---
name: "Derek Riddell"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/derek-riddell"
fi1m_id: "derek-riddell"
imdb_id: "nm0725701"
tmdb_id: 143971
wikidata_id: "Q5262305"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "11 January 1967"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 8
average_fi1m_score: 74
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 8
updated: "2026-10-07T18:39:43.012568+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."
---

# Derek Riddell

## Identity

Derek Riddell

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/derek-riddell
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** derek-riddell
- **IMDb ID:** nm0725701
- **TMDB ID:** 143971
- **Wikidata ID:** Q5262305
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Riddell, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5262305, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0725701/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/143971

Actor. Born 11 January 1967 in Glasgow, Scotland.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 11 January 1967, Glasgow, Scotland
- **Active:** 2002–2019
- **Average Fi1m score:** 74, as actor, over 8 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 73 (3), 2010s 75 (5)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 72 to 70 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 4 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 1 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 7, Crime 3, Adventure 1, Fantasy 1, Mystery 1
- **Screen time:** 2 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $655m across 1 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Riddell, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5262305, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0725701/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/143971

## Streaming the US now

- **BritBox:** [*A Confession*](https://film.one/tv/a-confession.md) (80)

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

## Biography

Derek Riddell is a Scottish actor. He graduated from the University of Strathclyde with a degree in business and trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, graduating in 1990.

He first came to prominence as Rab in the Channel 4 series *The Book Group* (2002). His television credits include Pete in *A Confession* (2019), Richard Cawood in *Happy Valley* (2014–2023), Clement Cowan in *Industry* (2020) and Captain Sutherland in *Gentleman Jack* (2019–2022). Film roles include Torquil Travers in *Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald* (2018) and William Baxter in *Mary Shelley* (2017). He has also appeared in *Doctor Who* (2005) and *Ugly Betty* (2006).

Riddell has worked extensively in theatre, with credits including productions at the National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal Exchange, Manchester.

*Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org, tvmaze.com, nationaltheatre.org.uk.*

## On Fi1m (8)

- *A Confession* (2019), Fi1m 80, as Pete — [page](https://film.one/tv/a-confession.md)
- *Gentleman Jack* (2019), Fi1m 82, as Captain Sutherland — [page](https://film.one/tv/gentleman-jack.md)
- *Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald* (2018), Fi1m 46, as Torquil Travers — [page](https://film.one/film/fantastic-beasts-the-crimes-of-grindelwald.md)
- *Happy Valley* (2014), Fi1m 88, as Richard Cawood — [page](https://film.one/tv/happy-valley-2014.md)
- *The Village* (2013), Fi1m 78, as Bill Gibby — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-village-2013.md)
- *Five Days* (2007), Fi1m 76, as Nick Durden — [page](https://film.one/tv/five-days.md)
- *The Virgin Queen* (2006), Fi1m 78, as Sir Walter Raleigh — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-virgin-queen.md)
- *ShakespeaRe-Told* (2005), Fi1m 66, as Don — [page](https://film.one/tv/shakespeare-told.md)

## Complete filmography (53)

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

- *The Christmas Quest* (2024), as Victor Grimes
- *National Theatre Live: Till The Stars Come Down* (2024), as John
- *Boarders* (2024), series, as Bernard
- *Bodies* (2023), series, as Chief Inspector Calloway
- *Payback* (2023), series, as DCI Adam Guthrie
- *Crime* (2021), series, as Richie Gulliver
- *Industry* (2020), series, as Clement Cowan — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/industry.md)
- *A Confession* (2019), series, as Pete — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/a-confession.md)
- *Gentleman Jack* (2019), series, as Captain Sutherland — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/gentleman-jack.md)
- *Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald* (2018), as Torquil Travers — Fi1m 46, [page](https://film.one/film/fantastic-beasts-the-crimes-of-grindelwald.md)
- *Hard Sun* (2018), series, as DCS Roland Bell
- *Gunpowder* (2017), series, as King James I
- *Mary Shelley* (2017), as William Baxter
- *Undercover* (2016), series, as Paul Brightman
- *Happy Valley* (2014), series, as Richard Cawood — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/happy-valley-2014.md)
- *W1A* (2014), series, as Clive Cook
- *Frankie* (2013), series, as Andy Peat
- *The Village* (2013), series, as Bill Gibby — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-village-2013.md)
- *Shetland* (2013), series, as Chris Brooks — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/tv/shetland.md)
- *Ripper Street* (2012), series, as Constantine — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/ripper-street.md)
- *Bad Sugar* (2012), as Father Rodrigo
- *Secrets and Words* (2012), series, as John Jones
- *Death in Paradise* (2011), series, as Patrick Knight
- *The Field of Blood* (2011), series, as DS Patterson
- *Garrow's Law* (2009), series, as Matthew Bambridge
- *A Previous Engagement* (2009), as Hotel Desk Clerk
- *Micro Men* (2009), as Nigel Searle
- *Law & Order: UK* (2009), series, Actor
- *Trust Me* (2009), series, as Dan
- *Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles* (2008), series, as Lachlan Weaver — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/terminator-the-sarah-connor-chronicles.md)
- *The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey* (2007), as Parson
- *Forgiven* (2007), as Stephen
- *State of Mind* (2007), series, as James LeCroix, PhD
- *Five Days* (2007), series, as Nick Durden — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/five-days.md)
- *M.I. High* (2007), series, as Edward Dixon Halliday
- *Ugly Betty* (2006), series, as Stuart
- *Waterloo Road* (2006), series, as Joe Mulgrew
- *The Virgin Queen* (2006), series, as Sir Walter Raleigh — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-virgin-queen.md)
- *ShakespeaRe-Told* (2005), series, as Don — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/shakespeare-told.md)
- *Much Ado About Nothing* (2005), as Don
- *Meat the Campbells* (2005), as Mr. Campbell
- *Doctor Who* (2005), series, as Sir Robert — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/doctor-who-2005.md)
- *Tumshie McFadgen's Bid for Ultimate Bliss* (2004), as Tumshie McFadgen
- *No Angels* (2004), series, as Dr Jamie Patterson
- *The Project* (2002), as Richard Loach
- *Spooks* (2002), series, as Steven — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/spooks.md)
- *The Book Group* (2002), series, as Rab
- *Urban Gothic* (2000), series, as Billings
- *Midsomer Murders* (1997), series, as Des McCordell — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/midsomer-murders.md)
- *Dalziel and Pascoe* (1996), series, as Mark Croft
- *Strathblair* (1992), series, as Alec Ritchie
- *Casualty* (1986), series, as Jeff Marriot — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/casualty.md)
- *Taggart* (1983), series, Actor

---
© 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/derek-riddell