Ralf Little | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Little atDead Funny in 2016 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Ralf Alastair John Little (1980-02-08)8 February 1980 (age 45) Oldham,Greater Manchester, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Years active | 1994–present | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Partner | Lindsey Ferrentino (2018-2024) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Family | Albert Lockley (great-grandfather) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Ralf Alastair John Little (born 8 February 1980) is an English actor, writer, presenter, narrator and former semi-professionalfootballer. He has worked mainly in television comedy, including playing Antony Royle inThe Royle Family (1998–2000, 2006, 2009–2010) and Jonny Keogh in the first six series ofTwo Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps (2001–2006). He was the narrator ofChannel 5's documentary seriesOur Yorkshire Farm (2018–2022) as well as the spin-offs,Beyond The Yorkshire Farm: Reuben and Clive andReuben: Life in the Dales. From 2020 to 2024, he starred as Detective Inspector Neville Parker inDeath in Paradise.
Ralf Alastair John Little[1] was born in February 1980[2] inOldham and attendedBolton School (Boys' Division) and later living in Whitefield near Bury. His younger brother, Ross Little, is also an actor and played Michael Gilder inBorn and Bred. Their parents are accountants.[3][4]
In 1998, Little abandoned his studies at theUniversity of Manchester medical school in order to concentrate on his acting career.[5]
Some of his early television roles included minor roles in various programmes such asElidor,Children's Ward andSloggers.[5] Little's big break came when he was offered the role of Antony Royle in theBBC sitcomThe Royle Family. Little appeared in the show's original run from September 1998 to December 2000, before returning in three of the show's five Christmas specials, broadcast in 2006, 2009 and 2010.[6][7]
In 2001, he was cast in a main role as Jonny Keogh for six series ofTwo Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps.[5] During an interview forThis Morning in September 2007, Little said that he would not be returning for the next series due to an overwhelming schedule, and his character was subsequently killed off.[8]
In 1999, Little played the Star of Bethlehem in the ITV comedy dramaThe Flint Street Nativity and appeared in a minor role inGranada TVsCoronation Street in January 1999 as care home assistant Mark Stranks.[9]
In December 2000, Little played Wishee Washee in theITV PantoAladdin, which was filmed in theNew Wimbledon Theatre.[10]
In 2001, he played the youngGeorge Harrison inPresence at theRoyal Court Theatre, for which he was nominated for anOlivier Award for his performance.[11] In 2004, he played the title character inBilly Liar at theTheatre Royal inWindsor.[12] He appeared in Juliet McKoen's 2005 ghost story/murder mystery filmFrozen, set inFleetwood, Lancashire. Between November 2002 and January 2003, he hosted 17 one-hour-long episodes ofThe Ralf Little Show onBBC Choice.[13]
Other film credits include24 Hour Party People (playingJoy Division andNew Order bass playerPeter Hook[5]) andAl's Lads. Little also starred as Stephen, alongsideAnne-Marie Duff, in Roger Goldby's film,The Waiting Room, released throughout the UK in June 2008. In television, he also appeared inParadise Heights.[5][14]
In August 2007, he released his first online novel (co-written with Stephen Morris),The Golden Generation, a coming of age tale about a recently single man who is taken under the wings of two city traders who show him the trappings of big money in the big city but that it comes at a price. Money taken from the sale of the novel went to the charityShelter.[15] He was a cast member ofKateModern, aweb series developed by the creators of the US YouTube hitlonelygirl15, which started in July 2007 and posted its final video in June 2008.[16]
In July 2008, he appeared in50 Ways to Leave Your Lover, a new play at theBush Theatre which was revised as50 Ways to Leave Your Lover at Christmas. In September of the same year, he starred inMassive, a BBC comedy about anindie record label. Also in 2008, Little became the narrator ofMonkey Life, and the second series ofLast Man Standing. In 2009, he played Clint inMarried Single Other, alongsideMiranda Raison[17] He also worked on the filmPowder.[18] In the autumn of 2010, he starred inThe Aliens, a British premiere of a new play byAnnie Baker, again at the Bush Theatre.[19] In 2011, he appeared as Richard Dickens in the comedy seriesThe Café, shown on Sky 1, which he co-wrote withMichelle Terry.[20]
In 2013, he made a guest appearance inDeath in Paradise (series two, episode six), and appeared at theLiverpool Playhouse as the father of a girl withcerebral palsy, in a production ofA Day in the Death of Joe Egg.[21][22]
In 2014, he appeared in the TV seriesOur Zoo.[23] He also voiced Captain Skip inThe Unbeatables, the English version of Argentine animated filmFoosball.[24]
He appeared as the character Steadfast in "Smile", the second episode of the10th series of the BBC1 seriesDoctor Who in 2017.[25][26]
In August 2018, Little starred as "Alan" inGod of Carnage at theTheatre Royal, Bath.[27]
In October 2019, he was confirmed as the new lead inDeath in Paradise,[28] returning to the series as a new character, DI Neville Parker, six years after his one-episode guest appearance.[29]
In May 2020, Little, alongside hisRoyle Family co-starRicky Tomlinson, presented a six-part travel series titledRicky & Ralf's Very Northern Road Trip forGold.[30]
He confirmed a partnership withSt. Lucia Distillers and theirChairman's Reserve rum brand, becoming an ambassador for 2023-24.[31]
Little, a supporter ofManchester United,[12] is a keen footballer and has played for a number of semi-professional clubs when other commitments allow. In March 2003, he played forMaidstone United againstWimbledon, having previously been training withStaines Town.[32] He joinedIsthmian League sideEdgware Town in October 2004, making his debut in theFA Vase game againstWaltham Abbey.[33]
He played forChertsey Town during the 2007–08 season and on 8 July 2008 signed forNorth West Counties League sideStone Dominoes.[34] He has also played celebrity football matches for charity on a few occasions[35][36] and played with members ofHollywood United while in the district for acting career purposes. He also plays for the Arsenal Ex-Pro and Celebrity XI.[37] On 6 June 2010, he participated in aSoccer Aid game for England on the left wing.
On 9 August 2011, he played in theJohn Kennedy testimonial match forManchester United againstCeltic which resulted in a 5–2 win for Celtic.[38]
In May 2012, he appeared for theSealand national football team in a match against theChagos Islands as captain. The match was held at the grounds ofGodalming Town.[39] In August 2012 and March 2013 he played in two games againstAlderney, a 1–1 draw and 2–1 win respectively.[40]
On 2 September 2017, he played in theGame 4 Grenfell match atLoftus Road, with the match proceeds going to the Grenfell disaster appeal.[41]
Little's great-grandfather,Albert Lockley, was aWelsh international footballer who played forChirk.[42]
He has been engaged to American playwright and screenwriterLindsey Ferrentino, daughter of comedian and magicianJohn Ferrentino since 2018.[43] They reportedly split up in 2024.[44]
Little is not religious and identifies as ahumanist. He was appointed a patron of the humanist charityHumanists UK in 2020.[45]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 24 Hour Party People | Hooky (Peter Hook) | |
| Al's Lads | Dan | Also known asCapone's Boys | |
| 2004 | Fat Slags | Milkman | |
| 2005 | Frozen | Eddie | |
| Zemanovaload | Kev | ||
| 2007 | The Waiting Room | Stephen | |
| 2008 | Telstar: The Joe Meek Story | Chas Hodges | |
| 2011 | Life of the Party | Jason | Short film |
| The Itch of the Golden Nit | Fireboy (voice) | Short film | |
| Powder | Syd | ||
| 2012 | Get Lucky | Miles | Short film |
| 2013 | The Unbeatables | Captain Skip (voice, UK dub) | Also known asMetagol,Underdogs andFoosball |
| 2014 | Nativity 3: Dude, Where's My Donkey?! | Charlie Ford (Sophie's brother) | |
| 2017 | National Theatre Live: Ugly Lies the Bone | Stevie |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994–1995 | Sloggers | Scooby | 7 episodes |
| 1995 | Heartbeat | Eddie Tinniswood | Episode: "Vigilante" |
| Elidor | Morris Dancer's Son | 2 episodes: "#1.1" and "#1.4" | |
| 1998 | The Ward | Robbie | Episode: "#10.11" |
| 1998–2010 | The Royle Family | Antony Royle | Main role. 22 episodes |
| 1999 | Coronation Street | Mark Stranks | 3 episodes |
| City Central | Dave | Episode: "Life, Liberty and Pursuit" | |
| Bostock's Cup | Norman Lewis | Television film | |
| The Flint Street Nativity | Clive Cattle / Star of Bethlehem | Television film | |
| Heartbeat | Julian | Episode: "Fire and Ashes" | |
| 2000 | Monkey Trousers | Various characters | |
| Always and Everyone | Frankie | 2 episodes: "Outbreak" and "The Darkest Corners" | |
| Aladdin | Wishee Washee | Television film | |
| 2000–2020 | Soccer AM | Himself | 7 episodes |
| 2001 | The Bill | Tommy Lawson | 3 episodes |
| Is Harry on the Boat? | Trevor | Television film | |
| 2001–2006 | Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps | Jonny Keogh | Main role. 55 episodes |
| 2002 | North Face | Paul | Television short film |
| The Ralf Little Show | Himself - Presenter | 17 episodes | |
| 2002–2003 | Paradise Heights / The Eustace Bros. | Richard Eustace | Main role. 12 episodes |
| 2004 | The Comic Side of 7 Days | Narrator | |
| 2006 | Brief Encounters | Simon | Mini-series. Episode: "Small Things" |
| 2007 | Heartbeat | Stephen Lansbury | Episode: "Seeds of Destruction" |
| KateModern | Gavin Taylore | ||
| Robin Hood | Joseph | Episode: "The Angel of Death" | |
| 2008 | Last Man Standing | Narrator | 10 episodes |
| Massive | Danny Stewart | 6 episodes | |
| Marple | Sergeant Pickford | Episode: "A Pocketful of Rye" | |
| 2008–2019 | Monkey Life | Narrator | 200 episodes |
| 2010 | Married Single Other | Clint | 6 episodes |
| 2011 | Little Crackers | Colin Smith | Episode: "Sheridan Smith's Little Cracker: The Daltons" |
| 2011–2013 | The Café | Richard Dickens | Main role. 13 episodes |
| 2013 | Death in Paradise | Will Teague | Episode: "A Dash of Sunshine" |
| 2014 | Our Zoo | Billy Atkinson | Mini-series. 6 episodes |
| First Dates | Narrator | 8 episodes | |
| 2015 | Drunk History | 'Colonel' Thomas Blood | Episode: "Blackbeard / Colonel Blood / Henry VIII" |
| The Interceptor | Alex | Mini-series. Episode: "#1.6" | |
| Lewis | Sean Wilkinson | 2 episodes: "One for Sorrow: Parts 1 & 2" | |
| 2016 | The Girl Whisperer | Sam | 3 episodes |
| Midsomer Murders | Jared Horton | Episode: "Saints and Sinners" | |
| Hoff the Record | Barman | Episode: "Wedding" | |
| 2016–2017 | Borderline | Narrator / Barry the Plumber | Main role. 12 episodes |
| 2016–2020 | The A Word | Stuart | 4 episodes |
| 2017 | We Have Been Watching | Himself | 5 episodes |
| Doctor Who | Steadfast | Episode: "Smile" | |
| 2018–2022 | Our Yorkshire Farm | Narrator | 32 episodes |
| 2020 | Inside No. 9 | Phil | Episode: "The Referee's a W***er" |
| Ricky & Ralf's Very Northern Road Trip | Himself | 6 episodes | |
| 2020–2024 | Death in Paradise | DI Neville Parker | Main role. 39 episodes (as of 24 March 2024) |
| 2021–2022 | It's Me or the Dog | Narrator | Series 5 & 6, 30 episodes |
| 2022–2023 | Beyond the Yorkshire Farm: Reuben & Clive | Narrator | 4 episodes |
| 2023 | Beyond Paradise | DI Neville Parker | Episode: "#1.6" |
| 2024 | Inside No. 9 | Party guest | Episode: "Plodding On" |
| Reuben: Life in the Dales | Narrator | 6 episodes | |
| Will & Ralf Should Know Better | Himself | 4 episodes | |
| TBA | Hunting Alice Bell | Graham Hunter | Mini-series |
| Year | Award | Work | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Los Angeles Web Series Festival Best Web Comedy | The Girl Whisperer[46] | Nominated | |
| 2020 | TV Times Award for Favourite Actor | Death in Paradise[46] | Nominated | |
| 2021 | Nominated |
