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Andy Secombe
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Andrew James Secombe (born 26 April 1953)[1] is a Welsh actor and author.
Key Information
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Early life and education
[edit]Born in Mumbles, in south Wales, Secombe is son of comedian/singer Harry Secombe (whom he later impersonated in a Goon Show special). He attended the City of London Freemen's School in Ashtead, Surrey.
Career
[edit]Acting
[edit]Andy Secombe is an award-nominated stage, screen and radio actor. He trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama after which he spent several years criss-crossing the country both touring and in rep. His early career included seasons at both the Old Vic (King Lear, The Rivals) and the Young Vic (Hamlet, Stags and Hens, Coriolanus and What a Way to Run a Revolution). Other theatrical performances includes Godspell, Guys and Dolls, Around the World in Eighty Days, Long Days' Journey into Night, Benjamin Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Live! tour and The Invisible Man in the West End. He was recently Offie-nominated for playing Mr Gillie in the play of the same name at the Finborough Theatre.
On television he was a regular on both Playschool and Playaway and also appeared in the BBC TV children's sketch show Fast Forward and played Rover the Dog in Chips' Comic. He was one of the five in Five Alive and a regular on The Brian Conley Show. Other television appearances include Star Cops, Amnesty Beausire, Executive Stress, The Legend of Robin Hood, The Bill, Casualty, The Detectives, Unreported Incident, Britannia and Killing Eve.
In film, he is best known for providing the voice of Watto in the Star Wars prequels and in tie-in media relating to the Star Wars franchise. He also voiced Quello, another Toydarian, in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords.
He has contributed vocals to a number of video games, including Nelly Cootalot: The Fowl Fleet and two entries in the Broken Sword series of games. For Penguin Audiobooks, he has recorded four novels by Mexican author Oscar de Muriel: The Strings of Murder, A Fever of the Blood, A Mask of Shadows and Loch of the Dead. He also regularly reads books for the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and has also performed in radio productions, recently playing Reverend Wavering in the internet radio series Wooden Overcoats.
In March 2017, he starred in four episodes of the third series of The Missing Hancocks for BBC Radio 4; episodes that were originally aired in 1955 in the second series of Hancock's Half Hour starring his father Harry, after Tony Hancock had disappeared.[2][3]
Writing
[edit]In the 2000s, Secombe focused on writing. He has penned five fantasy novels, including Limbo, Limbo Two: The Final Chapter and The Last House in the Galaxy. Looking for Mr Piggy-Wig (2008), about a post-nuclear Britain after the 'New Battle of Britain' is described by The Guardian as "best taken as a spoof on the genre".[4] Endgame (2009) was criticised by Publishers Weekly for its "two-dimensional, clichéd characters and the tiresomely predictable story line".[5]
In 2010 he published the book Growing Up with the Goons which is a memoir about growing up in the shadow of his father.
Personal life
[edit]Secombe is married to actress Caroline Bliss, and as of 2013, the couple were living in Goonbell, Cornwall,[6][7] with their two children.[8]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | I Don't Want to Be Born | Delivery Boy | |
| 1976 | Adventures of a Taxi Driver | Third Kidnapper | |
| 1999 | Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace | Watto (voice) |
|
| 2002 | Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones | ||
| 2016 | The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Radio Show Live | Max Quordlepleen / Benjy Mouse (voice) |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | The Legend of Robin Hood | Brett | Part 3 |
| 1980 | Fox | Don | Episode: "The Perfect Scapegoat Syndrome" |
| 1981 | Prisoners of Conscience | DINA man | Episode: "William Beausire" |
| 1983 | Chips' Comic | ||
| 1984 | Aladdin and the Forty Thieves | Thief | TV film |
| 1984–1986 | Fast Forward | Himself / Various characters | |
| 1986 | What a Way to Run a Revolution | TV film | |
| Five Alive | Various characters | 13 episodes | |
| 1987 | Star Cops | Brian Lincoln | Episode: "An Instinct for Murder" |
| 1988 | The Play on One | Simon | Episode: "Unreported Incident" |
| The Bill | D.S. Dougan | Episode: "Light Duties" | |
| Executive Stress | Pierre de Savarin | Series 3 Episode 3 | |
| 1989-1990 | This Way Up | 13 episodes | |
| 1994–1995 | Insektors | Godfrey / Bentley / Fugg / Queen Katheter (voices) |
|
| 1996 | Casualty | Ray Hyams | Episode: "Relative Valueso" |
| 1997 | Peak Practice | Alan Stark | |
| 2010 | The Unforgettable Harry Secombe | Himself | TV movie documentary |
| 2014 | Spike Milligan: Love, Light and Peace | TV movie documentary | |
| 2015 | Supreme Tweeter | Gerald | Episode: "#TheRedScare" |
| 2019 | Killing Eve | Eric | Episode: "Smell Ya Later" |
| Britannia | Tribal Elder | Season 2 Episode 1 | |
| 2020 | Coronation Street | Judge | Episodes: 9970, 9971 |
| 2022 | Kate & Koji | Twitcher 4 | Episode: "Memories" |
Short films
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Twenty Times More Likely | ||
| 2012 | Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out | Watto (voice) | TV Short |
| 2015 | The Roaring | Frank | |
| 2017 | Captain Baylety's Heir | Himself / John Tall |
Video games
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Star Wars: Episode I - Racer | Watto (voice) | |
| Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace | |||
| 2002 | Star Wars: Racer Revenge | ||
| 2003 | Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon | Flap / Alphonse (voices) | |
| 2004 | Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords | Quello (voice) | |
| 2005 | Lego Star Wars: The Video Game | Watto (voice) | Uncredited, archival audio |
| 2006 | Broken Sword: The Angel of Death | (voice) | |
| 2007 | Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga | Watto (voice) | Uncredited, archival audio |
| 2012 | Kinect Star Wars | ||
| 2016 | Nelly Cootalot: The Fowl Fleet | Dr Periwig (voice) | |
| 2022 | Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga | Watto (voice) | [9] |
Writing credits
[edit]| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | The Three Friends... and Jerry | Episode: "Dirty Älgers/Överlevnadslägret" (storyline) |
| 2000–2002 | Bob the Builder | 2 episodes: "Spud and Squawk" & "Bob and the Bandstand" |
References
[edit]- ^ Andy Secombe at IMDb
- ^ "Secombe replaces 'Tony Hancock'". Chortle. 2 December 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
- ^ "How Radio 4 is bringing Tony Hancock back to life". Radio Times. 14 March 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
- ^ "Looking for Mr Piggy-Wig". The Guardian. 9 August 2008. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
- ^ "Endgame". Publishers Weekly. 17 November 2008. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
- ^ Turner, Robin (3 October 2010). "Harry Secombe's son recalls childhood of stars and laughter". Wales Online. Media Wales. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
Andy Secombe, perhaps best known for providing the voice of insectoid creature Watto in the Star Wars prequels, has fittingly just moved into the Cornish village of Goonbell, with his actress wife Caroline Bliss.
- ^ "Now in Truro via Tatooine, Star Wars actor James gets ready to publish his fifth novel". The West Briton. 15 July 2008. Retrieved 13 April 2016.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Why I'll always be grateful that my Dad was a Goon". Western Morning News. 27 November 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2016.[permanent dead link]
- ^ WingedRobot #BlackLivesMatter [@WingedRobot] (6 April 2022). "Started Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga last night. My partner and I wanted to know who voices young Anikin, so we decided to watch the credits. Fast forward what felt like 15 minutes or so later, and this is what we got. What the hell, @wbgames, @TTGames, @Disney? https://t.co/5rVjChULBc" (Tweet). Retrieved 15 December 2022 – via Twitter.
External links
[edit]- Andy Secombe at IMDb
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Andy Secombe
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early life and education
Early life
Andrew James Secombe was born on 26 April 1953 in Mumbles, Swansea, Wales, in his maternal grandparents' council house on Heathwood Road overlooking Mumbles Pier.[9][1] He spent the first few years of his childhood in the close-knit coastal community of Mumbles, where his early memories centered on the pier and the surrounding Welsh environment, fostering a strong sense of cultural identity despite his family's impending move.[10] The family later returned to Wales each summer, allowing Andy to enjoy freedoms like playing on Gower beaches and riding the Mumbles train with local children, which contrasted with their primary residence.[9] In around 1956, when Andy was about three years old, the family relocated to Cheam in south London due to his father Harry Secombe's rising success with The Goon Show, which enabled the purchase of a family home nearer to his showbusiness commitments.[10][11] This shift required adjustment to urban life, though the household remained lively with celebrity visitors like Shirley Bassey and Des O'Connor treated as ordinary family friends.[9] His father's career as a renowned comedian and singer exposed Andy from a young age to the world of performance arts, including an eclectic home library featuring authors like Ray Bradbury and Shakespeare, as well as interactions with Goons colleagues Peter Sellers and Spike Milligan.[10] Andy grew up alongside his older sister Jennifer, younger sister Katy, and younger brother David, sharing family experiences shaped by their father's humor and touring schedule.[11] His uncle Fred Secombe, the elder brother of Harry, served as an Anglican clergyman in the Church in Wales and became a prolific author of religious books and memoirs.Education
Secombe attended the City of London Freemen's School in Ashtead, Surrey, during his teenage years. He later transitioned to the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London for specialized training in acting.[12] There, he earned a Diploma in Stage/Acting in 1974, marking his graduation in the mid-1970s.[13] Secombe's drama school curriculum emphasized practical skill development, including voice techniques and initial onstage performances that built his foundational abilities in dramatic arts.[12] This formal education connected his early familial influences in entertainment—where his father Harry provided emotional encouragement without direct professional interference—to his ambitions in acting and voice work.[9]Career
Acting
Andy Secombe made his professional acting debut in 1975, shortly after graduating from the Central School of Speech and Drama, with stage performances marking the start of his theatre career, including an early film role as the Third Kidnapper in Adventures of a Taxi Driver (1976) and a later television appearance as Brett in The Legend of Robin Hood (1990).[1] His initial years focused on theatre, where he gained experience in ensemble productions across prominent London venues. In 1977, he performed in the national tour and West End production of the musical Godspell, directed by Bob Cheeseman, marking one of his first major stage credits.[14] Secombe later joined the Old Vic Theatre Company under Toby Robertson, appearing in seasons that included King Lear and The Rivals during the early 1980s, and took on the role of Horatio in a 1989 Young Vic production of Hamlet directed by David Thacker.[15] Transitioning to television in the late 1970s, Secombe began with children's programming, serving as a presenter on BBC's Playschool from 1979 to 1980 and continuing into the 1980s on the follow-up series Playaway alongside Brian Cant, where he contributed sketches and puppetry segments.[16] These roles established his versatility in light-hearted, family-oriented content before he ventured into more dramatic work, such as portraying Brian Lincoln in the 1987 BBC science fiction series Star Cops. His career evolved further into voice acting, with a breakthrough in 1999 when he provided the distinctive voice for the character Watto in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, reprising the role in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones in 2002 and subsequent video games and animations.[1] In the 2010s, Secombe returned to the stage with notable performances, including an Offie-nominated portrayal of the title character in James Bridie's Mr. Gillie at the Finborough Theatre in 2017, earning praise for his depiction of an idealistic Scottish schoolmaster.[15] He continued appearing in British television, with guest roles in series such as Killing Eve (2018) and Kate & Koji (2022).[1] Spanning from 1975 to the present, Secombe's acting career has encompassed theatre, screen, and voice work, with ongoing engagements including convention appearances and interviews related to his Star Wars legacy as recently as 2025.[17]Writing
Secombe transitioned to writing in the early 2000s, beginning work on his debut novel at the start of the century.[18] His first book, Limbo (2003), is a comedy fantasy that blends imaginative humor with elements of science fiction, where the worlds of fantasy and reality merge in a tale involving a diabolical book and shellfish prophecies.[19][18] This was followed by the sequel Limbo II: The Final Chapter (2004), continuing the series' whimsical narrative.[20] Subsequent novels include The Last House in the Galaxy (2006), a science fiction story exploring interstellar adventures, and Endgame (2006), a science fiction thriller set in the late 21st century, featuring a hard-boiled detective narrative with quirky characters and humorous undertones.[20][21] In 2008, Secombe published Looking for Mr. Piggy-Wig, a science fiction adventure set in a post-nuclear Britain twenty years after a fictional "New Battle of Britain," following a detective narrative with satirical elements on dystopian tropes.[20][22] Secombe's memoir Growing Up with the Goons: Memories, Reflections and Startling Tales from Their Children (2011) provides an intimate account of his childhood alongside his father, Harry Secombe, and the broader circle of The Goon Show performers, offering insights into the joys and challenges of family life amid fame.[23][18] Publishers Weekly praised Endgame for its "flair for humor and quirky characters," though it critiqued the plot's predictability and character depth in later works.[21]Personal life
Family
Andy Secombe married actress Caroline Bliss in September 1995. Bliss is known for portraying Miss Moneypenny in the James Bond films The Living Daylights (1987) and Licence to Kill (1989).[24][25] The couple has two sons, Matthew and Charles, born after their marriage, though specific birth years are not publicly detailed.[26] Secombe maintained a close relationship with his father, the renowned comedian and singer Sir Harry Secombe (1921–2001), inheriting a passion for performance that shaped his own career in entertainment. He has honored this legacy through impersonations of his father in radio specials, such as recreating Harry's role in Hancock's Half Hour episodes.[27][28] Secombe's uncle, Fred Secombe (1918–2016), was a Welsh Anglican clergyman and author.[29] Following Harry Secombe's death from prostate cancer in 2001, the family preserved his comedic traditions through public tributes and Andy's continued work in voice acting and writing, ensuring the inheritance of humor across generations.[9][27]Residence and later years
In 2013, Andy Secombe relocated from previous residences in London and elsewhere to Goonbell, a small village in Cornwall, with his wife, actress Caroline Bliss, and their two children.[11] The family found amusement in the village's name, given Secombe's familial ties to The Goon Show through his father, Harry Secombe, remarking that the choice was purely coincidental but fitting.[11] As of 2025, Secombe resides in Cheltenham with his wife; their adult sons live independently.[16] Secombe has continued his creative work, focusing on writing and remote voice acting projects, including contributions to audio dramas for Big Finish Productions such as Doctor Who and The Avengers.[30] While in Cornwall, he engaged with the local community, for instance, by speaking at the Gunwalloe Women's Institute, where he shared humorous anecdotes from his life and career.[31] As of 2025, Secombe remains professionally active without any reported health issues or retirement, participating in public engagements such as appearances at conventions. Notably, he attended Rebel Scum Con in August 2025, conducting interviews and interacting with fans about his voice role as Watto in the Star Wars prequels.[32][33] He has similarly appeared at other events that year, including Star Wars Fan Fun Day and the International Collector's Convention, maintaining a steady output of creative endeavors alongside family life.[34][35]Filmography
Film
Andy Secombe's feature film appearances consist primarily of voice acting roles in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, where he provided the distinctive voice for the Toydarian junk dealer Watto.[1]| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace | Watto (voice) |
| 2002 | Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones | Watto (voice)[36] |
Television
Secombe's television career spans children's programming, science fiction, police procedurals, and contemporary dramas, showcasing his versatility as an actor across genres and decades. He began appearing on screen in the mid-1970s with a role in the BBC mini-series The Legend of Robin Hood. Secombe served as a presenter on the educational programme Playschool from 1981 to 1986, contributing to 64 episodes alongside hosts like Brian Cant and Marian Diamond.[37] He transitioned to the more energetic spin-off Playaway in the 1980s, performing as himself in various sketches and segments, including episodes aired in 1982.[38] In 1988, he appeared as Simon in The Play on One episode "Unreported Incident". His work in crime dramas includes the role of Detective Sergeant Dougan in The Bill, notably in the 1988 episode "Light Duties".[39] He also guest-starred as Pierre de Savarin in Executive Stress (1989, series 3 episode 3) and appeared in 13 episodes of the comedy series This Way Up (1989–1990). From 1994 to 1995, Secombe provided voices for the animated children's series Insektors as Godfrey and Bentley. In science fiction, Secombe portrayed Brian Lincoln, a colleague of the lead investigator, in the 1987 BBC series Star Cops, appearing in the episode "An Instinct for Murder".[40] Later credits highlight Secombe in high-profile series. He played Eric, a smooth-talking operative, in the 2019 episode "Smell Ya Later" of Killing Eve. In the historical fantasy Britannia, he appeared as a Tribal Elder in season 2, episode 1, broadcast in 2019. Secombe guest-starred as the Judge in Coronation Street during episodes 9970 and 9971 in January 2020, presiding over a high-stakes trial at Weatherfield Crown Court.[41] His most recent television role was as Twitcher 4 in the 2022 episode "Memories" of the comedy series Kate & Koji.[42]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | The Legend of Robin Hood | Brett | 1 episode[43] |
| 1981–1986 | Playschool | Self - Presenter | 64 episodes |
| 1982 | Playaway | Self | Multiple episodes |
| 1987 | Star Cops | Brian Lincoln | Episode: "An Instinct for Murder" |
| 1988 | The Play on One | Simon | Episode: "Unreported Incident" |
| 1988 | The Bill | D.S. Dougan | Episode: "Light Duties" |
| 1989 | Executive Stress | Pierre de Savarin | Series 3, Episode 3 |
| 1989–1990 | This Way Up | Various | 13 episodes |
| 1994–1995 | Insektors | Godfrey / Bentley (voice) | Animated series |
| 2019 | Killing Eve | Eric | Episode: "Smell Ya Later" |
| 2019 | Britannia | Tribal Elder | Season 2, Episode 1 |
| 2020 | Coronation Street | Judge | Episodes: 9970, 9971 |
| 2022 | Kate & Koji | Twitcher 4 | Episode: "Memories" |
Short films
Andy Secombe's work in short films includes early dramatic roles and later voice performances in animated specials, often highlighting his versatility in both live-action and voice acting.| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Twenty Times More Likely | Minor role | Dramatised documentary on motorcycle safety for teenagers, directed by Robert Young.[44] |
| 2012 | Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out | Watto (voice) | 22-minute animated TV special parodying the Star Wars saga, produced by LEGO and Lucasfilm.[45][46] |
| 2015 | The Roaring | Frank | 10-minute narrative short about a retired couple's trip to Cornwall in search of a sea monster, directed by Murphee Thompson.[47] |