Nigel Plaskitt (born 27 July 1950)[1] is an English actor, puppeteer, producer, and stage and television director.

Nigel Plaskitt
Born (1950-07-27) 27 July 1950 (age 74)
England
Occupations
Years active1975–present
Websitewww.nigelplaskitt.com

Career

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His voice and puppetry talents have appeared on television shows such as Pipkins (for which he provided the narration, as well as voicing and operating the characters of Hartley Hare and Tortoise), Spitting Image and New Captain Scarlet. He has also contributed to films, such as Labyrinth, The Muppet Christmas Carol, Muppet Treasure Island , Muppets Most Wanted, and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Plaskitt appeared as Unstoffe in the four-part Doctor Who science-fiction serial The Ribos Operation in 1978.

In British television advertisements, Plaskitt appeared as the character Malcolm, a young man suffering from a heavy cold, in a series of commercials for Vicks Sinex nasal spray from 1972 to 1981 and a one-off revival commercial in 1993.[2] He was also the puppeteer behind the ITV Digital/PG Tips Monkey.[3]

He also narrated The Rev. W. Awdry's letter to Christopher at the beginning of some UK and US broadcasts of Thomas and Friends.

He has also been puppet coach and puppet director for the British Theatre, staging the UK tour of Doctor Dolittle, resident puppet consultant on the West End production of Avenue Q, and director of several shows — including Spitting Image colleague Louise Gold's cabaret act.

He also was involved with the Gorillaz Demon Days: Live at the Manchester Opera House on 1–5 November 2005, as a PA for the puppets of Murdoc and 2D when they came out in the beginning of the show. The puppets of Murdoc and 2-D reappeared after the Main Set was over when the curtains fell after their choral outro, Demon Days, and they edged on the audience for an encore and the curtains then rose to an encore of Hong Kong and Latin Simone.

Filmography

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Film

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Television

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Video games

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The Muppet CDROM: Muppets Inside (1996) - Additional voices


Theatre

  • Conduct Unbecoming - Bill Kenwrifght Tour (1971) Simon Bolton
  • Doctor Dolittle - The Musical (1998) Puppet Coordinator and Director - West End and Tour
  • Avenue Q - West end and Tours (2005 - ) Puppet Coach
  • Cupid and Psyche - The Little Angel Theatre (2001) Director
  • Louise Gold... by appointment (2002) Director
  • The Secret Garden - Little Angel Theatre - (2003) - Director
  • Demon Days Live - Manchester Opera House - (2005) - Murdoc Niccals
  • Little Shop of Horrors - Menier Chocolate Factory - (2006) Plant Consultant
  • Peppa Pig's Party Live - West End and Tours - (2009) Puppet Coach
  • Peppa Pig's Treasure Hunt Live - West End and Tours - (2011) Director
  • Anglo the Musical - Kite Productions Dublin - Puppet Coach

References

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Simon Sheridan's The A to Z of Classic Children's Television (Reynolds & Hearn books, 2004, reprinted 2007) ISBN 1-903111-27-7. Features an interview with Nigel Plaskitt and his work on the series Pipkins.

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