Neil Morrissey: his TV shows, memorable characters and pub

Everything you need to know about the Men Behaving Badly actor

Neil Morrissey

by Stephanie Spencer |
Updated on

Neil Anthony Morrissey is an English actor, voice actor, singer and businessman. He is perhaps best known for his role as Tony in Men Behaving Badly, and also as Greg McConnell in The Good Karma Hospital.

Other notable acting roles include Deputy Head Eddie Lawson in the BBC One school-based drama series Waterloo Road, Nigel Morton in Line of Duty, and Rocky in Boon.

How old is Neil Morrissey?

Neil was born on 4 July 1962.

Neil Morrisey TV shows

The Good Karma Hospital (2017-2019)

good karma hospital
©ITV

This medical drama focuses on junior doctor, Ruby Walker, who decides to leave the UK and travel to south India hoping to make a fresh start. She finds herself working at The Good Karma Hospital, an under-resourced and overworked cottage hospital run by an eccentric English expat, Dr. Lydia Fonseca.

Neil plays Lydia’s partner, Greg McConnell - a free spirit who runs a local bar (flying in the face of a state-wide alcohol ban).

Men Behaving Badly (1992–2014)

men behaving badly
©BBC

The British sitcom follows the lives of Gary Strang (Martin Clunes) and his flatmates Dermot Povey (Harry Enfield; series 1 only) and Tony Smart (Neil Morrissey).

Neil Morrissey plays Gary's flatmate Tony from series two onwards. Tony is well meaning, but has a habit of annoying those around him with his thoughtless comments and off-the-wall behaviour. He also has musical ambitions which are not matched by his abilities.

Line of Duty

Neil Morrissey line of duty
©BBC

Neil's character in Line of Duty is Detective Constable Nigel Morton (series 1-3). Allegedly disabled by a leg injury, Morton had resigned himself to desk duties until Gates brought him into TO-20. However it is somewhat of an open secret that Morton is faking the injury to receive disability benefits.

Neil Morrissey - the voice of Bob the Builder

Neil is the voice of the animated character Bob the Builder (and Lofty, Skip and Farmer Pickles too) in the children’s series of the same name.

It was a role that also scored Neil a Christmas number one for the single Can We Fix It?

Neil Morrissey wife

Neil married actress Amanda Noar in 1987 after she guested in an episode of Boon; the couple have a son, born in 1989, but divorced in 1991.

Neil was also engaged to Elizabeth Carling for a time. Although it didn't work out, they parted on good terms, and she later guest starred alongside him on Men Behaving Badly.

His subsequent affairs have been well documented by the British tabloids, including dating Rachel Weisz after starring together in My Summer with Des in 1998. They lived together at his flat in Crouch End, north London. Neil also had an affair with Amanda Holden in 2000, leading to her divorce in 2003 from comedian Les Dennis.

Neil Morrissey pub

Neil Morrissey pub
©The Plume of Feathers

Neil owns a chain of pubs in Staffordshire, including The Plume of Feathers in Barlaston, and more recently The Old Bramshall Inn in Bramshall.

Through lockdown Neil hosted regular virtual pub quizzes along with co-quizmaster Paul Fairclough.

Find out more about Neil's pub quizzes.

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