Kevin Whately

From the age of one, Kevin Whately lived at Humshaugh near Chollerford in Northumberland. At school, he appeared in plays and when he asked his teacher about acting, he was told ' You'll never make a proper living'. He therefore joined a Newcastle accountancy firm. Eventually, he moved to London where he attended a drama school, but, needing money, he spent early mornings busking at Oxford Street tube station and evenings taking tickets at The Old Vic Theatre. Later, he moved to Perth in Scotland, where he spent a season in rep. In 1980, he met his wife when they were performing in a production of 'A Nightingale in Berkley Square'. He then moved into television. He is Vice President of the People's Theatre in Newcastle and has an Honorary Doctorate from Newcastle University.