Christopher Mitchell | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Christopher Mitchell Driver (1948-05-21)21 May 1948 Surrey, England |
| Died | 22 February 2001(2001-02-22) (aged 52) King's Lynn, Norfolk, England |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1967–1991 |
| Parent | Norman Mitchell |
Christopher Mitchell Driver (21 May 1948 – 22 February 2001) was an English actor known for his role in the BBC sitcom It Ain't Half Hot Mum as Gunner Nigel 'Parky' Parkin.12
Career
He was born in Surrey, and after attending a private drama school performed in repertory theatre, and as a model in television adverts for Macleans toothpaste. His early television roles included small parts in Dixon of Dock Green and Z Cars,3 and his film credits include Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush (1967), This, That and the Other (1969), The Sex Thief (1973) and What's Up Superdoc! (1978).4
From 1974 to 1981, Mitchell played Gunner Nigel "Parky" Parkin in the sitcom It Ain't Half Hot Mum, which drew him to national attention.3 He appeared in two episodes of Only Fools and Horses ("May the Force Be With You" in 1983 and "To Hull and Back" in 1985), playing policeman Terry Hoskins.56 In addition he had parts in many other comedies such as: Keeping Up Appearances; Never the Twain and That's My Boy.7
Death
He died from liver cancer at the age of 52, a month before his father, actor Norman Mitchell, and in the same year as Kenneth MacDonald, another actor with a role as a gunner in It Ain't Half Hot Mum, who died of a heart attack aged 50.78
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush | Tony9 |
| 1969 | This, That and the Other | Carl9 |
| 1973 | The Sex Thief | Wensleydale9 |
| 1978 | What's Up Superdoc! | Dr. Todd9 |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Emergency Ward 10 | Ron Lee | One episode9 |
| Seven Deadly Virtues | Gordon Mather | ||
| 1968 | Sam and Janet | Ron | |
| Cold Comfort Farm | Bounder | ||
| Dixon of Dock Green | Pete | ||
| 1969 | Strange Report | Jay Brand | |
| Detective | Billy Smith | ||
| 1969—1970 | Take Three Girls | Edwin | Five episodes9 |
| 1970 | Ours Is a Nice House | Simon | One episode9 |
| 1971 | Z-Cars | Bob | Three episodes9 |
| The Fenn Street Gang | Edgar | One episode9 | |
| 1972 | The Shadow of the Tower | First Guard | |
| Alcock and Gander | Harry | ||
| Emmerdale | Norman Harrison | Three episodes9 | |
| 1973 | Arthur of the Britons | Barth | One episode9 |
| 1974—1981 | It Ain't Half Hot Mum | Gunner "Parky" Parkin | Fifty-six episodes9 |
| 1974 | The Protectors | Juan | One episode9 |
| Doctor at Sea | Doctor | ||
| 1976, 1995 | This Is Your Life | Himself | Two episodes9 |
| 1976 | The Cedar Tree | Alan Chapman | |
| 1977 | No Appointment Necessary | Garth | One episode9 |
| 1978 | Come Back Mrs. Noah | The Butler | |
| 1979 | You're Only Young Twice | Junior | |
| 1980 | Crossroads | Det. Const. Hardiman | Four episodes9 |
| Watch This Space | One episode9 | ||
| Born and Bred | PC Willis | ||
| The Professionals | Simms | ||
| 1983, 1985 | Only Fools and Horses | Terence Hoskins | Two episodes9 |
| 1983 | That's My Boy | Mike | One episode9 |
| 1988 | Never the Twain | Norman the barman | Two episodes9 |
| 1989 | Mr Majeika | Ron Bigmore | Five episodes9 |
| 1990 | The Bill | Prison officer | One episode9 |
| 1991 | Keeping Up Appearances | The porter | |
| Minder | Customer in Winchester | ||
| 1995 | Omnibus | Himself (archive footage) |
References
References
- "Christopher Mitchell | Theatricalia". theatricalia.com.
- "Christopher Mitchell". aveleyman.com. Archived from the original on 17 September 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
- Robert Ross, Forgotten Heroes of Comedy, Unbound Press, London, 2021, isbn 978-1-78352-918-6, pp.368-374
- "Christopher Mitchell". BFI. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018.
- Guide, British Comedy. "Only Fools And Horses Series 3, Episode 5 – May The Force Be With You". British Comedy Guide. Archived from the original on 17 September 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
- "Christopher Mitchell". MUBI.
- Williamson, Lucy (1 June 2021). "The Only Fools and Horses actor who died tragically young at 52". MyLondon.
- "Kenneth MacDonald". The Independent. London. 21 February 2014.
- "Christopher Mitchell | Actor, Music Department". IMDb. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 25 August 2025.