---
name: "Adrian Scarborough"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/adrian-scarborough"
fi1m_id: "adrian-scarborough"
imdb_id: "nm0769083"
tmdb_id: 40311
wikidata_id: "Q1242707"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "10 May 1968"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 19
average_fi1m_score: 73
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 19
updated: "2026-10-07T16:10:32.416156+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Adrian Scarborough

## Identity

Adrian Scarborough

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/adrian-scarborough
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** adrian-scarborough
- **IMDb ID:** nm0769083
- **TMDB ID:** 40311
- **Wikidata ID:** Q1242707
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrian_Scarborough, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1242707, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0769083/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/40311

Actor. Born 10 May 1968 in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, England, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 10 May 1968, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, England, UK
- **Active:** 1994–present
- **Also known as:** Adrian Philip Scarborough
- **Average Fi1m score:** 73, as actor, over 19 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 83 (1), 2000s 76 (8), 2010s 74 (8), 2020s 51 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 71 to 67 across 14 titles
- **Score spread:** 8 at 80+, 9 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 9 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 15, History 5, Comedy 4, Crime 3, Romance 3, Adventure 2
- **Screen time:** 23 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,758m across 11 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrian_Scarborough, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1242707, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0769083/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/40311

## Streaming the US now

- **Apple TV:** [*Gavin & Stacey*](https://film.one/tv/gavin-and-stacey.md) (80), [*The Chelsea Detective*](https://film.one/tv/the-chelsea-detective.md) (70)
- **Netflix:** [*1917*](https://film.one/film/1917.md) (78), [*On Chesil Beach*](https://film.one/film/on-chesil-beach.md) (65)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*Vera Drake*](https://film.one/film/vera-drake.md) (84)
- **BritBox:** [*Mrs Biggs*](https://film.one/tv/mrs-biggs.md) (74)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Adrian Scarborough

> Adrian Scarborough makes a put-upon husband worth watching as closely as the leads. His comic timing is a considerable asset to an ensemble; too many of his screen roles have been too brief to use it fully.

Pete Sutcliffe bickering with his wife in *Gavin & Stacey* (2007) is a useful introduction to Adrian Scarborough. With Julia Davis opposite him, the familiar business of the put-upon husband gives his comic timing a proper job. We recommend the series for its warmth and its supporting players, who provide the biggest laughs while the central pair remain less distinctive. Scarborough fits that judgement: here is an actor worth following when the story turns away from the people in the title.

His film work had already found a place in ensembles, including Robert Altman’s *Gosford Park* (2001), in which he plays Barnes. Mike Leigh cast him as Frank in *Vera Drake* (2004), another film where attention to the surrounding characters matters. Its patient family scenes moved us, because they give time to the ordinary care Imelda Staunton’s Vera takes of others. Leigh is too protective of her goodness, but the performances make the recommendation an easy one. Scarborough is part of that company, and it would be wrong to discuss his usefulness only in terms of comedy.

The limitation is how often he has been asked to appear briefly and leave. Butlers, valets, doctors and officials recur through his period and ensemble work, while *The King’s Speech* (2010) gives him a small part as a BBC Radio Announcer. Such casting gives an actor a clear function, but not necessarily much to play beyond it. Pete is the more rewarding example to follow across a programme: a recurring character, with a fellow performer to work against, rather than another short appearance.

*The Chelsea Detective* (2022) gives him DI Arnold, his first regular television lead, and a chance to stay at the centre of a programme. It is a sensible move for an actor whose parts also include flawed or melancholy authority figures. Start with Pete and Julia Davis’s marital quarrels, though; they offer the clearest reason to want more time with him.

## Biography

Adrian Philip Scarborough is a British actor. Born on 10 May 1968 in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, he trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, where he won the Chesterton Award for Best Actor.

Scarborough has appeared in films including *Gosford Park* (2001), *Vera Drake* (2004), *Notes on a Scandal* (2006), *The King's Speech* (2010), *Les Misérables* (2012), *On Chesil Beach* (2017), *Christopher Robin* (2018) and *1917* (2019). On television he has roles in *Gavin & Stacey* (2007–2024), *Killing Eve* (2019) and *The Chelsea Detective* (2022–present).

A stage actor, he has twice won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role: in 2011 for *After the Dance* and in 2020 for *Leopoldstadt*.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (19)

- *The Chelsea Detective* (2022), Fi1m 70, as DI Max Arnold — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-chelsea-detective.md)
- *Artemis Fowl* (2020), Fi1m 32, as The Goblin Chief — [page](https://film.one/film/artemis-fowl.md)
- *1917* (2019), Fi1m 78, as Major Hepburn — [page](https://film.one/film/1917.md)
- *A Very English Scandal* (2018), Fi1m 84, as George Carman QC — [page](https://film.one/tv/a-very-english-scandal.md)
- *Christopher Robin* (2018), Fi1m 62, as Hal Gallsworthy — [page](https://film.one/film/christopher-robin.md)
- *Killing Eve* (2018), Fi1m 82, as Raymond — [page](https://film.one/tv/killing-eve.md)
- *On Chesil Beach* (2018), Fi1m 65, as Lionel Mayhew — [page](https://film.one/film/on-chesil-beach.md)
- *Les Misérables* (2012), Fi1m 62, as Toothman — [page](https://film.one/film/les-miserables-2012.md)
- *Mrs Biggs* (2012), Fi1m 74, as Bernard Powell — [page](https://film.one/tv/mrs-biggs.md)
- *The King's Speech* (2010), Fi1m 82, as BBC Radio Announcer — [page](https://film.one/film/the-kings-speech.md)
- *Cranford* (2007), Fi1m 84, as Mr. Johnson — [page](https://film.one/tv/cranford.md)
- *Elizabeth: The Golden Age* (2007), Fi1m 54, as Calley — [page](https://film.one/film/elizabeth-the-golden-age.md)
- *Gavin & Stacey* (2007), Fi1m 80, as Pete Sutcliffe — [page](https://film.one/tv/gavin-and-stacey.md)
- *Notes on a Scandal* (2006), Fi1m 75, as Martin — [page](https://film.one/film/notes-on-a-scandal.md)
- *Saxondale* (2006), Fi1m 75, as Chairman — [page](https://film.one/tv/saxondale.md)
- *The History Boys* (2006), Fi1m 67, as Wilkes — [page](https://film.one/film/the-history-boys.md)
- *Vera Drake* (2004), Fi1m 84, as Frank — [page](https://film.one/film/vera-drake.md)
- *Gosford Park* (2001), Fi1m 85, as Barnes — [page](https://film.one/film/gosford-park.md)
- *The Madness of King George* (1994), Fi1m 83, as Fortnum — [page](https://film.one/film/the-madness-of-king-george.md)

## Complete filmography (86)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Falling* (2026), series, as Francis
- *Gavin & Stacey: The Finale* (2024), as Pete Sutcliffe
- *Mr Bigstuff* (2024), series, as Ian
- *The Chelsea Detective* (2022), series, as DI Max Arnold — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-chelsea-detective.md)
- *Murder, They Hope* (2021), series, as Jacob
- *Bloods* (2021), series, as Gary
- *Artemis Fowl* (2020), as The Goblin Chief — Fi1m 32, [page](https://film.one/film/artemis-fowl.md)
- *1917* (2019), as Major Hepburn — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/1917.md)
- *Gavin & Stacey: A Special Christmas* (2019), as Pete Sutcliffe
- *The Accident* (2019), series, as Philip Walters
- *The Last Vermeer* (2019), as Dirk Hannema
- *National Theatre Live: The Madness of George III* (2018), as Dr Willis
- *Christopher Robin* (2018), as Hal Gallsworthy — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/christopher-robin.md)
- *Patrick* (2018), as Mr. Peters
- *A Very English Scandal* (2018), series, as George Carman QC — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/a-very-english-scandal.md)
- *Killing Eve* (2018), series, as Raymond — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/killing-eve.md)
- *On Chesil Beach* (2018), as Lionel Mayhew — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/film/on-chesil-beach.md)
- *Little Women* (2017), series, as Mr Davis
- *Urban Myths* (2017), series, as Chief Inspector Danders
- *Crashing* (2016), series, as Colin
- *Professor Branestawm Returns* (2015), as The Vicar
- *Blunt Talk* (2015), series, as Harry Chandler
- *A Little Chaos* (2015), as Daniel Le Vielle
- *The Incredible Adventures of Professor Branestawm* (2014), as The Vicar
- *The Great War: The People's Story* (2014), series, as Winston Churchill
- *National Theatre Live: King Lear* (2014), as The Fool
- *Edge of Heaven* (2014), series, as Bald Gary
- *Inside No. 9* (2014), series, as Larry — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/inside-no-9.md)
- *Delicious* (2013), Actor
- *Up the Women* (2013), series, as Frank
- *Plebs* (2013), series, as Claudius
- *Father Brown* (2013), series, as Clive Trueman
- *Restless* (2012), series, as Morris Devereux
- *Les Misérables* (2012), as Toothman — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/les-miserables-2012.md)
- *Get Lucky* (2012), as St John Ponsoby Hunt
- *The Paradise* (2012), series, as Fenton
- *Doctor Who: The Making of The Gunslinger* (2012), as Kahler Jek
- *Mrs Biggs* (2012), as Bernard Powell
- *Mrs Biggs* (2012), series, as Bernard Powell — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/mrs-biggs.md)
- *Death in Paradise* (2011), series, as Leo Pascal
- *The Adventures of Abney & Teal* (2011), series, as Abney (voice)
- *Upstairs Downstairs* (2010), series, as Mr Warwick Pritchard
- *The King's Speech* (2010), as BBC Radio Announcer — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/the-kings-speech.md)
- *National Theatre Live: The Habit of Art* (2010), as Donald / Humphrey Carpenter
- *Magpie* (2010), as Ray
- *Miranda* (2009), series, as Dreamboat Charlie
- *Psychoville* (2009), series, as Mr Jolly
- *Into the Storm* (2009), as Sawyers
- *Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special 2008* (2008), as Pete Sutcliffe
- *Poppy Shakespeare* (2008), as Middle Class Michael
- *Cranford* (2007), series, as Mr. Johnson — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/cranford.md)
- *Elizabeth: The Golden Age* (2007), as Calley — Fi1m 54, [page](https://film.one/film/elizabeth-the-golden-age.md)
- *Gavin & Stacey* (2007), series, as Pete Sutcliffe — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/gavin-and-stacey.md)
- *The History of Mr Polly* (2007), Actor
- *Maxwell* (2007), as Bob Cole
- *Kingdom* (2007), series, as Jeff
- *The Trial of Tony Blair* (2007), as Simon
- *Notes on a Scandal* (2006), as Martin — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/film/notes-on-a-scandal.md)
- *The History Boys* (2006), as Wilkes — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/film/the-history-boys.md)
- *Saxondale* (2006), series, as Chairman — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/tv/saxondale.md)
- *The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends* (2006), as Benjamin Bunny
- *Doctor Who* (2005), series, as Kahler-Jex — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/doctor-who-2005.md)
- *Vera Drake* (2004), as Frank — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/vera-drake.md)
- *New Tricks* (2004), series, Actor
- *Promoted to Glory* (2003), as Arnold
- *Bright Young Things* (2003), as Customs Officer
- *To Kill a King* (2003), as Sergeant Joyce
- *tlc* (2002), series, as The Phlebotomist
- *Dirty Pretty Things* (2002), as The Doctor
- *Gosford Park* (2001), as Barnes — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/gosford-park.md)
- *Last Resort* (2000), as Council Official
- *Let Them Eat Cake* (1999), series, Actor
- *The Passion* (1999), as Martin
- *The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends: The Tale of Mr. Tod* (1998), as Benjamin Bunny (voice)
- *Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon* (1998), as Daniel Farson
- *The Revengers' Comedies* (1998), as Percy Cutting
- *St. Ives* (1998), as Le Bon
- *A Dance to the Music of Time* (1997), series, as JG Quiggin
- *Midsomer Murders* (1997), series, as Peter Fogden, Eddie Carfax, Tony Pitt — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/midsomer-murders.md)
- *The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends: The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies and Mrs. Tittlemouse* (1996), as Benjamin Bunny (voice)
- *The Willows in Winter* (1996), as Nephew Vole
- *In the Bleak Midwinter* (1995), as Young actor
- *The Madness of King George* (1994), as Fortnum — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/the-madness-of-king-george.md)
- *The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends* (1992), series, as Mr. Benjamin Bunny (voice)
- *Heartbeat* (1992), series, as Martin Padmore
- *Upstairs, Downstairs* (1971), series, Actor — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/upstairs-downstairs.md)

## Gallery

- ![Adrian Scarborough](https://film.one/media/person/94404/gallery-6c58f47db6f5.jpg) Adrian Scarborough — Image via TMDB
- ![Adrian Scarborough](https://film.one/media/person/94404/gallery-0e3a0b4c0505.jpg) Adrian Scarborough — Image via TMDB
- ![Adrian Scarborough](https://film.one/media/person/94404/gallery-173f561427be.jpg) Adrian Scarborough — Image via TMDB
- ![Adrian Scarborough](https://film.one/media/person/94404/gallery-6ec8204e3b9d.jpg) Adrian Scarborough — Image via TMDB

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/adrian-scarborough