Ian Kirkby is a British actor and writer. He is best known for his role as DI Harry Batt on the children's programme Dick and Dom in da Bungalow & Diddy TV and Sandy Toes on Swashbuckle. Additionally, he has appeared in Diddy Movies and The Slammer.
In his early years, Kirkby became a member of the Central Junior Television Workshop. From there he was selected as an extra in 1987 in ITV sitcom, Hardwicke House.[1] In 1992, Kirkby graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and was employed in a number of minor roles in theatre and television productions. He also spent a year with the Royal Shakespeare Company and performed in the West End.[2] In 2003, Kirkby was hired by the BBC to play Newcastle detective, Harry Batt on CBBC's Dick and Dom in da Bungalow. Kirkby said he based the character of Harry Batt on a "Seventies Sweeney stereotype, but with a Geordie accent." The character was only intended to be a one-time appearance; however, the character became popular so Kirkby reprised the role as a recurring character and a regular actor until the end of the programme in 2006.[3] Kirkby also played Harry Batt in Da Dick and Dom Dairies and The Legend of Dick and Dom.[4] During this time, he also co-wrote a programme for CBBC based around Harry Batt, which was broadcast in 2007.[5]
Also in 2006, in a role that Kirkby was permitted to write for himself, played the role of Mr. Burgess in the talent programme The Slammer.[6] In 2010, Kirkby was hired by Channel 4 to play commentator Terry McIlroy in the comedy Pete versus Life.[7]
Kirkby is a fan of association football; however, he had expressed a dislike of motor racing as "just a waste of petrol".[8]
| Year | Series | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983–1989 | Dramarama | Various characters | Appeared in four episodes |
| 1985–1988 | Your Mother Wouldn't Like It | Loaf | Main cast member |
| 1987 | Hardwicke House | Unnamed pupil | |
| 1988 | Hard Cases | Peter Collinson | |
| 1990 | Palace Hill | Chelsea BunAppeared in all seven episodes | |
| 1994 | Pie in the Sky | Second Police Constable | Episode 1.7: "Passion Fruit Fool" |
| 1995 | Peak Practice | Edward Turrell | Episode 3.12: "Giving Up" |
| 1998 | Picking up the Pieces | Peter | Episode 1.8 |
| 2000 | Doctors | Graham Tremain | Episode 2.52 |
| 2003 | Dangerville | Jack JacksonAppeared in thirteen episodes | |
| 2004–2006 | Dick and Dom in da Bungalow | Various characters | Appeared in the majority of series 3 and all the episodes of series 4 and 5 |
| 2004 | 55 Degrees North | Jack Timson | Episode 1.3 |
| 2005 | Wire in the Blood | Steve Bentley | Episode 3.4: "Synchronicity" |
| – The Case of Rose Harsent | Albert Goodchild | ||
| 2006–15 | The Slammer | Mr. Burgess | Appeared in all episodes |
| 2006 | Mayo | Joe Wishart | Episode 1.6 |
| Coronation Street | Simon Stevens | Appeared in four episodes | |
| 2007 | Harry Batt | Harry Batt | Also writer |
| Casualty | Pete Frampton | Episode 22.18: "Take a Cup of Kindness Yet" and 22.19: "For Auld Lang Syne" | |
| 2008 | Uncle Max | Biker dad | Episode 2.9: "Uncle Max at the Supermarket" |
| 2009–2010 | The Legend of Dick and Dom | Appeared in all three series playing over 40 characters | |
| Nuzzle and Scratch | Mr Sandy Bottom | Episode 4: "Beach Attendant" | |
| 2009 | Gigglebiz | Cinema Manager/Mayor/Janitor | 3 episodes |
| 2010 | Pete versus Life | Terry McIlroy | All 5 episodes |
| 2012-2014 | Diddy Movies | Various | |
| 2016–2018 | Diddy TV | Harry Batt/Various | All 19 episodes |
| 2016 | Sam & Mark's Big Friday Wind-Up | Mr. Burgess | Guest |
| 2016 | Rank the Prank | Various characters | 2 episode |
| CBBC HQ | Harry Batt | Guest | |
| 2020 | Crackerjack! | Various Characters | |
| 2021-present | Swashbuckle | Sandy from (Series 7 onwards) | |
| Year | Film | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Jilting Joe | Traffic Cop | ||
| 1999 | Whatever Happened to Harold Smith? | Policeman | ||
| 2008 | My Last Five Girlfriends | Tour guide |