Down to Earth - Hot Air - 4:10 pm Thursday, January 22 on Great! TV

Bernard Cribbins (Actor) .. Frank Cosgrove

Born: December 29, 1928 in Oldham, Lancashire

Best Known For: Voicing The Wombles and appearing in Doctor Who.

Early-life: Born on December 29, 1928, in Oldham, Lancashire. His mother, Ethel, worked in a mill as a cotton weaver, while his father, Jack, was a general labourer. He began acting in his early teens, playing junior roles at his local theatre after being spotted taking part in a charity fund-raiser. After leaving school at 14, Cribbins was taken on by Oldham Rep as an assistant stage manager, during which he also played small roles while earning 15 shillings a week. He took a break from his career to do national service in the Parachute Regiment.

Career: After appearing on stage for many years, Cribbins finally made his film debut in 1957's Davy, before going on to work alongside some of British cinema's biggest names in such films as Two-Way Stretch, She, Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150AD, Casino Royale (the 1967 version), and Frenzy. He's also starred in several Carry On movies. Cribbins has also worked extensively in projects aimed at youngsters, making a record number of appearances on Jackanory (17), voicing The Wombles, and appearing in The Railway Children. More recently, he's featured in Coronation Street and the revamped Doctor Who. Over the years, he's also had his own TV show and three hit records, including Right Said Fred. He refuses to slow down, and has the lead role in CBeebies show Old Jack's Boat.

Quote: "I've done everything except a Western - and I've never been in a circus."

Trivia: Cribbins was awarded an OBE in 2011 for services to drama. During the 1960s, he narrated the Tufty Fluffytale series of public information films about road safety.

Melanie Kilburn (Actor) .. Lyn Cooper

Denise Welch (Actor) .. Jackie Murphy

Born: May 22, 1958 in Ebchester, Co Durham

Best Known For: Being a former Loose Woman.

Early-life: Born Jacqueline Denise Welch on May 22, 1958, in Ebchester, Co Durham. Her father ran the now defunct Welch's Toffee Company and also performed as a drag act, and her mother was a nurse. Denise enjoyed acting in school productions, but was all set to go to teacher training college until her father and drama teacher convinced her to apply to the Mountview Theatre School instead. She studied there for three years, and began winning stage roles shortly after graduation.

Career: Denise starred in a variety of hit TV dramas including Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, Byker Grove, Soldier Soldier and Spender before landing the part of Natalie in Coronation Street in 1997. She stayed on the soap opera for four years but left when she discovered she was pregnant with her second child. She was asked to present This Morning following the departure of Richard and Judy, but turned the offer down. She went on to make appearances in TV shows The Vice, Born and Bred, and Down to Earth, before joining the cast of Waterloo Road. The actress has also hit the charts with the singles You Don't Have to Say You Love Me and Cry Me A River. She was a panellist on Loose Women between 2002 and 2013. In August 2013, she was a contestant on ITV's dancing reality series Stepping Out.

Quote: "I do know that I feel a better wife and better mum the way I lead my life now. That's the wonderful thing - I have two fantastic kids and we're doing really well."

Trivia: Her autobiography, Pulling Myself Together, was published in 2010.

Ricky Tomlinson (Actor) .. Tony Murphy

Born: September 26, 1939 in Blackpool

Best Known For: Playing Jim in The Royle Family.

Early-life: Born Eric Tomlinson in Blackpool on September 26, 1939, but has lived mostly in Liverpool. His father was a baker, while his mother had three jobs. He wanted to be a footballer, but playing the banjo in clubs and pubs became more important. After marrying, he moved to Wrexham and worked as a plasterer - which led to his involvement in a 1972 strike and a subsequent prison sentence. Upon his release in 1975, he set himself up as an entertainer, and in 1980 he had a small part in Alan Bleasdale's Boys from the Blackstuff.

Career: Tomlinson's big break came when he landed the role of Bobby Grant in Channel 4 soap opera Brookside. He stayed with the show for six years until 1988, after which he featured in Ken Loach's gritty drama Riff-Raff. TV projects since then have included Roughnecks, Cracker, Playing the Field and Clocking Off, while his film CV boasts offerings such as The 51st State and Mike Bassett: England Manager. He became a comedy icon 1998 thanks to his role in the comedy series The Royle Family. He opened his own cabaret club, The Green Room, in Liverpool in May 2010. He has reportedly donated £1million to the Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool.

Quote: "I never had acting lessons so I'm still an old ham, probably playing myself most of the time."

Trivia: A play entitled United We Stand tells the story of Tomlinson's incarceration. It toured the UK in 2014.

Rob Collier (Actor) .. Nick Christy

Rae Baker (Actor) .. Samantha Barrow

Lynda Baron (Actor) .. Rubes Malone

Zara Dawson (Actor) .. Emma Murphy

Shelley Conn (Actor) .. Kerry Jamil

Marc Jordan (Actor) .. Ryan Cooper

Finn Atkins (Actor) .. Kate Cooper

Cherith Mellor (Actor) .. Vi Hughes

Matthew Devitt (Actor) .. PC Jim Tully

Robert Longden (Actor) .. Freddie

Tony Westrope (Actor) .. Raymond Collins

Rebecca Thorn (Actor) .. Erica

Ben Crowe (Actor) .. Bailiff

Kate Spiro (Actor) .. Dr Flynn

Johanne McAndrew (Writer)

Dominic Keavey (Director)

Sharon Houlihan (Producer)

Down to Earth: Hot Air

4:10 pm - 5:20 pm, Thursday, January 22 on Great! TV (34)

About this Broadcast

Hot Air
Season 5, Episode 8

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