Shane Richie

Shane Patrick Paul Roche (born 11 March 1964), known as Shane Richie, is an English actor, comedian, television presenter and singer.

Rather than a remake of the original, Richie starred as Archie Daley, the nephew of the character Arthur Daley from the original series, which ran from 1979 to 1994 on ITV.

In 1989, Richie made nightly appearances for Sky TV's chat show series Jameson Tonight, which was hosted by Derek Jameson and Richie and recorded at the Windmill Theatre, London.

In 1990, Richie made his first terrestrial television appearances as one of the comics on the BBC One sketch show Up to Something! with Suzy Aitchison, David Schneider, Frances Dodge, Mike Hayley and Lewis MacLeod; however, the show was axed after one series.

Richie was one of five comics, along with Maddi Cryer, Annette Law, George Marshall and Billy Pearce.

Richie later branched out into hosting game shows after proving successful as host of the childrens quiz show Run the Risk, which was played during the BBC Saturday morning show Going Live!.

He moved into mainstream presenting with Caught in the Act, Win, Lose or Draw, The Shane Richie Experience (later revamped as Love Me Do) and Lucky Numbers.

He also replaced Danny Baker in the 'doorstep challenge' TV ads for Daz detergent; he had previously replaced Baker as host of Win, Lose or Draw.

Richie was a regular co-host alongside Derek Jameson on "Jameson Tonight", an early Sky One talk show in 1990.

Richie has had success in musicals, appearing in such musicals as Boogie Nights and the 1993 London revival production of Grease.

In 1995, Richie began hosting the game show Lucky Numbers and starred in The Shane Richie Experience (1995–1996).

He released two albums, The Album in 1997, and Once Around the Sun in 2000, to limited commercial response.

Following initial success as a stage and screen performer, he became best known for his portrayal of the character Alfie Moon in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders (appearing 2002–2005, 2010–2016, 2018–2019, 2022–present) and then in its spin-off RTÉ Drama Redwater in 2017.

From 2002 to 2003, Richie played the villainous Danny Dexter on Night and Day.

He won supporting roles in low-profile British films, beginning with Chris Barfoot's award-winning short comedy movie Dead Clean and then later Distant Shadow.

Richie had a number 2 hit in the UK Singles Chart in 2003, with his Children in Need cover version of Wham!'s "I'm Your Man".

In 2003, Richie was executive producer for the British film Shoreditch, in which he also appeared in a lead role.

He invested a six-figure sum into the budget of the film, which ultimately made little profit.

Over Christmas 2005, Richie appeared in a touring run of Scrooge: The Musical.

In 2007, Richie starred in ITV drama The Good Samaritan, and Father Frank for BBC One.

He also starred in the second series of Skins on Channel 4 as Bruce Gelcart, a lecherous college drama lecturer.

On 11 May 2008, Richie hosted a quiz show on Sky One called Don't Forget the Lyrics!, whereby contestants must finish off the lyrics to lines of popular songs in order to win money.

On 25 April 2008, he was due to be a guest on The Paul O'Grady Show, but due to Paul O'Grady falling ill, Richie stood in as host.

In 2009, Richie was reportedly scheduled as the opening act for Michael Jackson's concerts at The O2 Arena.

The concerts were cancelled following Jackson's death.

During Christmas 2009, 2013 and 2014, Richie appeared as Aladdin, Buttons and Dick Whittington, in the pantomimes Aladdin, Cinderella and Dick Whittington at the Wycombe Swan Theatre in High Wycombe.

In February 2009, Richie starred in a revamp of the series Minder on Channel 5.

On 26 July 2009, Richie appeared in a one-off television drama called Whatever It Takes playing a character called JJ Merrick who comes to the aid of a girl who wins a radio competition – and catapults her into stardom, thus giving her a new lease of life.

The BBC announced on 14 November 2011 that following Jimmy Savile's recent death, Jim'll Fix It would return for a one-off Christmas Special in December 2011, with Richie as host.

In the 2012 Christmas episode of The Sarah Millican Television Programme, Richie said that Daz gave him so much money for doing the adverts that he would have "snorted the stuff" if they had asked him.

He first took the role appearing at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton in 2016, then repeated it again in 2017 at the New Victoria Theatre, Woking.

In 2017, Richie signed with East West Records and released his debut country music album, A Country Soul on 10 November 2017, which featured songs co-written by his son, Rixton member Jake Roche.

He then reprised the role once again in 2018 at the Milton Keynes Theatre.

In 2019 he starred alongside Jennie Dale as the title character in Dick Whittington at the Bristol Hippodrome in Bristol.

Richie was born at St Mary Abbots Hospital in Kensington, London to Irish parents.

He attended Willesden High School and was a member of a youth theatre as a child, and began his professional career in adolescence as a bluecoat entertainer at a Pontins holiday camp Little Canada, on the Isle of Wight.

He progressed to the live stand up circuit, receiving a nomination for best new stand-up at the inaugural British Comedy Awards.

In 2020, he appeared on the twentieth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here and finished in fourth place.

Richie has presented a number of BBC game shows including Reflex, Win Your Wish List and Decimate.

He also regularly appears in pantomime and in the last few years has starred as Robin Hood.