ON THE FAST TRACK: Mark Williams

Starring in both Father Brown (1) (2.15pm, BBC1) and Blandings (Sunday, 6.30pm, BBC1), Mark Williams is very busy indeed. Here, we look at some highlights of the versatile actor’s career…

Flying start Mark made his film debut in 1982’s Privileged, which also launched Imogen Stubbs, James Wilby and Hugh Grant (billed as ‘Hughie’). It would be another six years before he landed his first TV role, in the pilot of Red Dwarf. Funny business Also in 1988, he got a first taste of TV sketch comedy, in Alexei Sayle’s Stuff , and later featured in The Smell Of Reeves And Mortimer (1993-95). But he considers himself an actor, not a comedian: ‘I’ve never done stand-up. I came via small-scale touring theatre, through the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre…’ On a roll Between 1994 and 2003, he starred in The Fast Show (3) and spin-offs, but he also found time to make films 101 Dalmatians, The Borrowers (2)

and Shakespeare In Love (8pm, Sky

Drama) – and Dalmatians led to a role in 2011. Star Glenn Close said she thought of him when writing his part in Albert Nobbs – ‘Which is very flattering, to be thinking of me as a Dublin Irish waiter with a drink problem and unsure of his sexuality.’ Daddy cool Two recent high-profile roles have been as fathers: Arthur Weasley (Ron’s dad) (4) in seven Harry Potter films, and Rory’s dad in Doctor Who. But somehow, he still gets fan mail for snooker player Mark Williams…

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