Nigel Havers: Talking B*ll*cks
Nigel Havers’ career might have gone in a very different direction. Born into a family with strong legal roots – his father was Michael Havers, who served as Attorney General and later Lord Chancellor – acting wasn’t the expected path
This spring, Havers is bringing audiences closer to his long career with his one-man stage show Talking B*ll*cks, appearing at Richmond Theatre on 5 April 2026. The show is a mix of behind-the-scenes stories, career anecdotes, humorous tales of triumph and disaster, and reflections on his life in acting. Havers promises that even longtime fans might be surprised as he blends nostalgia with fresh insights and playful storytelling.
From an early age, Havers’s schooling reflected his family’s background. He attended a boarding school in Suffolk and later trained in performing arts at the Arts Educational School in Chiswick, where developing his passion for acting, rather than heading for Eton.
Throughout his long career, Havers has built a remarkably varied résumé. He received a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Lord Andrew Lindsay in the film Chariots of Fire (1981), and he has appeared in major films such as A Passage to India (1984) and Empire of the Sun (1987). On television, his credits span beloved British series including Upstairs, Downstairs, the sitcom Don’t Wait Up, the long-running soap Coronation Street (as Lewis Archer), Downton Abbey, and more recent dramas like Finding Alice. He is also widely recognised for hosting the BBC daytime antiques show The Bidding Room since it began in 2020.
Last year, he took on one of his most personal roles by portraying High Court judge Sir Cecil Havers – his own grandfather – in ITV’s A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story. The four-part historical drama revisits the 1955 trial of Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be executed in the UK, with Havers playing the judge who presided over her case. Although legally bound to impose the death sentence, Sir Cecil privately urged for mercy and wrote to the Home Secretary, a plea that was ignored, making the part an emotional one for Havers.
Havers has also enjoyed a successful stage career, appearing in productions such as Art, The Importance of Being Earnest, and Private Lives. His one-man tours have become a significant part of his later career, allowing him to combine storytelling, humour, and behind-the-scenes anecdotes from his life in acting.
Away from work, Havers keeps a relatively private life. He has been married three times: first to Carolyn Cox, with whom he has a daughter; then to actress Polly Williams until her death in 2004; and since 2007 to Georgiana Bronfman, with whom he shares his life today. He has spoken about how lucky he felt to find love again, describing their relationship as one where they are comfortable both together and apart, saying ‘We are very good at being together and on our own. We don’t need to go to see anybody else, really.’
Another passion is horse racing. Havers has said he rarely gambles outside the races, preferring to place ‘imaginary bets’ when attending, often with a playful sense of optimism.
This spring, as he returns to Richmond Theatre, audiences can expect a thoroughly entertaining journey through his decades-long career – complete with career highlights, amusing stories, candid reflections, and a fair share of Talking B*ll*cks. Havers promises that even after all these years on stage and screen, there may still be surprises ahead.
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Image: (C) BBC_MITCH COLLINS_RICOCHET