995 — Pie in the Sky — Barry Wilkes — 2 episodes • 1995 — Sharpe's Battle — Wagonmaster-General Colonel Runciman — TV Movie • 1995 — Bugs — Doctor Peter Hunter — Episode: "A Sporting Chance" • 1996 — Cadfael — Canon Eluard — Episode: "The Devil's Novice" • 1997 — Have Your Cake and Eat It — Zief — 4 episodes (TV mini-series) • 1998 — Hornblower — Mr. Tapling — Episode: The Examination for Lieutenant • 1998 — A Certain Justice — Desmond Ulrick — 3 episodes • 1998 — Liverpool 1 — George — Episode: "Lead Balloon" • 1999 — A Christmas Carol — Albert Fezziwig — TV Movie • 1999 — Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat — Potiphar — Video • 1999 — David Copperfield — Mr. Dick — 2 episodes (TV mini-series) • 2000 — Longitude — Astronomer Royal Doctor Nathanial Bliss — TV mini-series • 2000 — Frank Herbert's Dune — Baron Vladimir Harkonnen — 3 episodes (TV mini-series) • 2000 — The Sleeper — Mr. Tarburck — 1 episode (TV mini-series) • 2000 — Midsomer Murders — Village doctor — Episode: "Who Killed Cock Robin" • 2001 — Armadillo — Ivan — 2 episodes (TV mini-series) • 2002 — Relic Hunter — Harry Kane — Episode: "Fountain of Youth" • 2003 — Frank Herbert's Children of Dune — Baron Vladimir Harkonnen — 3 episodes (TV mini-series) • 2004 — Spartacus — Lentulus Batiatus — 2 episodes (TV mini-series) • 2004 — Spooks — Judge — Episode: "Persephone" • 2004–2022 — Doc Martin — Bert Large — 78 episodes • 2005 — The Last Detective — Raymond Price — Episode: "Three Steps to Hendon" • 2005–2007 — Rome — The Newsreader — 20 episodes • 2007 — New Tricks — Michael Meadowcroft — Episode: "Big Topped" • 2008 — Lewis — Reverend Francis King — Episode: "Life Born of Fire" • 2009 — Cleopatra: Portrait of a Killer — Cassius Dio (Historian) — TV film • 20102011 — Doctor Who — Winston Churchill — 4 episodes • 2010 — Jonathan Creek — Father Roderick Alberic — Episode: "The Judas Tree" • 2012 — The Mystery of Edwin Drood — Mayor Sapsea — 2 episodes (TV mini-series) • 2021 — Foundation — Master Statistician Tivole — Episode: "Barbarian at the Gate" • 2022 — The Sandman — Bartender — Episode: "The Sound of Her Wings"
Audio Drama
Audio Drama
• Year — Title — Role — Notes — Ref. • 2007 — Doctor Who: The Eighth Doctor Adventures — Zues — Episode: Immortal Beloved • 2010 — Alex Shearer - The Diabolical Gourmet — Gourier • 2012 — Doctor Who: The Fourth Doctor Adventures — Harcourt — Episode: The Renaissance Man • 2016–2018 — The Churchill Years — Winston Churchill • 2017 — Modesty Blaise: The Silver Mistress — Sir Gerald Tarrant • 2018 — Doctor Who: Ravenous 1 — Winston Churchill — Episode: Their Finest Hour • 2019 — Betsy and Napoleon — Balcombe • 2020 — Doctor Who: The Monthly Adventures — Winston Churchill — Episode: Subterfuge • Doctor Who: The Third Doctor Adventures Volume 06 — Episode: Operation Hellfire
Identity
Identity
Ian McNeice is recorded as actor.

Ian McNeice is one of the coolest people I met at Comic Con 2011 - He was completely enamored with super girl.
reconbot
Film
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1982 — Voice Over — "Fats" Bannerman • 1983 — Grizzly II: The Concert — Bernie • 1984 — Top Secret! — Blind souvenir salesman • 1986 — Whoops Apocalypse — Thrush • 1987 — Personal Services — Harry • 1987 — 84 Charing Cross Road — Bill Humphries • 1987 — Cry Freedom — Uncredited • 1987 — The — Bernard Rice • 1988 — The — Farmer • 1989 — Valmont — Azolan • 1990 — 1871 — Prince of Wales • 1990 — The — Merrydew • 1991 — Secret Friends — First Businessman • 1992 — Year of the Comet — Ian • 1994 — No Escape — King • 1995 — Funny Bones — Stanley Sharkey • 1995 — The — George Garrad • 1995 — Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls — Fulton Greenwall • 1997 — The — Iva Grushinsky • 1997 — A — Mayhew • 1998 — How to Make the Cruelest Month — Peggy Asks • 1999 — The Auteur Theory — Sir Maximilian Fair Brown • 1999 — The — Pishchik • 2000 — The Nine Lives of Tomas Katz — Inspector • 2001 — Anazapta — Bishop • 2001 — The — Dr. Sproul • 2001 — Town & Country — Peter Principal • 2001 — The — MI5 officer Lewison • 2001 — From Hell — Dr. Robert Drudge • 2001 — Conspiracy — Dr Gerhard Klopfer • 2002 — Amnèsia — Doug Chandler • 2002 — Man and Boy — Nigel Batty • 2002 — The — Priest • 2003 — Chaos and Cadavers — Harry Kane • 2003 — I'll Be There — Graham • 2003 — Blackball — Hugh the Sideburns • 2004 — Freeze Frame — Forensic Profiler Saul Seger • 2004 — Around the World in 80 Days — Colonel Kitchener • 2004 — The — Alex Miln • 2004 — Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason — Quizmaster • 2005 — White Noise — Raymond Price • 2005 — The — Kwaltz — Voice only • 2005 — Oliver Twist — Limbkins • 2006 — The — Coroner • 2008 — Day of the Dead — DJ Paul • 2008 — Valkyrie — Joachim von Kortzfleisch • 2008 — Just Because You're Paranoid... — The Therapist — Short film • 2012 — Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger — Mr. Peterson Senior • 2017 — The Man Who Invented Christmas — Edward Chapman • 2017 — The House of Screaming Death — The Architect • 2023 — Napoleon — Louis XVIII • 2024 — We Are Tourists — Harry
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Ian McNeice”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q1655608: Ian McNeice
General reference · Wikidata
Literature
Scholarly footprint
A count of publications is evidence of attention, not of standing, and is given here only as a measure.
Text attribution
Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Ian McNeice, revision 1375539324 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Ian McNeice. Theatricalia.com.
- 2.Ian McNeice – Broadway Cast & Staff. IBDb.com.
- 3.Ian McNeice. 2.bfi.org.
- 4.Conspiracy (2001). 2.bfi.org.
- 5.Ian McNeice | Movies and Filmography. Allmovie.com.
- 6.Valkyrie (2008) - Bryan Singer | Cast and Crew | AllMovie. Allmovie.com.
- 7.Winter-Is-Coming.net. Illyrio recast. 16 September 2010.
- 8.First Smith 'Doctor Who' titles confirmed. Digital Spy. 3 February 2010.
- 9.The King's Speech play has its world premiere. BBC News. 3 February 2012.
- 10.April Updates – The House of Screaming Death Completes Post Production. 29 March 2017.
- 11.Top actor Ian McNeice to star in Black Country horror flick. Express & Star. 3 May 2016.
- 12.Horror Society. House of Screaming Death Completes Post-Production, Celebrates By Releasing 3 New Stills. 28 March 2017.
- 13.Gloucestershire Echo Monday 19 June 1989, page 12
- 14."The tragic story behind Ian McNeice's dating and married life, his wife, girlfriend and children" - Hitberry.com
- 15.Doctor Who: Immortal Beloved full-cast audio drama from Big Finish. Big Finish Productions.
- 16.BBC Radio 4 - Drama on 4, Alex Shearer - The Diabolical Gourmet. BBC.
- 17.Doctor Who: The Renaissance Man full-cast audio drama from Big Finish. Big Finish Productions.
- 18.The Churchill Years Volume 01 full-cast audio drama from Big Finish. Big Finish Productions.
- 19.The Churchill Years Volume 02 full-cast audio drama from Big Finish. Big Finish Productions.
- 20.BBC Radio 4 - Modesty Blaise: The Silver Mistress, Episode 1. BBC.
- 21.Doctor Who: Ravenous 1 full-cast audio drama from Big Finish. Big Finish Productions.
- 22.BBC Radio 4 Extra - Betsy and Napoleon, Episode 1. BBC.
- 23.Doctor Who: Subterfuge full-cast audio drama from Big Finish. Big Finish Productions.
- 24.Doctor Who: The Third Doctor Adventures Volume 06 full-cast audio drama from Big Finish. Big Finish Productions.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessauthority record
General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 15 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Film memorabilia
38,713 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
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- Ian McDiarmidPerson
- Ian McShanePerson
- Ian Michael SmithPerson
- Ian NelsonPerson
- Ian ParovelPerson
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