Peter Bland

Peter Bland:

An unassuming name for an accomplished actor who has managed to become a highly recognisable TV fixture without ever achieving widespread fame. With his fleshy, expressive face and hefty build, he has appeared in a wide variety of roles from foreign potentates and hearty policemen to dishevelled drunks and sleek confidence tricksters. He was born in Yorkshire, but emigrated to New Zealand in the '50s. In addition to acting, he is a well known poet and playwright in his adopted homeland, founding the Downstage Theatre Company in Wellington before heading back to London at the end of the '60s.       

There have been a few movie roles; starting with saucy '70s British comedies 'A Touch of The Other' (1970) and 'Don't Just Lie There, Say Something!' (1973), and more recently as a major player in some New Zealand-produced films, such as 'Came A Hot Friday (1985), 'Dangerous Orphans' (1985), 'Queen City Rocker', and 'Savage Play' (1995).

In the popular New Zealand movie 'Came A Hot Friday' (1985)

The '70s was a busy time for him, having joined the Bristol Old Vic, meeting farceur Brian Rix and finding his feet in television comedy and drama. He appeared in Rix's political sitcom series 'Men of Affairs', and in 'Dave Allen at Large', as well as the groundbreaking black family comedy 'The Fosters' and the BBC adaptation of 'The Old Curiosity Shop' which starred Trevor Peacock as Mr Quilp.   
   

As Charlie the shotgun-toting Greek-Cypriot in 'Minder'

The '80s extended his repertoire, with roles in 'Minder', Victorian police procedural 'Cribb', and light comedy in the regular casts of 'Kelly Monteith' and 'Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV'. He was also the guv'nor in the Steve Frost and Mark Arden (you remember, 'I bet he drinks Carling Black Label…') cop spoof 'Lazarus & Dingwall'.  

As the music hall proprietor Samuel Plunkett in 'Cribb'

To find out more about Peter Bland's poetry, click here.

Peter Bland-imdb