Editing Harry Enfield

{{short description|English actor, comedian and writer (born 1961)}}
{{BLP sources|date=October 2013}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox comedian
| name           = Harry Enfield
| image          = PrivateEyeCriterion041223 (4 of 8) (53377639294) (cropped).jpg
| caption        = Enfield in 2023
| birth_name     = Henry Richard Enfield
| birth_date     = {{birth date and age|1961|5|30|df=yes}}
| birth_place    = [[Horsham]], [[England]]
| education      = [[University of York]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
| medium         = {{hlist|Television|film|[[stand-up comedy|stand-up]]}}
| active         = 1984–present
| genre          = {{hlist|[[Sketch shows]]|[[character comedy]]|satire}}
| children       = 3
| spouse         = {{marriage|Lucy Lyster|1997|2020|end=separated}}
| parents        = [[Edward Enfield]]
}}

'''Henry Richard Enfield''' (born 30 May 1961)<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/loadsa-characters-1350249.html |title=Profile |work=The Independent |date=2 November 1996 |location=London |first=James |last=Rampton |access-date=4 May 2010 |archive-date=12 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612202203/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/loadsa-characters-1350249.html |url-status=live }}</ref> is an English comedian.  He is known in particular for his television work, including ''[[Harry Enfield & Chums|Harry Enfield's Television Programme]]'' and ''[[Harry & Paul]]'', and for the creation and portrayal of comedy characters such as [[Kevin the Teenager]], [[Loadsamoney]], [[Smashie and Nicey]], [[The Scousers]], Tim Nice-But-Dim and Mr "You Don't Want to Do It Like That".

==Early life==
Born in [[Horsham]], [[Sussex]], he is the eldest of four children (and only son) of English television, radio and newspaper journalist and presenter [[Edward Enfield]] and his wife, Deirdre Jenkins. The Enfield family are descendants of the nineteenth-century philanthropist [[Edward Enfield (philanthropist)|Edward Enfield]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2019/02/25/edward-enfield-columnist-travel-writer-television-presenter/|title=Edward Enfield, columnist, travel writer, television presenter and father of comedian Harry – obituary|date=25 February 2019|access-date=8 June 2021|website=Telegraph.co.uk|archive-date=29 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129133529/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2019/02/25/edward-enfield-columnist-travel-writer-television-presenter/|url-status=live}}</ref>

He was educated at the independent Arundale School in [[Pulborough]], [[Dorset House School]], [[Worth School]], [[The College of Richard Collyer|Collyer's Sixth Form College]] (all in West Sussex) and the [[University of York]], where he was a member of [[Derwent College, York|Derwent College]] and studied politics. He [[squatting|squatted]] in Hackney and worked for a while as a [[milkman]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chortle.co.uk/comics/h/33194/harry_enfield|title=Harry Enfield|author=|work=[[chortle.co.uk]]|access-date=11 May 2007|archive-date=11 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711075122/https://www.chortle.co.uk/comics/h/33194/harry_enfield|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/sep/29/charlie-higson-my-days-squatting-with-harry-enfield-and-paul-whitehouse|title=Charlie Higson: my days squatting with Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse|author=Charlie Higson|website=Theguardian.com|date=October 2015|access-date=5 September 2018|archive-date=6 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906014103/https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/sep/29/charlie-higson-my-days-squatting-with-harry-enfield-and-paul-whitehouse|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Career==
{{BLP sources section|date=October 2022}}
{{anchor|Loadsamoney}}
Enfield first came to wide public attention when appearing on [[Channel 4]]'s ''[[Saturday Live (UK TV series)|Saturday Live]]'' as several different characters created with [[Paul Whitehouse]]. These quickly entered the national consciousness. Among these characters were Stavros, a Greek kebab shop owner with fractured English; and [[Loadsamoney]], an obnoxious plasterer who constantly boasted about how much money he earned. The Loadsamoney character was created in reaction to the policies of the [[Premiership of Margaret Thatcher|Thatcher government]] of the day, and took on a life of its own, sampling the songs "Money, Money" from the musical ''[[Cabaret (1972 film)|Cabaret]]'' and "[[Money, Money, Money]]" by [[ABBA]] to spawn a hit single in 1988 and a sell-out live tour.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Biressi|first1=Anita|title=Class and Contemporary British Culture|year=2013|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|location=London|isbn=9780230240568|pages=32–37|first2=Heather |last2=Nunn}}</ref> In May 1988, [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] leader [[Neil Kinnock]] used the term ''loadsamoney'' to criticise the policies of the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] government and journalists began to refer to the "loadsamoney mentality" and the "loadsamoney economy".<ref>''The Cambridge Encyclopedia of The English Language''. Ed. [[David Crystal]]. Cambridge: [[Cambridge University Press]], 1995. p. 133. {{ISBN|0521401798}}</ref>

As a foil to Loadsamoney, Enfield and Whitehouse created the [[Geordie]] "Bugger-All-Money" and in 1988 Enfield appeared as both characters during the [[Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute]] Concert at Wembley Stadium. In time, Whitehouse and Enfield became disturbed that Loadsamoney was being seen in a positive light, rather than as a satirical figure, and they had him run over during a [[Comic Relief|Comic Relief Red Nose Day]] show while leaving the studio after presenting host [[Lenny Henry]] with "the biggest cheque of the night"—a physically huge cheque for ten pence.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chortle.co.uk/comics/h/33194/harry_enfield |title=Harry Enfield's Biography : Chortle |work=The UK Comedy Guide |access-date=11 May 2007 |archive-date=11 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711075122/https://www.chortle.co.uk/comics/h/33194/harry_enfield |url-status=live }}</ref> Enfield created "[[Tory Boy]]", a character which portrayed a young male [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP).

In 1989, Enfield realised a personal project, ''[[Norbert Smith - a Life]]'', a spoof on British theatrical knights "slumming" in the film industry. He also provided voices for the British satirical puppet show ''[[Spitting Image]]'', and starred as [[Dirk Gently]] in the [[BBC Radio]] adaptations of ''[[Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency#BBC Radio adaptation|Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency]]'' and ''[[The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul (radio serial)|The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul]]''.

===TV series===
[[File:HarryEnfield1988.jpg|thumb|Enfield in 1998]]

In 1990, Enfield developed his [[BBC]] sketch show ''[[Harry Enfield & Chums|Harry Enfield's Television Programme]]'', later retitled ''Harry Enfield & Chums'', with Whitehouse and [[Kathy Burke]]. Eschewing the [[alternative comedy]] style prevalent at the time, both versions of the show were indebted to comedians such as [[Dick Emery]] and [[Morecambe and Wise]]. Enfield and his co-performers created another group of nationally recognised characters for these shows, such as ''Stan and Pam Herbert'', who use the catchphrase "We are considerably richer than you" (in an exaggerated West-Midlands accent), ''Tim Nice-But-Dim'', ''[[The Scousers]]'', ''[[Smashie and Nicey]]'', ''Wayne and Waynetta Slob'', ''Annoying Kid Brother'', who grew into ''[[Kevin the Teenager]]'', and two old-fashioned presenters, ''Mr Cholmondley-Warner and Grayson''.

In 1991, Enfield played Dermot in the sitcom ''[[Men Behaving Badly]]'' along with [[Martin Clunes]], [[Caroline Quentin]] and [[Leslie Ash]], originally on [[Thames Television]]. Enfield left after the [[List of Men Behaving Badly episodes#Series 1 (1992)|first series]], and was replaced in the [[List of Men Behaving Badly episodes#Series 2 (1992)|second series]] by [[Neil Morrissey]] as Tony. Enfield is a professed fan of [[opera]] and fronted a [[Channel 4]] documentary series on the subject. In 1991 Harry also starred in the series ''[[Gone to the Dogs (TV series)|Gone to the Dogs]]'' as Little Jim.

After a short break from television, Enfield signed a new contract with [[British Sky Broadcasting|BSkyB]], but produced only one series, ''[[Harry Enfield's Brand Spanking New Show]]''. In 2002 Enfield returned to the BBC with ''Celeb'', a new series based on the comic strip of the same title in ''[[Private Eye (magazine)|Private Eye]]'', as the ageing rockstar Gary Bloke.

In 2002, Enfield was the first guest on the revamped version of BBC's ''[[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|Top Gear]]'' where he did a 2 minutes 1 second lap{{clarify|date=January 2024}}. He also appeared on the show on 23 November 2008.<ref>{{cite web |title=Harry Enfield is a Star in a Reasonably Priced Car Again (Series 12, Episode 4) |url=https://www.topgear.com/videos/top-gear-tv/harry-enfield-star-reasonably-priced-car-again-series-12-episode-4 |website=Top Gear |access-date=22 December 2023 |date=3 February 2009}}</ref>  Enfield has also narrated various TV documentaries, such as [[Discovery Wings (British and Irish TV channel)|Discovery Wings]]' ''Classic British Aircraft''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Classic British Aircraft |url=https://www.discoveryuk.com/series/classic-british-aircraft/ |website=Discovery UK |access-date=22 December 2023}}</ref>

In 2007, he played Jim Stonem in the Channel 4 series ''[[Skins (British TV series)|Skins]]''. He reprised this role in the second series in 2008, and the third series in 2009. Enfield directed two episodes of Skins in season two entitled "Chris" and "Tony" in 2008. He appears often on mainstream television shows. His comedy series ''[[Harry & Paul]]'' (originally titled ''Ruddy Hell! It's Harry & Paul'') started in 2007.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}

In September 2013 Enfield appeared in the [[BBC Three (former)|BBC Three]] comedy series [[Bad Education (TV series)|''Bad Education'']] as Martin, the father of [[Jack Whitehall]]'s character Alfie. In October 2014, Enfield and Paul Whitehouse returned to the characters of Frank and George in a sketch for Channel 4's testicular cancer awareness comedy show "[[The Feeling Nuts Comedy Night]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/feeling_nuts/videos/|title=The Feeling Nuts Comedy Night videos|website=British Comedy Guide|access-date=14 October 2021|archive-date=25 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025002727/https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/feeling_nuts/videos/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In August 2015, Enfield, alongside Whitehouse, in celebration of their 25-year partnership, presented ''An Evening With Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b068zpdh|title=BBC Two – An Evening with Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse|publisher=BBC|access-date=1 September 2015|archive-date=24 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171124143439/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b068zpdh|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2016, he appeared as [[John Shakespeare]], father of [[William Shakespeare]], in the sitcom ''[[Upstart Crow]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-12-08/david-mitchell-to-play-shakespeare-in-new-bbc2-sitcom/|title=David Mitchell to play Shakespeare in new BBC2 sitcom|website=Radio Times|access-date=25 February 2019|archive-date=23 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423035007/https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-12-08/david-mitchell-to-play-shakespeare-in-new-bbc2-sitcom/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Since 2016, Enfield has appeared as [[Charles III of the United Kingdom|Prince Charles]] (later [[Charles III of the United Kingdom|King Charles III]]) in the [[Channel 4]] sitcom ''[[The Windsors]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2016/may/06/channel-4-royal-family-sitcom-the-windsors|title=The Windsors: behind the scenes of a right royal send-up|first=Alexi|last=Duggins|date=6 May 2016|access-date=25 February 2019|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|archive-date=27 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927233414/https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2016/may/06/channel-4-royal-family-sitcom-the-windsors|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Films ===
[[File:Harry Enfield at the BAFTA's.jpg|thumb|Enfield in 2009]]
In 2000, Enfield appeared in his first leading film role playing Kevin alongside [[Kathy Burke]], who played the character's (male) friend Perry—roles originally created for Enfield's television series—in ''[[Kevin & Perry Go Large]]''. The film charted the pair's attempt to become professional DJs by travelling to the nightclubs of [[Ibiza]] and pestering their idol, the DJ Eyeball Paul, played by [[Rhys Ifans]], while gaining love and losing their virginity. Enfield also appeared as King [[George VI]] in ''[[Churchill: The Hollywood Years]]'' (2004), a satire on Hollywood's tendency to change elements of history. In 2012, he starred with Simon Callow in the film ''Acts of Gordfrey'', which opened in UK cinemas on 27 January.

He reprised his role as Martin in ''The Bad Education Movie'', released on 21 August 2015. He appeared as Bill in the 2015 film ''[[Scottish Mussel]]''.

In 2015 Enfield and [[Jessica Hynes]] appeared as Mr and Mrs Jackson in a BBC film of the [[Arthur Ransome]] children's novel ''[[Swallows and Amazons (2016 film)|Swallows and Amazons]]''.

In 2022, Enfield appeared as [[Tony Blair]] in the made-for-television biographical musical comedy film ''[[Prince Andrew: The Musical]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/global/prince-andrew-the-musical-tv-special-cast-harry-enfield-1235440582/|title='Prince Andrew: The Musical' TV Special Sets Cast Including Harry Enfield, Munya Chawawa|website=variety.com|date=24 November 2022 |accessdate=2 January 2023}}</ref>

=== Video games ===

In 2012, a likeness of his character Loadsamoney, named "Harold Lott", was released as a [[Downloadable content|DLC]] skin for the game ''[[Killing Floor (video game)|Killing Floor]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Killing Floor - Harold Lott Character Pack |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/210933/Killing_Floor__Harold_Lott_Character_Pack/ |website=Steam |access-date=1 May 2022 |date=5 July 2012}}</ref>

=== Commercials ===

Enfield appeared in some television commercials before becoming famous, including one made in 1987 for [[Tetley]]. Enfield's commercials include a series made in 1994 for [[Dime Bar]]. One commercial in this series had Enfield as a yokel refusing a Dime bar—smooth on the outside, crunchy on the inside—because he preferred [[armadillo]]s—smooth on the inside, crunchy on the outside. Later Enfield, with Paul Whitehouse, starred in a series of commercials for [[Hula Hoops]] as The Self-Righteous Brothers, characters from Enfield's television show. In 2004 Enfield starred in a series of commercials for [[Burger King]] in Paraguay as Dr Angus, a character intended to promote the company's newest hamburger. Two more characters from Enfield's TV series, Mr Cholmondley-Warner and Grayson, also appeared in commercials, for [[Mercury Communications]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/cw-courts-controversy-in-hong-kong-1363870.html | location=London | work=The Independent | first=Chris | last=Godsmark | date=18 September 1996 | title=C&W courts controversy in Hong Kong | access-date=12 February 2014 | archive-date=26 February 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226204842/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/cw-courts-controversy-in-hong-kong-1363870.html | url-status=live }}</ref> Also in 2004 Enfield provided the voice of "The Roaming Gnome" character used in [[Travelocity]]'s U.S. advertising campaign. Enfield was also in commercials for Worthington Bitter.

=== Music ===

Enfield made a cameo appearance as 'the tea lady' during [[Blur (band)|Blur]]'s performance at the Olympics Closing Ceremony Celebration Concert in London's [[Hyde Park, London|Hyde Park]] in [[London2012|2012]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cochrane |first1=Greg |title=Blur close Hyde Park during Olympic closing ceremony |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-19240618 |website=BBC News |access-date=1 May 2022 |date=13 August 2012 |quote=They were joined on stage by actor Phil Daniels and comedian Harry Enfield, who was dressed as a tea lady, and played hits like Song 2 and Parklife.}}</ref>

He also appeared alongside [[Damon Albarn]]'s other project [[the Good, the Bad & the Queen]], as compere, during a live performance at the [[Tower of London]], on 9 July 2007.{{cn|date=June 2024}}

In January 2025, Enfield featured in ''Ego Death'', a film of 10 interconnected music videos accompanying an album by [[Archie Henderson (comedian)|Archie Henderson]]'s musical persona, [[Jazz Emu]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Jazz Emu releases Ego Death |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/online/news/8140/jazz-emu-releases-ego-death/ |website=British Comedy Guide |date=12 February 2024 |access-date=12 February 2024}}</ref>{{better source needed|reason=source is for announcement not issue|date=February 2025}}

=== Theatre ===
In 2021 Enfield starred as [[Prince Charles]] in ''The Windsors: Endgame'' at the [[Prince of Wales Theatre]] in London. The show ran for a limited time and closed on 9 October 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Windsors: Endgame {{!}} Prince of Wales Theatre |url=https://thewindsorsendgame.com/ |access-date=2023-01-19 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Discography==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:14em;"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year
! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[UK Singles Chart|UK]]<br /><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/24899/harry-enfield/ | title=Harry Enfield : full Official Charts History | publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] | access-date=15 November 2015}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| "[[Loadsamoney|Loadsamoney (Doin' Up the House)]]"
| 1988
| 4
| Non-album single
|-
|}

== Personal life ==
In 1997,{{cn|date=February 2025}} Enfield married Lucy Lyster; they have three children.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2012/jan/22/harry-enfield-cant-do-same| title=Harry Enfield: 'I can't get out of bed if I've got to do the same thing over and over again'| newspaper=[[The Guardian]]| date=22 January 2012| access-date=7 January 2018| archive-date=7 January 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107232926/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2012/jan/22/harry-enfield-cant-do-same| url-status=live |quote=The reality was that in the late 90s he simply fell in love, got married, had three children, and didn't want them growing up with a celebrity dad. }}</ref> It was announced in August 2020 that the couple had separated.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2020/08/15/harry-enfield-splits-wife-23-years-13131959/|title=Harry Enfield 'splits from wife of 23 years and leaves family home'|first=Abbie|last=Bray|website=Metro.co.uk|date=15 August 2020|access-date=8 June 2021|archive-date=17 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417152043/https://metro.co.uk/2020/08/15/harry-enfield-splits-wife-23-years-13131959/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Harry Enfield}}
* {{IMDb name|id=0256960|name=Harry Enfield}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS37SNYjg8w 'Look, Listen and Take Heed']

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Enfield, Harry}}
[[Category:Harry Enfield| ]]
[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:20th-century English comedians]]
[[Category:20th-century squatters]]
[[Category:Actors from Horsham District]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of York]]
[[Category:Audiobook narrators]]
[[Category:Comedians from West Sussex]]
[[Category:English male comedians]]
[[Category:English male film actors]]
[[Category:English male television actors]]
[[Category:English male television writers]]
[[Category:English male voice actors]]
[[Category:English sketch comedians]]
[[Category:English television writers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Male actors from West Sussex]]
[[Category:People educated at The College of Richard Collyer]]
[[Category:People educated at Worth School]]
[[Category:People from Horsham]]