imported>Meg Taylor |
imported>John Stephenson |
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| [[Image:Norman-lovett.jpg|300px|right|thumb|Norman Lovett performing at the [[Hampstead]] Comedy Club, 2005.]] | | [[Image:Norman-lovett.jpg|300px|right|thumb|Norman Lovett performing at the [[Hampstead]] Comedy Club, 2005.]] |
| '''Norman Lovett''' (born 31st October 1946 in [[Windsor, Berkshire|Windsor]], [[England]]) is a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[stand-up comedian]] and [[actor]], best known for the role of [[Red Dwarf (science fiction series)/Catalogs/Characters#Holly|Holly]] in the [[BBC]] [[science fiction]] [[comedy]] series ''[[Red Dwarf (science fiction series)|Red Dwarf]]'' during the first, second, seventh and eighth series. His stand-up is known for its quiet, dead-pan [[surrealism]]; in 2000 he embarked upon a successful tour, co-headlining with his ''Red Dwarf'' co-star [[Chris Barrie]]. | | '''Norman Lovett''' (born 31st October 1946) is a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[stand-up comedy|stand-up comedian]] and [[acting|actor]], known to fans of the [[science fiction|science-fiction]] series ''[[Red Dwarf (science fiction series)|Red Dwarf]]'' as the original incarnation of [[Red Dwarf (science fiction series)/Catalogs/Characters#Holly|Holly]], a less-than-intelligent [[computer]] he played in the first two series of the programme (1988), and returned for in the seventh and eighth (1997-1999). |
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| ==Career==
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| ===Early appearances===
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| Lovett turned to comedy and acting only in his thirties. Before coming to the role he would be best known for, he appeared in the [[anarchy|anarchic]] sitcom ''[[The Young Ones]]'' (in the 1984 episode 'Summer Holiday'). More stand-up and acting work followed, respectively on the comedy show ''Saturday Night Live'' and alongside [[Ruby Wax]] in a regular role on her series, ''Don't Miss Wax'' (1987). He also appeared in ''Happy Families'' (1987), a comedy penned by [[Ben Elton]] and produced for [[BBC Manchester]] by [[Paul Jackson]]. Jackson would later bring together many of the final cast of ''Red Dwarf''.<ref>''Comedy Connections''; [[BBC Scotland]] programme tracing the history of ''Red Dwarf'' (2004). Producer: Angus McIntyre.</ref>
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| ===''Red Dwarf''===
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| Lovett originally auditioned for a ''Red Dwarf'' role which would have seen him on-screen as more than a head, as occurred once he landed the role of Holly, a futuristic [[computer]] with a less-than-spectacular [[intelligence quotient|IQ]]; Lovett's face comprised Holly's original [[avatar]]. Originally, the role had been a voiceover only, but Lovett insisted he be seen; he puts this down to "ego". On moving to [[Edinburgh]] two years later, Lovett relinquished the role to [[Hattie Hayridge]], a fellow stand-up comedian known as 'the female Norman Lovett'.<ref>''Comedy Connections''.</ref> He was able to reprise the role some years later, both on television for series seven and eight, and in a 2006 interactive game, ''Beat the Geek''. However, with some early drafts of the 2009 special ''Back to Earth'' not including Holly, the production team were unable to guarantee to Lovett that he would be asked to reprise his role. Lovett subsequently stated that he would decline any future invitations to play Holly.
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| ===Other work===
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| In 1989, he was given his own [[BBC Two]] sitcom called ''[[I, Lovett]]'', which was surreal, but failed to catch the public's consciousness. He played a character called Norman, an in [[invention|inventor]] living with a [[dog]]. Seven years later, he played Dr Lovett in the equally short-lived sitcom ''[[Asylum (TV series)|Asylum]]'', which spawned many other successful careers.
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| He has made a number of acting appearances, such as the Ghost of Christmas Past in a TV adaptation of ''[[A Christmas Carol]]''; Mr Follett in ''[[The History Of Tom Jones]]'', and two films - ''The Criminal'' and ''Evil Aliens''. On television, he appeared in the BBC sitcom ''[[Keeping up Appearances]]''.
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| ==Personal life==
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| Lovett has two daughters, Lily and Kitty, with his wife Fi.<ref>''[http://www.normanlovett.co.uk/family.htm The Official Norman Lovett Website - Family]''.</ref> He says that the best moment of his career was supporting the [[rock (music)|rock]] group [[the Clash]] on stage. He continues to work the UK stand-up circuit.
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| ==Footnotes==
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| {{reflist|2}}
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| ==External links==
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| *[http://www.normanlovett.co.uk normanlovett.co.uk] - Lovett's official website, including a biography
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| *[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0522686 Norman Lovett] - Internet Movie Database
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| *[http://www.myspace.com/normanlovett Norman Lovett] - Myspace
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| ==See also==
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| *[[Red Dwarf (science fiction series)]]
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