Nicholas Burns (born 1977) is an English actor, best known for his comic performance as the title character in Nathan Barley (2005). He played Martin Weedon in the ITV sitcom Benidorm (2007–2009, 2014) and Alex in No Heroics (2008). His other credits include The Mighty Boosh (2005), The IT Crowd (2007), Doctor Who, The Crown, (both 2017), Manhunt (2019), Strike (2020), The Serpent Queen (2022–2024), A Small Light and Black Mirror (both 2023).
Early life Burns was born in 1977 in Derby, and educated at Repton School. He trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).
Career In 2005, Burns played the titular leading role in the Channel 4 comedy Nathan Barley. Burns has had recurring roles in the TV series Absolute Power, Roman's Empire, and the sketch show Man Stroke Woman. Burns also made an appearance in The Mighty Boosh as the ruler of the planet Xooberon; in The IT Crowd as Jerome, the director of a musical called Gay!; and in episode "At Bertram's Hotel" of Agatha Christie's Marple as Jack and Joel Britten. He had the role of an Australian tennis coach in The McClintock Factor, a mockumentary chronicling the rise and fall of the former media tycoon and internet blogger Jeremy McClintock.
Burns played a main role as Martin Weedon in the first three series of the ITV holiday comedy Benidorm, alongside a cast that included Abigail Cruttenden, who played his wife, Sheridan Smith and Johnny Vegas.
In 2014 he began playing Errol's father, Ben, in the BBC series Uncle and he starred in all 3 series (2014 - 2017).
Burns' stage credits include Much Ado About Nothing at the Sheffield Crucible Theatre, the satire The Madness of George Dubya and Ghost Stories, both of which transferred to London's West End, Penelope Skinner's The Village Bike at the Royal Court, The Recruiting Officer at the Donmar Warehouse and Pinero's The Magistrate at the Royal National Theatre, a production included in season 4 of National Theatre Live.
In April 2013, he returned to Benidorm as Martin Weedon, for series 6 of the show in 2014.
In 2020, Burns appeared in series four of Strike and in Small Axe. In 2022, he played the role of Antoine de Bourbon in Starz's The Serpent Queen, alongside Samantha Morton and Liv Hill.
In 2023, he starred as Keith Holligan in the series 6 episode "Demon 79" of Netflix's Black Mirror, alongside Anjana Vasan and in A Small Light as Victor Kugler.
Personal life Burns is a lifelong supporter of Derby County F.C. He has two sons and a daughter, Arthur, Ralph and Dora.
Filmography Film Year Film Role Notes 2013 The World's End Collaborator 2014 War Book James 2015 The Lady in the Van Giles Perry 2017 Ghost Stories Mark Van Rhys 2018 The Little Stranger Peter Baker-Hyde 2019 Hope Gap Gary 2020 Emma Mr. Cole 2021 Censor Sanderson 2022 Allelujah Minister
Television Year Title Role Notes2002 Surrealissimo: The Scandalous Success of Salvador Dali Young Artist Television film The Bill Simon Beaumont Episode: "005" EastEnders Adam 1 episode The House That Jack Built Richard Asquith Episode: "Dogs Don't Wear Hard Hats"2003 Manchild Max Episode #2.4 The Inspector Lynley Mysteries Mick Cambrey Episode: "A Suitable Vengeance" Cambridge Spies Rightwing Student Episode #1.1 2003–2005 Absolute Power Nick Mayer 12 episodes2004 A Touch of Frost DC Tranter Episode: "Dancing in the Dark" Swiss Toni Episode: "Speed Date"2005 The Mighty Boosh The King Episode: "Fountain of Youth" Nathan Barley Nathan Barley 7 episodes 2005–2007 Man Stroke Woman Various 12 episodes2006 Fear of Fanny Christopher Television film Born Equal Michael Television film2007 Agatha Christie's Marple Jack & Joel Britten Series 3, episode: "At Bertram's Hotel" Roman's Empire Seb 5 episodes The IT Crowd Jerome Episode: "The Work Outing" Comedy Showcase Rick Parish Episode: "Other People" 2007–2009,2014 Benidorm Martin Weedon Series regular, 23 episodes (series 1–3, 6)2008 Never Better Charlie Episode: "First Week Euphoria" No Heroics The Hotness 6 episodes2009 Monday Monday Nathan Episode #1.3 Misfits PC Wilson Episode #1.2 Mister Eleven Eddie 2 episodes 2010 Trinny & Susannah: From Boom to Bust Leonard Television film2011 The Sinking of the Laconia Captain Coutts Television film Psychoville Mark Episode: "Hancock"2012 New Tricks DCI Rosser Episode: "Blue Flower" Switch Julian Episode #1.3 Eggbox Mr. Bruce Television film2013 Agatha Christie's Poirot Inspector Meadows Episode: "The Big Four" The Tractate Middoth George Earl Television film 2014 The Crimson Field Major Gerard Yelling Episode #1.32014–2017 Crackanory Various 4 episodes Uncle Ben 11 episodes2015 Coalition Ed Balls Television film The Vote Kenneth Robson Television film 2015–2016 Marley's Ghosts Michael 9 episodes2016 Houdini & Doyle Frederick Batch Episode: "In Manus Dei" Drunk History Policeman Episode: "Battle of Waterloo/Arthur Conan Doyle" A Midsummer Night's Dream Theseus Television film2017 Doctor Who Lord Sutcliffe Episode: "Thin Ice" The Crown Anthony Nutting Episodes: "Lisbon" and "Misadventure" The Tunnel Richard Carver 2 episodes2018 Wannabe Neil Clark 4 episodes Midsomer Murders Barrett Lounds Episode: "Drawing Dead"2019 Manhunt DI Richard Ambrose 3 episodes Harlots Lord Leadsom 8 episodes2020 Strike Torquil Episode: "Lethal White: Part 3" Red, White and Blue Mr. Purling Part of Small Axe anthology 2022 SAS: Rogue Heroes Pilot Episode #1.3 2022–2024 The Serpent Queen Antoine de Bourbon 13 episodes2023 A Small Light Victor Kugler TV miniseries, 7 episodes Black Mirror Keith Holligan Episode: "Demon 79"2026Death in ParadiseRory LyonsEpisode #15.8
References
External links Nicholas Burns at the Internet Movie Database (imdb)