Actor
Author
Playwright
Spy

Richard James was forced to abandon his dreams of being seventeenth century royalty when a) he was born in the wrong century and b) he found himself graduating from the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in 1992. The nation was relieved when, early in his career, his face was completely obscured behind several inches of prosthetic makeup as Officer Orrin in twenty-four episodes of Gerry Anderson’s Space Precinct. Since then, Richard has blagged his way into various children’s television series, playing many regular and recurring roles including Mr K in thirty episodes of The Mysti Show (CBBC) and Sir Gestion in twenty episodes of Sir Gadabout: The Worst Knight In The Land (CITV). Strangely, he's also been trusted with other roles in shows such as Love Hurts, Pie In The Sky, McGyver, Drop The Dead Donkey, Bliss, Oktober, Crossroads, Murder City, Casanova, Filth; The Mary Whitehouse Story, Life Of Riley, Doctors, The Jury and Eastenders.

His film credits include appearing opposite Helena Bonham Carter in Great Expectations, alongside Hollywood legend Burt Reynolds in A Bunch Of Amateurs and with the stars of Monty Python as Geoffrey Weasel in Terry Jones’ Wind In The Willows. Other film appearances include A Lover’s Prayer, Julius Caesar, Penelope, Stormbreaker, The Wolf Man and Foster.

On stage, he is most closely associated with adaptations of David Walliams' most famous books. He toured extensively as Gibbon and 'Awful' Aunt Alberta in Awful Auntie for the Birmingham Stage Company and played various roles in their Olivier-nominated Gangsta Granny (culminating in a sell out run at London’s Garrick Theatre). Following this, he embarked on an arena tour of the UK in Walliams' Grandpa's Great Escape featuring Nigel Planer. He has also played Alex in Outside Edge (Derby Playhouse), Doctor Mortimer and Inspector Lestrade in The Hound Of The Baskervilles (New Victoria, Newcastle-Under-Lyme) and toured the UK in a two man show, Thunderbirds FAB. Richard has also directed and performed in many productions of his own plays.

Showreel & SceneS

Gallery

Bowman Of The Yard

The Bowman Of The Yard series is a sequence of Victorian crime fiction novels and short stories following Detective Inspector George Bowman of Scotland Yard throughout the year of 1892.

Richard takes the reader right to the heart of Victorian London, introducing them to a range of fascinating characters through his flawed hero, Inspector George Bowman of Scotland Yard. Bringing the sights, sounds and smells of Victorian England to life, the Bowman Of The Yard series is a thrilling and often explosive journey through a troubled man's year...

'A genuinely impressive debut. Richard James has crafted an engrossing mystery with a great sense of atmosphere, and meticulously researched.' Andrew Cartmel, The Vinyl Detective

'A stunning debut. Wonderfully atmospheric, full of the thrills of Victorian London.' Adam Croft

'A masterful new Victorian mystery series.' Rosie Amber Books

Space Precinct

Richard's connection with legendary television producer Gerry Anderson (Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, Space: 1999) stretches back to the early 1990s when he played Officer Orrin in Gerry's last live-action series, Space Precinct. Since then, his association with the worlds of Gerry Anderson has grown through his co-hosting the Gerry Anderson Podcast with Gerry's son, Jamie, and writing and adapting various novels and non-fiction books connected to Space Precinct and other series.

'Now fans of the series and Anderson's body of work alike can enjoy a comprehensive, witty insight into the show's history...' Den of Geek, Space Precinct Unmasked

'It’s a wonderful introduction to the series and really expands the characters. Even if you haven’t seen the series it’s a great stand alone story.' Amazon Review, Demeter City

'Space Precinct may have been eclipsed by better Sci-Fi/Fantasy shows in the 90s but Richard James proves that it deserves to have many more adventures.' Goodreads review, Space Precinct: Revisited

Other Titles

Other titles include a novelisation of a Gerry Anderson movie script, a children's story for young people between the ages of 8 and 11 and a FREE short story guaranteed to chill the blood!

One Act Plays

Richard has written almost thirty plays of varying lengths. They have all been published by Lazy Bee Scripts and have been performed all over the world, from America to New Zealand, frequently winning awards in competitions and festivals. Click the pictures below for more information.

'Richard's plays win so many awards we have difficulty keeping up!' Lazy Bee Scripts

Being Rose	Bill And Ben	Blood On Canvas
The Death Of Sherlock Holmes	The Dreaming	The End Of The Pier
I Am Hamlet	Indian Summer	Moving On
The Nth Degree	There's Something About Bernard	Canterbury Tales
Vision Impaired	White Lies