Meet the perpetual extra who has starred in 200 projects

2022-10-23

Man who has starred as an extra in 200 projects including Top Gear and Peaky Blinders admits most of his day involves ‘drinking tea and eating biscuits’ – as he reveals his impressive list of co-stars such as Matt LeBlanc

David Price retired from PR & marketing after doctors told him to de-stress
The 61-year-old worked for 25 years before his heart gave out and he tried acting
David, from Sutton Coldfield, has now appeared in many prolific series

A TV extra who has appeared in more than 200 projects has the best of both worlds as people often recognise him – but never well enough to hassle him in public.

David Price, 61, has been spotted on set of some of the UK’s most loved TV shows – and yet if you blink, you’ll miss him.

The ex-marketing expert-turned-actor has a glittering CV to rival the most accomplished thespians, with roles in everything from Peaky Blinders to the Crown, and Top Gear to Coronation Street.

David, from Sutton Coldfield, had no desire to become an actor while growing up, but has been spotted alongside Cillian Murphy in Peaky Blinders as a fellow Labour MP in the House of Commons, being killed by a Dalek in Dr Who, reincarnated as Henry VIII in Shakespeare and Hathaway, and has even played the fish connoisseur Captain Birdseye in Top Gear.

David Price as Captain Birdseye on an episode of Top Gear. The ex PR and Marketing expert turned actor has appeared in over 200 projects on some of the UK’s best-loved TV programmes

David dressed in his outfit for Netflix’s The Irregulars. David turned to acting after 25 years in PR when doctors told him to de-stress

Dave as Santa for the Innocent smoothie advert. David reveals that his wife Judith hates his white bushy beard but refuses to shave it off because of the jobs it gets him

It was only when doctors warned David to destress because of a heart condition that he retired from running a successful PR and Marketing firm.

David explained: ‘I spent 25 years in a marketing and PR business and I had a moment where my heart basically gave out and after the surgeons fixed me up they basically said I had to get rid of the stress, so I did, I sold the business.’

At a loose end, he agreed to accompany a friend to an audition when he was too afraid to go alone, and little did he know he would end up getting hooked on acting and become one of the UK’s most in-demand actors.

David’s first acting experience was helping his friend’s daughter shoot a film for her university project, which he said he ‘really enjoyed’.

Dave dressed as Henry VIII in BBC’s Shakespeare and Hathaway, one of the many hit TV series he has appeared in during his career

Dave playing the Duke of Suffolk in Anne Boleyn. His first acting role was when he helped out his friend’s daughter for a university project

David, pictured in the blue jacket, on the set of Doctor Who when he played a Dalek victim

Since then he has gone on to star in household classics such as Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Doctors and Casualty, and has appeared in British TV series including Peaky Blinders, Shakespeare & Hathaway, and The Cobra.

‘It’s essentially eight hours of eating biscuits and drinking tea and 25 minutes of work, but the days are so interesting it takes me all around the UK and I meet people who I have become very close with,’ says David.

David is now signed with Alan Sharman Casting and has been involved in over 200 projects.

Dave explained: ‘Friends are always spotting me on the TV and letting me know, quite a lot of shows are ruined for me as I spend all my time trying to spot my friends in the supporting actor world I end up missing important plot lines!’

He can name drop an array of big names and recalled a time when Emma Thompson turned up on the set of the TV series Years and Years with a huge stack of pizzas for everybody.

David Price retired from PR & Marketing after doctors told him to destress. The 61-year-old worked for 25 years before his heart gave out and he turned to acting

David pictured left of middle in his Shakespeare costume on the set of Shakespeare and Hathaway

Dave Price on set of the BBC’s My Name Is Leon, which tells the story of a mixed-race boy, and Jake, his white baby brother, who are separated after their mother has a breakdown

Left: David on the set of a BBC Christmas campaign. Right: David as the Chancellor of the Exchequer in COBRA

David dressed as Captain Birdseye for an episode of Top Gear. But Matt LeBlanc had no idea who he was supposed to be

David played the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the TV series COBRA. Set in the halls of Westminster, the series follows Prime Minister Robert Sutherland

He added: ‘I had to dress as Captain Birdseye for an episode of Top Gear. Unfortunately poor Matt LeBlanc had absolutely no idea who I was supposed to be and I had to try to explain the nation’s love for a man who sells fishfingers to one of America’s biggest stars.’

Unfortunately, his wife, Judith, 59, who works in education is less keen on the noteworthy Captain Birdseye bushy beard he keeps but David refuses to shave it off because of all the jobs his unusual look scores him.

‘Unfortunately, my wife hates my long hair, beard and moustache, but it’s the look that gets me my most interesting roles.’

Judith said: ‘If it wasn’t for the fact that the casting directors seem to like that look I would have him shave the lot off as I think it ages him a lot.

‘However the money he brings in especially at Xmas does make it bearable…just!’

DAVID HAS APPEARED IN OVER 200 PROJECTS, SUCH AS:

Doctor Who as a Dalek victim
Peaky Blinders as a Labour MP in house of commons
Top Gear as Captain Birdseye.
Doctors as a variety of patients, a funeral guest, cinema guest, security officer and chaperone
Coronation Street as a street regular
Casualty as a patient
Shakespeare and Hathaway as King Henry VIII, Scotty Dog and a bar customer.
Sex Education
Ted Lasso as a director
Cobra as the Chancellor of Exchequer
Man like Mobeen as a BNP thug leader and a homeless man
Bishop in an upcoming episode of the Crown
He has also appeared as Father Christmas in productions such It’s Christmas Innit, a Smiffy’s advert and also at Twycross Zoo

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