Norman Lovett
{{short description|British actor and comedian (born 1946)}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2012}}
{{Infobox comedian
| name = Norman Lovett
| image = Norman Lovett.jpg
| caption = Norman Lovett in 2005
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1946|10|31|df=y}}
| birth_place = Windsor, Berkshire, England{{Cite web|title=About Norman – Norman Lovett|url=https://www.normanlovett.com/about-norman/|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-05-01}}
| medium = Stand-up comedy, actor, film, television
| nationality = British
| active = 1976–present
| genre =
| subject =
| influences =
| influenced =
| spouse =
| website = {{URL|normanlovett.com/}}
| children =
}}
Norman Lovett (born 31 October 1946) is a British stand-up comedian and actor best known for his portrayal of Holly, the ship's computer in Red Dwarf.
Career
Lovett became a stand-up comedian in his thirties, initially supporting punk bands in the late 1970s, before establishing himself on the alternative comedy scene during the 1980s.{{cite web |title=Penguin's Lovett |url=https://www.reddwarf.co.uk/features/interviews/norman-lovett/ |website=Red Dwarf Official Website |accessdate=3 May 2020}} He played London's Comedy Store on many occasions.{{cite web |title=About Norman |url=https://www.normanlovett.com/about-norman/ |website=Norman Lovett Website |accessdate=19 April 2020}}
From 1989 to 1993, Lovett wrote and starred in his own surreal BBC2 sitcom called I, Lovett. He played a version of himself who is an inventor living in a world of surrealism with his talking dog, voiced by Geoffrey Hughes; spider, voiced by Mary Riggans; and talking inanimate objects.{{cite magazine |last1=Mabbot |first1=Alistair |title=Last of the Red Hot Lovetts |url=https://archive.list.co.uk/the-list/1989-06-02/7/ |magazine=The List |accessdate=2019-06-22 |date=1989-06-02}} During this time, he also wrote and starred in a one-off special called Lovett Goes To Town, which was aired as part of Galaxy series The Last Laugh.{{cite web |title=Lovett Goes To Town |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/lovett_goes_to_town/ |website=British Comedy Guide |accessdate=15 May 2020}}
In 1996, Lovett played a doctor in the short-lived sitcom Asylum, created by Edgar Wright, alongside Simon Pegg, Jessica Stevenson, Julian Barratt and an ensemble cast. Lovett later worked with Edgar Wright again on Is It Bill Bailey?, a stand-up/sketch series starring Bill Bailey.{{cite web |title=Norman Lovett |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0522686/ |website=IMDb |accessdate=19 April 2020}}
Lovett's first television appearances include a stand-up performance on Pyjamarama in 1983, and a brief role in The Young Ones in the episode Summer Holiday. He appeared again with The Young Ones star Rik Mayall in sketches for UK music series The Tube, and television act The Dangerous Brothers.{{cite web |title=Norman Lovett |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0522686/ |website=IMDb |accessdate=3 May 2020}}
Lovett has made a number of other acting appearances such as the Ghost of Christmas Past in a television adaptation of A Christmas Carol, Mr. Follett in The History of Tom Jones, the film The Criminal, BBC docudrama Seven Wonders of the Industrial World, as well as the BBC One sitcom Keeping Up Appearances. He also appeared in three episodes of drama The Bill, three episodes of the Scottish sitcom Rab C Nesbitt, an episode of EastEnders, comedy drama series Happy Families, and children's television series Gordon the Gopher. He played a supporting role in two series of the television series Don't Miss Wax, hosted by Ruby Wax.
In 2006, Lovett appeared in the comedy-horror film Evil Aliens.{{cite web |title=Evil Aliens |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0383353/ |website=IMDb |date=10 March 2006 |accessdate=15 July 2019}} In 2013, he featured in the mockumentary feature film Behind the Scenes of Total Hell.
Lovett's comedy has a quiet, dead-pan surrealism, and in 2000, he made a successful stand-up tour, co-headlining with Chris Barrie, who played Rimmer in Red Dwarf.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/1999/apr/29/artsfeatures2|title=Chris Barrie and Norman Lovett|last=North|first=Madeleine|date=28 April 1999|newspaper=The Guardian|accessdate=4 April 2014}} In 2008 Lovett co-headlined a stand-up tour with Hattie Hayridge, who played the female version of Holly in Red Dwarf.{{cite web |title=Double Header |url=http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/news/2008/04/04/double-header-poster |website=Red Dwarf Official Website |accessdate=19 April 2020}} His career as a stand-up comedian has included regular appearances at the Edinburgh Fringe.{{cite web |title=Norman Lovett |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/comics/n/135/norman_lovett |website=Chortle |accessdate=19 April 2020}} Comedian Stewart Lee has cited Lovett as an influence,{{cite news |last1=Peter |first1=Richardson |title=The List: Stewart Lee's defining moments in alternative comedy |url=https://www.ft.com/content/e5f3a98c-648e-11e2-9711-00144feab49a |accessdate=19 April 2020 |work=Financial Times|date=25 January 2013}} and on occasion the two have featured on the same bill, including an alternative comedy showcase event in 2011, curated by Lee at the Royal Festival Hall.{{cite web |title=At Last! The 1981 Show |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/review/2011/05/31/28278/at_last!_the_1981_show |website=Chortle |accessdate=19 April 2020}} In 2008, Lovett released his first stand-up DVD Bags and Biscuits. In 2012, he released his second stand-up DVD, Norman Lovett: Outside the Box.
From 2014 to 2018, Lovett was a main cast member in BBC Radio 4 comedy To Hull and Back, alongside Maureen Lipman and series creator Lucy Beaumont.{{cite web |title=Norman Lovett |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/norman_lovett/ |website=British Comedy Guide |accessdate=19 April 2020}}
''Red Dwarf''
Lovett played the role of Holly in Red Dwarf in its first and second series. Starting from the third series, Lovett declined to join the cast when Red Dwarf filming moved to London, while Lovett had moved to Edinburgh,{{cite magazine |last1=Norman |first1=Lovett |title=Letters: Norman normal |url=https://archive.list.co.uk/the-list/1990-08-31/94/ |magazine=The List |date=1990-08-31|accessdate=2019-06-22}} with the distance between the two cities decreasing his willingness to participate.
Lovett returned in the seventh series as a guest star and the eighth as a regular. However, a disagreement with writer/producer Doug Naylor meant that for a period Lovett refused to take part in any further Red Dwarf productions.{{cite web |url=http://www.wharf.co.uk/2009/05/norman-lovett-takes-red-dwarfs.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003150333/http://www.wharf.co.uk/2009/05/norman-lovett-takes-red-dwarfs.html |archivedate=3 October 2011 |title=Norman Lovett takes Red Dwarf's male Holly offline |last1=Hill |first1=John |date=20 May 2009 |work=wharf.co.uk |accessdate=11 April 2013}}
Following the success of Red Dwarf X, Lovett resumed contact with Naylor,{{cite web |url=http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/Entertainment/Theatre/Latest-Theatre-News/Red-Dwarf-star-Norman-Lovett-talks-about-his-new-show-25102012.htm |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305011119/http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/Entertainment/Theatre/Latest-Theatre-News/Red-Dwarf-star-Norman-Lovett-talks-about-his-new-show-25102012.htm|archivedate=5 March 2016|title=Red Dwarf star Norman Lovett talks about his new show |last1=Hall |first1=Amanda |date=1 November 2012 |work=maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk |accessdate=11 April 2013}} resulting in his guest appearance in the twelfth series episode "Skipper".{{Cite news|url=http://metro.co.uk/2017/09/08/the-original-holly-aka-actor-norman-lovett-is-heading-back-to-red-dwarf-for-its-12th-series-6913013/|title=The original Holly – aka actor Norman Lovett – is heading back to Red Dwarf for its 12th series|last=Westbrook|first=Caroline|date=8 September 2017|work=Metro|access-date=4 January 2018}} After this, Lovett resumed his role as Holly in the 2020 special The Promised Land.{{Cite web|url=http://www.chortle.co.uk/video/2020/03/20/45684/new_trailer_for_red_dwarf:_the_promised_land|title=New trailer for Red Dwarf: The Promised Land : Video 2020 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide|website=www.chortle.co.uk|language=en|access-date=2020-03-24}}
Lovett has also played the role of Holly in Red Dwarf-related releases, such as the "Tongue Tied" music video, a sketch for BBC's Children in Need, the interactive DVD game Beat the Geek, and additional footage filmed for Red Dwarf Remastered.
Other activities
Lovett is known for political activism. He has performed stand-up comedy on numerous occasions for 'Stand Up For Labour' in support of said party. In 2016, he was awarded Stand Up For Labour's Act of the Year.{{cite web |title=Act of the Year |url=https://www.standupforlabour.co.uk/page_3616281.html |website=Stand Up For Labour |accessdate=3 May 2020}} In September 2016, Lovett performed at the 'Keep Corbyn' rally in Brighton, in support of Jeremy Corbyn's campaign in the Labour Party leadership election.{{cite news |last=Burke|first=Darren|url=https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/news/tv-star-comedians-line-up-for-jeremy-corbyn-rally-in-doncaster-1-8090226|title=TV star comedians line up for Jeremy Corbyn rally in Doncaster|location=Doncaster|newspaper=Doncaster Free Press|date=26 August 2016|accessdate=1 June 2018}}
Lovett's voice is available as an in-game purchase in the 2014 game Elite Dangerous, allowing the user to customise the ships 'COVAS' speech system.{{Cite web|url=http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/news/2015/03/27/fly-with-norman/|title = Fly with Norman}}
Lovett has stated that one of his personal career highlights was supporting punk rock band The Clash.{{cite web |title=About Norman |url=https://www.normanlovett.com/about-norman/ |website=Norman Lovett Website |accessdate=3 May 2020}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|0522686}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lovett, Norman}}
Category:English male television actors
Category:English male comedians
Category:Male actors from Windsor, Berkshire
Category:Labour Party (UK) people
Category:English male radio actors
Category:20th-century English male actors
Category:21st-century English male actors
Category:20th-century English comedians
Category:21st-century English comedians