Caroline Quentin

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox person Caroline Quentin (born Caroline Amanda Jane Jones; 11 July 1960)<ref name=Spotlight>Template:Cite news</ref> is an English actress, broadcaster and television presenter. Quentin became known for her television appearances, portraying Dorothy in Men Behaving Badly (1992–1998), Maddie Magellan in Jonathan Creek (1997–2000), Kate Salinger in Kiss Me Kate and DCI Janine Lewis in Blue Murder (2003–2009).

Early life

Quentin was born in Reigate, Surrey,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> to Kathleen Jones and her husband Fred, a Royal Air Force pilot.<ref name="Behaving gladly">Template:Cite news</ref> She has three older sisters.<ref name="Behaving gladly"/> She was educated at the independent Arts Educational School, in Tring, Hertfordshire, and appeared locally in the Pendley Open Air Shakespeare Festival.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Career

Television

One of her earliest roles was in the Channel 4 comedy drama Hollywood Hits Chiswick, alongside Derek Newark as W.C. Fields.<ref>[1] Hollywood Hits Chiswick</ref>

Between 1992 and 1998, Quentin appeared as Dorothy in all 42 episodes of the sitcom Men Behaving Badly. From 1997 until 2000, Quentin starred alongside Alan Davies in Jonathan Creek playing investigative journalist Maddie Magellan, who uses Jonathan's mind to solve murder mysteries. In 1998 she starred in the first sitcom that was specifically built around her: Kiss Me Kate; that year she started the major role of Maggie Mee in the drama Life Begins, which returned for a third series in 2006. Quentin appeared in the television film Hot Money (2001), which was based on the true story of the theft of hundreds of thousands of pounds from the Bank of England.

ITV has produced five series of the police drama Blue Murder, in which Quentin plays against type in the main role DCI Janine Lewis. The pilot aired in the UK on 18 May 2003.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Quentin has appeared in Whose Line Is It Anyway?; in a pre-Men Behaving Badly role as a traffic warden in the Mr. Bean episode "The Trouble with Mr. Bean" in 1991; Room 101; Have I Got News for You; and the 2009–10 BBC comedy series Life of Riley, a sitcom about a dysfunctional blended family; and in the BBC Radio 4 improvisational comedy series The Masterson Inheritance, the Radio 4 comedy Any Bloke (starred with Jim Sweeney who was also in The Masterson Inheritance) and the popular BBC Radio 2 sitcom On the Blog. She appeared as Heather Babcock in an episode of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple, The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side, in 2010. Also in 2010 she started appearing in Marks & Spencer's revamped food range advertisements.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In March 2011, a documentary entitled Caroline Quentin: A Passage Through India aired on ITV in the UK. The documentary followed Quentin as she traveled from the North of India to the South.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Quentin presented Restoration Home on BBC Two. The programme looks into the history and families of the UK's derelict mansion houses which are being restored by their private owners.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2012, Quentin began working on another documentary series, Cornwall with Caroline Quentin, which shows her travelling across Cornwall, for which she received some criticism due to apparently aiming the show at potential second home owners. She returned to present a second series of the show in 2013. In 2013, she hosted another documentary series, Caroline Quentin's National Parks for one series.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Quentin starred in the Comedy Central series Big Bad World where she played the role of Jan, the mother of the main character Ben (Blake Harrison).

In 2015, she played the role of veterinary surgeon Angela Sim in an episode of Doc Martin, re-uniting with her Men Behaving Badly co-star Martin Clunes, and returned in 2017 and 2019. She played the role of Mrs Bumble in Dickensian (2015–2016). In November 2016, she guest presented an episode of The One Show.

Starting in 2017, Quentin was co-presenter of the BBC Two programme The World's Most Extraordinary Homes with architect Piers Taylor; 12 episodes were completed and aired. Subsequently, the series streamed on Netflix.

In 2020, Quentin participated in the eighteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing. She was partnered with Johannes Radebe. Quentin became the fourth celebrity to be voted off on 22 November 2020.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Quentin later commented, "I have had the honour and privilege of working with some of the greatest dancers this country has ever known. I mean I really believe it, I think they are absolutely fantastic."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In May 2023 Quentin was featured in the BBC coverage of the Chelsea Flower Show, showing viewers around the garden of her home near Tiverton, Devon.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Theatre

Her early stage work had also included appearing in the chorus of the original English production of the musical Les Misérables in 1985.

In 2019 she played Lady Fancyfull in the Royal Shakespeare Company production of The Provoked Wife.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2022 she played Mrs Malaprop in the Royal National Theatre's production of Jack Absolute Flies Again, earning her a Laurence Olivier nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":1">Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2023 she played elder Emma Hamilton and Mrs Cadogan in Jermyn Street Theatre's world premier production of Infamous by April de Angelis.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Music

In July 1996, Quentin released a single, a cover of the Exciters' hit "Tell Him", with her Men Behaving Badly co-star Leslie Ash under the name of "Quentin and Ash". The single spent three weeks in the UK Singles Chart, reaching number 25.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">Template:Cite book</ref>

Recognition

Quentin received an Ian Charleson Award commendation for her Masha in The Seagull at the Oxford Theatre Company in 1991.<ref>Lees, Caroline. "Classic recipes for success". Sunday Times. 9 February 1992.</ref>

At the British Comedy Awards in 2004, Quentin won the "Best Comedy Actress" award for her performance in Von Trapped.

Book

In 2023, it was announced that Quentin had written a gardening book, titled Drawn to the Garden, about her own experience in running a vegetable and flower garden at her home on Devon, which she began sharing on Instagram during the COVID-19 lockdown. Included throughout the book are various watercolours and sketches by Quentin. Its release was planned for 15 February 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

Quentin was married to comedian Paul Merton from 1990 until their 1998 divorce.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Quentin met Sam Farmer in 1998 on the set of Men Behaving Badly, where he was a runner.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The couple have two children. Her daughter Rose is also an actress, and has appeared alongside her mother.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2006, she married Farmer in Tiverton, Devon. They lived briefly in Morebath Manor near the village of Morebath, Devon, close to Tiverton,<ref name="Sarah Vine">Template:Cite web</ref> before moving to a smaller derelict farm nearby, which they renovated. Before moving to Devon, the couple lived at Walberswick, Suffolk.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Quentin has coeliac disease and is the patron of Coeliac UK.<ref name="coeliac">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="patron">Template:Cite web</ref> She is also president of the charity Campaign for National Parks.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1983	Party Party	Shirley
1987	Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire
2001	Hot Money
2010	Race for Life: Girls Just Want to Have Fun		Short film
2014	Love Me Tender	Woman	Short film
2021	Tiny Cow	April	Short film
	Father Christmas Is Back	Elizabeth Christmas
	Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop	Sarah Clarkson
2022	A Week in Paradise	Helen
	Jack Absolute Flies Again	Mrs. Malaprop	National Theatre Live
	Christmas in the Caribbean	Amanda

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1980	The Squad	Vicky Banks	Episode: "Recruits"
1983	Video Stars	Fritzie Lang	Television film
1984	Dream Stuffing	Brenda	3 episodes
	Play for Today	Receptionist	Episode: "The Groundling and the Kite"
1987	Up Line	Patti Technology	Four-part series
1988	This Is David Lander	Tricia Worthington	Episode: "Not a Pretty Site"
1989	Shadow of the Noose	Mary Bennett	Television mini-series episode: "Beside the Seaside"
	Casualty	Jane Locke	Episode: "Banking for Beginners"
1990	Hale and Pace		Series 3, episode 1
	Harry Enfield's Television Programme	Various characters	4 episodes
1991	Josie		Series 1, episode 3
	The Bill	Ruth Otley	Episode: "Breakout"
1991–1993	Paul Merton: The Series	Dr. Gillespie/Frank's Wife	3 episodes
1992	Mr. Bean	Traffic Warden	Episode: "The Trouble with Mr. Bean"
	Don't Tell Father	Kate Bancroft	6 episodes
1992–1998	Men Behaving Badly	Dorothy	42 episodes — British Comedy Award for Top TV Comedy Actress — Nominated: British Comedy Award for Best TV Comedy Actress
1993	All or Nothing at All	Rebecca	Television mini-series episode 3
1993–94	Have I Got News for You	Panellist	2 episodes
1994	An Evening with Gary Lineker	Monica Despacos	Television film
	Entertainment Cops	Miss Pennyfarthing	Television film
1995	Jeremy Hardy Gives Good Sex		Short film
1995-1996	Whose Line Is It Anyway? (UK)	Herself	Series 7 episodes 1, 4, 9, 11, 12 and Series 8 episodes 3, 4, 6
1996	Paul Merton in Galton and Simpson's...	Caroline	Episode: "The Missing Page"
	ITV Chart Show	Interviewee	1 episode
1997–2000	Jonathan Creek	Maddy Magellan	18 episodes
1998–2001	Kiss Me Kate	Kate Salinger	22 episodes — Nominated: National Television Award for Most Popular Comedy Performer (1998)
1999	Hooves of Fire	Vixen	Voice, Television short
	The Nearly Complete and Utter History of Everything	Marcia Bournemouth	Television film
2001	The Innocent	Beth Pastorov	Two-part series
	Goodbye Mr. Steadman	Gina Ravelli	Television film
	Hot Money	Bridget Watmore	Television film
2002	Blood Strangers	Lin Beresford	Television film
2002–2003	Living Famously	Narrator	9 episodes; voice
2003–2009	Blue Murder	DCI Janine Lewis	19 episodes — Nominated: National Television Award for Most Popular Actress (2005)
2004	Von Trapped	Maria Moogan	Television film — British Comedy Award for Best TV Comedy Actress
2004–2006	Life Begins	Maggie Mee	Leading role — British Comedy Award for Best TV Comedy Actress (2004) — Golden Nymph Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series (2005) — Nominated: National Television Award for Most Popular Actress (2004, 2005) — Nominated: TV Quick Award for Best Actress (2005)
2005	Footprints in the Snow	Julie Hill	Television film
2009–2011	Life of Riley	Maddy Riley	Main role; 20 episodes
2010	Agatha Christie's Marple: The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side	Heather Badcock	Television film
	Just William	Mrs. Bott	2 episodes
2012–2013	Cornwall with Caroline Quentin	Presenter	2 series (18 episodes)
2012	In Love with Wilde	Duchess of Berwick
	Dead Boss	Virna	Series 1, episode 5
	Switch	Gloria	Series 1, Episodes 1 and 6
2013	Dancing on the Edge	Deirdre	5 episodes
	Caroline Quentin's National Parks	Presenter	1 series
	Big Bad World	Jan
2015, 2017, 2019	Doc Martin	Angela Sim	Guest role; 4 episodes
2015–2016	Dickensian	Mrs Bumble	1 series
2016	Wild Animal Reunions	Narrator	1 series
	The One Show	Guest presenter	1 episode
2017-2022	The Other One	Auntie Dawn	4 episodes<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2017–present	The World's Most Extraordinary Homes	Co-presenter	12 episodes
2018	Walks with My Dog	Co-presenter	1 episode
	The World's Ugliest Pets<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Presenter	1 episode
2020	Strictly Come Dancing	Herself	Contestant; series 18; Eliminated 4th
	Bridgerton	Lady Berbrooke	1 episode
2021	Midsomer Murders	Helen Welles	Episode: "Happy Families"
2021–present	Derelict Rescue	Narrator
2022 - 2023	The Lazarus Project	Wes	11 episodes
2025	Beyond Paradise	Lotty Robson	Series 3 episode 5
TBA	Template:Pending series	Presenter	Filming<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Theatre

Year	Title	Role	Director	Venue	Notes	Ref.
1985	Les Misérables	Blind Beggar / Woman Worker / Whore	John Caird & Trevor Nunn	Palace Theatre, London	Press night	<ref name=":2" />
1985-1986				Barbican Theatre	Original cast	<ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref>
1987	The Colombian Cousin		Tim Whitby	Gilded Balloon, Teviot Row, Edinburgh
1988	Merrily We Roll Along	Ensemble	Julia McKenzie	Shaftesbury Theatre	A part of "Sunday with Sondheim" gala
1988-1989	Roots	Jenny Beales	Simon Curtis	Royal Naitional Theatre
1989-1990	Our Country's Good	2nd Lt. William Faddy	Max Stafford-Clark	Garrick Theatre
	Faith, Hope and Charity		Heribert Sasse	Lyric Theatre (Hammersmith)
1990-1991	The Seagull		Mike Alfreds	Lilian Baylis Theatre
1991	An Evening with Gary Lineker	Monica	Audrey Cooke	Duchess Theatre
1993	The Game of Love and Chance	The Maid	Mike Alfreds & Neil Barlett	Royal Naitional Theatre
1994	Mirandolina	Mirandolina	Dalia Ibelhauptaite	Lyric Theatre (Hammersmith)
1995	Live Bed Show	Maria	Audrey Cooke	Garrick Theatre
1998	The London Cuckolds	Ensemble	Terry Johnson	Lyttelton Theatre
2007	Life After Scandal	Christine Hamilton	Anthony Clark	Hampstead Theatre	Original cast	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2011	Terrible Advice	Hedda	Frank Oz	Menier Chocolate Factory		<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2012	Pippin	Berthe	Mitch Sebastian	Menier Chocolate Factory		<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2014	Oh, What a Lovely War	Ensemble	Terry Johnson	Royal Stratford East		<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
	Relative Values	Moxie	Trevor Nunn	Harold Pinter Theatre		<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2015	The Life and Times of Fanny Hill	Fanny Hill	April de Angelis	Bristol Old Vic		<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2017	The Hypocrite	Lady Sarah Hotham	Phillip Breen	Hull Truck Theatre	Royal Shakespeare Company	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2018	Me and My Girl	Duchess of Dene	Daniel Evans	Chichester Festival Theatre		<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2019	The Provoked Wife	Lady Fancyfulll	Phillip Breen	Swan Theatre	Royal Shakespeare Company
2022	Jack Absolute Flies Again	Mrs Malaprop	Emily Burns	Royal National Theatre		<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	Mrs. Warren's Profession	Kitty Warren	Anthony Banks	Theatre Royal Bath		<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2023	Infamous	Emma Hamilton (1985) / Mrs Cadogan	Michael Oakley	Jermyn Street Theatre	Original cast	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2025	The Seagull	Irina Arkadina	James Brining	Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh	Mike Poulton's adaptation of the play by Anton Chekhov

Audio drama

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2016	Wooden Overcoats	Madame Lansbury Manning	Episode: "The Ghost of Piffling Vale"

Awards and nominations

Film and television

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result	Ref
1995	British Comedy Awards	Top TV Comedy Actress	Men Behaving Badly	Template:Won
1997		Best TV Comedy Actress		Template:Nominated
1998	National Television Awards	Most Popular Comedy Performer	Kiss Me Kate	Template:Nominated
2004	British Comedy Awards	Best TV Comedy Actress	Life Begins / Von Trapped	Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
	National Television Awards	Most Popular Actress	Life Begins	Template:Nominated
		Special Recognition Award		Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2005		Most Popular Actress	Life Begins / Blue Murder	Template:Nominated
	Monte-Carrlo TV Festival	Outstanding Actress - Drama Series	Life Begins	Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	TV Quick Awards	Best Actress		Template:Nominated

Theatre

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result	Ref.
2023	Laurence Olivier Awards	Best Actress in a Supporting Role	Jack Absolute Flies Again	Template:Nominated	<ref name=":1" />

Audio

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result	Ref.
2012	Specsavers National Book Awards	Audiobook of the Year	The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year by Sue Townsend	Template:Won	<ref name="flood2012">Template:Cite news</ref>

See also

• List of people diagnosed with coeliac disease

External links

• Template:IMDb name
• Amanda Howard Associates
• Template:British Comedy Guide