Jon Plowman
Biography
Plowman was educated in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire and at University College, Oxford, where was a member of the University College Players and made friends with others who went on to establish successful careers in comedy. One, Mel Smith, directed Plowman in a production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. After Oxford, Plowman followed Smith to the Royal Court Theatre, where he met the director Lindsay Anderson. Plowman worked in theatre for a while, then joined Granada TV. He was responsible for producing and commissioning programmes produced in-house at the BBC, of which the greatest successes include The Office and French & Saunders. Plowman became Head of Comedy in October 2005, and oversaw the BBC's in-house comedy production, but no longer commissioned programmes. In June 2007, Plowman announced he was quitting his post at the BBC after 27 years. He decided to become a freelance producer for other shows and hoped to carry on his relationship with the BBC, continuing to create programmes "for them and elsewhere." In December 2003, The Observer named him in its list of the '50 Funniest or Most Influential People in British Comedy'. On 14 March 2006, he was honoured with the 'Judges' Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Television' at the Royal Television Society awards. Later he moved into the world of theatre. He co-produced Lucky You, the Carl Hiaasen best-seller that premiered as a theatre production at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2008.
Known For & Full Filmography12 Titles
Drama Series - 2008, 16 episodes • as Father Piers
Beautiful People is a British comedy drama television series based on the memoirs of Barneys creative director Simon Doonan. The series takes place in Reading, Berkshire, in 1997, where thirteen-year-old Simon Doonan and his best friend Kylie dream of escaping their dreary suburban surroundings and moving to cosmopolitan London "to live amongst the beautiful people." The first episode aired on BBC Two on 2 October 2008 and recorded overnight ratings of 1.5 million viewers and positive critical reaction. Episodes are self-contained, but do follow a loose story arc throughout the course of each series. The second and final series finished airing on 18 December 2009.
Movie - 2024, 2h 15m • as Self
Adrian Edmondson gives a first-hand account of making the hit show "Bottom" with the late, great Rik Mayall. His account comes alongside contributions from a host of the show's cast, crew and fans.
Movie - 1978, 2h 15m • as Father Piers
At a Catholic boys' school, domineering disciplinarian Father Goddard rules over his pupils with an iron hand. When one of his teenage charges confesses to murder, the dogmatic but deeply repressed Goddard finds his faith challenged and his life spiralling dangerously out of control.
Movie - 2016, 2h 15m • as Self
Documentary celebrating the British sitcom and taking a look at the social and political context from which our favourite sitcoms grew. We enjoy a trip through the comedy archive in the company of the people who made some of the very best British sitcoms. From The Likely Lads to I'm Alan Partridge, we find out the inspiration behind some of the most-loved characters and how they reflect the times they were living in.
Movie - 2005, 2h 15m • as Security (uncredited)
Set in Cape Town, South Africa Mama Jack is the story of Jack Theron, an ordinary person working on a film set. However, his movie producer boss hates him and wants to remove him from the production of the film. In a bid to get rid of Jack, the producer spikes his drink with a drug at a glamorous function, and before long Jack has got himself on the wrong side of the law. While on the run, Jack turns to his friend, a make-up artist, who turns him into "Mama Bolo". Mama Bolo soon finds “herself” employed by the producer’s fiancée, Angela. A series of deceptions and misunderstandings pile up and comic mayhem ensues with Jack Theron becoming another character, Doctor Donald, a tramp from Scotland.
Movie - 2024, 2h 15m • as Self
A star-studded retrospective reunites the lead cast for the first time since 2016 to rampage down memory lane revealing how the show was made, pay tribute to much-missed cast member June Whitfield, and celebrate its ground-breaking influence on female comedy.
Movie - 2010, 2h 15m • as Self
Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie reunite for a TV special to mark the 30th anniversary of their partnership.
Movie - 2021, 2h 15m • as Self
Dawn French and Richard Curtis take viewers on a joyful stroll down memory lane as they look back at their favorite Dibley moments, and for the first time, tell the definitive story of the making of the show. The pair are joined by a host of guest stars and celebrity fans including Kylie Minogue, Hugh Bonneville, and Joanna Lumley, as well as writer Paul Mayhew-Archer, producer Jon Plowman, and James Fleet (Hugo Horton).
Movie - 2014, 2h 15m • as Self
Comedian Rik Mayall died suddenly on 9 June 2014. Mayall's blend of rocket-fuelled physical comedy, surrealism, subversive satire and pompous punk wit left a body of work that spanned four decades. Mayall's characters include the Black Country's investigative nerd Kevin Turvey, Felicity Kendal-adoring student and 'People's Poet' Rik in The Young Ones, ruthless MP Alan B'Stard in The New Statesman, seedy loser Richie in Bottom and larger-than-life characters Robin Hood and flying ace Lord Flashheart from Blackadder. Narrated by Simon Callow, this programme salutes Rik Mayall and celebrates his part in the UK's comedy history using rare and unseen archive footage. It also features contributions from people who knew or admired him, including Michael Palin, Simon Pegg, Lenny Henry, Ben Elton, Alexei Sayle, Christopher Ryan, Tim McInnerny, Jools Holland, Ruby Wax and Greg Davies.
Movie - 2013, 2h 15m • as Self
A tribute to British comedian Mel Smith, who died in July 2013, aged 60, featuring home video footage, rare archive material and many classic sketches. Far more than a comic actor, Smith also wrote and edited a host of celebrated TV comedies in the 1980s and 90s. He was a theatre and film director, and as a TV producer he was responsible for several innovative comedy series. Friends and colleagues, including Griff Rhys Jones, John Lloyd and Richard Curtis, talk about Smith's talents, both in front of- and behind the camera. The programme also traces his time at Oxford and, before that, Latymer Upper School, where Smith's talents were first spotted.
Movie - 2023, 2h 15m • as Self
imagine... profiles the UK’s most successful double act of the last 40 years, French & Saunders, exploring a brand of comedy based on satire, silliness and, above all, friendship.
Movie - 2021, 2h 15m • as Self
A celebration of the life and work of much-missed broadcasting legend. With the help of old friends, colleagues and fellow broadcasters, cameras chart Terry Wogan's rise from Dublin bank clerk to national treasure.