Mark Heap

Film credits include About a Boy (2002), Stardust (2007), The World's End (2013), Time Travel Is Dangerous (2024).

• Name — Mark Heap • Born — 13 May 1957 • Birthplace — Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India • Occupation — * Actor • comedian • Years Active — 1983–present

Mark Heap was born on 13 May 1957 in Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India, to an English father and American mother, the youngest of four boys. When the family moved to the United Kingdom, they lived in Wales. He stayed there until he moved to northern England. He began acting in the 1970s as a member of the Medieval Players, a touring company performing medieval and early modern theatre, and featuring stilt-walking, juggling and puppetry. His brother Carl Heap, who is also an actor, was the artistic director of the company. After its demise, he became part of the street theatre duo The Two Marks (with Mark Saban).

Heap starred in the BBC sketch show Big Train, where he performed a barefoot gymnastics routine and other sketches between 1998 and 2002, alongside other burgeoning comedy stars Simon Pegg, Julia Davis, Kevin Eldon, Catherine Tate, Amelia Bullmore, Rebecca Front, Nick Frost and Tracy-Ann Oberman. He appeared as struggling artist Brian Topp in Spaced (1999–2001), and the pompous Dr. Alan Statham in Green Wing (2004–07). Heap worked with Chris Morris, in Blue Jam, radio predecessor to Jam, and the documentary parody series Brass Eye. He voiced the lead character of Eric Feeble in the animated comedy Stressed Eric. Other recurring roles included: Terry Roche in Paul Whitehouse's comedy-drama Happiness and Derek Few in How Do You Want Me? He played Harry in the short-lived Rob Grant TV series The Strangerers, in 2000. He also guested in the second series of the BBC comedy Look Around You as Leonard Hatred. He appeared as an unsuccessful businessman who became a bellboy, in the 2007 BBC One drama Hotel Babylon. Between 2008 and 2010, he appeared as head postman Thomas Brown, in 32 episodes of the BBC period drama 'Lark Rise to Candleford'. He was the super villain Lightkiller, in an episode of the sitcom No Heroics. He also appeared as the father of Chris Miles in the Channel 4 programme Skins. Heap played the love interest of the main character in the second series of the BBC comedy Love Soup. He played the role of Charles Dickens in the 2009 BBC Two drama Desperate Romantics. He also played Jessica Hynes' husband in the one-off comedy written by Hynes and Julia Davis: Lizzie & Sarah. In 2010, Heap appeared as Bob Stevens, the leader of a rambling group in the BBC Four series The Great Outdoors. He also appeared as a psychiatrist in Miranda Hart's BBC2 comedy Miranda. In October 2010, he appeared as Robin in the four-part BBC drama Single Father. From 2011 to 2020, Heap played eccentric neighbour Jim Bell in the Channel 4 sitcom Friday Night Dinner, alongside Simon Bird, Paul Ritter, Tom Rosenthal and Tamsin Greig. He also played Andrew Thorogood in the BBC Four comedy Holy Flying Circus, and Jonas in the eighth episode of E4's sci-fi comedy-drama Misfits in Series 3. He appeared as a misguided church minister during an outbreak of smallpox in the BBC series The Indian Doctor. In 2012, he joined the cast of the Sky1 original series Spy, for its second series commencing in October 2012, replacing Tom Goodman-Hill as Philip Quil, Judith's partner and Marcus' headteacher. He appeared in the spin-off episode of Outnumbered, the Christmas special episode, aired on 24 December 2012 in which he portrayed Norris, for this single episode. He played the owner of a pet crematorium in Sue Perkins's 2013 comedy Heading Out. He had a leading role in BBC Radio 4's adaptation of Gogol's Dead Souls. He appeared as Robert Greene in three series of Upstart Crow (2016–18), a BBC Two sitcom about Shakespeare, written by Ben Elton. He also appeared as Dr. John Hall in the stage show based on the programme. From 2017 to 2018, Heap appeared in the sitcom Benidorm, playing the character Malcolm Barrett, the controlling and manipulative boyfriend of Pauline Maltby. In 2019, he appeared in Acorn TV's Queens of Mystery alongside Olivia Vinall. In 2020, Heap appeared in Intelligence, and played headmaster and husband in ITV's The Trouble with Maggie Cole.

In 1993, Heap played villain Hans Schultze in the "Double Identity" episode of Crimewatch File. Schultze was the German alter ego of Englishman John Calton who led a gang of kidnappers robbing banks and a supermarket, and holding families hostage. In 2008, Heap played the role of Widmerpool in a Radio 4 serialisation of Anthony Powell's A Dance to the Music of Time. He played Eliza's husband in 2006 Radio 4 play The Eliza Stories and appeared as Marmite the Dwarf in the short-lived Radio 4 sitcom The Sofa of Time. He starred in the music video for Four Tet's single "Smile Around the Face" in 2005, contributed a multitude of character voices in the audiobook "Do Ants Have Arseholes?". In 2012, he starred as Martin in the Radio 4 play Cordite for Breakfast, a comedy about Napoleonic-era battle re-enactments. In March 2013, he appeared as Rincewind in a 4-part Radio 4 adaptation of Terry Pratchett's Eric. He also played the angel Aziraphale in the 2014 BBC radio adaption of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett's Good Omens. He also was the lead in a series of radio advertisements for telecommunications company TalkTalk.

Key • Denotes works that have not yet been released

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1983 — Martin Luther, Heretic — Medieval Player — Television film • 1987 — Get Fresh — The Two Marks — Series 2; Episode 7 • The Les Dennis Laughter Show — Series 1; Episode 2 • 1988 — Various characters — Series 2; 7 episodes • 1990 — Up Yer News — Film Assistant — Episode dated 28 June 1990 • 1991 — Ghost Train — Mafia's Man / The Two Marks — Series 3; 3 episodes • 1992 — Packing Them In — Fire-eating Stilt-walker — 2nd series of Packet of Three; Episode 1 • 1993 — Viva Cabaret — The Two Marks — Series 1; Episode 6 • Crimewatch File — Hans Schultze — Series 6; Episode 2: "Double Identity" • 1994 — The Bill — Chris Boxer — Series 10; Episode 119: "Blackout" • Seaforth — Capt. Karl Von Berner — Also known as How High the Moon. Mini-series; Episodes 1–3 • What's Up Doc? — Mark the Security Guard — Series 2; Episode 25 • 1995 — Alfred the Butler — Series 3; Episode 25 • The World of Lee Evans — Platform Guard — Episode 2: "Off the Rails" • 1997 — Hospital! — Dr. Ralph Crosby — Television film • An Unsuitable Job for a Woman — DS Maskell — Series 1; Episode 1: "Sacrifice". Uncredited role • 1997–1998 — Smith & Jones — Various characters — Series 9; Episode 3: "Massage.", and Series 10; Episode 5: "New T.V." • 1997–2001 — Brass Eye — Various characters — Series 1 & 2; 7 episodes • 1998 — Kiss Me Kate — Peter — Series 1; Episodes 2–6 • The Zig and Zag Show — Various characters — Episodes 8, 12 & 13 • 1998–1999 — How Do You Want Me? — Derek Few — Series 1 & 2; 8 episodes • 1998–2000 — Stressed Eric — Eric Feeble (voice) — Series 1 & 2; 13 episodes • 1998–2002 — Big Train — Various characters — Series 1 & 2; 12 episodes • 1999 — All Along the Watchtower — Mr. Carter — Episode 3: "Keeping the Peace" • People Like Us — Graham Atkinson — Series 1; Episode 6: "The Head Teacher" • 1999–2001 — Spaced — Brian Topp — Series 1 & 2; 14 episodes • 2000 — The Strangerers — Harry — Episodes 1–9 • Jam — Various characters — Mini-series; Episodes 1–6 • 2001 — Doc Martin — Mitch — Television film (First prequel to Saving Grace) • 2001–2003 — Happiness — Terry Roche — Series 1 & 2; 12 episodes • 2003 — Doc Martin and the Legend of the Cloutie — Mitch — Television film (Second prequel to Saving Grace) • Spine Chillers — Balfus — Episode 5: "Goths" • 2004 — Dalziel and Pascoe — Julian Finch — Series 8; Episode 2: "The Price of Fame" • Swiss Toni — Terry Fragment — Series 2; Episode 8: "Fothergill 2000" • Tunnel of Love — Gibson — Television film • 2004–2007 — Green Wing — Dr. Alan Statham — Series 1 & 2; 18 episodes & 2 short specials • 2005 — Look Around You — Leonard Hatred — Series 2; Episodes 1 & 6: "Music" and "Live Final" • Casanova — Doctor Gozzi — Mini-series; Episode 1 • 2007 — Hotel Babylon — Robert Kane — Series 2; Episode 4 • Agatha Christie's Marple — Mr. Humfries — Series 3; Episode 1: At Bertram's Hotel • 2007–2008 — Singles Files — Jeff — Mini-series; Episodes 1–5 • 2008 — Skins — Graham Miles — Series 2; Episode 10: "Everyone" • Love Soup — Douglas McVitie — Series 2; Episodes 7–11 • No Heroics — Lightkiller — Episode 4: "Back Issues" • 2008–2011 — Lark Rise to Candleford — Thomas Brown — Series 1–4; 37 episodes • 2009 — Desperate Romantics — Charles Dickens — Mini-series; Episodes 1–5 • Cast Offs — Darren — Episode 6: "Carrie" • 2010 — Lizzie and Sarah — Michael — Television film • The Great Outdoors — Bob — Episodes 1–3 • Single Father — Robin — Mini-series; Episodes 1–4 • 2010, 2015 — Miranda — Anthony — Series 2; Episode 5: "Just Act Normal" and final episode: "The Final Curtain" • 2011 — Holy Flying Circus — Andrew Thorogood — Television film • Misfits — Jonas — Series 3; Episode 8 • 2011–2020 — Friday Night Dinner — Jim Bell — Series 1–6; 37 episodes • 2012 — The Indian Doctor — Rev. Herbert Todd — Series 2; Episodes 1–5 • A Moody Christmas — Heathrow Passenger — Mini-series; Episode 1: "Separate Seats" • Outnumbered — Norris — Series 4; Episode 8: "Christmas Special 2012" • Spy — Philip — Series 2; Episodes 1–11 • 2012–2016 — The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret — Lord Mountford — Series 2 & 3; 4 episodes • 2013 — Heading Out — Brian — Episode 1 • Midsomer Murders — Simon Fergus-Johnson — Series 16; Episode 1: "The Christmas Haunting" • 2014 — Death in Paradise — Alec Burton — Series 3; Episode 6: "The Early Bird" • Comedy Playhouse — Brother Francis — Series 16; Episode 3: "Monks" • 2015 — The Art of Foley — Jeremy — Mini-series; Episodes 1 & 2: "Earrings" and "Crow" • Undercover — DCI Langdon — Episode 4 • We're Doomed! The Dad's Army Story — Clive Dunn — Television film • 2016 — Endeavour — Felix Lorimer — Series 3; Episode 4: "Coda" • Digby Dragon — Mungo — Series 1 & 2; 27 episodes • 2016–2017 — Maigret — Dr. Moers — Series 1 & 2; 4 episodes • 2016–2018 — Upstart Crow — Robert Greene — Series 1–3; 19 episodes • 2017 — Murder on the Blackpool Express — Graham — Television film • 2017–2018 — Benidorm — Denis Walker (Malcolm Barrett) — Series 9; Episodes 7 & 8, and Series 10, Episode 7 • 2018 — The Team — Albert — Series 2; Episodes 1–8 • Zapped — Florian — Series 3; Episode 6: "Amulet" • The Midnight Gang — Sir Quentin Strillers — Television film • 2019 — Queens of Mystery — Kurt Lee — Series 1; Episodes 3 & 4: "Death by Vinyl: First & Final Chapters" • Urban Myths — Ken Burrows — Series 3; Episode 3: "The Trial of Joan Collins" • 2020 — Intelligence — Barnaby Bailer — Series 1; Episode 4 • The Trouble with Maggie Cole — Peter Cole — Episodes 1–6 • 2022 — Live at the Moth Club — George — Episodes 1–5 • Sky Comedy Shorts — Colin — Mini-series; Episode 4: "Silo" • 2023 — Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway — Butler — Series 19; 4 episodes • Significant Other — Ray — Episode 3 • 2024 — Renegade Nell — Newspaper Editor — Episodes 6 & 7: "Snatched by Strollers" and "Stop Printing This Muck" • The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin — John Turpin — Series 1; Episodes 1–6 • Sister Boniface Mysteries — Kirk Fabricant — Series 3; Episode 4: "Professor Y" • Beyond Paradise — Bob Holland — Series 3; Episode: "Christmas Special" • 2024–present — Piglets — Superintendent Bob Weekes — Lead role; Series 1–2 12 episodes • 2026–present — Can You Keep a Secret? — William Fendon — Lead role

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 2004 — Wings of War — General Allied / Enemy General #2 (voice) • 2010 — Fable III — Brian (voice)

In 1983, Heap made a brief appearance as a torch-juggler in the James Bond film Octopussy. He played Duncan, Rik Mayall's hapless personal assistant, in Bring Me the Head of Mavis Davis (1997). He played a school teacher in the 2002 film About a Boy. He made a cameo appearance with Kevin Eldon in Tim Burton's 2005 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He played supporting roles in Confetti (2006), Tunnel of Love (2004), Stardust (2007). In 2008, he co-starred in the surreal sci-fi B-movie spoof Captain Eager and the Mark of Voth, and was a publican in The World's End.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1983 — Octopussy — Fire Juggler — Uncredited role • 1997 — Bring Me the Head of Mavis Davis — Duncan • 2002 — About a Boy — Maths Teacher • Ant Muzak — Tannoy Voice — Short films • 2004 — Out of Time — Charlie • The Calcium Kid — Sebastian Gore-Brown • 2005 — Charlie and the Chocolate Factory — Man with Dog • Blake's Junction 7 — Avon — Short film • Animal — Hugo Getner • 2006 — Confetti — Registrar • Scoop — M.C. • Alpha Male — Darwen • 2007 — Stardust — Prince Tertius • 2008 — Captain Eager and the Mark of Voth — Scrutty Baker • The Pro — Short films • 2011 — Muso Soup — Shash (voice) • 2012 — 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea • Is This a Joke? — Doctor • 2013 — All Stars — Simon Tarrington • The World's End — Publican 7 • 2015 — The Last Post — The Reverend Brian Pile — Short film • 2016 — The Comedian's Guide to Survival — Pick Up Driver • 2018 — Killer Weekend — Gerald • 2022 — The House — Mr. Thomas (voice) — Segment 'I' • The School for Good and Evil — Professor Bilious Manley • Your Christmas or Mine? — Johnson • 2024 — Time Travel Is Dangerous — The Regency Dandy • 2026 — The Magic Faraway Tree — Mr. Oom Boom Boom