A History Of Liverpool Thespians - Victor McGuire

 

 

Victor McGuire was born on the 17th of March 1964 in Tuebrook, Liverpool and went to school at Blessed Ambrose Barlow RC Comprehensive, West Derby, not far from where he grew up. After completing his secondary education, unsure about his career plans, he enrolled in the Everyman Youth Theatre initially to socialise, but discovered his aptitude for performing. He says, "Yes, I loved the Everyman. It was quite a vibrant time to be there then in the days of the McGanns, Cathy Tyson and Ian Hart.'' Obviously showing some talent, after a year in the theatre he was offered his first role for the Youth Theatre as a gravedigger in a Johnny Speight play called 'If There Weren't Any Blacks We'd Have To Invent Them'. Aged 19 he then went on to attend the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, where he was classically trained and made his first TV appearance as a 'kid' in 'One Summer' (1983) alongside David Morrissey and Spencer Leigh, in the same year making the first of 8 appearances in 'Brookside' (1983-84). In his final year at Bristol, in 1986 he won a part as Jack in the ever-popular 'Bread' series about the Boswells, acting alongside the wonderful Jean Boht for 61 episodes, always being teased about his girlfriend over the road. It was also fortuitous as it brought him to the attention of a 'Bread' producer who was also involved in 'Goodnight, Sweetheart' (1993-2016), in which he gained a leading role as Ron Wheatcroft. He was Gary's (Nicholas Lyndhurst) best friend and confidante and as a master printer with his own business, was able to provide Gary with appropriate war time currency and documentation.

 

as Jack Boswell (left)

Interspersed with TV roles in the likes of 'Sean's Show' (1992-93), 2Point4 Children (1992) and 'Health and Efficiency' (1993-95), there were stage appearances in plays such as 'She Stoops to Conquer' and 'The Taming of the Shrew'. The Everton FC supporter also starred in numerous films and TV shows, including the role of Gary, one of the pair of thieves in Guy Ritchie's 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels' (1998); alongside Pauline Quirk in 'Being April' (2002); then, in 2005, in 'Dalziel And Pascoe' (2005) and 'A Fresh Start' and 'Miller's Tale', the first and the third episodes of the fifteenth series of 'Heartbeat' as Brian Parker. Other noteable appearances include 'A Many Splintered Thing' (2000), 'Peak Practice' (2001-02), 'Casualty' (1995-2003), 'The Woman in Black (2012) and a small role as a bar patron in 'Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens (2015). Since then he has appeared for 38 episodes as security guard Ian in the Sky1 sitcom Trollied (2012-17), with his last appearance being in the Christmas special episode in December 2017.

in 'Goodnight Sweetheart'

 

His first major singing performance was when he played the character Piangi in 'Phantom of the Opera' (2004), then Amos Hart in the West End musical 'Chicago' (2005) at the Adelphi Theatre, London, and was also Lazar Wolf in the West End production of 'Fiddler on the Roof' at the Savoy Theatre (2007). He later reprised the role of Amos Hart in the theatrical production of 'Chicago', in the Cambridge Theatre, London. Following a role as Deputy Chief Constable Nadin in Mike Leigh's 'Peterloo' (2018), in February 2019 he appeared in 'Coronation Street' (2019 - present) as a character called Big Garth and in May 2019 played Garanin in the Sky / HBO Mini-Series 'Chernobyl'. Then in 2020 he starred in ITV sitcom 'Kate & Koji' as a customer named Mr. Mulholland, a pessimistic hypochondriac and in 2022, he reprised his role as Mr. Mulholland in Series Two.

Vic has also appeared as a policeman in an advertisement for Haribo Starmix (2020) then in March 2021 in a safety advertisement for Highways England having the song 'Go Left' a parody version of 'Go West' by 'The Pet Shop Boys' sung to him by two flies on his windscreen.

see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2024/08/a-history-of-liverpool-thespians-lesley.html