Eric ‘Ricky’ Tomlinson, born on 26 September 1939 in Burleigh House, Bispham, Blackpool, is an actor, comedian, and musician, best known for his television roles, including Bobby Grant in Brookside (1982–1988), DCI Charlie Wise in Cracker (1993–2006), and Jim Royle in the iconic sitcom The Royle Family (1998–2012). Despite his roots in Blackpool, he has lived in Liverpool for most of his life. Tomlinson’s early life saw him evacuated to Blackpool at the outbreak of World War II due to fears that Liverpool would be bombed. He attended Walton Technical College in Liverpool after passing an exam at the age of 13. Before his acting career took off, he played the banjo in several bands during the late 1950s and early 1960s, including The Guitanjos, Hobo Rick & The City Slickers, and Hobo Rick and the Hi-Free Three. One of his bandmates, John “Duff” Lowe, was a former member of the Quarrymen, the precursor to The Beatles. Tomlinson was also a plasterer by trade, working on building sites for many years. Tomlinson’s acting career began with his role as Bobby Grant in the soap opera Brookside, where he appeared from its inception in 1982 until he was written out in 1988. He later gained further recognition for his portrayal of DCI Charlie Wise in the drama Cracker and as Jim Royle in The Royle Family, a role that became one of his most beloved. He also starred in the 2001 football mockumentary Mike Bassett: England Manager.
Beyond his work on television, Tomlinson’s acting career also includes roles in several films, including Raining Stones, Hillsborough (in which he portrayed John Glover, the father of one of the Hillsborough disaster victims), and Mike Bassett: England Manager. He also appeared in Tellin’ Dad (2017), an LGBT short film about a father-son relationship. Tomlinson has also dabbled in music, being a skilled banjo and harmonica player. He performed in several episodes of The Royle Family playing these instruments. In 2001, he teamed up with fellow Brookside actor Michael Starke and others for a rendition of folk songs, including “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary”, which reached No. 28 in the UK Singles Chart. His album Music My Arse followed that year, peaking at No. 127. He also released a Christmas single, “Christmas My Ase”*, which charted at No. 25 in 2006.
Tomlinson’s involvement in theatre extended beyond his acting career. In 2006, he toured the UK with his show An Evening with Ricky Tomlinson, where he was interviewed about his life. He also took part in the Laughter Show revue in 2008 and 2009, and in 2009, he acted as head judge for the VMH Club Star Talent Trail, a talent competition in Liverpool. In May 2010, he opened his own cabaret club, the Green Room, in Liverpool, teaming up with Richard and Simon Wallace from Red Hot Media to create a 250-seater venue on Duke Street. Tomlinson’s personal life also made headlines, including his political activism as a trade unionist, which he famously compared to the work of the suffragettes in a 2007 BBC program One Life: Guilty My Arse. His activism and political views have been a consistent theme throughout his career, and he has used his public platform to support various causes.
The cast of the BBC comedy series ‘The Royle Family’ arrive for the premiere of the film “Maybe Baby”, at the Odeon cinema Leicester Square, London. (L-R) Craig Cash, Ricky Tomlinson, Caroline Aherne, Sue Johnston and Ralph Little.
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