Billy Fane (born Malcolm Collins; 1947 or 1948) is an English actor and comedian. He came to prominence in 1989 as Geoff Keegan, the manager of the Byker Grove youth club featured in the BBC television series of the same name.[1] He remained in the role for eleven years (twelve series),[2] until his character was killed off in a gas explosion.[3] He won a BAFTA award for his performance in a Byker Grove episode.[2]
Fane left school with no qualifications. During his years as comedian on the club circuit, he was known as Little Billy Fane.[2]
After leaving Byker Grove, Fane appeared in pantomimes around his native North East England.[3] He also trained to become a teacher and worked with dyslexic adults. He obtained a master's degree in Special Education Needs and Intuitive Learning from the University of Hull. The school had a contract for providing education to young offenders around the United Kingdom.
Fane went on to appear as Mr Braithwaite,[4] the pianist in Billy Elliot (2000).[5] The same year, he appeared in Purely Belter.[6] In 2001, he appeared in the television series Heartbeat.[5]
In 2002, Fane reverted to using his birth name of Malcolm Collins. He was a special-needs coordinator at New College Durham and was working with inmates of Castington Young Offenders Institution.[2]
^McPartlin, Anthony; Donnelly, Declan (3 September 2020). Once Upon A Tyne: The hilarious and heart-warming Sunday Times bestseller. Little, Brown Book Group. ISBN 978-0-7515-8094-5.
^ abcd"Actor's new role is keeping youngsters clear of crime". The Northern Echo. 30 July 2002. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
^ abDuke, Simon (27 July 2023). "Billy Fane had drastic career change after Geoff fame on Byker Grove". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
^Willis, John; Monush, Barry (1 April 2002). Screen World 2001. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 277. ISBN 978-1-55783-479-9.
^ abPrince, David; Cook, Sam (4 July 2023). "What the cast of BBC's Byker Grove did after it ended". Wales Online. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
^Hodgson, Barbara; Duke, Simon (4 July 2023). "What happened to the Byker Grove cast as show's comeback announced". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
BillyFane (born Malcolm Collins; 1947 or 1948) is an English actor and comedian. He came to prominence in 1989 as Geoff Keegan, the manager of the Byker...
Wilkinson Colin Maclachlan as Tom Wilkinson Mike Elliott as George Watson BillyFane as Mr Braithwaite Janine Birkett as Jenny Elliot Charlie Hardwick as Sheila...
Character Actor Duration Role Geoff Keegan BillyFane 1989–2000 Youth leader Akili Johnson Patrick Miller 2000–2006 Alison Fletcher Vicky Murray 1989–1996...
Heywood, Stuart Wells, Nicola Blackwell, Colin Maclachlan, Mike Elliott, BillyFane, Janine Birkett, Charlie Hardwick, Matthew James Thomas, Stephen Mangan...
Terry Conway, Graeme Danby, Johnny Dickinson, Judy Dinning, Mike Elliott, BillyFane, Bryan Ferry, Gracie Fields, Bob Fox, Vin Garbutt, Alex Glasgow, Benny...
William Fane Wrixon Becher (7 September 1915 – 6 January 2000) was an Irish cricketer active from 1939 to 1953 who played for Sussex. He was born in Limerick...
Jemaine Clement, which received New Zealand's highest comedy accolade, the Billy T Award, in 1999. Among a variety of artistic interests, Waititi began making...
sports entertainment version that was televised in the '70s and '80s with predetermined winners. "Pro-fane". Americana. April 2001. Retrieved 9 June 2013....
reminiscent of a Fender, and any available power amp, through a 2" x 15" Fane cabinet. Of Italian and Syrian background, Marino is a practicing member...
was one of the reasons he decided to leave Doctor Who the following year. Fane Saunders, Tristram (2 January 2020). "The Master of evil: Roger Delgado and...
he demonstrated the LARU to LtCmdr. Francis "Doug" Fane, then a senior UDT commander. LtCmdr. Fane was enthusiastic for new diving techniques. He pushed...
Robert Wallsten Jack Carson as Frankie Fane, Christopher Dark as Ainsley Crowder June 5, 1962 (1962-06-05) Frankie Fane (Carson) is an American gangster hiding...
Niagara Falls Review. p. C2 – via newspapers.com (subscription required) . Fane Saunders, Kilmeny, ed. (2003). Radio Times' Guide to Films (4th ed.). London:...
Wars: The Force Awakens". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 25 September 2017. Fane Saunders, Tristram (18 February 2016). "Two minutes with... Domhnall Gleeson"...
Frankie Fane Sammy the Way Out Seal (1962, episode of anthology TV series Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color) (with Robert Culp and Billy Mumy) –...
(1964) as Livius Genghis Khan (1965) as Jamuga The Oscar (1966) as Frank Fane The Poppy Is Also a Flower (1966) as Benson Fantastic Voyage (1966) as Grant...
William Grenfell, later Baron Desborough, and Ethel Priscilla Fane, daughter of Julian Fane. He was educated at Eton where he was good friends with Denys...
Proclaimers - Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 January 2020. Saunders, Tristram Fane (6 November 2015). "After countless miles, The Proclaimers are still covering...
Beasley as Ollie, works at the petrol station, has a crush on Shay David Fane as Smiler Tandi Wright as Laura Turner (flashbacks), deceased wife of George...
he exhibits psychological traits associated with rape culture. Tristram Fane Saunders of The Telegraph called the episode "a sharp attack on an entire...
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