Philip Davis (born 30 July 1953) is an English actor, writer, director and narrator. His early work as a director earned awards for Life’s a Gas (1992) and ID (1995). As an actor, he starred in Quadrophenia (1979), The Bounty (1984), High Hopes (1988), The Firm (1989), In the Name of the Father (1993), North Square (2000), White Teeth (2002), Vera Drake (2004), Bleak House (2005), Whitechapel (2009–2013), Sherlock (2010), Brighton Rock (2010), Merlin (2011), Silk (2012–2014), Poldark (2015–2016), Mad Dogs (2015–2016), Trying (2020–) and Platform 7 (2023).
Early life Davis was born on 30 July 1953 in Highgate, London, and brought up in South Ockendon in Thurrock, Essex. His father worked for Procter & Gamble in a soap factory and his mother was a hospital dining room supervisor. From the age of eight, he was interested in acting. After failing his eleven-plus, he attended Ockendon Courts County Secondary School in South Ockendon, Essex, where he was distracted in class, although he enjoyed school plays.
He was also a member of both the National Youth Theatre and Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop.
Career Acting In 1977, he was cast in the lead role of the play Gotcha! about an under-achieving student who holds two teachers hostage on his last day at school. An early film role was as Chalky, a mod who is knocked off his scooter by a rocker in Quadrophenia (1979). He then landed the role of midshipman Edward "Ned" Young in The Bounty (1984); co-star Daniel Day-Lewis later rated him as one of his greatest inspirations. He appeared in the TV series To Have and to Hold with Amanda Redman. He began a long association with Mike Leigh with roles including Cyril the motorcycle courier in High Hopes in 1988.
In 1989, he starred opposite Gary Oldman in the BBC's football violence based film The Firm as 'Yeti', the rival gang leader to the protagonist.
In 2004, Davis played Stanley, the husband of the abortion care provider in Vera Drake (2004). He portrayed the mean money lender Smallweed in the BBC adaptation of Bleak House (2005), and as Jeff Hope, a cab driver in the first episode of Sherlock (2010).
From 2009 until 2013, Davis played a main role as DS Ray Miles in the ITV1 series Whitechapel, starring alongside Rupert Penry Jones and Steve Pemberton.
In 2012, he starred as crime family solicitor Micky Joy in Silk, then in 2015 as Jud, the malevolent servant in Poldark alongside Aidan Turner and Eleanor Tomlinson.
In 2017 he took over from Cherie Lunghi as the narrator of the BBC family history TV series Who Do You Think You Are?. Since 2020 he has also been the narrator of the BBC series Murder 24/7.
From November 2017 until February 2018, Davis played Ebenezer Scrooge in David Edgar's new adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol at the Royal Shakespeare Company.
In 2023, Davis played a main role in the ITV1 psychological thriller Platform 7, alongside actors Jasmine Jobson and Toby Regbo.
Recording In 1980, Davis recorded "Blown It", which was released on the Elton John-owned label The Rocket Record Company.
Personal life Davis married actress Eve Matheson in Hackney, London in 2002. They have a daughter. Davis also has a son by a previous partner.
Filmography Film YearTitleRole Notes1972The Canterbury Tales2nd homosexual loverUncredited role1975Mister QuilpTom Scotta.k.a. The Old Curiosity Shop (original title)1979QuadropheniaChalky1980Dark WaterEddieShort film1982Pink Floyd – The WallRoadie1984The BountyMidshipman Edward 'Ned' Young1985The Doctor and the DevilsBilly BedlamUnderworldLazarus1986ComradesYoung (John) Standfield1988High HopesCyril1989Howling V: The RebirthThe Count1992Alien 3Kevin DoddBlue IceWestyLife's a Gas –Short film. Director1993In the Name of the FatherDetective1994WantedRandallShort film1995I.D.Duty SergeantAlso director1996Different for GirlsTaxi DriverSecrets & LiesMan in SuitCrimetimeSimon1997FaceJulianPhotographing FairiesRoy1998Still CrazyLimo Driver2002Nicholas NicklebyBrooker2004The Baby Juice ExpressFrank O'ReillyJack Brown and the Curse of the CrownInspector KrayVera DrakeStan Drake2005CasanovaGuardi2006Notes on a ScandalBrian Bangs2007DiggersFredShort filmCassandra's DreamMartin Burns2008A Fox's TaleJack (voice)a.k.a. Kis Vuk (original Hungarian title)BitterJackShort film2009Dead Man RunningJohnny Sands2010The Big I AmStubbsJust for the RecordEd GrainsAnother YearJackBrighton RockSpicerThe RaptureSir David2012Outside BetThreadsFast GirlsBrianThe Hot Potato Sgt. RyanBorrowed TimePhilipRoadkillerGavinShort film2013Having YouPeter2014PetermanGrandad2015Mr. HolmesInspector GilbertDoughSam CottonAge of KillBill WeybridgeMidnight of My Life –Short film. Director2016 Golden YearsBrianTale of a TimelordThe OracleShort filmsThe Complete Walk: The Comedy of ErrorsEgeonThe Swing of ItRayZero SumNeumann2017HampsteadSid FyfeWe Can Be HeroesGrandad Evans2018Juliet, NakedMayor Terry Barton2019BrightonDave2020KnuckledustHappy2022DeusVance2023Rise of the Footsoldier: VengeanceDavid HexellKeepGordonShort film
Television YearTitleRole Notes1973Orson Welles Great MysteriesJohnny SheehamEpisode: "In the Confessional"1974Death or Glory BoyTpr. SmiffEpisode: "Early Arrival"1975Centre PlaySteveEpisode: "Hanging On"1976AngelsTomEpisode: "Legacies"1977TargetRayEpisode: "Vandraggers"1977–1980Play for TodayKid; Mr. Destry; Kevin; Post Office Clerk; 2nd Youth5 episodes1978The ProfessionalsBilly TurnerEpisode: "Old Dog with New Tricks"People Like UsBerni CarverMini-series, 5 episodesSexton Blake and the Demon GodTinker6 episodes1979S.O.S. TitanicCrow's Nest LookoutTelevision film. Uncredited role1980BBC2 PlayhouseDickEpisode: "Grown-Ups"1982Oliver TwistNoah ClaypoleTelevision film1983BergeracEricEpisode: "A Message for the Rich"StudioStew7 episodes1984Crown CourtJoseph Guilfoyle3 episodes: "Whisper Who Dares: Parts 1–3"1984–1986Robin of SherwoodPrince John / King John3 episodes1985DramaramaFrogEpisode: "Frog"1987TruckersCowboy7 episodes1988Rumpole of the BaileyTony TimsonEpisode: "Rumpole and the Tap End"Screen TwoFinnEpisode: "Dead Lucky"1989YetiEpisode: "The Firm"Skulduggery –Television film. Writer and director1990The Paradise ClubWalter FaginEpisode: "Chinese Whispers"1992Inspector MorseRoland Sherman / Harold MannersEpisode "Absolute Conviction"Nice TownPaul ThompsonMini-series, 3 episodes1993The Young Indiana Jones ChroniclesInterrogatorEpisode: "Prague, August 1917"1994–1995Moving StoryAdrenalin13 episodes. Also director of 2 episodes1996Prime Suspect 5: Errors of Judgment –DirectorTales from the CryptHenryEpisode: "Ear Today... Gone Tomorrow"1998Real Women –Director1999Births, Marriages and DeathsGraham4 episodesHold Back the Night –Director2000Black CabNickEpisode: "Lost & Found"North SquarePeter McLeish10 episodes2001TrancePhilipTelevision film2002Fields of GoldRoy LodgeTelevision filmWhite TeethArchieMini-series, 4 episodesThe Safe HouseDet. Inspector BairdTelevision film2002–2005Rose and MaloneyMaloney11 episodes2003Murder in MindChaz HadleyEpisode: "Favours"Ready When You Are, Mr. McGillDenisTelevision film2004Wall of SilenceTony CottisTelevision film2005Like Father Like SonPaul BarkerTelevision filmTwenty Thousand Streets Under the SkyErnest EcclesMini-series, 2 episodesFootprints in the SnowTim PerkinsTelevision filmBleak HouseSmallweedMini-series, 10 episodes2006Agatha Christie's MarpleDr. KennedyEpisode: "Sleeping Murder"Beau Brummell: This Charming ManMaster Servant RobinsonTelevision film2007Five DaysMic Danes3 episodesMidsomer MurdersGary CooperEpisode: "The Axeman Cometh"Inspector George GentlyJoe WebsterEpisode: "Gently Go Man"Secret LifeRudiTelevision filmAll About MeTony ConroyTelevision filmCold BloodDI Ted RadcliffeEpisode: "Interference"Comedy ShowcaseSergeantEpisode: "Other People"2008Lark Rise to CandlefordAshlowEpisode: #1.4Bike SquadCI Albert CusterTelevision filmAshes to AshesChas Cale Episode: #1.6The Curse of SteptoeWilfrid BrambellTelevision filmDoctor WhoLucius Petrus DextrusEpisode "The Fires of Pompeii"Silent WitnessDerek Pargeter2 episodes: "Death's Door: Parts 1 & 2"2009Desperate RomanticsFrank StoneMini-series, 4 episodesThe FixerRoger Bowland2 episodesCollisionBrian EdwardsMini-series, 5 episodesDoctor Who: The Eighth Doctor AdventuresTitus (voice)Episode: "The Cannibalists"2009–2013WhitechapelDS Ray Miles18 episodes2010IdentityDavid SinclairEpisode: "Pariah"My FamilyCarlEpisode: "Slammertime"SherlockJeff Hope2 episodes2011Case HistoriesTheo Wyre2 episodesFirst CutDavid De GaleEpisode: "Double Lesson"MerlinThe GleemanEpisode: "The Wicked Day"2012HacksRayTelevision filmSecrets and WordsRay CollinsEpisode: "Help Me If You Can"VexedRon PoynterEpisode: #2.6The TownTony NicholasMini-series, Episode: #1.12012–2014SilkMicky Joy7 episodes2013Being HumanCaptain Hatch5 episodesMedicsProfessor BarberTelevision film2014This Is JinsyRoley JenkinsEpisode: "The Golden Woggle"Death in ParadiseJim ChandlerEpisode: "Rue Morgue"New TricksGavin GibsonEpisode: "In Vino Veritas"2015Churchill: 100 Days That Saved BritainCharles McMoran WilsonTelevision filmBlack WorkDI Tom PiperMini-series, 2 episodes2015–2016Mad DogsLawrence10 episodesPoldarkJud Paynter15 episodes2016UndercoverJimmyMini-series, 2 episodes2017RivieraJukes9 episodesBrokenHarry 'Aitch' ParkinsonEpisode: "Father Michael"Comedy PlayhouseGalEpisode: "Static"2017–2025Who Do You Think You Are?Himself - Narrator (voice)51 episodes2018The Reluctant LandlordDirty HarryEpisode: "Dirty Harry"2019PlebsServerusEpisode: "The Grumbrella"Dial M for MiddlesbroughJedTelevision film2020Silent WitnessMick Ramsden2 episodes: "Close to Home: Parts 1 & 2"Inside No. 9Bill RylandEpisode: "Thinking Out Loud"2020–2024TryingVictor Ross17 episodes2021ViewpointDI Liam CoxMini-series, 5 episodesRagdollMayor Ray TurnbullEpisode: #1.12022Slow HorsesDickie BoughEpisode: "Last Stop"2023Platform 7Edward Warren4 episodes2024TrueloveNigelMini-series, 5 episodes
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result As director 1992 Torino International Festival of Young Cinema Prize of the City of Torino – Best Short FilmLife's a Gas 1995 Thessaloniki Film Festival Golden Alexander Award I.D. 1996 Valenciennes Int Fest of Action and Adventure Films Audience Award (Director) As actor 2001 Broadcasting Press Guild Awards Best Actor North Square 2001 Royal Television Society Awards Best Actor - Male 2004 British Independent Film Awards Best Performance by an Actor in a British Independent Film Vera Drake 2004 San Diego Film Critics Society Awards Best Supporting Actor 2005 British Academy Film Awards Best Supporting Actor 2005 Chlotrudis Awards Best Supporting Actor 2005 London Critics Circle Film Awards Best British Supporting Actor 2006 Online Film & Television Association Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Bleak House 2009 Clarence Derwent Awards Best Supporting Male (UK)The Philistines 2012 Crime Thriller Awards Dagger Award - Best Supporting Actor Whitechapel and Silk 2012 Monte-Carlo TV Festival Golden Nymph - Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series Whitechapel
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