Editing Peter Richardson (British director)

{{Short description|English  director, screenwriter, comedian and actor}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
{{Infobox comedian
| name          = Peter Richardson
| image         = Peter Richardson 2023.jpg
| caption       = Richardson in 2023
| birth_name    = 
| birth_date    = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1951|10|15}}
| birth_place   = [[Newton Abbot]], [[Devon]], England
| medium        = Television, film, [[stand-up]]
| years_active  = 1968–present
| genre         = [[Black comedy]], [[physical comedy]], [[musical comedy]], [[parody]], [[alternative Comedy]], [[character comedy]]
| spouse        = Marta Richardson (m. 1981–present, 4 children, including [[Red Richardson|Red]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0724724/bio|title=Peter Richardson|website=IMDb|access-date=11 April 2018}}</ref>
| notable_works = ''[[The Comic Strip]] Presents...'', ''[[The Supergrass]]'', ''[[The Pope Must Die]]'', ''[[Stella Street]]''
}}

'''Peter Richardson''' (born 15 October 1951) is an English director, screenwriter, actor and comedian. He founded [[the Comic Strip]] troupe of performers, which showcased his [[double act]] with [[Nigel Planer]] and boosted the careers of [[French and Saunders]], [[Rik Mayall]] and [[Adrian Edmondson]], and [[Alexei Sayle]]. Richardson approached [[Channel 4]] to make a series of short, self-contained one-off comedy films with this group, which led to ''The Comic Strip Presents...'', the majority of which featured Richardson in acting, writing and directing roles.

Richardson began his career as a teenager acting in [[Alan Bennett]]'s ''[[Forty Years On (play)|Forty Years On]]'', before he trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School from 1971 to 1973. He later created his own experimental theatre shows with Nigel Planer amongst others, mixing comedy and improvisation with [[rock music]]. Two of these shows, ''Rank'' and ''The Wild Boys'', toured nationally.

Although he did not reach the same level of public recognition as some of his contemporaries, Richardson was influential on British television comedy throughout the 1980s as the driving force behind ''The Comic Strip Presents...'' films, first shown on [[Channel 4]] in 1982. The series was one of the first examples of [[alternative comedy]] to appear on British television. Richardson has been involved in the production of over 40 Comic Strip films and has directed 17 of them. The series won a [[Rose D'Or]] for ''[[The Strike]]'' in 1988. He developed the series into feature films; ''[[The Supergrass]]'', ''[[Eat the Rich (film)|Eat the Rich]]'', ''[[The Pope Must Die]]'', and ''[[Churchill: The Hollywood Years]]'', none of which achieved great box office success. In the 1990s, Richardson introduced a new generation of performers: [[Doon Mackichan]], Mark Caven, [[Phil Cornwell]], [[Sara Stockbridge]], George Yiasoumi and [[Gary Beadle]], who appeared in his productions. He co-wrote and directed the 1990s cult [[mockumentary]] comedy series ''[[Stella Street]]'' with [[Phil Cornwell]] and [[John Sessions]]. In 2004, Richardson co-founded, with Nick Smith, the production company Great Western Features, based in [[Totnes]], [[Devon]]. In 2005, he directed the Comic Strip film ''Sex Actually''. In the 2010s, Richardson wrote and directed three more Comic Strip films: 2011's ''[[The Hunt for Tony Blair]]'',  2012's ''[[Five Go to Rehab]]'' and 2016's ''Red Top''. In a July 2021 interview,<ref>{{Citation|title=Bad News Castle Donnington Anniversary interview with Spider Webb (Peter Richardson)| date=14 July 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKoY0ot6BII|language=en|access-date=2022-01-27}}</ref> Richardson said he is putting together a book on The Comic Strip due to come out in 2022.

== Early life ==
Richardson was born on 15 October 1951 in [[Newton Abbot]], [[Devon]], England and lived in a house near [[Denbury]]. His parents ran a children's summer camp school. The family moved to [[Dartmoor]] when Richardson was ten. Richardson describes himself as "a Devonian, honest, cream on first every time." Richardson would go on to set a number of his films in Devon, and found his production company there. At one point he was a [[lifeguard]] at a Devon [[swimming pool]], despite having failed the swimming test, "but they still hired me as they were so short staffed."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fitzgerald |first1=David |title=Controversial Devon filmmaker Peter Richardson on upcoming Brexit movie and which county location he'd demolish |url=https://www.greatbritishlife.co.uk/people/22578617.controversial-devon-filmmaker-peter-richardson-upcoming-brexit-movie-county-location-demolish/ |website=Great British Life |date=17 May 2018 |publisher=Newsquest Media Group Ltd |access-date=11 May 2023}}</ref> The family did not have a television, but his father had a [[Cine camera#Home movie cameras|cine camera]] with which they would make films. Richardson credits this as the beginning of his interest in filmmaking.<ref>{{cite web|last=People's Republic of South Devon|title=Comic strip creator Peter Richardson at View From Here Talent Showcase|url=http://www.peoplesrepublicofsouthdevon.co.uk/2008/12/03/comic-strip-creator-peter-richardson-at-view-from-here-talent-showcase/|work=People's Republic of South Devon, 3 December 2008|publisher=News and Media Republic Ltd|access-date=12 December 2011}}</ref>  Encouraged by his parents, he moved to [[London]] when he was seventeen, having decided he wanted to be an actor. <ref name=Wilmut-1989>{{cite book|last=Wilmut|first=Roger|title=Didn't You Kill My Mother in Law?- the story of alternative comedy in Britain from the Comedy Store to Saturday Night Live|year=1989|publisher=Methuen|location=UK|isbn=0-413-17390-9|pages=57–58|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mrQqAAAAMAAJ}}</ref>

== Career ==

=== Early career ===
Richardson appeared as one of the schoolboys in [[Alan Bennett]]'s [[Forty Years On (play)|Forty Years On]], starring [[John Gielgud]] and [[Paul Eddington]]. This work led to him getting an agent and performing in [[TV play]]s as an extra. He then attended the [[Bristol Old Vic Theatre School]]. It was here in the second year he became reacquainted with [[Nigel Planer]], who had worked at Richardson's parents' summer camp. The pair shared an interest in rock music, and wanted to mix music with a comedy show; in Richardson's words "we felt we'd like to try something like what [[Frank Zappa]] was doing on records, which was being funny but using music as well.".<ref name="Wilmut-1989" /> Around this time Richardson and Planer were heavily influenced by U.S. comedians Sal's Meat Market, an early duo of [[John Ratzenberger]] and Ray Hassett, as well as the group [[Alberto y Lost Trios Paranoias]].

With the assistance of Caroline Jay, they produced a show called "Rank", inspired by the police raid of the 1974 [[Windsor Free Festival]], which premiered at the [[Roundhouse (venue)|Roundhouse Downstairs]] in August 1976. Planer and Richardson played all the characters in the play, which numbered around forty. The play was well received and enabled the pair to get an [[Arts Council of Great Britain|Arts Council]] grant to take it on tour. Despite the critical acclaim, at the end of the tour Richardson and Planer found themselves with no money and had to pursue other work, with Richardson [[squatting]] in London.<ref name=Wilmut-1989 />

After ''Rank,'' Richardson toured with a band in [[Italy]] and also helped run drama courses for children at his parents' house in Devon. One of the dramas produced from these courses became a show called ''The Wild Boys'', based on the book by [[William Burroughs]]. Richardson performed this show at the [[Institute of Contemporary Arts|ICA]] in London as well as touring the show with the group Furious Pig. Through this, Richardson first met [[Michael White (producer)|Michael White]], with whom he planned to take the show into the [[London West End|West End]], although this came to nothing. He worked as an extra on [[Michael Palin]]'s [[Ripping Yarns]]' second series in 1979, appearing as a German spy pretending to be a Cornish fisherman, in Whinfrey's Last Case.{{citation needed|date=March 2012}}

=== "The Outer Limits" ===
Richardson and Planer started performing at London's [[The Comedy Store, London|Comedy Store]] in 1979, calling themselves "The Outer Limits". They performed short sketches [[parody]]ing different television styles, for example [[sitcom]] and American [[police drama]]. They used visual comedy and often [[mime]]d over-the-top scenes of [[cartoon violence]]. At this point, various television companies were taking note of the rapidly growing "[[alternative comedy]]" scene, [[BBC]] producer [[Paul Jackson (producer)|Paul Jackson]] being the first to commission a programme from regular performers at the Comedy Store. This became 1980's ''Boom Boom...Out Go The Lights''. Jackson's decision to only showcase solo performers, featuring Planer's Neil character instead of The Outer Limits as a duo angered Richardson, who began a long-standing [[feud]] with Jackson.<ref name="Duguid-20 October 2011">{{cite web|last=Duguid|first=Mark|title=Boom Boom... Out Go the Lights (1980)|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/1119413/|work=BFI Screenonline.org|publisher=BFI Screenonline|access-date=20 October 2011}}</ref> Mike in BBC comedy ''[[The Young Ones (TV series)|The Young Ones]]'' was written with Richardson in mind but he did not take part for reasons partly connected to his earlier disagreement with Paul Jackson and due to his commitments with The Comic Strip. Richardson was replaced by [[Christopher Ryan]]. The Outer Limits were hired by [[Kevin Rowland]] as an opening act for [[Dexy's Midnight Runners]] on their tour of ''[[The Projected Passion Revue]] ''in 1981.<ref name=white-2005>{{cite book|last=White|first=Richard|title=Young Soul Rebels: Dexys Midnight Runners|year=2005|publisher=Omnibus Press|location=London|isbn=1-84449-863-8|page=98|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TzNhtMbCQoUC&q=peter+richardson+dexys+midnight+runners&pg=PA98}}</ref>

=== The Comic Strip Presents... ===
{{Main|The Comic Strip}}

As a result of searching for a West End venue to stage ''The Wild Boys'', Richardson and Michael White found a new possible venue for his comedy club, the [[Soho#Raymond Revuebar|Boulevard Theatre]] in the [[Raymond Revue Bar]], run by [[Paul Raymond (publisher)|Paul Raymond]]. Richardson called it ''[[The Comic Strip]]'', taking with him a core group from the Comedy Store.<ref name="Over21-1981">{{cite web | first=David | last=Johnson | title= Something Funny is Happening in Stripland | url= https://shapersofthe80s.com/seismic-shifts/1980-a-new-decade-demands-new-comedy/ |work=Over21, page 36, republished at Shapersofthe80s | location=London | access-date=7 April 2018 |date=1 January 1981}}</ref> It opened in October 1980 and ran until 1981, when the troupe went on a national tour. Richardson approached producer Mike Bolland, the new [[Channel Four]] youth and entertainment commissioning editor to propose a series of Comic Strip films for the channel. Bolland agreed to his proposal, his first commission for the station and [[Jeremy Isaacs]] quickly approved the budget.<ref>{{cite web|last=Jones|first=Ian|title=Blah Blah Blah Ian Jones on The Comic Strip Presents...|url=http://www.offthetelly.co.uk/?page_id=425|work=Off the Telly|access-date=6 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124230918/http://www.offthetelly.co.uk/?page_id=425|archive-date=24 November 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> The series opener, ''Five Go Mad in Dorset'' was the first comedy shown on the new channel on its opening night in November 1982.<ref name=Brooke-bfi>{{cite web|last=Brooke|first=Michael|title=Comic Strip Presents..., The (1982–2000)|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/499548/index.html|work=BFI Screenonline|access-date=9 December 2011}}</ref>

''The Comic Strip Presents...'' ran from 1982 to 1988 on Channel 4 and then continued from 1990 to 1993 on the [[BBC]]. Richardson wrote more than half of the shows together with his writing partner [[Pete Richens]], and he also directed most of the BBC series. In 1998 Richardson, Planer, Mayall and Edmondson reunited to appear in new film ''Four Men in a Car'', about four obnoxious [[sales representative]]s. This was followed up by 2000s ''Four Men in a Plane''.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Comic Strip Presents... (TV Series 1982– )|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083402/|work=Internet Movie Database|date=2 November 1982|publisher=IMDb|access-date=10 December 2011}}</ref>  Richardson returned to Channel 4 with the Comic Strip film, ''Sex Actually'' in 2005. In 2011, he wrote and directed ''[[The Hunt for Tony Blair]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Comic Strip Returns to C4 with The Hunt For Tony Blair|url=http://www.channel4.com/info/press/news/comic-strip-returns-to-c4-with-the-hunt-for-tony-blair|work=Channel 4 news 14/06/2011|publisher=Channel 4|access-date=10 December 2011}}</ref> In 2012, he wrote and directed, ''Five Go to Rehab'' which premiered on Gold.

=== Feature film work ===
Richardson's success on the small screen has not always translated well to cinematic releases. ''[[The Supergrass]]'' (1985), was the first feature length theatrical release for a Comic Strip film and was funded through [[Film4 Productions]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Supergrass|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090102/|work=Internet Movie Database|date=5 February 1988|publisher=IMDb.com|access-date=6 December 2011}}</ref> Reviews were mixed but mostly favourable<ref>{{cite web|last=GA|title=The Supergrass Review|url=http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/75657/the-supergrass.html|work=Time Out London, Film reviews|publisher=The Time Out Group, Ltd.|access-date=7 December 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Clark|first=Graeme|title=The Supergrass, The Review (1985)|url=http://www.thespinningimage.co.uk/cultfilms/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=3040|work=The Spinning Wheel|publisher=thespiiningwheel.com|access-date=7 December 2011}}</ref> and the film has a cult following.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Supergrass reviews|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090102/reviews|work=Internet Movie Database|publisher=IMDb.com, inc|access-date=7 December 2011}}</ref>  Richardson himself expressed the opinion in retrospect that maybe it was too gentle for a Comic Strip film.<ref name=Wilmut-1989 />

Richardson followed this up with the 1987 film ''[[Eat the Rich (film)|Eat the Rich]]'', written by himself and Pete Richens, about a waiter at an exclusive restaurant called ''Bastard's'', who stages a rebellion against the government. Critics were mixed in their opinions on the film. Hal Hinson writing in ''[[the Washington Post]]'' gave the film a lukewarm review and said "The punk jaggedness they bring to their derivations is the only hint of originality, but this, too, seems a little staid. It feels like punk on the downward swing, after most of its rude energy has dissipated."<ref>{{cite news|last=Hinson|first=Hal|title=Eat the Rich|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/eattherichrhinson_a0c8f4.htm|access-date=6 December 2011|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=20 May 1988}}</ref> [[Vincent Canby]] in ''[[the New York Times]]'' was more favourable and drew comparisons to "an upscale [[John Waters]] satire" and "[[Jean-Luc Godard]]'s pre-[[Maoist]] period".<ref>{{cite news|last=Canby|first=Vincent|title=Movie Reviews: Eat The Rich (1988)|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=940DEFD91138F931A15757C0A96E948260&partner=Rotten%20Tomatoes|access-date=6 December 2011|newspaper=The New York Times|date=22 April 1988}}</ref> In January 1988 the film was one of several attacked in the ''[[Sunday Times]]'' by [[Oxford University]] historian [[Norman Stone]] for their critique of [[Thatcherite]] society and values, Stone describing them as "worthless and insulting" and "riddled with left wing bias".<ref name="Monk, 2002">{{cite book|last=Monk|first=Claire|title=British historical cinema: the history, heritage and costume film|year=2002|publisher=Routledge|location=London|isbn=978-0-415-23810-6|page=189|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kefjKNAByTkC&q=eat+the+rich+comic+strip+1988+budget&pg=PA189}}</ref>

Richardson ran into controversy with a proposed three part [[papal]] satire which he pitched to Channel 4 in 1988.<ref>{{cite news|title=Row over papal satire|url=http://badshowgoons.blog.co.uk/2007/03/04/the_pope_must_die~1846150/|access-date=9 December 2011|newspaper=The Sunday Times|date=28 August 1988|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825062455/http://badshowgoons.blog.co.uk/2007/03/04/the_pope_must_die~1846150/|archive-date=25 August 2010}}</ref>  Several British newspapers found that the script was being considered, generating anger amongst the Catholic establishment and after some unfavourable press attention Channel 4 scrapped the project. Shortly after this Richardson moved ''The Comic Strip Presents...'' to the BBC and produced two episodes based on the original trilogy screenplay, although they were much changed.<ref>{{cite news|title=Papal comedy is just satire, Channel 4 says|url=http://badshowgoons.blog.co.uk/2007/03/04/the_pope_must_die~1846150/|access-date=9 December 2011|newspaper=The Universe|date=4 September 1988|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825062455/http://badshowgoons.blog.co.uk/2007/03/04/the_pope_must_die~1846150/|archive-date=25 August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Brooks|first=Richard|title=Channel 4 kills off Pope Dave satire|url=http://badshowgoons.blog.co.uk/2007/03/04/the_pope_must_die~1846150/|access-date=9 December 2011|newspaper=The Observer|date=18 September 1988|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825062455/http://badshowgoons.blog.co.uk/2007/03/04/the_pope_must_die~1846150/|archive-date=25 August 2010}}</ref>  He reworked the remainder of the story and again with backing from Film4 used elements of it to write the 1991 film ''[[The Pope Must Die]]'', starring Comic Strip regulars [[Robbie Coltrane]] and [[Adrian Edmondson]] along with [[Herbert Lom]] and [[Paul Bartel]]. Richardson again directed. The film experienced problems placing advertising in several countries, particularly the US due to its controversial title,<ref name=Fox-08-29-1991>{{cite news|last=Fox|first=David J.|title=Media Take Offense at 'Pope Must Die' Ads : * Movies: Big Three networks and some newspapers reject advertising for the British film satire due to its title and content.|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-08-29-ca-1985-story.html|access-date=21 December 2011|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=29 August 1991}}</ref><ref name=Gritten-08-25-1991>{{cite news|last=Gritten|first=David|title=RULE, BRITANNIA : Tilting at Titles|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-08-25-ca-1681-story.html|access-date=21 December 2011|newspaper=LA Times|date=25 August 1991}}</ref> received mixed reviews from critics<ref>{{cite news|last=Kempley|first=Rita|title='The Pope Must Die' (R)|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/thepopemustdierkempley_a0a266.htm|access-date=21 December 2011|newspaper=Washington Post|date=30 August 1991|quote=Coltrane, who last starred in the British drag comedy ''Nuns on the Run'', has apparently gotten into the rather unfortunate habit of masquerading in vestments. But then the British always did think men in skirts were a laugh riot. "The Pope Must Die", is little more than a political [[drag show]]. It's hardly a cardinal sin but nevertheless is devoutly to be avoided.}}</ref><ref name=Howe-08-30-1991>{{cite news|last=Howe|first=Desson|title='The Pope Must Die' (R)|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/thepopemustdierhowe_a0b33d.htm|access-date=21 December 2011|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=30 August 1991|quote=At first, "The Pope Must Die" is an energetic, often hilarious ribbing of things [[Holy See|Vatican]]. Like the work of the Zucker Brothers, or the old, British "Carry On . . ." films, it barrels along on sight gags and farcical bravado. But about halfway through, "Pope" dies. It's so busy wandering through a purgatory of plot resolution, it forgets its earlier (funny) sins.}}</ref><ref name="Ebert-08-30-1991" /><ref name=Canby-August-30-1991>{{cite news|last=Canby|first=Vincent|title=The Pope Must Diet (1991) Review/Film; A Matter of Mistaken Eminence|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9D0CE1D91430F933A0575BC0A967958260|access-date=21 December 2011|newspaper=New York Times|date=30 August 1991}}</ref> and struggled to make back its £2.5 million budget, grossing $2,544,770 overall (approximately £1.7 million).<ref name=Ebert-08-30-1991>{{cite web|last=Ebert|first=Roger|title=The Pope Must Die review|url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19910830/REVIEWS/108300301|work=Roger Ebert, Sun Times, 30 August 1991|publisher=rogerebert.com|access-date=6 December 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Pope Must Die- box office/business|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102691/business|work=Internet Movie Database|date=30 August 1991|publisher=IMDb|access-date=10 December 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=SFe|title=The Pope Must Die (1991)|url=http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/71275/the_pope_must_die.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130204083425/http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/71275/the_pope_must_die.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 February 2013|work=Time Out Film Guide|publisher=Time Out|access-date=6 December 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Pope Must Die|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/pope_must_diet/|work=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Flixster, Inc.|access-date=6 December 2011}}</ref>

Richardson appeared in the 1992 revival of the [[Carry On (film series)|Carry On]] franchise, ''[[Carry On Columbus]]'', alongside other Comic Strip members Rik Mayall, [[Alexei Sayle]] and Nigel Planer. The film was badly received, with [[Time Out London]] saying, "None of the new crew of Sayle, Richardson, Mayall and Planer is remotely endearing in their awfulness."<ref>{{cite web|title=Carry On Columbus Review|url=http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/68904/carry-on-columbus.html|work=Time Out Film Guide|publisher=Time Out Group Ltd.|access-date=6 December 2011}}</ref>

In 2003 Richardson began filming on his return to the big screen, directing [[Christian Slater]] and [[Neve Campbell]] in ''[[Churchill: The Hollywood Years]]'', which was released in December 2004. The film was a return to the universe of Comic Strip films ''The Strike'' and ''GLC'',<ref>{{cite web|last=Clark|first=Graeme|title=Churchill: The Hollywood Years|url=http://www.thespinningimage.co.uk/cultfilms/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=2557|work=The Spinning Image|access-date=6 December 2011}}</ref> where Hollywood remakes and distorts events from British historical events and portrayed [[Winston Churchill]] as a gun toting U.S. [[G.I.]] similar to [[Bruce Willis]].  [[Philip French]] writing in ''[[the Observer]]'' called it "a hit and miss affair"<ref>{{cite news|last=French|first=Philip|title=We'll fight them on Sunset Boulevard...|url=https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2004/dec/05/features.review17|access-date=6 December 2011|newspaper=The Observer|date=5 December 2004}}</ref> Peter Bradshaw in [[the Guardian]] gave it three stars and said "It's wildly uneven and very broad, but there are some laughs in Peter Richardson's Comic Strip fantasy of Churchill's real life as a kickass action hero."<ref>{{cite news|last=Bradshaw|first=Peter|title=Churchill:The Hollywood Years|url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/fridayreview/story/0,,1364948,00.html|access-date=6 December 2011|newspaper=The Guardian|date=3 December 2004}}</ref> However Nev Peirce on the BBC's website panned the film, saying "Sadly, Peter Richardson suffers the fate of many satirists; in trying to mock bad films, he's simply made a bad film."<ref>{{cite web|last=Pierce|first=Nev|title=Churchill: The Hollywood Years (2004)|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2004/11/29/churchill_the_hollywood_years_2004_review.shtml|work=BBCi Films, 2 December 2004|publisher=BBC|access-date=6 December 2011}}</ref>  The film grossed £148,326 on its opening weekend across 170 screens in the UK<ref>{{cite web|title=Churchill: The Hollywood Years|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0359078/business|work=Box Office Mojo|date=3 December 2004|publisher=IMDb.com, Inc|access-date=6 December 2011}}</ref>
The same year Richardson released a feature-length film of ''[[Stella Street]]'' through his new production company. He co-wrote and directed the film. It received unfavourable reviews. Anita Gates in the [[New York Times]] wrote, "The concept doesn't translate well to the longer form. The sense of the absurd is watered down",<ref>{{cite news|last=Gates|first=Anita|title=Abandoning Glamour for the Simple Life|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/22/movies/22STEL.html?_r=1&ex=1129953600&en=f6eadca51d884db4&ei=5083&partner=Rotten%20Tomatoes|access-date=7 December 2011|newspaper=New York Times|date=22 October 2004}}</ref> while Michael Rechtshaffen in the [[Hollywood Reporter]] said, "What might have achieved a degree of cult status across the pond when it was aired in 10-minute installments, struggles to pass big-screen scrutiny in a feature-length treatment that hinges on the flimsiest of plot lines." One reviewer said, "Two people walked out of the screening in the first half hour and the man sitting next to me slept through it", while Matthew Smith from Film International Journal said, "The story and tone are so confused and the caliber of impersonations so inconsistent, the film will please only the most Anglophilic of audiences."<ref>{{cite web|title=Top Critic Reviews: Stella Street|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/stella_street/|work=Rotten Tomatoes|date=22 October 2004 |publisher=Flixster, Inc.|access-date=7 December 2011}}</ref> However Derek Elley in [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] thought it "Manages to sustain its single-joke premise... over feature length." The film opened in 10 screens in the USA and took $2,574 on the opening weekend.<ref>{{cite web|title=Stella Street, business|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0360025/business|work=IMDb: Business- box office mojo|date=22 October 2004|publisher=IMDb|access-date=7 December 2011}}</ref>

=== Other television work ===
During the last series of Comic Strip films, Richardson introduced a new group of performers: [[Doon Mackichan]], Mark Caven, [[Phil Cornwell]], [[Sara Stockbridge]], George Yiasoumi and [[Gary Beadle]], and went on to star them in "[[The Glam Metal Detectives]]". The series was a hit with critics, and did well enough in the ratings, but spiralling production costs and internal wranglings at the BBC meant it only ran for one series.{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}}

Apart from the Comic Strip, Richardson's best-known work is the sitcom ''[[Stella Street]]'', which he directed and co-wrote with Phil Cornwell and impressionist [[John Sessions]]. A ''Stella Street'' feature film was released in 2004. He also directed the mock documentary ''[[Lust for Glorious]]'' about comedian [[Eddie Izzard]] with Mark Caven and [[Phil Kay]].

=== Production work ===
In 2004, Richardson co-founded the production company Great Western Features with Nick Smith, which is based in [[Totnes]], [[Devon]]. The company produced ''Churchill: The Hollywood Years'', feature film ''The Golden Road'' and the Comic Strip production ''Sex Actually''. They also produced a feature-length film of ''Stella Street'', which Richardson also directed. They filmed a new Comic Strip entitled ''It Ends Badly'' in August 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greatwesternfeatures.com/team/peter-richardson |title=Peter Richardson |work=GREAT WESTERN FEATURES |publisher=Greatwesternfeatures.com |access-date=19 June 2014}}</ref> They have also produced commercials for recycling, [[Flybe (1979-2020)|Flybe]], [[Harris Tweed]] and the Devon Tourist Board.

==Personal life==
His son [[Red Richardson]] is a [[stand-up comedian]].<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=8 November 2023|title= Mayall was like Bad Santa for us|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2022/aug/14/edinburgh-notebook-rik-mayall-was-like-bad-santa-to-us|website=The Guardian|date=14 August 2022|first=Vanessa|last=Thorpe}}</ref>

== Filmography ==

=== Films ===
*''[[The Supergrass]]'' (1985)
*''[[Eat the Rich (film)|Eat the Rich]]'' (1987)
*''[[The Pope Must Die]]'' (1991)
*''[[Carry On Columbus]]'' (1992)

=== TV series ===
*''[[The Comic Strip Presents...]]'' (42 episodes) (1982–2016)

=== Director ===
*''[[The Supergrass]]'' (1985)
*''[[Eat the Rich (film)|Eat the Rich]]'' (1987)
*''[[The Comic Strip#The Comic Strip Presents...|The Comic Strip Presents]]'' (20 episodes) (1988–2016)
*''[[The Pope Must Die]]'' (1991)
*''[[The Glam Metal Detectives]]'' (1995)
*''[[Glorious (Eddie Izzard)|Eddie Izzard: Glorious]]'' (1997)
*''[[Stella Street]]'' (TV series) (1997)
*''Stella Street'' (film) (2004)
*''[[Churchill: The Hollywood Years]]'' (2004)

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{IMDb name|id=0724724|name=Peter Richardson}}
* [http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/476830/index.html Peter Richardson profile on BFI with full filmography.]
* {{LCAuth|n2007074253|Peter Richardson|1|ue}}

{{The Comic Strip}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Richardson, Peter}}
[[Category:1951 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Alumni of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art]]
[[Category:English comedy writers]]
[[Category:English film directors]]
[[Category:English male film actors]]
[[Category:English male television actors]]
[[Category:English screenwriters]]
[[Category:English male screenwriters]]
[[Category:English stand-up comedians]]
[[Category:English television directors]]
[[Category:English television writers]]
[[Category:Male actors from Devon]]
[[Category:The Comic Strip members]]
[[Category:English male television writers]]
[[Category:People from Newton Abbot]]
[[Category:Bad News (band) members]]
[[Category:English male comedians]]
[[Category:Comedians from Devon]]