Stephen Critchlow
Stephen Anthony Critchlow was a British actor, known for his work in the theatre and appearances on radio series such as Truly, Madly, Bletchley, The Way We Live Right Now, and Spats, along with radio episodes of Torchwood, and Doctor Who. He has also appeared in Kenneth Williams: Fantabulosa! as Kenneth Horne, in Red Dwarf XI as computer-generated space ship captain Edwin Herring, Hattie as the Carry On film director Gerald Thomas and appeared in the West End version of The 39 Steps.
After recovering from a stroke in January 2020, Critchlow was diagnosed with cancer in January 2021 and was receiving medical treatment at Guy's Hospital in London. He continued working in audio productions in 2021 and died in September 2021, at the age of 54.
Early life and education
Stephen Critchlow was born in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire in the United Kingdom. He trained as an actor at Mountview Drama School in London and completed his studies in 1990.Career
Theatre
Known in the theatre world as "Critch" or "The Critch", he worked in theatre all over Britain. Beginning in repertory, he performed in A Christmas Carol, When We Are Married and The Relapse and Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night. His West End work included Hamlet, with Paul Darrow, directed by Sir Peter Hall CBE ; Pygmalion, directed by Ray Cooney. He also played in at Royal National Theatre directed by Howard Davis.In 2004–05, he starred as Kenneth Horne in three national tours of Round the Horne... Revisited. He listed this as his favourite theatre job.
He returned to West End theatre to appear as one of four actors in The 39 Steps, a stage production of the film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, based on the novel by John Buchan and adapted by Patrick Barlow at the Criterion Theatre on Piccadilly Circus. The play involves the four actors playing all the 150 characters in the Hitchcock film which involves lightning quick costume and character changes.
Television
He has performed in many British television programmes and commercials. These include: Red Dwarf, Little Lord Fauntleroy, The Prince and the Pauper, Cider With Rosie, Peak Practice, Heartbeat as Leonard Parks and Adrian Pym, Monarch of the Glen, Trial & Retribution 1, 2 and 3, The Vice, The Bill, Blue Murder, The Armando Iannucci Show, The Thieving Headmistress, The Antique Rogues Show, Skins and The Cut.He reprised his role as Kenneth Horne in Kenneth Williams: Fantabulosa! – a BBC film drama about the life and death of the British comedy performer Kenneth Williams. He played Carry On director Gerald Thomas in the 2011 biopic Hattie.
He was also involved in a South Korean cartoon series that was broadcast on CBBC in 2009 called Rocket Boy and Toro. He was the voice of Rocket Boy's nemesis, Dr. Square.
He became a familiar face on television screens in a series of commercials for the furniture company Oak Furniture Land, where he played a chief salesman called Oak who appeared in a number of comedy sketches to advertise the company.