Richard Ridings is an English actor. He portrayed Alan Ashburn in the ITV television drama Fat Friends, Mr Lipa in the Academy Award-nominated World War II drama The Pianist (2002), Bernard Green in the BBC One comedy-drama Common as Muck, Mr. Bumble in the BBC series Dickensian, and is the voice of Daddy Pig in Peppa Pig. He trained as an actor at Bretton Hall College, then the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. He is the father of singer-songwriter Freya Ridings.
Career He had roles in a series of other television series and feature films, among them Clockwise, The Ink Thief, Red Dwarf, Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased), Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Fierce Creatures and as Silas in Highlander: The Series. Ridings voices Daddy Pig in the animated children's series Peppa Pig, Father Christmas and Boss Dwarf in Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom, and Grooby in Q Pootle 5. In 2005, he took the lead role in the BBC Radio 4 sitcom Clement Doesn't Live Here Anymore, playing a sexually obsessed overweight ghost alongside Steve Furst and Amanda Abbington. The second series was transmitted in May, 2007.
Ridings has also provided voiceovers in video games, including the voice of Sarge in Quake III Arena, the Mentor in Dungeon Keeper and Dungeon Keeper 2, Mendechaus in War for the Overworld, Roach in Heavenly Sword, General Pig in Puppeteer, and ex-lawman Giles the Farmer in Fable II, on the Xbox 360 video game console. In 2010 he also provided the voice of Pigsy, in the video game Enslaved: Odyssey to the West and of Cornell (the Dark Lord of the Lycanthropes) in Castlevania: Lords of Shadow. In 2011 he provided the voice of the leader of the Machina refugees, Miqol, in Xenoblade Chronicles and in 2013 he provided the voice of the Hunter in DmC: Devil May Cry, the Daemon Lord in Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate, and the Green Man in Tearaway. In 2016 he voiced Thorgrim Grudgebearer in Total War: Warhammer.
Most recently, Ridings played a courageous ape named "Buck" in the "Planet of the Apes" prequel, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, which was released in August 2011. In 2015, he played Mr Bumble in the BBC miniseries Dickensian.
Filmography Film YearFilm Role Director Notes1984LassiterGerman Guard #2Roger Young1986ClockwisePoliceman at CrashChristopher Morahan1987The Fourth ProtocolSkinheadJohn Mackenzie1987Billy the Kid and the Green Baize VampireEgyptAlan Clarke1988Who Framed Roger RabbitAngeloRobert Zemeckis1989 Out of TownLabourer Norman HullShort film1989Erik the VikingThorfinn SkullsplitterTerry Jones1990King of the WindJailerPeter Duffell1996Different for GirlsRichard SpenceUncredited1996The Wind in the WillowsThe GuardTerry Jones1997Fierce CreaturesHugh PrimatesFred SchepisiRobert Young1998Up 'n' UnderFrankJohn Godber1999The Messenger: The Story of Joan of ArcLa HireLuc Besson2002The PianistMr LipaRoman Polanski2002PuckoonAlex WalkerTerence Ryan2002The Princess and the PeaKing Windham / ButtonMark SwanVoice2003Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of LifeMr MonzaJan de Bont2005FrozenLorry DriverJuliet McKoen2005The Brothers GrimmBunstTerry Gilliam2005Oliver TwistWarderRoman Polanski2006Amazing GraceSpeaker of the HouseMichael Apted2008FaintheartCollinVito Rocco2009CreationThatcherJon Amiel2011Rise of the Planet of the ApesBuckRupert Wyatt2011Isle of SpaggBob / MelThe Brothers McLeodVoiceShort film2012The ScapegoatLandlordCharles Sturridge2012The HorsemenGarySamuel BaileyShort film2013National Theatre Live: This HouseJoe HarperJeremy Herrin2013Jack and the Cuckoo-Clock HeartArthurStéphane BerlaMathias MalzieuVoice (English version)2013The PhysicianTough GuyPhilipp Stölzl2015 Peppa Pig: The Golden BootsDaddy Pig (UK)Mark BakerNeville AstleyVoiceShort film 2016The CarerPub LandlordJános Edelényi
TV series YearTitleRoleNotes1983 Reilly, Ace of SpiesVanderberg 1.02 "Prelude to War"1984–1986 Fairly Secret ArmyRon Boat 10 episodes 1986 Dempsey and MakepeaceTulley's Sidekick 3.08 "The Cortez Connection"1987The RitzMad Mick 6 episodes 1987MatlockNicky2.01 "The Billionaire"1987 Home to RoostMillwall 3.05 "Crime Watch"1987 The ContinentalMad MickTelevision film1988The Comic Strip Presents...Yob 1 4.04 "The Yob"1988CasualtyKevin3.02 "Desperate Odds"1988WatchingAlistair 2.16 "Twitching"1989 The BillCampbell5.49 "A Quiet Life"1989 SaracenBulmer 1.10 "Three Blind Mice"1990 The Castle of AdventureNico 8 episodes 1991Red DwarfD.N.A. Ship Computer Voice4.02 "DNA"1992 Sean's ShowSteve 1.06 "Blind Date"1992 The Young Indiana Jones ChroniclesAndre2.02 "Somme, Early August 1916"1992 Liquid TelevisionDiner Cook #15 episodes1992 BoonKeith 7.07 "The Sharp End"1993 MinderWarren 9.02 "No Way to Treat a Daley"1993 ComicsTommy Karr 2 episodes1993CasualtyJack8.02 "Riders on the Storm"1993Red DwarfCrazed Astro6.01 "Psirens"1993Screen OneKevin 5.06 "Money for Nothing"1994 A Pinch of SnuffBrian Burkhill Television film1994 Pie in the SkyGary Bourne 1.09 "Who Only Stand and Wait"1994 Wild JusticeCarl Television film1994 The Ink ThiefAloysius 7 episodes 1994–1997Common As MuckBernard Green 12 episodes 1994 HeartbeatThorpe 4.15 "A Bird in the Hand"1995The All New Alexei Sayle Show2.03 "Episode #2.3"1995 Sorry About Last NightGreg Television film1995Cruel TrainPercy Cotton Television film1996 On Dangerous GroundThomas Borga Television film1997Highlander: The SeriesSilas2 episodes1997The History of Tom Jones, a FoundlingReverend Thwackum 5 episodes1998CasualtyTed Stokes12.22 "Love Me Tender"2000This Is Personal: The Hunt for the Yorkshire RipperDet. Supt. Dick Holland Television miniseries2000 Nature BoyTed Television miniseries2000 Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased)PC Buns 1.06 "A Man of Substance"2000 Relic HunterJohnny the Jackhammer 1.21 "Nothing But the Truth"2000–2004 Fat FriendsAlan Ashburn14 episodes 2001 Murder in MindDCI Quarry 1.01 "Teacher"2001 Where the Heart IsPaul Foster 5.13 "Declaration"2001 MerseybeatBen Ormerod 1.09 "Crying Out Loud"2002 Born and BredHorace Trubshaw1.03 "The Inspector Calls"2002Auf Wiedersehen, PetD.I. Andy Hateley 3.06 "An Inspector Calls"2003 Margery & GladysTerry Mason Television film2004 Dalziel and PascoeTrevor Nesbitt 8.03 "Great Escapes"2004–presentPeppa PigDaddy Pig (UK)Voice (main character)2004CasualtyRobbie Beresford18.39 "The Good Father"2005TimewatchElder Sextus 24.02 "Murder in Rome"2005The Shape of the FutureNarrator (voice)Television documentary2005 New TricksRobbie 2.07 "Fluke of Luck"2005Coronation StreetBarry 3 episodes2005 ShakespeaRe-ToldMaurice 1.02 "Macbeth"2005 The Worst Week of My LifePC Tait 2 episodes2006 MayoMark Castello 1.02 "Requiem for a Dove"2006 The RoyalMalcolm Hogg 5.11 "Keep on Running"2007Roman MysteriesVenalicius3 episodes2008CasualtyVince23.16 "This Will Be Our Year"2009 MerlinHalig 2.09 "The Lady of the Lake"2011 DoctorsJeff Hollins 13.67 "Sunday Sunday"2012 Holby CityRoy Benson14.21 "Fresh Blood"2009–2012Ben & Holly's Little KingdomBig Bad BarryDwarf BossDwarf Mine DoorFather ChristmasVoice16 episodes 2013–2014 Q Pootle 5Groobie / Planet DaveVoice49 episodes 201350 Greatest Kids ShowsHimselfTelevision documentary2013Great MoVie MistakesHimself (voice)Television documentary2014Our ZooHenning 1.03 "The Village Rivals"2014 Q Pootle 5: Pootle All the Way!Groobie / Planet DaveVoiceTelevision film2014 BorgiaAdriano Castellesi 3.09 "1503, Part One"2015ChuggingtonHamishVoice4 episodes2016JerichoThornhill2 episodes2015–2016DickensianMr. BumbleVoice15 episodes2013The TV That Made MeHimself2.12 "Richard Ridings"2016Highlander: Dark PlacesNarratorVoiceTelevision film2016Six Wives with Lucy WorsleyKing Henry, VIII 1.03 "Divorced, Beheaded, Survived"2018Thunderbirds Are GoBob GrayVoice3.04 "Night and Day"
Video games Year Title Role Notes 1997 Dungeon KeeperThe Mentor (voice) 1997 Virus: The GameViruses (voice) 1999 SilverFuge (voice) 1999 Quake III: ArenaSarge (voice) 1999 Dungeon Keeper 2The Mentor (voice) 2000 Imperium Galactica II: Alliances Additional Voices (voice)English version 2005 Kameo: Elements of PowerThorn (voice) 2005 ShinobidoKabuto (voice) English version 2007 Heavenly SwordRoach (voice) 2008 Viking: Battle for Asgard Additional Voices (voice) 2008 Fable IIFarmer Giles (voice) 2009 Killzone 2Additional Helghast Voices (voice) 2009 RisenKarakos (voice)Drok (voice)Ukkos (voice) English version 2010 Xenoblade ChroniclesMiqol (voice) English version 2010 Enslaved: Odyssey to the WestPigsy (voice) 2010 Castlevania: Lords of ShadowCornell (voice) English version 2010 Fable III Additional Voices (voice) 2011 Killzone 3Helghast Soldiers (voice) 2011 Warhammer 40,000: Space MarineSpace Marine (voice)Chaos Space Marine (voice) 2011 Star Wars: The Old RepublicDuke Kendoh (voice) 2013 DmC: Devil May CryHunter (voice) 2013 Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of FateDaemon Lord (voice) 2013 PuppeteerGeneral Pig (voice) 2014 Dungeon Keeper MobileHorned Reaper (voice) 2014 Lego The Hobbit: The Video GameAdditional Voices (voice) 2014 GRID Autosport Additional Voices (voice) 2014 Assassin's Creed: UnityAdditional Voices (voice) 2015 Dragon Quest Heroes: The World Tree's Woe and the Blight BelowAdditional Voices (voice) English version 2015 War for the OverworldMendechaus (voice) 2015 Tearaway UnfoldedThe Green Man (voice) 2016 Total War: Warhammer Azhag the Slaughterer (voice)Balthasar Gelt (voice)Thorgrim Grudgebearer (voice)Vlad von Carstein (voice)Wurrzag the Great Green Prophet (voice) 2016 Dragon Quest Heroes IIKing of Harba (voice)English version 2018 Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom King Leonhard (voice) English version 2020 SpellForce 3: Fallen God Chieftain Kabrax Faithful (voice) English version 2023 Total War: Warhammer III Thorgrim Grudgebearer (voice) Immortal Empires Trailer and Forge of the Chaos Dwarfs DLC
Theatre Year Title Role DirectorPerformance history 1984 Bouncers Lucky Eric / Judd John Godber West End, Tour 1984 Up 'n' Under Frank Rowley John Gobler Hull Truck Theatre 1987 Putting on the Ritz Mad Mick John Godber Haymarket Leicester 1988 Major Barbara Bill Walker Christopher Morahan Chichester 1990 Love's Labour's Lost Constable Dull Terry Hands RSC 1991 Troilus & Cressida Ajax Sam Mendes RSC 1991 King Lear Duke of Cornwall Nicholas Hynter RSC 2013 This House Joe Harper Jeremy Herrin National Theatre
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