--- name: "Nigel Planer" canonical: "https://film.one/person/nigel-planer" fi1m_id: "nigel-planer" imdb_id: "nm0686539" tmdb_id: 117555 wikidata_id: "Q2232106" roles: ["Actor"] born: "22 February 1953" reviewed_on_fi1m: 4 average_fi1m_score: 82 average_as: "actor" average_over: 4 updated: "2026-10-07T18:09:34.751457+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 Planer ## Identity Nigel Planer - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/nigel-planer - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** nigel-planer - **IMDb ID:** nm0686539 - **TMDB ID:** 117555 - **Wikidata ID:** Q2232106 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_Planer, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2232106, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0686539/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/117555 Actor. Born 22 February 1953 in Westminster, London, England, UK. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 22 February 1953, Westminster, London, England, UK - **Active:** 1982–1997 - **Frequently works with:** [Adrian Edmondson](https://film.one/person/adrian-edmondson.md), [Rik Mayall](https://film.one/person/rik-mayall.md), [Alexei Sayle](https://film.one/person/alexei-sayle.md), [Ben Elton](https://film.one/person/ben-elton.md), [Ed Bye](https://film.one/person/ed-bye.md), [Paul Jackson](https://film.one/person/paul-jackson.md) - **Average Fi1m score:** 82, as actor, over 4 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 83 (3), 1990s 78 (1) - **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 0 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 1 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Comedy 4, Drama 1, Mystery 1, Science Fiction 1 - **Screen time:** 2 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $10m across 1 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_Planer, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2232106, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0686539/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/117555 ## Coming up - *Merry Christmas Aubrey Flint* (2026-11-06), as Ned ## Fi1m on Nigel Planer > Nigel Planer makes a change of comic pace count, most memorably as Neil in *The Young Ones*. We rate his ability to be funny among noisier performers without making his unhappy characters more agreeable. Neil’s lugubrious presence in *The Young Ones* (1982) is a welcome interruption to the shouting. Nigel Planer makes this miserable student funny without asking us to find him appealing. Alongside Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson, he establishes a different comic pace without seeming to belong to another programme. We felt relieved when Neil changed the pace; the others were funny, but their insistence could wear us out. He is one reason we recommend a programme that has no interest in being agreeable company. His deadpan manner and habit of playing downtrodden characters can sound like a narrow speciality until we consider how useful they are in an ensemble. Planer gives *The Young Ones* another speed, which matters when the programme is so determined to be unreasonable. His reputation remains closely tied to Neil, but we would not treat one part as a complete account of what he does. The performance holds its place amid considerable competition, and does so without making the company any more attractive. Some jokes are pushed too hard, and his presence cannot make every excess worthwhile. His work with Peter Richardson in the double act The Outer Limits and as a co-founder of The Comic Strip helps explain that comfort among other comedians. *The Comic Strip Presents...* (1982) also gave him work as a writer. *Brazil* (1985) placed him in Terry Gilliam’s satire as Charlie from the Department of Works, while *Filthy, Rich & Catflap* (1987) brought another leading comedy role, Ralph Filthy. The continuing ensemble work is worth noticing: we value an actor who can make his presence count without demanding that everything stop for him. Musical theatre was already part of his work before Neil: he was in the original ensemble of *Evita* (1978). His later stage work includes *We Will Rock You* and *Wicked*, a substantial part of a working life that a television catch-all would miss. The satirical actor Nicholas Craig, whom he created and performs, deserves attention too. Start with *The Young Ones*, but allow a little quiet between episodes. ## Biography Nigel Planer is a British actor, comedian, musician, novelist and playwright. He played Neil in the BBC sitcom *The Young Ones* (1982–1984). He was educated at Westminster School and studied at the University of Sussex before training at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Planer began performing in alternative comedy at the Comedy Store in a double act with Peter Richardson. He has appeared in many West End musicals, including original casts of *Evita*, *Chicago*, *We Will Rock You*, *Wicked* and *Charlie and the Chocolate Factory*, as well as in *Hairspray*. Other television work includes roles in *Filthy Rich & Catflap* and *Blackadder*. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (4) - *Jonathan Creek* (1997), Fi1m 78, as Shelford — [page](https://film.one/tv/jonathan-creek.md) - *Brazil* (1985), Fi1m 83, as Charlie--Dept. of Works — [page](https://film.one/film/brazil.md) - *Blackadder* (1983), Fi1m 84, as Lord Smedley — [page](https://film.one/tv/blackadder.md) - *The Young Ones* (1982), Fi1m 82, as Neil — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-young-ones.md) ## Complete filmography (108) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Merry Christmas Aubrey Flint* (2026), as Ned - *Lockwood & Co.* (2023), series, as John Fairfax - *Red Riding Hood: After Ever After* (2022), as Nun Wolf - *Jeepers Creepers* (2020), as American Reporter (voice) - *Mandy* (2020), series, as Captain - *Completely Bad News* (2019), as Den Dennis - *How The Young Ones Changed Comedy* (2018), Actor - *Ratburger* (2017), as Headmaster - *Sleigh* (2017), as Gerald - *Timewasters* (2017), series, as Langley - *Burn Burn Burn* (2016), as Henry - *Upstart Crow* (2016), series, as Egeus - *Red Top* (2016), as Rupert Murdoch - *Grantchester* (2014), series, as Giles Montgomery - *Boomers* (2014), series, Actor - *Inside No. 9* (2014), series, as Frank — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/inside-no-9.md) - *The List* (2013), as Ted Rove - *I Give It a Year* (2013), as Brian - *Father Brown* (2013), series, as Ronnie Grunion - *Five Go to Rehab* (2012), as Barmaid/Inspector - *30 Years of Comic Strip* (2012), Actor - *Death in Paradise* (2011), series, as Eugene Sutton - *The Hunt for Tony Blair* (2011), as Peter Mandelson - *Episodes* (2011), series, as Sanford Shamiro — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/episodes.md) - *The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret* (2010), series, as Gilfroy Deacon McStannahorse - *The Color of Magic 2in1* (2010), as Arch Astronomer - *How to Be Old with Nicholas Craig* (2009), as Nicholas Craig - *Prog Rock Britannia* (2009), as Narrator - *The Colour of Magic* (2008), series, as Arch Astronomer - *The Color of Magic - Die Reise des Zauberers Teil 1* (2008), as Arch Astronomer - *Hogfather* (2007), as Mr. Sideney - *Flood* (2007), as Keith Hopkins - *M.I. High* (2007), series, as Prime Minister - *Hogfather* (2006), series, as Mr. Sideney - *How To Be Sci-Fi* (2006), series, Actor - *How To Be Eighteenth Century* (2006), as Nicholas Craig - *Mayo* (2006), series, as Robert Bainbridge - *Sex Actually* (2005), as Graham - *Three Steps to Hendon* (2005), as Gerry Jameson - *Agatha Christie's Marple* (2004), series, as Mr. Venables - *Bottom Mindless Violence* (2004), as Neil Pye / Ralph Filthy (archive footage) - *Celebrity Mastermind* (2003), series, Actor - *Bright Young Things* (2003), as Taxi Driver - *The Last Detective* (2003), series, Actor - *Four Men in a Plane* (2000), as Tim Goodman - *SpongeBob SquarePants* (1999), series, as Dr. Marmalade (voice) - *The Grimleys* (1999), series, as Les Grimley - *You Are Here* (1998), as Sheldon Cohen - *The Land Girls* (1998), as Gerald - *Four Men in a Car* (1998), as Tim - *Diana & Me* (1997), as Taxi Driver - *Jonathan Creek* (1997), series, as Shelford — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/jonathan-creek.md) - *Cuts* (1996), as Jocelyn Pride - *The Wind in the Willows* (1996), as Car Salesman - *Jeremy Hardy Gives Good Sex* (1995), Actor - *Clockwork Mice* (1995), as Parkey - *The Marriage of Figaro* (1994), series, as Antonio - *The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes* (1994), series, as Inspector Hopkins - *Jealousy* (1993), as Transvestite - *Demonella* (1993), as Father - *Gregory: Diary of a Nutcase* (1993), as Governor Wilkins - *Bonjour la Classe* (1993), series, Actor - *Santa's First Christmas* (1992), as Romuald the Reindeer - *Carry On Columbus* (1992), as The Wazir - *The Crying Game* (1992), as Club Chairman/Waiter - *Red Nose of Courage* (1992), as Home Secretary - *Unnatural Pursuits* (1992), as George Pepperly - *The Trials of Oz* (1991), as John Peel - *The Nicholas Craig Masterclass* (1990), series, Actor - *Frankenstein's Baby* (1990), as Paul Hocking - *Spaghetti Hoops* (1990), as Aldo Vini - *Oxford* (1990), as Steve's Manager/1st MI5 Man - *South Atlantic Raiders: Part 2 Argie Bargie!* (1990), as Stan - *South Atlantic Raiders: Part 1* (1990), as Stan - *GLC: The Carnage Continues* (1990), as TV Presenter - *Blackeyes* (1989), series, as Jeff - *Screen One* (1989), series, as Paul Hocking - *Oh No, Not Them* (1989), as Neil - *Number 27* (1988), as Andrew Veitch - *Funseekers* (1988), as Tony · Writer - *More Bad News* (1988), as Den Dennis - *The Strike* (1988), as Bernard/Old Man/Camp Actor - *Eat the Rich* (1987), as DHSS Manager - *Filthy Rich & Catflap* (1987), series, as Ralph Filthy - *King and Castle* (1986), series, as David Castle - *Private Enterprise* (1986), as Derek - *The Supergrass* (1985), as Gunter - *Happy Families* (1985), series, as Barman - *Roll Over Beethoven* (1985), series, as Nigel Cochrane - *Brazil* (1985), as Charlie--Dept. of Works — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/brazil.md) - *Sherlock Holmes* (1984), series, as Inspector Hopkins - *Slags* (1984), as Marlon - *A Fistful of Travellers' Cheques* (1984), as Paul - *Susie* (1984), as Dave - *Dirty Movie* (1984), as Nigel - *Storyboard* (1983), series, as David Castle - *Yellowbeard* (1983), as Mansell - *Blackadder* (1983), series, as Lord Smedley — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/blackadder.md) - *Summer School* (1983), as Julian - *Bad News* (1983), as Den Dennis - *War* (1983), as Various Roles - *Dead on Time* (1983), as Boring Friend - *The Young Ones* (1982), series, as Neil — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-young-ones.md) - *The Comic Strip Presents...* (1982), series, as Julian, Tommy/Doc/Ivan/McClowsky/Australian, Charles, Den Dennis, Dave, Paul, Nigel, Marlon, Derek, Bernard/Old Man/Camp Actor 1 · TV Presenter, Tony, Stan, Aldo Vini, Steve's Manager/1st MI5 Man, Writer - *Shine on Harvey Moon* (1982), series, as Lou Lewis - *The Comic Strip* (1981), Writer - *Boom Boom... Out Go the Lights* (1980), series, Actor - *The Magic Roundabout* (1964), series, Actor ## Gallery - ![Nigel Planer](https://film.one/media/person/60397/gallery-4c840b478cb7.jpg) Nigel Planer — JN1550, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/95/Nigel_Planer_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Nigel Planer](https://film.one/media/person/60397/gallery-e6936cf7b18d.jpg) Nigel Planer — 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/nigel-planer