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Mark Heap

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Mark Heap
Heap in The World's End in 2013
Born (1957-05-13) 13 May 1957 (age 67)[1]
Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India
NationalityBritish
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
Years active1983–present

Mark Heap (born 13 May 1957)[1] is a British actor and comedian. He is known for his roles in television comedies, including Brass Eye, Big Train, Spaced, Jam, Green Wing, Friday Night Dinner, Upstart Crow, and Benidorm.

Early life

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Heap was born in Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India,[2] to an English father and American mother, the youngest of four boys.[1] He began acting in the 1970s as a member of the Medieval Players,[3] a touring company performing medieval and early modern theatre, and featuring stilt-walking, juggling and puppetry.[3] His brother Carl Heap, who is also an actor, was the artistic director of the company.[3] After its demise, he became part of the street theatre duo The Two Marks (with Mark Saban).[4]

Career

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Television

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Heap starred in the BBC sketch show Big Train, where he performed a barefoot gymnastics routine and other sketches between 1998 and 2002, alongside other burgeoning comedy stars Simon Pegg, Julia Davis, Kevin Eldon, Catherine Tate, Amelia Bullmore, Rebecca Front, Nick Frost and Tracy-Ann Oberman.[5] He appeared as struggling artist Brian Topp in Spaced (1999–2001),[6] and the pompous Dr. Alan Statham in Green Wing (2004–07).[6]

Heap worked with Chris Morris, in Blue Jam, radio predecessor to Jam,[2] and the documentary parody series Brass Eye.[1] He voiced the lead character of Eric Feeble in the animated comedy Stressed Eric. Other recurring roles included: Terry Roche in Paul Whitehouse's comedy-drama Happiness and Derek Few in How Do You Want Me?.[1] He played Harry in the short-lived Rob Grant TV series The Strangerers, in 2000.[2] He also guested in the second series of the BBC comedy Look Around You as Leonard Hatred.[2]

He appeared as an unsuccessful businessman who became a bellboy, in the 2007 BBC One drama Hotel Babylon.[2] Between 2008 and 2010 he appeared as head postman Thomas Brown, in 32 episodes of the BBC period drama Lark Rise to Candleford.[1] He was the super villain Lightkiller, in an episode of the sitcom No Heroics.[2] He also appeared as the father of Chris Miles in the Channel 4 programme Skins.[2] Heap played the love interest of the main character in the second series of the BBC comedy Love Soup.[2] He played the role of Charles Dickens in the 2009 BBC Two drama Desperate Romantics.[2] He also played Jessica Hynes' husband in the one-off comedy written by Hynes and Julia Davis: Lizzie & Sarah.[2]

In 2010, Heap appeared as Bob Stevens, the leader of a rambling group in the BBC4 series The Great Outdoors.[2] He also appeared as a psychiatrist in Miranda Hart's BBC2 comedy Miranda.[2] In October 2010, he appeared as Robin in the four-part BBC drama Single Father.[2] From 2011 to 2020 Heap played eccentric neighbour Jim Bell in the Channel 4 sitcom Friday Night Dinner, alongside Simon Bird, Paul Ritter, Tom Rosenthal and Tamsin Greig.[6] He also played Andrew Thorogood in the BBC Four comedy Holy Flying Circus,[2] and Jonas in the eighth episode of E4's sci-fi comedy-drama Misfits in Series 3.[2] He appeared as a misguided church minister during an outbreak of smallpox in the BBC series The Indian Doctor.[2] In 2012, he joined the cast of the Sky1 original series Spy,[2] for its second series commencing in October 2012, replacing Tom Goodman-Hill as Philip Quil, Judith's partner and Marcus' headteacher.[2]

He appeared in the spin-off episode of Outnumbered,[2] the Christmas special episode, aired on 24 December 2012 in which he portrayed Norris, for this single episode.[2] He played the owner of a pet crematorium in Sue Perkins's 2013 comedy Heading Out.[2] He had a leading role in BBC Radio 4's adaptation of Gogol's Dead Souls.[2] He appeared as Robert Greene in three series of Upstart Crow (2016–18),[2] a BBC Two sitcom about Shakespeare, written by Ben Elton.[1] He also appeared as Dr John Hall in the stage show based on the programme.[1]

From 2017 to 2018, Heap also appeared in the sitcom Benidorm,[1] playing the character Malcolm Barrett, the controlling and manipulative boyfriend of Pauline Maltby.[1] In 2019, he appeared in Acorn TV's Queens of Mystery alongside Olivia Vinall.[2]

In 2020, Heap appeared in Intelligence,[2] and played headmaster and husband in ITV's The Trouble with Maggie Cole.[2]

Film

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In 1983, Heap made a brief appearance as a torch-juggler in the James Bond film Octopussy. He played Duncan, Rik Mayall's hapless personal assistant, in Bring Me the Head of Mavis Davis (1997).[2] He played a school teacher in the 2002 film About a Boy.[2] He made a cameo appearance with Kevin Eldon in Tim Burton's 2005 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.[2] He played supporting roles in Confetti (2006), Tunnel of Love (2004), Stardust (2007).[2] In 2008 he co-starred in the surreal sci-fi B-movie spoof Captain Eager and the Mark of Voth, and was a publican in The World's End.[2]

Other acting

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In 1993, Heap played a villain, Hans Schultze, in an episode of Crimewatch File, “Double Identity”. Schultze was the German alter ego of an Englishman, John Calton. Schultze/Calton led a gang of kidnappers who robbed banks and a Tesco branch, holding families hostage.

In 2008 Heap played the role of Widmerpool in a Radio 4 serialisation of Anthony Powell's A Dance to the Music of Time. He played Eliza's husband in 2006 Radio 4 play The Eliza Stories and appeared as Marmite the Dwarf in the short-lived Radio 4 sitcom The Sofa of Time. He starred in the music video for Four Tet's single "Smile Around the Face" in 2005, contributed a multitude of character voices in the audiobook "Do Ants Have Arseholes?". In 2012 he starred as Martin in the Radio 4 play Cordite for Breakfast, a comedy about Napoleonic-era battle re-enactments.[7] In March 2013, he appeared as Rincewind in a 4-part Radio 4 adaptation of Terry Pratchett's Eric. He also played the angel Aziraphale in the 2014 BBC radio adaption of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett's Good Omens.[8] He also was the lead in a series of radio advertisements for telecommunications company TalkTalk.[9]

Filmography

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Key
† Denotes works that have not yet been released

Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1983 Octopussy Fire Juggler Uncredited role
1997 Bring Me the Head of Mavis Davis Duncan
2002 About a Boy Maths Teacher
Ant Muzak Tannoy Voice Short films
2004 Out of Time Charlie
The Calcium Kid Sebastian Gore-Brown
2005 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Man with Dog
Blake's Junction 7 Avon Short film
Animal Hugo Getner
2006 Confetti Registrar
Scoop M.C.
Alpha Male Darwen
2007 Stardust Prince Tertius
2008 Captain Eager and the Mark of Voth Scrutty Baker
The Pro Short films
2011 Muso Soup Shash (voice)
2012 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Is This a Joke? Doctor
2013 All Stars Simon Tarrington
The World's End Publican 7
2015 The Last Post The Reverend Brian Pile Short film
2016 The Comedian's Guide to Survival Pick Up Driver
2018 Killer Weekend Gerald
2022 The House Mr. Thomas (voice) Segment 'I'
The School for Good and Evil Professor Bilious Manley
Your Christmas or Mine? Johnson
2024 Time Travel is Dangerous The Regency Dandy
TBA The Magic Faraway Tree † Mr. Oom Boom Boom Post-production

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1983 Martin Luther, Heretic Medieval Player Television film
1987 Get Fresh The Two Marks Series 2; Episode 7
The Les Dennis Laughter Show Series 1; Episode 2
1988 Various characters Series 2; 7 episodes
1990 Up Yer News Film Assistant Episode dated 28 June 1990
1991 Ghost Train Mafia's Man / The Two Marks Series 3; 3 episodes
1992 Packing Them In Fire-eating Stilt-walker 2nd series of Packet of Three; Episode 1
1993 Viva Cabaret The Two Marks Series 1; Episode 6
Crimewatch File Hans Schultze Series 6; Episode 2: "Double Identity"
1994 The Bill Chris Boxer Series 10; Episode 119: "Blackout"
Seaforth Capt. Karl Von Berner Also known as How High the Moon. Mini-series; Episodes 1–3
What's Up Doc? Mark the Security Guard Series 2; Episode 25
1995 Alfred the Butler Series 3; Episode 25
The World of Lee Evans Platform Guard Episode 2: "Off the Rails"
1997 Hospital! Dr. Ralph Crosby Television film
An Unsuitable Job for a Woman DS Maskell Series 1; Episode 1: "Sacrifice". Uncredited role
1997–1998 Smith & Jones Series 9; Episode 3: "Massage.", and Series 10; Episode 5: "New T.V."
1997–2001 Brass Eye Various characters Series 1 & 2; 7 episodes
1998 Kiss Me Kate Peter Series 1; Episodes 2–6
The Zig and Zag Show Various characters Episodes 8, 12 & 13
1998–1999 How Do You Want Me? Derek Few Series 1 & 2; 8 episodes
1998–2000 Stressed Eric Eric Feeble (voice) Series 1 & 2; 13 episodes
1998–2002 Big Train Various characters Series 1 & 2; 12 episodes
1999 All Along the Watchtower Mr. Carter Episode 3: "Keeping the Peace"
People Like Us Graham Atkinson Series 1; Episode 6: "The Head Teacher"
1999–2001 Spaced Brian Topp Series 1 & 2; 14 episodes
2000 The Strangerers Harry Episodes 1–9
Jam Various characters Mini-series; Episodes 1–6
2001 Doc Martin Mitch Television film (First prequel to Saving Grace)
2001–2003 Happiness Terry Roche Series 1 & 2; 12 episodes
2003 Doc Martin and the Legend of the Cloutie Mitch Television film (Second prequel to Saving Grace)
Spine Chillers Balfus Episode 5: "Goths"
2004 Dalziel and Pascoe Julian Finch Series 8; Episode 2: "The Price of Fame"
Swiss Toni Terry Fragment Series 2; Episode 8: "Fothergill 2000"
Tunnel of Love Gibson Television film
2004–2007 Green Wing Dr. Alan Statham Series 1 & 2; 18 episodes & 2 short specials
2005 Look Around You Leonard Hatred Series 2; Episodes 1 & 6: "Music" and "Live Final"
Casanova Doctor Gozzi Mini-series; Episode 1
2007 Hotel Babylon Robert Kane Series 2; Episode 4
Agatha Christie's Marple Mr. Humfries Series 3; Episode 1: At Bertram's Hotel
2007–2008 Singles Files Jeff Mini-series; Episodes 1–5
2008 Skins Graham Miles 2 episodes
Love Soup Douglas McVitie
No Heroics Lightkiller 1 episode
2008–2011 Lark Rise to Candleford Thomas Brown
2009 Desperate Romantics Charles Dickens Mini-series; Episodes 1–5
Cast Offs Darren 1 episode
2010 Lizzie and Sarah Michael Television film
The Great Outdoors Bob
Single Father Robin Mini-series; Episodes 1–4
2010, 2015 Miranda Anthony 2 episodes
2011 Holy Flying Circus Andrew Thorogood Television film
Misfits Jonas 1 episode
2011–2020 Friday Night Dinner Jim Bell Series 1–6; 37 episodes
2012 The Indian Doctor Rev. Herbert Todd Series 2; 5 episodes
A Moody Christmas Heathrow Passenger Mini-series; Episode 1: "Separate Seats"
Outnumbered Norris 1 episode
Spy Philip
2012–2016 The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret Lord Mountford 4 episodes
2013 Heading Out Brian 1 episode
Midsomer Murders Simon Fergus-Johnson 1 episode (series 16 episode 1)
2014 Death in Paradise Alec Burton 1 episode (series 3 episode 6)
2015 The Art of Foley Jeremy Mini-series; Episodes 1 & 2: "Earrings" and "Crow"
Undercover DCI Langdon Episode 4
We're Doomed! The Dad's Army Story Clive Dunn Television film
2016 Endeavour Felix Lorimer 1 episode (series 3, episode 4)
Maigret Doctor Moers
2016–2018 Upstart Crow Robert Greene
2017 Murder on the Blackpool Express Graham Television film
2017–2018 Benidorm Denis Walker (Malcolm Barrett) 3 episodes (series 9, episodes 7 and 8 and series 10, episode 7)
2018 Zapped [10] Dragon spotter
The Midnight Gang Sir Quentin Strillers Television film
2019 Queens of Mystery Kurt Lee 2 episodes "Death by Vinyl"
2020 Intelligence Barnaby Bailer
The Trouble with Maggie Cole Peter Cole
2022 Sky Comedy Shorts Colin Mini-series; Episode 4: "Silo"
2023 Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway Butler Series 19; 4 episodes
Significant Other Ray Episode 3
2024 Renegade Nell Newspaper Editor Episodes 6 & 7: "Snatched by Strollers" and "Stop Printing This Muck"
The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin John Turpin Series 1; Episodes 1–6
Sister Boniface Mysteries Kirk Fabricant Series 3; Episode 4: "Professor Y"
Piglets Superintendent Bob Weekes Lead role; Episodes 1–6[11]
Beyond Paradise Bob Holland Series 3; Episode: "Christmas Special"
TBA Can You Keep a Secret? † TBA Pre-production

Video Games

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Year Title Role Notes
2004 Wings of War General Allied / Enemy General #2 (voice)
2010 Fable III Brian (voice)

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Mark Heap - Biography". Hello!. 8 October 2009. Archived from the original on 28 March 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae "Mark Heap Credits". TV Guide. Archived from the original on 29 July 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Heap, Carl (12 June 2014). "Finding the method in medieval theatre's madness". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 9 July 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  4. ^ Love, Catherine (2 April 2014). "Mark Heap: Mr Zany buttons up". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 24 April 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  5. ^ Victoria Gooch (25 April 2012). "Big Train: a cult comedy that proved an early platform for top talent". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 14 August 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  6. ^ a b c Francesca Shillcock (10 April 2020). "All you need to know about Friday Night Dinner star Mark Heap". Hello!. Archived from the original on 4 June 2022.
  7. ^ "Cordite for Breakfast". BBC Radio 4. 10 July 2012. Archived from the original on 26 May 2023. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  8. ^ Brown, Brigid (5 September 2014). "BBC Radio Brings Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett's Good Omens to Life". BBC America (Press release). Archived from the original on 25 January 2021.
  9. ^ Johnston, Rich (18 June 2024). "Terry's Story, a series of radio ads for TalkTalk, starring Mark Heap, written by Rich Johnston". YouTube.
  10. ^ "Zapped Series 3 Guest Stars". British Comedy Guide. Archived from the original on 26 May 2023. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  11. ^ "Piglets". British Comedy Guide. 1 May 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
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