
Acting
Katherine Parkinson
Born
1978-03-09 (48)
Place of birth
Hounslow, Greater London, England, UK
Known for
Acting
Credits
68 titles
Katherine Parkinson (born March 9, 1978) is an English actress. She appeared in the Channel 4 comedy series The IT Crowd as Jen Barber, for which she received a British Comedy Best TV Actress Award in 2009 and 2014, and was nominated twice for the BAFTA Television Award for Best Female Comedy Performance, winning in 2014. Parkinson studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, and has appeared on stage in the plays The Seagull (2007), Cock (2009), and Home, I'm Darling (2018), for which she was nominated for the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Play. Parkinson was also a main cast member of the series Doc Martin for three series (2005–2009). She co-starred in all three series…
Known for
6.2Drama series about the staff and patients at Holby City Hospital's emergency department, charting the ups and downs in their personal and professional lives.
Casualty
1986
7.5Horizon tells amazing science stories, unravels mysteries and reveals worlds you've never seen before.
Horizon
1964
7.1Hilarious, totally-irreverent, near-slanderous political quiz show, based mainly on news stories from the last week or so, that leaves no party, personality or action unscathed in pursuit of laughs.
Have I Got News for You
1990
8.5A modern update finds the famous sleuth and his doctor partner solving crime in 21st century London.
Sherlock
2010
8.3Greg Davies is the Taskmaster, and with the help of his ever-loyal assistant Alex Horne, they will set out to test the wiles, wit, wisdom and skills of five hyper-competitive comedians. Who will be crowned the Taskmaster champion?
Taskmaster
2015
8.3Doc Martin is a British television comedy drama series starring Martin Clunes in the title role. It was created by Dominic Minghella after the character of Dr. Martin Bamford in the 2000 comedy film Saving Grace. The show is set in the fictional seaside village of Portwenn and filmed on location in the village of Port Isaac, Cornwall, England, with most interior scenes shot in a converted local barn. Five series aired between 2004 and 2011, together with a feature-length special that aired on Christmas Day 2006. Series 6 began airing on ITV on 2 September 2013.
Doc Martin
2004
Film credits
2020s · 11 titles
7.1It's an unforgettable Christmas for the townsfolk of Wellington-on-Sea when the worst snowstorm in history alters everyone's plans — including Santa's.
That Christmas
2024
6.6The story of Nobel Prize winner Maria Skłodowska-Curie and her extraordinary scientific discoveries—through the prism of her marriage to husband Pierre—and the seismic and transformative effects their discovery of radium had on the 20th century.
Radioactive
2020
6.2This documentary tells the story of one of TV's darkest and most celebrated comedies, featuring cast interviews and extensive candid moments with creators Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton. Cameras are admitted everywhere throughout the making of the show's final series, from the writers' room to the makeup trailer, from prop store to set design, making this the perfect farewell to the multi-award winning series.
Inside No. 9: The Party's Over
2024
3.5When an unexpected outbreak of peace leads to a ceasefire between Russian forces and Georgian rebels, arrogant rock star Harry Hope fears for the success of his heavily hyped Piece of Peace global charity concert. Desperate, he dispatches his PR consultant, Kate, and her naïve intern, Peggy, to create a fake war story – until the concert, at least.
How to Fake a War
2020
5.7Catherine Tate's iconic character Nan hits the big screen as she goes on a wild road trip from London to Ireland with her grandson Jamie to make amends with her estranged sister Nell. Militant vegan arsonists, raucous rugby teams, all night raves and crazed cops on motorbikes all make for a proper day out. An origin story that mixes Nan's present with her past where we finally find out what's made her the cantankerous old bastard she is today.
The Nan Movie
2022
NRRachel's ambitious plans to hold a New Year party like those of old - together with Paul's determination to finally please his family after years of unimpressive fireworks displays - get corrupted; on Robin's suggestion, the family AirBNBs their own home in order to fund a New Year's Eve getaway to somewhere startlingly alike in suburban quality, with Paul's persistent boil necessitating the prerequisite of a sauna to quell it for good - which renders itself available in an unconventional method. Sue finds herself new friends in a slimmers' club whose activities seem directly antithetical to the group's aims, while Sam discovers the complexity of relationships after a mix-up results in an offensive gift to his new girlfriend.
Here We Go: Our New Year’s Fireworks Fantasaganza
2025
6.7Since the 1930s, the legendary family-run Hotel Messina has been visited by artists, celebrities and royalty. When the current owner’s daughter falls for a dashing young soldier, the hallways are ringing with the sound of wedding bells. However, not all the guests are in the mood for love, and a string of deceptions soon surround not only the young couple, but also the steadfastly single Beatrice and Benedick.
National Theatre Live: Much Ado About Nothing
2022
NRAmy is home for the holidays, and Rachel is determined to engineer a classic Jessop family Christmas
Here We Go: Mum's Classic Family Christmas
2023
6.0A weedy charity-shop worker is set on winning the big national talent show. But when the actions of 5 selfish people cause him to miss his audition, he sets out to seek deathly revenge.
Paul Dood’s Deadly Lunch Break
2021
NRUnable to get a second date, Mark Silcox attempts to find love by learning to be funny. But could his joking go too far?
Dating Mark Silcox
2025
NRBafta Award-winning Katherine Parkinson's debut play. Three characters sit for a silent painter and reveal their personal truths in a play about love, loss and the importance of human connection.
Sitting
2021
2010s · 7 titles
7.4Free-spirited writer Juliet Ashton forms a life-changing bond with the delightful and eccentric Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, when she decides to write about the book club they formed during the occupation of Guernsey in WWII.
The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society
2018
9.0It is the day of Rebecca and Jeremy's engagement party, and everyone (well, nearly everyone) has turned up to the old house to wish them well. Except that one of the bedrooms, the one with all the old baggage in it, has been left unlocked...
Sardines
2014
8.0This behind-the-scenes documentary features interviews with the creators and cast of the cult comedy "The IT Crowd", plus chats with celebrity fans.
The IT Crowd Manual
2014
An upbeat 30 minute single camera comedy which follows a group of female friends united by a shared history but divided by almost everything else. Most friends meet for dinner, or at the pub, but for these four old school friends their monthly get together is in the unsettling surroundings of an intensive care unit. Siobhan is a failing TV presenter, Sarah is a rather reluctant mother of three, Pip is a pseudo bohemian and Lucy, well Lucy is in a coma. After the initial shock, the three old school friends soon realise that Lucy is in dire need of help, if only they could provide it. As Lucy becomes more aware of what is going on around her, we delve into unexpected and funny moments from her subconscious.
Coma Girl
2011
NRA politician learns an uncomfortable truth about food-bank Britain. Katherine Parkinson stars in a 'microplay' written by Laura Wade and directed by Carrie Cracknell, after conversations with social affairs writer Amelia Gentleman and food blogger Jack Monroe. Britain Isn't Eating is the first in a series of plays made in collaboration between Guardian journalists and Royal Court Theatre-makers.
Off the Page: Britain Isn't Eating
2014
NRCooked tells the story of the unlikely love triangle that sparks between a walrus a seal and a lobster in an arctic sauna.
Cooked
2010
NRA 'failed' musician tries to save the souls of at-risk youth and San Quentin prisoners and along the way discovers the true gift of his music...and the deeper meaning of freedom.
Guitar Man
2018
2000s · 8 titles
7.2When a group of rebellious deejays decides to defy the ban on government-censored music, they take to the seas to broadcast music and mayhem to millions of adoring fans.
The Boat That Rocked
2009
6.0Sidney Young is a down-on-his-luck journalist. Thanks to a stint involving a pig and a glitzy awards ceremony, Sidney turns his fortunes around, attracting the attention of Clayton Harding, editor of New York-based glossy magazine 'Sharps', and landing the holy grail of journalism jobs. The Brit jets off to the Big Apple and moves from one blunder to the next.
How to Lose Friends & Alienate People
2008
6.5A young Englishman marries a glamorous American. When he brings her home to meet the parents, she arrives like a blast from the future - blowing their entrenched British stuffiness out the window.
Easy Virtue
2008
5.6After a wealthy philanthropist expresses an unusual interest in a ring found by her niece Annabelle, Miss Fritton explains that she's descended from a pirate who, in 1598, stole treasure from another: the philanthropist's ancestor. This discovery sends the racuous girls of St. Trinians on the hunt for buried treasure.
St Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold
2009
4.2The assistant manager of a seaside hotel is left to run the building over the Christmas period.
Christmas at the Riviera
2007
NRThe Secret Policeman's Ball 2008 was a show in the "Secret Policeman's Balls" series of benefit shows for Amnesty International. Like its immediate predecessor, the show was a single-night event at London's Royal Albert Hall, on Saturday 4 October 2008. The 3-hour event was video-taped and a 95-minute television special adapted from the show was broadcast the following day, on Britain's Channel Four. There was also a "cinecast" in which the Royal Albert Hall event was shown live in 35 cinemas in major British cities.
The Secret Policeman's Ball 2008
2008
NRThree couples spend an afternoon lunch together.
Hard to Swallow
2007
7.4Drama based on real-life events. Marie Stubbs, a diminutive Glaswegian headmistress who is coming up to retirement age, takes on one last challenge: to improve the fortunes of St George's School in north west London which was facing closure after the notorious murder of its previous headmaster, Philip Lawrence, in 1995 as he was breaking up a fight between his pupils and those from a rival school.
Ahead of the Class
2005
Series credits
6.2Drama series about the staff and patients at Holby City Hospital's emergency department, charting the ups and downs in their personal and professional lives.
Casualty
1986
7.5Horizon tells amazing science stories, unravels mysteries and reveals worlds you've never seen before.
Horizon
1964
7.1Hilarious, totally-irreverent, near-slanderous political quiz show, based mainly on news stories from the last week or so, that leaves no party, personality or action unscathed in pursuit of laughs.
Have I Got News for You
1990
8.5A modern update finds the famous sleuth and his doctor partner solving crime in 21st century London.
Sherlock
2010
8.3Greg Davies is the Taskmaster, and with the help of his ever-loyal assistant Alex Horne, they will set out to test the wiles, wit, wisdom and skills of five hyper-competitive comedians. Who will be crowned the Taskmaster champion?
Taskmaster
2015
8.3Doc Martin is a British television comedy drama series starring Martin Clunes in the title role. It was created by Dominic Minghella after the character of Dr. Martin Bamford in the 2000 comedy film Saving Grace. The show is set in the fictional seaside village of Portwenn and filmed on location in the village of Port Isaac, Cornwall, England, with most interior scenes shot in a converted local barn. Five series aired between 2004 and 2011, together with a feature-length special that aired on Christmas Day 2006. Series 6 began airing on ITV on 2 September 2013.
Doc Martin
2004
7.0Based on the week’s news and fronted by guest hosts, this extended version of the satirical news quiz features more of the stuff that wouldn't fit into the regular programme.
Have I Got a Bit More News for You
—
7.8A comedic panel show featuring team captains Lee Mack and David Mitchell plus two guests per side, hosted by Rob Brydon (formerly Angus Deayton). Each person must reveal embarrassing facts and outrageous lies during a series of different rounds including "Home Truths", "This Is My..." and "Quickfire Lies". It is up to the opposing team to tell tall tales from fantastic facts.
Would I Lie to You?
2007
7.8A comedic panel show featuring team captains Lee Mack and David Mitchell plus two guests per side, hosted by Rob Brydon (formerly Angus Deayton). Each person must reveal embarrassing facts and outrageous lies during a series of different rounds including "Home Truths", "This Is My..." and "Quickfire Lies". It is up to the opposing team to tell tall tales from fantastic facts.
Would I Lie to You?
2007
8.2The comedic misadventures of Roy, Moss, and their grifting supervisor Jen, a 'motley crew' of IT support workers at a large corporation headed by a hotheaded yuppie.
The IT Crowd
2006
8.1An anthology of darkly comic twisted tales, each one taking place behind a door marked 'number 9'.
Inside No. 9
2014
8.1An anthology of darkly comic twisted tales, each one taking place behind a door marked 'number 9'.
Inside No. 9
2014
7.4Jimmy Carr hosts proceedings as the 8 Out of 10 Cats crew take over the words and numbers quiz.
8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown
2013
5.9Britain's top chefs compete for the chance to cook a four-course banquet for a high-profile figure.
Great British Menu
2006
7.5In a parallel present where the latest must-have gadget for any busy family is a 'Synth' - a highly-developed robotic servant that's so similar to a real human it's transforming the way we live.
Humans
2015
7.4It is 1986 and Britain is booming. "Rivals" dives headfirst into the cutthroat world of TV where hair-dos are big and ambitions are even bigger. Deals are brokered in boardrooms, as well as bedrooms. Nobody can be sure who will come out on top. With every man and woman out only for themselves, can true love really blossom?
Rivals
2024
7.8Andy Millman gave up his day job five years ago in the hope of achieving the big time, but he’s yet to land a speaking part, let alone saunter down the red carpet to pick up an Oscar. He remains optimistic however, as rubbing shoulders with the A-list on-set only serves to reinforce his belief that the big time is just a job or two away.
Extras
2005
6.6Fast-moving game show meets talk show, which sees Frank Skinner refereeing three celebrities each week as they compete to banish their top peeve or worst nightmare to the depths of Room 101.
Room 101
1994
7.1One of Britain’s favourite comedians doing what he does best – being funny. But Alan Davies isn’t on a stage, or behind his QI desk sparring with Stephen Fry, or even wearing his Jonathan Creek duffle coat… instead, Alan is at his most relaxed and most natural – sitting around chatting with some of his best comedian friends.
Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled
2014
7.3Our Urban Myths are stories that have been passed down over time and have now become part of urban folklore. But are they true? We take a slightly tongue in cheek, mischievous – and deliberately ambiguous – look at what might have happened...
Urban Myths
2017
6.4British comedian Richard Ayoade (later taken over by Joe Lycett), accompanied by a celebrity guest, takes a ruthlessly efficient approach to travel, covering everything top tourist destinations have to offer in just 48 hours.
Travel Man: 48 Hours in...
2015
7.7Famous for his dark humour, one liners and THAT laugh, Jimmy Carr challenges 10 of Britain’s funniest comics to spend the day together without so much as cracking a smile. The 10 comics use every ounce of their comedic talents to try and break their opponents without cracking up themselves.
LOL: Last One Laughing UK
2025
6.0Lee Mack wrangles a team of scientists and celebrity guests to find the truth behind the trivia on this bizarrely educational panel show.
Duck Quacks Don't Echo
2014
6.9Five strangers receive blackmail notes from an anonymous source, leading them on a dark and surreal journey as their lives unravel, featuring bizarre characters like a man-child, a one-handed clown, and a blind millionaire.
Psychoville
2009
7.3Nessa Stein, the daughter of a Zionist arms procurer who as a child witnessed his assassination. Now an adult, Nessa inherits her father's company and changes course from supplying arms to laying data cabling networks between Israel and the West Bank. Her efforts to reconcile the Israelis and Palestinians lands her an appointment to the House of Lords and creates an international political maelstrom.
The Honourable Woman
2014
7.1Comedy series set in the kitchen of a country house hotel, following the trials and tribulations of head chef Roland White and his long suffering sous chef Bib.
Whites
2010
6.9A Victorian comedy adventure in the style of Charles Dickens following shop owner Jedrington Secret-Past. Jedrington teams up with a seemingly charming new business partner, Harmswell Grimstone. As the Secret-Past family's fortunes rise, it looks like they are built on crumbling foundations indeed, especially when it is revealed that Conceptiva too has a secret that turns out to be even darker than Jedrington's own.
The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff
2012
6.1Having stumbled into a career in contract killing, misfits Fran and Jamie are not your typical killers for hire. Working out of their scruffy van, each episode follows the hapless duo as they try to carry out their latest hit, inevitably derailed by incompetence, bickering, and inane antics. As each hit goes south, our (anti)heroes are thrown into one bizarre misadventure after another, each full of oddball characters and unexpected dilemmas.
Hitmen
2020
6.5Family life with no filter. The Jessops navigate life's everyday challenges - from changing jobs to kidnapping dogs.
Here We Go
2022
6.8Crackanory is a storytelling television series aimed at adults, inspired by the popular children's series Jackanory. Each episode features two 15-minute tales narrated by contemporary comedians and actors, containing a mix of live action and animation and all read from the same oversized chair.
Crackanory
2013
6.4After the collapse of his previous group therapy practice, Richard is no longer able to conduct the traditional 50-minute sessions most therapists have with their patients. Instead, he's developed a new form of therapy - weekly quick-fire sessions with his patients which take place online, through a webcam.
Hang Ups
2018
6.3In The Club follows six pregnant women and their partners as they get ready for the arrival of their babies at the local parenting class. Housewife Diane, schoolgirl Rosie, newlywed Jasmin, businesswoman Roanna, midwife Vicky and writer and teaching assistant Kim all have their own issues to deal with.
In the Club
2014
10.0Hosted by Pandora Sykes, this podcast brings listeners inside the world of “Rivals” through conversations with its onscreen stars, including David Tennant, Aidan Turner, and Emily Atack, alongside the executive producers and creative team. Joined by celebrity guests and Dame Jilly Cooper superfans, the podcast explores the rivalries, scandals, and drama that define Rutshire.
Rivals: The Official Podcast
2026
7.0Katy Brand's Big Ass Show is a British comedy series that aired on ITV2, starring comedian Katy Brand. The show features sketch comedy based on real-life situations, stereotypes, and celebrity parodies, including Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen, Lady Gaga, Angelina Jolie, Adele, and Kate Winslet. The second series aired in 2008, featuring additional sketches with Princess Beatrice of York, Kate Moss, Leona Lewis, Jesus, The Queen, and Billie Piper’s Secret Diary of a Call Girl. The show was also broadcast internationally in Canada on CBC’s Bold channel and in Portugal on RTP2. A Christmas special, Katy Brand’s Big Ass Songs of 2008, aired in December 2008. The third and final series ran in 2009, after which Katy Brand concluded the show with a live tour in April 2010.
Katy Brand's Big Ass Show
2007
8.0Joe Lycett has set up his own pub. And it’s a pub with a difference - because it will only be open for an hour a week. Featuring top drawer comedy entertainment from Joe and a pub full of celebrity guests.
Live from the Lycett Arms
2026
5.7Significant Other follows two lonely neighbours who embark on a hesitant, obstacle-filled relationship after drastic life events bring them together. As this strange love story unfolds with wryly observed wit and warmth, could these deeply flawed individuals – both at a time in their lives when change is difficult and rarely expected – influence each other for the better?
Significant Other
2023
7.2Will Packham is an idealistic pupil barrister - or idealistic for now. Can Will hold onto his principles and prove he has what it takes?
Defending the Guilty
2018
6.5The Old Guys is a British comedy television series that revolves around two aging housemates: Tom Finnan and Roy Bowden. The pair live across the street from Sally, whom they both find attractive. Tom moved in with Roy after Roy's wife Penny deserted him. Baby boomer Tom has little in life but his daughter Amber, who is dating Steve. Roy is a suburban pensioner who believes that he is one of the country's leading intellectuals.
The Old Guys
2009
5.5Divorced, hectic mother-of-two, Lauren is looking for sex without commitment. With the help of best friend Alex, she develops “Spreadsheet”: a database of sex options, customised to ensure her sushi train of sex rolls around with variety and order amidst the chaos of her life. What Lauren didn’t expect was a slew of needy men, which apparently even a well-managed excel tracker can’t control.
Spreadsheet
2021
6.1Multi-generation family sitcom set in the 1970s, loosely based on Emma Kennedy's memoirs. The Kennedy family pursue every opportunity they can to climb the social ladder on their housing estate.
The Kennedys
2015
