---
name: "Nigel Havers"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/nigel-havers"
fi1m_id: "nigel-havers"
imdb_id: "nm0369814"
tmdb_id: 53517
wikidata_id: "Q466361"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "6 November 1951"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 7
average_fi1m_score: 71
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 7
updated: "2026-10-07T18:09:34.743434+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."
---

# Nigel Havers

## Identity

Nigel Havers

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/nigel-havers
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** nigel-havers
- **IMDb ID:** nm0369814
- **TMDB ID:** 53517
- **Wikidata ID:** Q466361
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_Havers, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q466361, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0369814/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/53517

Actor. Born 6 November 1951 in Edmonton, Middlesex, England, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 6 November 1951, Edmonton, Middlesex, England, UK
- **Active:** 1971–present
- **Also known as:** Nigel Allan Havers
- **Average Fi1m score:** 71, as actor, over 7 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 83 (1), 1980s 77 (3), 2000s 54 (2), 2020s 74 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 76 to 73 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 3 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 5, History 3, Comedy 2, Adventure 1, Sport 1, War 1
- **Screen time:** 9 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $166m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_Havers, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q466361, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0369814/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/53517

## Coming up

- *Elsinore* (2026-11-20), as Hospital Patron — [page](https://film.one/film/elsinore.md)

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Chariots of Fire*](https://film.one/film/chariots-of-fire.md) (78), [*A Passage to India*](https://film.one/film/a-passage-to-india.md) (71)

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

## Fi1m on Nigel Havers

> Nigel Havers makes upper-class assurance seem companionable, and the same smooth delivery serves his cads. We value the ease he brings to supporting parts, though familiar casting has sometimes made it too easy to take him for granted.

Nigel Havers can make a posh voice sound welcoming. That matters when the parts so often arrive with good manners and an assumption of social standing: he gives us a reason to enjoy the company. As Lord Andrew Lindsay in Hugh Hudson's *Chariots of Fire* (1981), he found the role that brought him wider recognition. It remains a good introduction, though the film's respect for its runners' convictions is more compelling than its stately stretches.

Steven Spielberg's *Empire of the Sun* (1987) makes us more conscious of how little space a supporting actor can be given. Havers's Dr. Rawlins and Miranda Richardson's Mrs. Victor supply human company, but Stoppard's screenplay seldom lets their experience matter as much as Jim's. We were moved by Jim's need for an adult to depend on, which Christian Bale makes painfully clear. We also wanted the adults to have lives of their own, and Havers is among the actors whose characters deserve more attention.

A sustained film career in leading roles did not follow. Between those two films, David Lean cast him as Ronny Heaslop in *A Passage to India* (1984), another supporting role. Television offered more sustained work, including the lead as Dr Tom Latimer in the sitcom *Don't Wait Up* (1983–1990). *The Charmer* (1987), with Havers as Ralph Gorse, made his suitability for cads central. These are useful reminders that the pleasant voice need not belong to a pleasant man, and that his ease can be put to work in comedy.

The charismatic conman Lewis Archer in *Coronation Street*, a part he began playing in 2009, continued that association. Familiarity is the limitation: we can feel we know the gentleman before the script has told us much about him. We would like to see writers ask more of Havers without requiring him to discard the manner that makes him useful. Start with *Chariots of Fire*; its slower passages are worth tolerating for the company.

## Biography

Nigel Allan Havers is an English actor and presenter. Born on 6 November 1951 in Edmonton, Middlesex, he is the son of barrister and Conservative politician Michael Havers, later Baron Havers. He trained at a drama school attached to the Oxford Playhouse and began his career with early television roles including the lead in the BBC adaptation of Nicholas Nickleby (1977).

Havers received a BAFTA nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for portraying Lord Andrew Lindsay in the film *Chariots of Fire* (1981). His other film credits include Ronny Heaslop in *A Passage to India* (1984) and Dr Rawlins in *Empire of the Sun* (1987). On television he is known for playing Dr Tom Latimer in the BBC sitcom *Don't Wait Up* (1983–1990) and Lewis Archer in *Coronation Street* (2009–2019).

He has also appeared in series such as *The Gentlemen* (2024) and *Brothers & Sisters* (2009), and presented programmes including *The Real Chariots of Fire* (2012).

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

## On Fi1m (7)

- *Elsinore* (2026), Fi1m 74, as Hospital Patron — [page](https://film.one/film/elsinore.md)
- *Benidorm* (2007), Fi1m 50, as Stanley Keen — [page](https://film.one/tv/benidorm.md)
- *Little Britain* (2003), Fi1m 58, as Leader of the Opposition — [page](https://film.one/tv/little-britain.md)
- *Empire of the Sun* (1987), Fi1m 81, as Dr. Rawlins — [page](https://film.one/film/empire-of-the-sun.md)
- *A Passage to India* (1984), Fi1m 71, as Ronny Heaslop — [page](https://film.one/film/a-passage-to-india.md)
- *Chariots of Fire* (1981), Fi1m 78, as Lord Andrew Lindsay — [page](https://film.one/film/chariots-of-fire.md)
- *Upstairs, Downstairs* (1971), Fi1m 83, as Peter Dinmont — [page](https://film.one/tv/upstairs-downstairs.md)

## Complete filmography (102)

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

- *Elsinore* (2026), as Hospital Patron — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/elsinore.md)
- *Golden Boys* (2026), series, as Lord Moyne
- *Play for Today* (2025), series, as Frank
- *Never Too Late* (2025), as Frank
- *A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story* (2025), series, as Cecil Havers
- *The Gentlemen* (2024), series, as Lord Whitecroft
- *Black Ops* (2023), series, as Gerald
- *Finding Alice* (2021), series, as Roger Dillon
- *All Creatures Great & Small* (2020), series, as General Ransom
- *The Cockfields* (2019), series, as Larry
- *Murder on the Blackpool Express* (2017), as Doc
- *Timewasters* (2017), series, as Dr. Eugene Braithwaite
- *We Love Sitcom* (2016), Actor
- *Trouser Bar* (2016), as (uncredited)
- *Reluctant Persuaders* (2015), series, as Rupert Hardacre (voice)
- *Brian Pern: A Life in Rock* (2014), series, as Tony Pebblé
- *Rupture: A Matter of Life OR Death* (2011), as Narrator (voice)
- *Lunch Monkeys* (2009), series, Actor
- *Penelope* (2007), as Mr. Vanderman
- *The Sarah Jane Adventures* (2007), series, as Peter Dalton
- *Benidorm* (2007), series, as Stanley Keen — Fi1m 50, [page](https://film.one/tv/benidorm.md)
- *Brothers and Sisters* (2006), series, as Roger Grant
- *Open Wide* (2005), as Peter Hillman
- *The Life and Death of Peter Sellers* (2004), as David Niven
- *Little Britain* (2003), series, as Leader of the Opposition — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/tv/little-britain.md)
- *The Afternoon Play* (2003), series, Director
- *Born and Bred* (2002), series, as Henry Williamson
- *Manchild* (2002), series, as Terry
- *The Gentleman Thief* (2001), as A J Raffles
- *Murder in Mind* (2001), series, as Nicholas Chadwick QC
- *Paradise Lost* (1999), as Hofstadter
- *The Heart Surgeon* (1997), series, as Dr. Alex Marsden
- *The Heart Surgeon* (1997), as Dr. Alex Marsden
- *Midsomer Murders* (1997), series, as Andrew Wilder — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/midsomer-murders.md)
- *Bridge of Time* (1997), as Halek
- *Element of Doubt* (1996), as Richard
- *Strangers* (1996), series, as Philip
- *An Audience with Freddie Starr* (1996), Actor
- *TFI Friday* (1996), series, Actor
- *Liz: The Elizabeth Taylor Story* (1995), series, as Michael Wilding
- *Chiller* (1995), series, as Oliver Halkin
- *Prophecy* (1995), as Oliver Halkin
- *Dangerfield* (1995), series, as Dr. Jonathan Paige
- *The Glass Virgin* (1995), series, as Edmund Lagrange
- *The Burning Season* (1994), as Steven Kaye
- *Lie Down with Lions* (1994), as Peter Husak
- *The Good Guys* (1992), series, as Guy McFadyean
- *Murder Most Horrid* (1991), series, as Harvey Stafford
- *A Perfect Hero* (1991), series, as Hugh Fleming
- *Sleepers* (1991), series, as Jeremy Coward / Sergei Rublev
- *Sleepers* (1991), as Jeremy Coward/Sergei Rublev
- *The Private War of Lucinda Smith* (1991), series, as Edward Spencer-Grant
- *Quiet Days in Clichy* (1990), as Alfred Perlès
- *Farewell to the King* (1989), as Capt. Fairbourne
- *A Bit of Fry & Laurie* (1989), series, Actor
- *Empire of the Sun* (1987), as Dr. Rawlins — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/empire-of-the-sun.md)
- *The Charmer* (1987), series, Actor
- *Hold the Dream* (1987), series, as Jim Fairley
- *The Death of the Heart* (1987), as Thomas Quayne
- *A Little Princess* (1987), series, as Thomas Carrisford, Carrisford
- *The Whistle Blower* (1986), as Robert "Bob" Jones
- *Bon Voyage* (1985), as Roddy Buchanan
- *Burke & Wills* (1985), as William John Wills
- *Combat* (1985), as Clement
- *A Passage to India* (1984), as Ronny Heaslop — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/film/a-passage-to-india.md)
- *Strangers and Brothers* (1984), series, as Roy Calvert
- *Don't Wait Up* (1983), series, as Tom Latimer
- *Soft Targets* (1982), as Harman
- *All for Love* (1982), series, as Clement
- *Nancy Astor* (1982), series, as Bobby Shaw
- *Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years* (1981), series, as Randolph Churchill
- *Chariots of Fire* (1981), as Lord Andrew Lindsay — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/chariots-of-fire.md)
- *Unity* (1981), as Philip Colindale
- *A Question of Guilt* (1980), series, as Dr Leach
- *Birth of the Beatles* (1979), as George Martin
- *Coming Out* (1979), as Richie
- *Tales of the Unexpected* (1979), series, as Miller
- *A Horseman Riding By* (1978), series, as Paul Craddock
- *Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?* (1978), as Counterman
- *An Englishman's Castle* (1978), series, as Mark Ingram
- *Pennies from Heaven* (1978), series, as Conrad Baker
- *Full Circle* (1978), as Estate Agent
- *Nicholas Nickleby* (1977), series, as Nicholas Nickleby
- *The Portland Millions* (1976), as Ronald Walker
- *Victorian Scandals* (1976), series, as Ronald Walker
- *French Without Tears* (1976), as Kenneth Lake
- *Rumpole of the Bailey* (1975), series, as Ronald Ransom
- *Angels* (1975), series, Actor
- *The Next Voice You See* (1975), as Ludovic Bates
- *Susan* (1975), as Jim
- *Playhouse* (1974), series, as Philip Colindale
- *Shabby Tiger* (1973), series, as Toby Scriven
- *Thriller* (1973), series, as Ludovic Bates
- *Crown Court* (1972), series, as Bernard Crittenden, Patrick Mills
- *Pope Joan* (1972), as Young Monk
- *The Black Arrow* (1972), series, as Roger
- *Upstairs, Downstairs* (1971), series, as Peter Dinmont — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/upstairs-downstairs.md)
- *Play for Today* (1970), series, as Harman
- *Edward II* (1970), as Soldier/ Attendant
- *BBC Play of the Month* (1965), series, as Kenneth Lake, Leonid Shervinsky
- *Coronation Street* (1960), series, as Lewis Archer — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/coronation-street.md)
- *About A Bell*, as Jeremy Delaunay

---
© 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/nigel-havers