Richard Blackwood
{{Short description|English actor}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox comedian
| name = Richard Blackwood
| image = Richard Blackwood 2016.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Blackwood in 2016
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1972|5|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = London, England
| death_date =
| death_place =
| home_town =
| medium = {{hlist|Comedian|actor|presenter|rapper}}
| years_active = 1993–present
| spouse =
| children = 1
| relatives = Vas Blackwood (cousin)
| website =
}}
Richard Clifford Blackwood (born 15 May 1972){{cite web |title=Richard Blackwood |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2bbd1586c8 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625061352/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2bbd1586c8 |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 June 2016 |publisher=British Film Institute |access-date=10 September 2021}} is a British actor, presenter, and rapper. Between 2015 and 2018, he played Vincent Hubbard in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. In 2020, he began portraying the role of Felix Westwood in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks. For his role as Felix, he has been nominated for a TRIC Award and a National Television Award
Career
Blackwood presented the UK version of Singled Out on Channel 5,{{cite web|url=http://www.ukgameshows.com/ukgs/Singled_Out|title=Singled Out |publisher=UKGameshows|date=2010-10-05|access-date=2014-07-28}} and in 1999, he presented his own series, titled The Richard Blackwood Show."[http://entertainment.uk.msn.com/tv/features/gallery.aspx?cp-documentid=6493489&imageindex=11 Channel 4 Misses] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080111043159/http://entertainment.uk.msn.com/tv/features/gallery.aspx?cp-documentid=6493489 |date=11 January 2008 }}", MSN Entertainment (accessed 9 February 2008) He was also a presenter on Top of the Pops and the MTV television show, MTV Select with Donna Air.{{cite news |title=Richard Blackwood guesting with Danny Blaze |url=https://flexfm.co.uk/richard-blackwood-guesting-with-danny-blaze-monday-25th-february-1400-1600/ |access-date=10 September 2021 |publisher=Flex FM}} In 2000, Blackwood had a number three single on the UK Singles Chart with the song "Mama Who Da Man", based on "Mama Used to Say" by his uncle Junior Giscombe. He later followed it up with two singles, "1.2.3.4 Get with the Wicked" (number 10) and "Someone There for Me" (number 23) and released the album You'll Love to Hate This (number 35) in 2000.{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/richard%20blackwood/ |title=Richard Blackwood & No. 124; Artist |publisher=Official Charts |access-date=2013-08-12}}
Blackwood was tricked into being interviewed on the satire comedy series Brass Eye in 2001, during the episode "Paedogeddon!".{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1335764/Celebrities-fail-to-see-the-joke-on-Brass-Eye.html|title=Celebrities fail to see the joke on Brass Eye|last=O'Neill|first=Sean|journal=Daily Telegraph|date=2001-07-29|access-date=2018-12-10|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}} Blackwood then had acting appearances in Holby City, and played the title character in the 2002 television series Ed Stone Is Dead. During May 2003, Blackwood appeared in Channel 5's Celebrity Detox Camp, which involved him being filmed "pumping 18 litres of coffee solution through his anus into [his] stomach".{{cite web|title=Celebrity Detox Camp - On the Box Profiles|url=http://www.memorabletv.com/onthebox/profiles/celebdetoxcamp.htm|website=Memorable TV|access-date=17 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060328122227/http://www.memorabletv.com/onthebox/profiles/celebdetoxcamp.htm|archive-date=28 March 2006}} In March 2007, he acted in the Bollywood film Don't Stop Dreaming.[http://www.dontstopdreamingthemovie.com Don't Stop Dreaming] (accessed 16 February 2008).{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2007/03/12/dont_stop_dreaming_2007_review.shtml |title=Movies - review - Don't Stop Dreaming |publisher=BBC |date=2007-02-20 |access-date=2014-07-28}} In 2005, Blackwood appeared in Princes of Comedii DVD release. In 2010, he played Brightie in the Tennessee Williams play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, alongside Adrian Lester and James Earl Jones at the Novello Theatre in London.{{cite web|url=http://www.catwestend.com/artists/ |title=Cat On A Hot Tin Roof | Artists & Creative Team - Read cast and creative biographies |publisher=Catwestend.com |date=2010-04-10 |access-date=2014-07-28}} In 2011, he played the role of Donkey in the West End production of Shrek the Musical.{{cite web|url=http://www.london-theatreland.co.uk/review/viewall.php?lastpage=/review/review_insert_curran.php&item_id=389&sort=useful&pg_orig=1&order=DESC |title=User reviews for View All Reviews - Newyorkcitytheatre.com on London Theatreland |publisher=London-theatreland.co.uk |access-date=2014-07-28}}{{cite web|url=http://pappzd.com/2011/05/richard-blackwood-flops-as-donkey/ |title=Richard Blackwood Gets Bad Reviews for Shrek Musical : Pappzd Magazine |publisher=Pappzd.com |access-date=2014-07-28}} The show opened at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 14 June 2011.{{cite news|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5iq7Z0g6XEyLmoa_uqWJ6KuUItBlg|title=Shrek role for BGT judge Amanda|date=2010-07-30|access-date=2010-07-30|publisher=UK Press Association}}{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Blackwood appeared with the rest of the Shrek cast on Britain's Got Talent for ITV on 31 May 2011.{{cite web |url=http://www.unrealitytv.co.uk/britains-got-talent/britains-got-talent-2011-amanda-holden-and-shrek-cast-perform-on-tuesdays-semi-final-video/ |title=Britain's Got Talent 2011: Amanda Holden and Shrek cast perform on Tuesday's semi final (VIDEO) |publisher=Unreality TV |date=2011-05-31 |access-date=2014-07-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606033009/http://www.unrealitytv.co.uk/britains-got-talent/britains-got-talent-2011-amanda-holden-and-shrek-cast-perform-on-tuesdays-semi-final-video/ |archive-date=6 June 2011 |url-status=dead }} They performed "I'm a Believer".
On 17 January 2015, it was announced that Blackwood would be joining the cast of EastEnders as character Vincent Hubbard. He made his first appearance on 17 February 2015, and his last appearance aired on 20 April 2018.{{cite news |title=Why Dancing On Ice star Richard Blackwood left EastEnders |url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/2019010666263/dancing-on-ice-richard-blackwood-reveals-why-leaving-eastenders/ |access-date=10 September 2021 |work=Hello}} In 2019, Blackwood took part in the eleventh series of Dancing on Ice, partnered with professional skater Carlotta Edwards. They were eliminated in Week 3, following a skate off against Saira Khan and Mark Hanretty.{{Cite news|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/reality-tv/a25969172/dancing-on-ice-eastenders-richard-blackwood-second-celebrity-to-leave/|title=Dancing on Ice loses second celebrity in tense skate-off|last=McCreesh|first=Louise|work=Digital Spy|language=en|access-date=23 January 2020}} In 2020, it was announced that he would be joining the cast of the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks.{{Cite news|url=https://metro.co.uk/2020/01/23/eastenders-star-richard-blackwood-cast-hollyoaks-spotted-set-12112336/|title=EastEnders star Richard Blackwood cast in Hollyoaks as he's spotted on set|work=Metro|access-date=23 January 2020}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/hollyoaks/a30643216/hollyoaks-spoilers-eastenders-richard-blackwood-new-role/|title=Hollyoaks lines up EastEnders star Richard Blackwood for role as he's spotted on set|work=Digital Spy|access-date=23 January 2020}} Since joining Hollyoaks, Blackwood has been nominated for a TRIC Award for Soap Actor of the Year,{{cite web |title=ERT Poll - TRIC - TRIC Awards |url=https://tric.org.uk/ert-poll-tricawards21/ |publisher=TRIC |access-date=26 March 2021 |archive-date=26 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326143851/https://tric.org.uk/ert-poll-tricawards21/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Nominees |url=https://tric.org.uk/tric-awards/nominees/ |publisher=TRIC Awards |access-date=13 August 2021}} as well as a National Television Award for Serial Drama Performance.{{cite news |title=Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks stars land National Television Award nominations |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a36526916/ntas-soap-nominations-coronation-street-emmerdale-eastenders-hollyoaks/ |access-date=10 September 2021 |work=Digital Spy |publisher=(Hearst Magazines UK)}}
Personal life
In a 2000 interview, Blackwood claimed that if he had not made it in show business he would have been "a graphic designer, designing buildings".{{cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/community/showcards/R/Richard_Blackwood_Show.html |title=The Richard Blackwood Show - Richard Blackwood joined us live after his show to answer your questions. |access-date=2014-07-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050910182308/http://www.channel4.com/community/showcards/R/Richard_Blackwood_Show.html |archive-date=10 September 2005 }}
He became the stepbrother of supermodel Naomi Campbell when his father married her mother in the 1980s, until their divorce several years later. His uncle is singer Junior Giscombe{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2000/jul/30/features.magazine37 |title= Seriously, it's Richard Blackwood |work=The Guardian |date=30 July 2000 |access-date=2013-08-12}} and his cousin is the actor and comedian Vas Blackwood.(2006) [http://jamaicans.com/interviewwithvasblackw/ "Interview With Vas Blackwood, Creator and Owner of Vastaman.com."]. Jamaicans.com. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
Blackwood has said he once attempted suicide after filing for bankruptcy in 2003.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/richard-blackwood-the-moment-he-lost-it-all-and-tried-to-throw-himself-out-of-a-window-10051066.html |title= Richard Blackwood: The moment he lost it all and tried to throw himself out of a window|last=Selby|first=Jenn|work=The Independent|date=16 February 2015|access-date=2013-08-12}} He has a son, Keaun, born in January 2001.{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/theatre/knocking-on-hollywoods-door-6308877.html|title= Knocking on Hollywood's door|publisher=London Evening Standard |date=3 October 2001|access-date=2013-08-12}}
Discography
=Studio album=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:14em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"| Details ! scope="col" colspan="2" | Peak |
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;" | UK |
|---|
| scope="row" | You'll Love to Hate This
|
| 35 |
=Singles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:15em;" | Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year ! scope="col" | Peak ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album |
|---|
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;" | UK |
| scope="row" | "Mama Who Da Man"
| rowspan="3" | 2000 | 3 | rowspan="3" | You'll Love to Hate This |
| scope="row" | "1.2.3.4 Get with the Wicked"
| 10 |
| scope="row" | "Someone There for Me"
| 23 |
Awards and nominations
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Blackwood, Richard}}
Category:20th-century English comedians
Category:21st-century English comedians
Category:English people of Jamaican descent
Category:Black British radio presenters
Category:English television presenters
Category:English male stage actors
Category:British male soap opera actors
Category:Black British male actors
Category:Black British male rappers
Category:Black British male comedians
Category:English stand-up comedians
Category:Comedians from London