Men Behaving Badly, created by Simon Nye, followed two flatmates navigating the ups and downs of work life and relationships while living in London. The comedy first aired on ITV in 1992, moved to the BBC in 1994 and ran for six series before concluding in 1998. More than three decades on, it is still remembered by generations as a core sitcom in Britain's TV history.
Many of the cast have remained familiar faces, with credits ranging from Line of Duty and soap operas to Strictly Come Dancing.
Gary Strang – Martin Clunes
Martin Clunes had already appeared in Doctor Who Serial: Snakedance, No Place Like Home, Harry Enfield & Chums and Inspector Morse before he played Gary Strang from 1992 to 1998. During the show he appeared in Demob and Lovejoy and narrated Roger and the Rottentrolls. After Men Behaving Badly, he became known as Dr Martin Ellingham in Doc Martin and starred in Goodbye Mr Chips, Reggie Perrin and Arthur and George.
Now 64, Clunes has presented travel mini-series, played DCI Colin Sutton in Manhunt and its 2021 sequel Manhunt: The Night Stalker, and featured in Vanity Fair and sitcom Warren. Last year he reunited with Neil Morrissey for Neil & Martin's Bon Voyage. Most recently, he played Huw Edwards in Channel 5 drama Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards.
Dermot Povey – Harry Enfield
Harry Enfield played Gary's original flatmate Dermot Povey in series one, a character desperately in love with Leslie Ash's Deborah. He rose to fame in the early 1990s with Harry Enfield's Television Programme, later retitled Harry Enfield & Chums, and returned to television after leaving with Harry Enfield's Brand Spanking New Show. In 2000 he reprised Kevin opposite Kathy Burke in Kevin & Perry Go Large.
Now 65, Enfield went on to star with Paul Whitehouse in Harry & Paul and appeared in Skins, Bad Education and Upstart Crow. More recently he has played King Charles in The Windsors, Tony Blair in Prince Andrew: The Musical, and appeared on stage as Prince Charles in The Windsors: Endgame at the Prince of Wales Theatre.
Tony Smart – Neil Morrissey
Neil Morrissey replaced Harry Enfield as Gary's flatmate Tony Smart. Before that he worked in theatre and became a TV name as biker Rocky in 80s drama Boon. After the sitcom ended, he voiced Bob The Builder and reached UK number one with Can We Fix It? He also starred in The Eustace Bros, Skins and an episode of Neighbours, and later played Eddie Lawson in Waterloo Road.
His other credits include Greg McConnell in The Good Karma Hospital, DC Nigel Morton in Line of Duty and Christopher Reasley in The Long Call, plus The Dumping Ground and Death in Paradise. More recently he played Frank Stevenson in The Syndicate and Martin Stone in Finders Keepers, and reunited with Martin Clunes last year for Neil & Martin's Bon Voyage.
Dorothy Martin/Bishop – Caroline Quentin
Caroline Quentin played Gary's girlfriend Dorothy, having previously appeared in Casualty, The Bill and Mr Bean. After the show ended, she starred as Maddy Magellan in Jonathan Creek and Kate in Kiss Me Kate, followed by DCI Janine Lewis in Blue Murder and Maggie Mee in Life Begins. She also appeared in Doc Martin with Martin Clunes from 2015 to 2019.
Quentin has appeared in theatre productions and competed on Strictly Come Dancing with Johannes Radebe in 2020. Her recent screen roles include Father Christmas is Back, Christmas in the Caribbean, Bridgerton and Beyond Paradise.
Deborah Burton – Leslie Ash
Leslie Ash made her TV debut aged four in a Fairy Liquid advert and featured in teen magazines such as Jackie before she shot to fame as Deborah. She starred in 1979 film Quadrophenia and had earlier roles in The Curse Of The Pink Panther, C.A.T.S Eyes, Nutcracker and Home To Roost. She also appeared in music videos for Dire Straits and Iron Maiden and, with Caroline Quentin, reached the charts with 1996 hit Tell Him.
After Men Behaving Badly, she played Karen Buckley in Where the Heart Is, Inspector Charlie Eden in Merseybeat and Vanessa Lytton in Holby City, with more recent appearances in Doctors and Casualty. She has voiced characters on BBC Radio 4's Vent, appeared on Celebrity Masterchef, and in 2008 documented her cosmetic beauty industry struggles in Leslie Ash: Face To Face.
Les – Dave Atkins
Dave Atkins played Les, landlord of The Crown, the characters' local pub. Before the sitcom he appeared in 80s films including Britannia Hospital, Personal Services and Hellraiser. He was in Men Behaving Badly between 1992 and 1995, after which John Thomson took over as the pub landlord. In 2008, it was reported that Atkins had died aged 67.
Ken – John Thomson
John Thomson joined the cast in series five and six as Ken, Les' successor at The Crown. Before that he had played Jesse Chadwick in Coronation Street, a role he reprised in 2024. After the show, he voiced characters in Bill & Ben and appeared in Skins, Death in Paradise, Waterloo Road, Casualty, The Fast Show, Men Behaving Badly, Cold Feet and 24 Hour Party People.
In film, he voiced Mr Windfall in Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit and appeared in Inkheart and Grimsby. On television he has been seen on Celebrity Masterchef, Richard Osman's House of Games and The Masked Singer as Bush Baby. More recently he played John Banks in Father Brown, Farmer Grundles in Dodger and DI Warren Bull in Silent Witness.
