On TV This Week: UK
| Year | Title/Writer | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | THE DRESSER |
Company: BBC Two (UK); Starz (US) Writer: Ronald Harwood Director: Richard Eyre Co-starring Anthony Hopkins Late 2015 (BBC); 2016 (Starz)
|
| 2013 | VICIOUS |
Company: ITV Writer: Gary Jenetti Co-starring Derek Jacobi and Frances de la Tour 6 episodes beginning 29 April 2013
|
| 2011 | LOOKING FOR LOWRY |
Company: ITV/Foxtrot Films On ITV 24 April 2011 (Easter Sunday)
|
| 2009 | THE PRISONER |
Company: ITV/AMC Writer: Bill Gallagher Six Episodes On ITV/AMC in November 2009 Role: Number Two Costarring: Jim Caviezel
|
| 2008 | KING LEAR |
Company: Channel 4 First transmission: 25 December 2008, 9pm
|
| 2006 | EXTRAS |
Company: BBC 2 Season 2,
Episode 5
EPISODE 5, with Ian McKellen
|
| 2006 | A CONVERSATION WITH SIR IAN MCKELLEN |
Company: BT for National Theatre's Stagework Producer: Peter Reynolds Director: Martin Percy Interactive presentation. Trailer here. Nominated for BAFTA, Emmy, Webbys |
| 2005 | CORONATION STREET |
Company: Granada-ITV Ten episodes first aired beginning Sunday 1 May 2005 |
| 2004 | SOUTH BANK SHOW: A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF IAN MCKELLEN |
Company: ITV PRODUCER: Matt Cain, edited and presented by Melvyn Bragg First aired 27 June 2004 |
| 2003 | THE SIMPSONS: The Regina Monologues |
Company: Fox ROLE: Himself First aired 23 November 2003 |
| 2003 | CHURCHILL |
Company: TWI/Carlton PBS ROLE: Narrator
|
| 2002 | EVEREST - VIEW FROM THE TOP |
Company: Channel Four UK ROLE: Narrator |
| 2002 | SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE |
ROLE: Host Broadcast 16 March 2002
|
| 2001 | THE OLIVIERS IN LOVE |
COMPANY: Channel Four UK ROLE: Narrator
|
| 1999 |
DAVID COPPERFIELD Charles Dickens, Screenplay by Adrian Hodges |
COMPANY: BBC One PRODUCER: Kate Harwood DIRECTOR: Simon Curtis ROLE: Mr Creakle Co-starring: Bob Hoskins, Maggie Smith, Daniel Radcliffe, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Pauline Quirke, Ciarán McMenamin Transmission: BBC ONE Christmas Day 7pm & Boxing Day 6:25pm 1999 In the US April 16-17, 2000 on PBS
|
| 1996 |
RASPUTIN |
PRODUCER: HBO USA DIRECTOR: Uli Edel ROLE: Tsar Nicholas II Golden Globe Award - Best Supporting Actor Emmy nomination - Best Supporting Actor Co-starring: Alan Rickman, Greta Scacchi, David Warner, John Wood. Theatrical release outside of US, HBO TV in US.  |
| 1996 | Charlie Rose Show | Interview 5 January 1996
|
| 1995 | NATIONAL POETRY DAY |
PRODUCER: BBC 1 Television Griff Rhys-Jones announced the winner of the national poll for the favourite poem., Rudyard Kipling's "If," which was then read live by Ian McKellen. 1 September 1995
|
| 1995 | ANGLIA AT WAR |
PRODUCER: The Fourth Estate Productions ROLE: Voiceover Three series of four shows each |
| 1995 |
COLD COMFORT FARM From the novel by Stella Gibbons |
PRODUCER: BBC Flms/Thames
Film DIRECTOR: John Schlesinger ROLE: Amos Starkadder Co-starring: Eileen Atkins, Stephen Fry, Kate Beckinsale, Miriam Margolyes, Stephen Fry, Rufus Sewell. Shot on location in Sussex. Also theatrical release.
|
| 1993 | TALES OF THE CITY Screenplay of his novel by Armistead Maupin |
PRODUCER: Channel Four UK
/ PBS USA DIRECTOR: Alastair Stewart ROLE: San Franciscan "A-Gay" |
| 1993 | MISTER SHAW'S MISSING
MILLIONS Jack Emery |
PRODUCER: Channel Four UK DIRECTOR: David Giles ROLE: G Bernard Shaw |
| 1993 |
AND THE BAND PLAYED ON Screenplay by Arnold Schulman from Randy Shilts' book |
PRODUCER: HBO USA DIRECTOR: Roger Spottiswoode ROLE: Bill Kraus Cable Ace Award - Best Supporting Actor Emmy Nomination - Best Supporting Actor Co-starring: Matthew Modine, LilyTomlin, Richard Gere, Steve Martin. Theatrical release outside of US. Shot in November 1992. |
| 1992 | 40 Glorious Years | HM the Queen and HRH the Duke of Edinburgh are present at
Earls Court Arena where a cast of 4,000 from the worlds of entertainment,
theatre, sport and industry get together to celebrate the first 40 years of
the Queen's reign.The biggest indoor production ever staged in Britain opens
with Sir Ian McKellen, a choir of 500, two orchestras, the Gold State Coach,
a cavalry escort, the Yeomen of the Guard, and the Guns of the King's Troop,
Royal Horse Artillery. Stars from theatre and entertainment include Larry
Adler, Michael Ball, Cilla Black, Darcy Bussell, Petula Clark, Wendy Craig,
Dame Judi Dench, Lonnie Donegan, Dame Gwyneth Jones, Felicity Lott, Dame
Vera Lynn, Cliff Richard, Donald Sinden, Julian Slade, Zoltan Solynosi,
Tommy Steele and the Tiller Girls. Event producer Major Michael Parker
Television presentation Michael Begg Transmitted on BBC One 30 October 1992  |
| 1991 | To Be or Not To Be ... | Sir Ian McKellen , Simon Callow , Antony Sher and others
challenge the theatre's reputation for sexual tolerance. Transmitted 16 November 1991 on BBC Two |
| 1991 | Them and Us | Sir Ian McKellen goes to the Isle of Man to find out why a
man can still be imprisoned for loving another man. Transmitted 19 August 1991 on BBC One |
| 1990 | OTHELLO William Shakespeare |
COMPANY: Royal Shakespeare
Company PRODUCER: CBS DIRECTOR: Trevor Nunn ROLE: Iago Co-starring: Willard White, Imogen Stubbs, Zoe Wanamaker. Primetime TV; Royal Shakespeare production. Transmitted on BBC Two 23 June 1990 |
| 1989 |
COUNTDOWN TO WAR |
PRODUCER: Granada DIRECTOR: Patrick Lau WRITER: Ronald Harwood ROLE: Adolf Hitler Verbatim words of the protagonists of WW2. First aired 31 August 1989 on Granada Television in UK
Stream: 
|
| 1989 | Rights and Reactions | Actor Ian McKellen introduces an important documentary on
gay rights, on the tenth anniversary of the birth of the Gay Liberation
Movement after the Stonewall riots in New York. In 1986, the city of New
York passed a gay rights bill, and mayor Edward Koch predicted that the sky
would not fall. But the hearings and demonstrations that led up to this
event became a focus for the inflammatory subject of the rights of lesbians
and gay men. This highly praised documentary, which won top awards at the
Chicago and San Francisco International Film Festivals, follows events in
the city council chambers and out on the streets to capture the full range
of passionately held views, from gay activists to religious fundamentalists.
Produced by PHIL ZWICKLER and JANE LIPPMAN A REALIS PICTURES and SYZYGY
MEDIA production, in association with TAPESTRY productions Transmitted on BBC Two 26 May 1989 |
| 1988 | WINDMILL OF THE GODS From the novel by Sidney Sheldon |
PRODUCER: CBS Co-starring: Jaclyn Smith, Robert Wagner. |
| 1988 | SCARFE'S FOLLIES Gerald Scarfe |
Bob Geldof , Jane Asher Terry Jones , Ian McKellen Robin
Bailey , Julian Glover Marcia Warren , John Bird John Challis , John Watts
and Nellie the elephant, Ivy the camel Gerald Scarfe records the follies of man in his cartoons. Now he wants to create his own folly. But what are follies - and why did eccentrics build them? Surrounded by high-kicking follies girls and borne by noble beasts, Scarfe sets off on a quest of discovery. He encounters a naughty vicar who built a folly garden for his gypsy girlfriend; a Welshman who burned his own son; a politician who got voters drunk; a man whose house resembles a jungle; and 'Mad Jack' Fuller, who built a steeple overnight to win a wager, and was buried in a pyramid with a bottle of port and a cold chicken. Mary and Jeffrey Archer talk about their own folly. And as all the best follies contained a resident hermit, Scarfe advertises for one in the Times - with startling results. Photography CHRIS SEAGER Film editor ROY SHARMAN Written and directed by GERALD SCARFE Editor EDWARD MIRZOEFF Transmitted on BBC Two 28 January 1988 |
| 1987 | SULEYMAN THE
MAGNIFICENT |
PRODUCER: PBS USA special ROLE: Narrator |
| 1986 | THE WITCHES Based on the life and writings of Roald Dahl |
PRODUCER: BBC 2 TV / Arena Role: Grand High Witch Broadcast: 19 October 1986 Watch on You Tube |
| 1985 | IAN MCKELLEN ACTING
SHAKESPEARE |
PRODUCER: PBS USA Special
/ David Suskind DIRECTOR: Kirk Browning/Sean Mathias |
| 1985 | IAN MCKELLEN'S DIARY OF
A YEAR |
PRODUCER: PBS South Bank
Show UK / Bravo USA Edited by Melvyn Bragg. 1984/85 filmed record of Ian McKellen's year at the Royal National Theatre. First broadcast 20 October 1985 |
| 1982 |
LOVING WALTER Screenplay from his novel by David Cook |
PRODUCER: Central
Productions Ltd for Channel Four UK DIRECTOR: Stephen Frears ROLE: Walter Royal Television Society Performer of the Year Co-starring: Sarah Miles, Barbara Jefford, Jim Broadbent Also screened as two separate films: WALTER AND JUNE; LOVING WALTER. The shocking story of a mentally handicapped man at the mercy of society's attitudes. Adapted from DAVID COOK's award-winning novel, 'WALTER' was transmitted on 'Film on Four" on the new channel's opening night. Scenes at The Old Hospital, Liverpool Road, London shot in March 1982.
|
| 1982 |
THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL Screenplay by Bill Bast |
PRODUCER: London Films /
CBS DIRECTOR: Clive Donner ROLE: Chauvelin Co-starring: Jane Seymour and Anthony Andrews. |
| 1982 |
ACTING SHAKESPEARE From Shakespeare with commentary by Ian McKellen |
PRODUCER: Andrew Susskind PBS USA Transmitted: 26 April 1982
|
| 1982 | PLAYING SHAKESPEARE | PRODUCER: LWT Written and hosted by John Barton NPR Review |
| 1980 |
DYING DAY John Bowen |
PRODUCER: ITV UK /
Masterpiece Theatre / PBS USA DIRECTOR: Robert Tronson First Transmitted: 12 February 1980 4-part "Armchair Thriller" |
| 1979 | EVERY GOOD BOY DESERVES
FAVOUR |
WRITER: Tom Stoppard PRODUCER: BBC Play of the Week DIRECTOR: Trevor Nunn & Roger Bamford The filming was undertaken at a live performance at Wembley Conference Centre in April 1978, with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Previn. The cast for this production was Ian McKellen (Alexander Ivanov), Ben Kingsley (Ivanov), Frank Windsor (the Doctor),John Woodvine (the Colonel), Barbara Leigh Hunt (the Teacher) and James Harris, aka Jim Harris and James Pickering, (Sacha). First broadcast 9 May 1979 |
| 1979 |
MACBETH William Shakespeare |
COMPANY: Royal Shakespeare
Company PRODUCER: Thames TV DIRECTOR: Trevor Nunn/Philip Casson ROLE: Macbeth Co-starring: Judi Dench as Lady Macbeth. "Ian McKellen, Judi Dench and John Woodvine (Banquo) lift themselves to levels of excellence seldom encountered on the small screen. Or anywhere else. Television is honoured by this Macbeth." — Herbert Kretzmer, Daily Mail UK, 5 January 1979. |
| 1978 | JACKANORY: THE MOON IN
THE CLOUD |
Written by: Rosemary
Harris Role: Storyteller Broadcast on BBC One, 11 January 1978 (first of four parts) |
| 1974 | HEDDA GABLER Henrik Ibsen |
PRODUCER: BBC Masterpiece
Theatre Play of the Month/Classic Theatre PBS USA 1975 DIRECTOR: Waris Hussein ROLE: George Tesman Co-starring: Janet Suzman & Tom Bell. |
| 1973 | GRACELESS GO I Screenplay by Anthony Storey |
COMPANY: BBC TV DIRECTOR: Patrick Dromgoole Co-starring: Stanley Baker, Rachel Roberts. |
| 1973 | THE RECRUITING OFFICER George Farquhar |
COMPANY: BBC1 Play of the
Month PRODUCER: Cedric Messina DIRECTOR: David Giles ROLE: Captain Plume First broadcast Sunday 18 November 1973 Co-starring: Prunella Ransome as Silvia, Jane Asher as Melinda, Brian Blessed as Sergeant Kite, Bryan Marshall as Mr Worthy, John Moffatt as Captain Brazen, John Welsh as Mr Balance Cpt Plume and Sgt Kite descend on unsuspecting Shrewsbury in search of new recruits. But doesn't their prize catch, Mr Wilful, bear a striking resemblance to the beautiful and scheming daughter of the local Justice? Recorded on location at Lacock Abbey and Hazelbury Manor, Wilts
|
| 1973 | CRAVEN ARMS (COUNTRY
MATTERS) From A E Coppard's short story |
PRODUCER:
Granada TV DIRECTOR: David Giles First Transmitted: 20 August 1972
|
| 1972 | Keith Michell at Her Majesty's Show of the Week | PRODUCER: BBC TV DIRECTOR: Yvonne Littlewood First broadcast 15 June 1972
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| 1972 | THE LAST JOURNEY James Forsyth |
PRODUCER: Granada TV DIRECTOR: Peter Potter ROLE: Stefan Co-starring: Peggy Ashcroft, Harry Andrews, Patrick Allen
|
| 1972 |
HAMLET William Shakespeare |
COMPANY: Prospect Theatre
Company PRODUCER: Knightsbridge Theatrical Productions UK/CBS Cable for BBC-2 DIRECTOR: David Giles ROLE: Prince Hamlet Co-starring: Faith Brook, Susan Fleetwood, John Woodvine, Tim Piggot-Smith Prospect Theatre Company production by Robert Chetwyn First broadcast: 1 March 1972
|
| 1970 | ROSS By Terrence Rattigan / Adapted by William Emms |
PRODUCER: BBC Play of the
Month DIRECTOR: Cedric Messina ROLE: T E Lawrence of Arabia Filmed on location in Morocco. "On his performance in "Ross", I take Ian McKellen to be a star, if perhaps a minor one. After his earlier appearances on television (Richard and Edward) there was room for reservation. Now almost none remains. The touch of affectation doesn't matter. The sensitive intelligence, but above all the glow, the inner mystery glimpsed in those eyes that seem to be seeing a presence impalpable to us, clinch the matter. One of the distinguishing marks of star quality is that it is slightly uncanny." — Maurice Wiggin, Sunday Telegraph UK; First broadcast 18 October 1970. |
| 1970 |
EDWARD II Christopher Marlowe |
COMPANY: Prospect Theatre
Company PRODUCER: BBC / Classic Theater PBS USA DIRECTOR: Richard Marquand & Toby Robertson ROLE: King Edward Prospect Theatre Company in the 1969 Edinburgh Festival Production recorded at the Piccadilly Theatre, London. in repertory with revival of RICHARD II. Of USA transmission (4 October 1975): "Ian McKellen, one of Britain's most talented young actors, is superb, going from young haughtiness to pathetic misfortune, in a characterization that is riveted together by passionate convictions." — John J. O'Conor, New York Times, 10/1/75 Transmitted on BBC Two 2 August 1970 |
| 1970 | RICHARD II William Shakespeare |
COMPANY: Prospect Theatre
Company DIRECTOR: Toby Robertson & Richard Cottrell ROLE: King Richard Prospect Theatre Company recorded at BBC London studios. Transmitted: Thursday 30 July 1970, 9.10pm on BBC2 Colour |
| 1970 | TO LENINGRAD WITH LOVE | PRODUCER: BBC TV DIRECTOR: Norman Swallow ROLE: Narrator Transmitted 26 April 1970 |
| 1970 | KEATS |
PRODUCER: BBC TV DIRECTOR: Joan Craft ROLE: John Keats Poetry compilation. Solo performance of Ian McKellen as John Keats. Transmitted Wednesday, 25 February 1970, 8:50pm, BBC2 Colour |
| 1969 | WHAT IF IT'S JUST GREEN
CHEESE? |
PRODUCER: BBC TV DIRECTOR: Colin Nears Co-starring: Judi Dench, Roy Dotrice, Michael Hordern, Dudley Moore, Pink Floyd. "Omnibus" anthology, on the eve of Apollo 11's first moon-landing. |
| 1968 | HAY FEVER |
PRODUCER: BBC TV ROLE: SIMON BLISS DIRECTOR: John Gorrie Co-starring: Charles Gray (Richard Greatham), Celia Johnson (Judith Bliss), Lynn Redgrave (Jackie), Lucy Fleming (Sorel Bliss), Dennis Price (David Bliss) "Play of the Month" transmitted 4 August 1968 on BBC 1 |
| 1966 | DAVID COPPERFIELD Adaptation by Vincent Tilsley from Dickens' novel |
PRODUCER: BBC DIRECTOR: Joan Craft ROLE: the grown-up David Copperfield (episodes 5-13) Co-starring: Flora Robson. 13 part serial "Ian McKellen brings to the part of David a lightness I have not seen in earlier Copperfields and his sense of comedy in the dialogue and situations makes this a happier story than it sometimes is." — The Stage. Broadcast 13 February 1966 (fifth of thirteen weekly episodes) |
| 1965 | THE TRIAL AND TORTURE
OF SIR JOHN RAMPAYNE Screenplay by Alan Seymour |
PRODUCER: BBC TV DIRECTOR: Peter Duguid ROLE: Wolf Co-starring: Jack Hawkins. "The liveliest character was Wolf, given a performance of hateful, demoniac zest by Ian McKellen. He reminded me of one of those fashionable film-star-photographers that turn up on TV, with sharp little teeth they always look prepared to sink into the interviewer's wrist." — Peter Black, Daily Mail. 10 November 1965 |
| 1965 | SUNDAY OUT OF SEASON Peter Draper |
PRODUCER: ATV Sunday
Playhouse DIRECTOR: John Nelson Burton ROLE: Victor Leech Co-starring: Lynn Redgrave. "What does a reasonably intelligent young man do on a damp, windy Sunday out of season? Victor meets Elaine. Is the problem solved for him?" |
| 1964 | KIPLING: THE TOMB OF HIS
ANCESTORS Plowden |
PRODUCER: BBC DIRECTOR: Herbert Wise WRITER: A R Rawlinson Co-starring: Joss Ackland, Kenneth Fortescue, Robin Philips Episode of THE INDIAN TALES OF RUDYARD KIPLING First TV Appearance Transmitted 9 August 1964 21:10  |
