Grantham, Leslie 1947–

(Les Grantham, Lesley Grantham)

PERSONAL

Full name, Leslie Michael Grantham; born April 30, 1947, in Camberwell, London, England; son of Walter William and Adelaide Victoria Grantham; married Jane Laurie (an actress; some sources cite name as Jane Mary Hickinbotham), December 29, 1981 (separated); children: Michael Leslie "Spike," Jake Edward, Danny. Education: Trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. Avocational Interests: Watching soccer, playing cricket with the Bunburys (charity team), wine, golf.

Addresses:

Agent—Michael Whitehall, 125 Gloucester Rd., London SW7 4TE, England.

Career:

Actor. Also a wine expert and wine writer for Sunday Mirror magazine. Military service: Served in the British Army, c. 1965-66.

Awards, Honors:

Pye Television Award, best actor, 1985-86; Grantham's character "Dirty" Den Watts was included on a list of 100 greatest television moments, 1999, and was named one of the 100 greatest television characters, 2001, both Channel 4 (England); Gloucester Drama Festival Award, best original play, for Reason to Live.

CREDITS

Television Appearances; Series:

Signals sergeant, The Jewel in the Crown, Granada Television, 1984, broadcast on Masterpiece Theatre (also known as ExxonMobil Masterpiece Theatre and Mobil Masterpiece Theatre), PBS, beginning c. 1984.

"Dirty" Den Watts, EastEnders (also known as East 8, London Pride, Round the Houses, Round the Square, Square Dances, and Victoria Square), BBC, 1985-87, then 2003-05.

Danny Kane, The Paradise Club, BBC, 1989-90.

Nick Toth, The Good Guys, Yorkshire Television (some sources cite London Weekend Television), 1992-93.

Colonel Mustard, Cluedo (also known as Clue), Independent Television (England), c. 1993.

Detective inspector Mick Raynor, 99-1, Carlton Television, 1994-95.

Boyard, Fort Boyard, Channel 5 (England), 1998-2002.

Himself, Grantham's Grapes, Carlton Television, beginning c. 2001.

Television Appearances; Miniseries:

Knockback, BBC, 1984.

Winners and Losers, Scottish Television, 1988.

Himself, "1990" (two parts), Children in Need, BBC, 1990.

Himself, "1991" (two parts), Children in Need, BBC, 1991.

Himself, "1992" (two parts), Children in Need, BBC, 1992.

Chief superintendent Philip Gates, The Uninvited, Independent Television (England), 1997.

Himself, The 100 Greatest TV Moments, Channel 4 (England), 1999.

(Uncredited; in archive footage) "Dirty" Den Watts, The 100 Greatest TV Characters, Channel 4, 2001.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Terence (eccentric psychiatrist), Gummed Labels, Channel 4 (England), 1992.

Max, The Bench, [Great Britain], 1999.

Terry Greene, The Stretch, Sky Television (England), 2000.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Jake's End, BBC, 1981.

The Nightwatch, BBC, 1989.

Roland, "Wild Oats," Comedy Playhouse (also known as Comedy Playhouse: Wild Oats), Carlton Television, 1993.

Rex Valentine, Delta Wave, Independent Television (England), 1996.

Host, 80s Mania, Independent Television, 2001.

(In archive footage) I Love Christmas, BBC, 2001.

Himself, 10 Years of Heartbeat, Independent Television, 2002.

Celebrity participant, Test the Nation: The National Quiz, BBC, 2003.

"Dirty" Den Watts, EastEnders Revealed: The Return of Dirty Den, BBC, 2003.

(Uncredited) Himself, EastEnders: Christmas Party, BBC, 2003.

Himself, Hogmanay Live, BBC, 2003.

Himself, National Television Awards Party of the Year, Independent Television, 2004.

(Uncredited; in archive footage) Himself, Who Killed Saturday Night TV?, Channel 4 (England), 2004.

Television Appearances; Awards Presentations:

National Television Awards 2004, Independent Television (England), 2004.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Frank, "Little Green-Eyed Monster," Goodnight and God Bless, Associated Television, 1983.

(As Les Grantham) Kiston, "Resurrection of the Daleks: Parts 1-3," Doctor Who, BBC, 1984.

Mo's father, "Night of the Narrow Boats," Dramarama, Independent Television (England), 1984.

I Thought You'd Gone, Central Television (England), 1984.

"The Name of the Game," Bulman, Independent Television, 1985.

Alas Smith & Jones (also known as Smith & Jones), BBC, 1986.

Himself, Telly Addicts, BBC, 1988.

Himself, "Christmas Past, Christmas Present," Cluedo (also known as Clue), Independent Television, 1990.

Himself, Guest Night (also known as Bruce's "Guest Night"), BBC, 1992.

Danny Kane, "Strangers in Paradise," The Detectives, BBC, 1993.

Himself, The Hypnotic World of Paul McKenna, Independent Television, 1993.

Himself, The Good Sex Guide, Independent Television, 1994.

Himself, That's Showbusiness, BBC, 1994 (multiple episodes).

Patrick Durno, "Dance of the Scorpions," Wycliffe (also known as Wycliffe: Dance of the Scorpions), Harlech Television, 1997.

Jimmy Smith, "Good Faith: Parts 1-3," The Bill, Independent Television, 1998.

Jimmy Smith, "The Personal Touch," The Bill, Independent Television, 1998.

Barman, Noel's House Party, BBC, 1998 (multiple episodes).

Himself, It's Only TV … but I Like It, BBC, 1999.

Himself (wine expert), This Morning (also known as This Morning with Richard and Judy), Independent Television, 1999.

Lenny's father, "The Boy's Club," Urban Gothic, Channel 5 (England), 2000.

Himself, "I Love 1989," I Love 1980s, BBC-2, 2001.

Himself, "Returning Rovers vs Ex-EastEnders," All-Star Family Fortunes, Independent Television, 2001.

Car dealer, Gypsy Girl, Independent Television, 2001.

Himself, Night Fever, Channel 5, 2001.

George East, "The Great Ming Mystery," Heartbeat (also known as Classic Heartbeat), Independent Television, 2002.

Himself, "Soap Queens," Top Ten, Channel 4 (England), 2002.

Himself, "TV Bastards," Top Ten, Channel 4, 2002.

Himself, "Valentine's Special," Night Fever, Channel 5, 2002.

Guest panelist, Loose Women, Independent Television, 2002.

Himself, Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, BBC, 2003.

Himself, Kelly, Ulster Television (UTV), 2003.

Himself, The Kumars at No. 42, BBC-2 and BBC America, 2003.

Himself, RI:SE, Channel 4, 2003.

Himself, Richard & Judy, Channel 4, 2003, 2004.

Himself, "Television Drama: Part 1," The South Bank Show, Independent Television, 2004.

Himself, The Late Late Show, Radio Telefis Eireann (RTE, Ireland), 2005.

Himself, The Podge and Rodge Show, Radio Telefis Eireann, 2006.

Jimmy Collins, "480," The Bill, Independent Television, 2007.

Appeared in other productions, including Runaway Bay, Yorkshire Television; and Woof!, Central Independent Television.

Television Appearances; Other:

Appeared in Good Parent Guide, London Weekend Television.

Television Work; Miniseries:

Creator and executive producer, The Uninvited, Independent Television (England), 1997.

Film Appearances:

(As Lesley Grantham) Motorway police officer's assistant, Morons from Outer Space, Universal, 1985.

Estragon, Waiting for Godot, [Great Britain], 1991.

Liney, Shadow Run, Majestic Films & Television, 1998.

Mr. Shaw, Crow's Nest, Pinetrees Productions/Scottish Television Films, 1998.

Aladdin, Lava, Universal, 2000.

George, The Wedding Tackle, Viking Films/Rat Pack Films, 2000.

Richard Waldeck, Charlie, Entertainment Film Distributors, 2004.

Stage Appearances:

Rick's Bar Casablanca, Churchill Theatre, Bromley, England, and Whitehall Theatre (now Trafalgar Studios), London, 1991.

Mike Mason, Cold Sweat, Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch, England, 1992.

Peter Pan (pantomime), St. Albans Arena, St. Albans, England, 2005.

Appeared in other plays, including productions of Brighton Rock, Lady Chatterley's Lover, A Little Night Music (musical), The Visitors, and Whose Life Is It Anyway?, all Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, England; and TK9, Bridge Land Theatre, London.

Major Tours:

John Miles, Theft, English cities, 2001.

Queens council Sir David Metcalf, Beyond Reasonable Doubt, English cities, c. 2005-2006.

Stage Director:

Peter Pan (pantomime), St. Albans Arena, St. Albans, England, 2005.

WRITINGS

Writings for the Stage:

Wrote the play Reason to Live.

Nonfiction:

Life and Other Times (autobiography), Timewell Publishing, 2006.

Wine writer for Sunday Mirror magazine.

OTHER SOURCES

Periodicals:

Radio Times, September 16, 1989, pp. 4-5; September 22, 1990, p. 10; January 7, 1995, pp. 16-18.

Variety, January 27, 1988, p. 80.