Kate Elizabeth Robbins (born 21 August 1958) is an English actress, director, singer, and songwriter. She scored a top ten single on the UK Official Charts with "More Than in Love", while she was appearing in the television soap opera Crossroads (1980–1981). She also represented the UK in the 1980 Eurovision Song Contest as a member of the group Prima Donna; they finished third, singing "Love Enough for Two". Robbins went on to become a prolific voice comedy actress, most notably for ten years with the satirical show Spitting Image (1986–1996).
Early life Robbins is the elder sister of fellow actress Amy Robbins, sculptor Jane Robbins, and The Sheilas singer Emma Robbins. Her older brother is radio broadcaster and actor Ted Robbins. Through her sister Emma, she became the sister-in-law of Simon Shelton, and through her sister Amy, the sister-in-law of actor Robert Daws. Her father was Mike Robbins, who grew up in Hightown, Wrexham, the son of Ted Robbins, who served as the secretary of the Football Association of Wales for more than 35 years.
Robbins is a first cousin once removed of Paul McCartney, as her mother Elizabeth "Bett" Robbins (née Danher) was McCartney's cousin. In 1960, McCartney and John Lennon performed as "The Nerk Twins" at the Fox and Hounds pub in Caversham, Reading, which was run by Robbins' parents Bett and Mike.
Robbins grew up on the Wirral Peninsula, where she attended Wirral Grammar School for Girls.
Career
Singing Robbins' first released recording, in 1978, was the song "Tomorrow", from the musical Annie. Robbins' first chart appearance was as a backing singer, along with her sister Jane, on the minor Top 40 hit "Lines" by Liverpool group Planets, a spin-off from Deaf School. In 1980 she and Jane represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest as part of the group Prima Donna; they finished third singing the UK entry "Love Enough for Two".
The following year, Robbins joined the cast of the ITV soap opera Crossroads, playing the part of a pop singer who was recording a single in the fictional motel's basement recording studio. The song, "More Than in Love", was released commercially in the UK, credited as Kate Robbins and Beyond and gave Robbins a major hit single, reaching number 2 in the UK Singles Chart.
Robbins also sung the vocals to the credits of the final episode of The Young Ones.
Robbins wrote the first theme tune to Surprise, Surprise performed by Cilla Black. She sang the lead vocals on "The Chicken Song" with Michael Fenton Stevens, which reached number 1 in 1986.
In December 2010, Robbins released her third album, Soho Nights. She co-wrote the easy listening album We're Just Passing Through, with broadcaster and journalist Nicky Campbell, which was released in 2014.
Television and film Robbins provided female voices on the television show Spitting Image from series 3 to series 20 (1986–1996).
She played Cilla Black in Harry Enfield's Television Programme (1992), and voiced Princess Anne in Drop the Dead Donkey in 1993.
In 1995, Robbins provided all of the voices, including the male ones, in the children's television series The Caribou Kitchen. The 1986 Granada Television sketch show Robbins featured Kate, her brother Ted Robbins, and her sisters Amy Robbins, Jane Robbins and Emma Robbins.
Robbins was named "Best Supporting Actress" at the Angel Awards of the Monaco International Film Festival in 2006, for her role as Kathleen in the low-budget British film Fated (2005). She played Joan in Sex Lives of the Potato Men (2004). The following year, she appeared with James Franco and Jean Reno in the film Flyboys, playing the role of Clarisse, a brothel Madame.
She also starred in Farrena Films' comedy-thriller short movie The Other Side with Valerie Hope, and played Babs in two series of the comedy series dinnerladies. Robbins later appeared with the sitcom's writer Victoria Wood in the Christmas special Victoria Wood with All the Trimmings, and Victoria Wood's Big Fat Documentary. Alongside daughter Emily Atack, Robbins appeared is a regular contributor on Channel 4's Steph's Packed Lunch, and appeared in Celebrity Gogglebox in 2024.
Radio During the 1990s, Robbins performed a number of different roles as both an impersonator and a singer in the BBC Radio 4 satirical comedy series A Look Back at the Nineties and its sequel A Look Back at the Future. Robbins took part in the original BBC Radio 4 series of Dead Ringers in 2000.
Live comedy Robbins was part of the Grumpy Old Women Live tours in 2014 and 2015.
Honours
In 2007, Robbins was awarded an honorary Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Bedfordshire, for her lifetime contribution to performing arts.
Personal life Robbins divorced musician Keith Atack in 2007, after 19 years of marriage together. Robbins and Atack had three children: actress Emily (born 1989), Martha (born 1991), and George (born 1992).
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1990 Bullseye! The Queen (voice) 1995 The Band Parts Blossom Short films 2000 Ogri Mitzi (voice) 2003 16 Years of Alcohol Fighting Couple Woman2004 Sex Lives of the Potato Men Joan Boo, Zino & the Snurks Female Gayan / Valerie (voice) English version 2005 MirrorMask Female Giant / Mrs. Shoe-Thing / Chicken2006 Flyboys Clarise Fated Kathleen 2017 The Legend of Kung Funk Natalie Short films 2018 The Other Side with Valerie Hope Valerie Hope2022 Road Trip Mother A Last Resort Rose Dead on the Vine Eva 2024 Clown Taxi Woman Short film Restless Jackie 2025 Egg Timer Sandra Short film Blueberry Inn Leanne In production
Television Year Title Role Notes 1980–1981 Crossroads: Kings Oak Kate Loring 11 episodes 1982 Mike Yarwood in Persons Impressionist (various) 1 episode 1986 Saturday Live Cilla Black, Sarah Ferguson Recurring roles (3 episodes) 1986–1996 Spitting Image Various (voice) Regular roles (Series 3–18; 93 episodes)1987 Spitting Image: The Ronnie and Nancy Show Nancy Reagan (voice) Television film Kate and Ted's ShowVarious characters Regular roles (7 episodes) 1988 The Kate Robbins Show Regular roles (6 episodes) 1989–1990 Round the Bend! Jemimah Wellington-Green / Various (voice) Regular roles (Series 1–3; 18 episodes) 1989–1991 The Staggering Stories of Ferdinand de Bargos Various (voice) Series 1–3; 11 episodes 1990 Wicked WillieVoice role Television film 1991 Wicked Willie Rides Again! Video film1992 Fiddley Foodle Bird 13 episodes Pallas Series 2; episode 3: "Pallas 2" Red Dwarf Woman in Film (voice) Series 5; episode 1: "Holoship" (uncredited role) Harry Enfield's Television ProgrammeCilla Black Series 2; episode 3 Sean's Show Series 1; episode 6: "Blind Date" My Little Pony Tales Additional voices Episode 15: "Princess Problems"1993 Comedy Playhouse Bella White Episode 5: "Once in a Lifetime" The Comic Strip Presents... Nurse Larkin Series 7; episode 4: "Gregory: Diary of a Nutcase" Dizzy Heights Madame Visniskaye Series 4; episode 1: "A Star Is Bored" KYTV Truddles Series 3; episode 2: "Those Sexciting '60s" Thatcherworld Voice role Television film Last of the Summer Wine Gypsy Girl Series 15; episode 8: "There Are Gypsies at the Bottom of Our Garden" Drop the Dead Donkey Princess Anne (voice) Series 3, episode 11: "Awards" 1993–2001 Numbertime Mama (voice) Regular role (Series 1–9; 68 episodes) 1995–1997 The Caribou Kitchen Narrator / All character voices Regular role (Series 1–4; 52 episodes)1996 Jack and Jeremy's Real Lives Pam Ayres (voice) Episode 2: "Writers" Drop the Dead Donkey Sarah, Duchess of York (voice) Series 5, episode 6: "George's Car" The Willows in Winter Voice role Television film Bamboo BearsAi-Ai (voice)English dub Bimble's Bucket Voice role Series 1; episode 1: "The Beginning"1997 Alas Smith & JonesVarious roles Series 9; episode 4: "Hookers." Animal Madness Television film1998 Archibald the Koala Voice role Episode 1: "The Dragon" The National Lottery Big Ticket Bernie (voice) Regular role (16 episodes) You Are Here Rita Cohen Television film 1998–1999 Dinnerladies Babs Series 1; episode 5: "Party" and series 2; episode 3: "Holidays" 1999 Mimi and Mr. Bobo Voice role 1 episode 1999–2000 The Big Knights Sorceress Abigail / Aunt Iris (voices) Regular roles (13 episodes)2000 The 10th Kingdom Singing Ring (voice) Recurring roles (2 episodes)Where the Heart Is Angela Taylor Series 4, episode 9: "A Good Day" 2001 Beverley Garton Series 5, episode 11: "Temptation" 2001–2003 El Nombre Mama (voice) Regular role (Series 1 & 2; 26 episodes)2002 Phoenix Nights Ladies Night Organiser Series 2; episode 5: "Ladies' Night" Holby City Leslie Harris Series 4, episode 42: "Design for Living" 2003–2005 Monkey Dust Various characters Series 1–3; 18 episodes2004 The Impressionable Jon Culshaw Various characters 4 episodes Doctors Sheila Lovatt Series 6, episode 46: "Wild, Wild West Midlands" 2006 Heartbeat Sheryl Cooper Series 15; episode 21: "Wine and Roses" 2007 Touch Me, I'm Karen Taylor Prime Minister's Aide Recurring role (Series 1; 4 episodes)2008 Doctors Marylin Harvey Series 10, episode 19: "The Hex" Ruddy Hell! It's Harry and Paul Various roles Series 2; episode 52009 Casualty Jackie Series 23; episode 43: "Not Over 'Til the Fat Lady Sings"The Legend of Dick and Dom Baroness Clap Series 1, episode 6: "Hairwolf" 2010 Dana Series 2, episode 9: "Haunted"2011 In with the Flynns Jackie Series 1; episode 5: "Guitar" The Slammer Blue Fairy Series 4; episode 10: "Angry Puppet" 2012 Ben & Holly's Little Kingdom Miss Jolly (voice) Series 2; episodes 19 & 33: "Mrs. Witch's Spring Clean" and "The Dwarf Mine" 2014 Citizen Khan Nail Bar Technician Series 3; episode 5: "Stags and Hens"2017 Holby City Stella Clark Series 19, episode 16: "Daylight" Haters Back Off! Nurse #2 Series 2; episode 4: "Modelling at the Hospital" 2019 Hold the Sunset Mrs. Brown Series 2; episode 1: "The Sale" 2020–2022 The Emily Atack Show Various characters Series 1–3; 4 episodes 2021 EastEnders Jen Glover Recurring role (5 episodes)2022 Mandy Joan MacDonald Series 2; episode 3: "Holiday for One" After Life Penny Spencer-Wright Recurring role (Series 3; 3 episodes) The Walk-In Robbie's Mum Episode 1 It's What She Would Have Wanted Annie's Mum Television film Midsomer Murders Lyra Kaine Series 23; episode 1: "The Blacktrees Prophecy"2023 Silent Witness Bev Series 26; episode 4: "Familiar Faces - Part 2" The Couple Next Door Jean Series 1; 6 episodes The Good Ship Murder Vida Devine Episode 8: "Malta" 2023–present Unforgotten Kate Series 5 & 6; 9 episodes2024 Death in Paradise Lucky Clayborn Series 13, episode 3 Doctors Barbara Hill Series 24, episode 200: "Dead Woman Talking" Whitstable Pearl Janet Series 3; episode 4: "Prisoners of the Past"2025 Sister Boniface Mysteries Sister Laurence Series 4; episode 8: “The Happiest Family” Brassic Mrs. Waif Series 7; episode 3: “School Reunion” Three Wisest Men Older Woman Television film 2026 Rivals Patricia Banks Series 2; 2 episodes California Avenue Priscilla Pinnock TBA
Theatre Year Title Role Notes 2008 Songs from the Pool Various Gilded Balloon (Edinburgh Fringe) 2014 Grumpy Old Women Grumpy Old Woman UK Tour 2015 Grumpy Old Women Grumpy Old Woman UK Tour 2019 Club Tropicana Consuela UK Tour
Radio Year Title Role Notes 2000 Dead Ringers Various 2 episodes (BBC Radio 4)
Voices 1993 The Beano Video - Neighbour's Wife 1994 The Beano VideoStars - Various characters 1995 Discworld (Video game) - Various characters 1996 Discworld II: Missing Presumed...!? (Video game) - Various characters 1999 Discworld Noir (Video game) - Various characters
UK discography Singles 1978 "Tomorrow" (Anchor) 1980 "Love Enough for Two" (Ariola) (with Prima Donna) UK No. 48 1980 "Just Got to be You" (Ariola) (with Prima Donna) 1981 "More Than in Love (RCA) UK No. 2 1981 "I Want You Back" (RCA) 1981 "Run Wild" (RCA) 1983 "The Real Me" (RCA) 1983 "That First Love" 1986 "The Chicken Song" (Lead female vocal) 1988 "If You Wanna Help Somebody"
Albums 1981 Kate Robbins (RCA)