Cracker - To Be a Somebody - Part Three - 11:15 pm Saturday, January 10 on That's TV 3

Robbie Coltrane (Actor) .. Dr Eddie `Fitz" Fitzgerald

Born: March 30, 1950 in Rutherglen, near Glasgow

Best Known For: Playing psychologist Fitz in Cracker, and Hagrid in the Harry Potter films.

Early-life: Born Anthony Robert McMillan on March 30, 1950, in Rutherglen, near Glasgow, Coltrane's father Ian was a GP and a police surgeon who was keen to educate his son and encourage him to read as much as possible. Mother Jean was a teacher and musician who often played the piano for her son. At 17, his father died of lung cancer. His younger sister Jane later committed suicide while attending York University.

Career: Coltrane first captured the public's attention as a member of the Comic Strip team in 1982, co-writing and co-directing the series as well as starring. He'd done the rounds as a stand-up comedian, but realised he wanted to pursue a career in acting. He has proven himself to be capable of doing straight roles and comedy, winning three Best Actor Bafta Awards for crime drama series Cracker. He has also won roles in big-budget movies, including two outings as a Bond villain in Goldeneye and The World Is Not Enough, and more recently as Hagrid in the Harry Potter films as well as voicing roles in several children's animations. Robbie received an OBE for services to drama in 2006.

Quote: "My size? I am six foot one inch in just about every direction."

Trivia: Away from acting, Coltrane is a talented painter.

Christopher Eccleston (Actor) .. DCI David Bilborough

Born: February 16, 1964 in Salford

Best Known For: Doctor Who.

Early-life: Christopher Eccleston was born on February 16, 1964, in Salford, Manchester, but raised in Eccles. His father worked in a factory, and he knew he didn't want to follow in his footsteps, preferring to dream of a career as a Manchester United footballer. However, he realised he was better at acting than soccer, so after studying at Salford Technical College, he enrolled at London's Central School of Speech and Drama.

Career: Following his graduation in 1986, Eccleston spent several years without an acting job, making ends meet as a labourer. He eventually made his professional stage debut at the Bristol Old Vic, and gained plaudits for his first film, Let Him Have It. Major roles in Cracker, Shallow Grave and Our Friends in the North made him an instantly recognisable figure. He's since appeared in such projects as Jude, Hillsborough, Elizabeth, The Others, 24 Hour Party People, 28 Days Later, and The Second Coming. In 2005 he became the ninth official Doctor Who, but quit after one series to avoid being typecast. He's since appeared in Heroes, GI Joe: Rise of the Cobra, Lennon Naked, Accused, The Shadow Line, and HBO drama The Leftovers.

Quote: "I don't want to be thought of as the Doctor to the exclusion of everything else I've done or may do."

Trivia: He supports Manchester United and used to be a regular marathon runner.

Geraldine Somerville (Actor) .. DS Jane Penhaligon

Lorcan Cranitch (Actor) .. DS Jimmy Beck

Ricky Tomlinson (Actor) .. DCI Charlie Wise

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.

Colin Tierney (Actor) .. DC Bobby Harriman

Edward Peel (Actor) .. Chief Super

Robert Carlyle (Actor) .. Albie Kinsella

Born: April 14, 1961 in Glasgow

Best Known For: The Full Monty.

Early-life: Robert Carlyle was born in Glasgow on April 14, 1961. His mother left home when he was four. He was raised by his father in a succession of communes in England and Scotland. After leaving school with no qualifications, Carlyle followed in his father's footsteps by working as a painter and decorator. At 21, he bought a copy of Arthur Miller's classic play The Crucible, which inspired him to become an actor. He studied at the Glasgow Arts Centre and the Royal Scottish Academy Of Music And Drama.

Career: Carlyle co-founded the Raindog theatre group in Glasgow in 1990 and his big break came in the same year when director Ken Loach cast him in the film Riff-Raff. Four years later, he won a Scottish Bafta for his performance as murderer Albie Kinsella in a three-part episode of Cracker. The lead role in Hamish Macbeth followed in 1995. He caught Hollywood's attention after appearing in Trainspotting and The Full Monty. He has also starred in Plunkett and Macleane, Angela's Ashes, The Beach, Bond film The World Is Not Enough, and The 51st State, as well as 28 Weeks Later.

Quote: "Acting is such a frivolous thing to do, so I want to try and use that skill on projects that have something to say."

Trivia: He was awarded an OBE in 1999.

Beth Goddard (Actor) .. Clare Moody

Isobel Middleton (Actor) .. Catriona Bilborough

Wilbert Johnson (Actor) .. PC Skelton

Jimmy McGovern (Writer)

Tim Fywell (Director)

Paul Abbott (Producer)

Cracker: To Be a Somebody - Part Three

11:15 pm - 12:20 am, Saturday, January 10 on That's TV 3 (71)

About this Broadcast

To Be a Somebody - Part Three
Season 2, Episode 3

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