FILMS
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TV & RADIO
Country File
Actor and musician David Essex travels back to East Sussex, where he spent long childhood summers hop picking with his family. Like many of the women and children of East London in the fifties, David spent his holidays exploring the countryside creating life-long memories in both Kent and Sussex. We join him as he takes a trip down memory lane to where he first experienced the sights and smells of the great outdoors.
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TV & RADIO
EastEnders
Edward "Eddie" Moon is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by David Essex. Eddie is the father of Michael Moon (Steve John Shepherd), Tyler Moon (Tony Discipline) and Anthony Moon (Matt Lapinskas). Along with his children, Eddie was introduced to bring a "new generation" of the Moon family to the programme. Essex began filming in April 2011 and first appeared on screen on 3 June 2011.
A NOTE FROM DAVID
After discussing with the creative team of Eastenders the character and story lines I decided to join the cast as head of the Moon family, Eddie. Working with very good actors under the pressure of four episodes a week was challenging but something I very much enjoyed. I still remain friends with my Moon sons.
TV & RADIO
The River
The River follows the tranquil life of lovable, Cockney, ex-convict Davey Jackson (Essex) who is lock keeper on the canal near the village of Chumley-on-the-Water. His peaceful life is turned upside down by the arrival of the neurotic, sharp-tongued Sarah MacDonald (Murphy). Over the six episodes of the series the love-hate relationship between Davey and Sarah blossoms into a shaky romance, their potential happiness often spoiled by the machinations of Davey’s cunning Aunty Betty (Vilma Hollingbery) and the hapless intervention of Davey’s deputy Tom Pike (Shaun Scott).
A NOTE FROM DAVID
Idyllic in its setting although we were warned whenever we went into the canal to avoid swallowing any water as it was not as clean as it looked. I remember my pet the baby pig being changed at least three times, as it seems pigs grow very quickly. A lovely cast and I really enjoyed filming the series.
TV & RADIO
The Kenny Everett Show
David was a regular guest on the Kenny Everett Show, both as a performer and character actor.
A NOTE FROM DAVID
The Kenny Everett Show was always fun to do, wacky and ground breaking in its own way. I especially enjoyed doing the improvised sketches with Kenny as the classic character, Sid Snott!
That’ll Be The Day
That’ll Be the Day is a 1973 British film starring David Essex and Ringo Starr, written by Ray Connolly and directed by Claude Whatham. It is set in the late ’50s/early ’60s and was partially filmed on the Isle of Wight.
Many of the characters were played by musicians who had lived through the era portrayed in the film including Ringo Starr of The Hurricanes and The Beatles, Billy Fury of The Hurricanes, Keith Moon of The Who, and John Hawken of The Nashville Teens.
David Says: That’ll Be The Day consisted of very early mornings and very late nights, it seemed that the musical world descended on the Isle Of Wight where we filmed it for jam sessions and partying. Making the film was a great experience and lots of fun.
Stardust
Stardust is a 1974 British film directed by Michael Apted and starring David Essex and Adam Faith. The film is the sequel to the 1973 film That’ll Be The Day. Its tagline is: “Show me a boy who never wanted to be a rock star and I’ll show you a liar.”
By the end of Stardust, the timeline has roughly caught up to the 1974 release of the film. Many of the characters were played by British musicians who had lived/were living through the era portrayed in the film including Essex, Faith, Marty Wilde, Keith Moon, Dave Edmunds, and Paul Nicholas.
David Says: Stardust was a tricky film to make as I seemed to be fictionalising what was happening to me in real life. I remember filming in the Moorish Castle in Spain with my late and good friend Adam Faith. We were actually contemplating buying the castle until we found out that the Troglodytes that lived in the caves below the castle came with the purchase!
Silver Dream Racer
Silver Dream Racer (1980) is a film starring David Essex and Beau Bridges. Essex stars as Nick Freeman, a motorcycle racer who, following the death of his brother, inherits a revolutionary prototype motorcycle, and is determined to race it at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
The opening title scenes used at the beginning of the film were filmed during the Grand Prix at Silverstone.
David Says: Who would not want to whizz round legendary race tracks on an extremely powerful motor bike! It was great hanging out with top riders like Barry Sheene and Roger Marshall. Ironically my co star Beau Bridges hates motorbikes!
Traveller
A year in the life of a half-breed Gypsy as he tries, against the odds, to adjust to the 21st century and leave his roots behind.
David Says: It was good to be involved in a film that nodded back to my Grandfather. Working with travellers gave the film a very authentic back drop
The Guvnors
Starring: Harley Sylvester, Doug Allen,David Essex And Charley Palmer Merkell.
Written and directed by Gabe Turner.
Hip Hop star Harley Sylvester (Rizzle Kicks) makes his screen debut as a troubled gang leader seeking respect on a London estate. Doug Allen leads a notorious old skool unit known as The Guvnors seeking revenge for the brutal murder of their mentor, David Essex. As two generations steeped in violence collide, both men are forced to reconcile their past and face the future.
Shogun Warrior
Samurai Mayeda (Sho Kosugi) fights for the Eastern clan of Toyotomi in the civil war which plagues 17th century Japan. Charged by his master with the task of obtaining firearms for his army, Mayeda ventures into Spain. En route to the court of King Philip (Christopher Lee), Mayeda and his band encounter the adventurer Don Pedro (David Essex), and find betrayal and treachery at every turn.
David Says: A strange film, shot in what was Yugoslavia and Japan. Not easy working out the sword fight sequences with a Japanese fight director who didn’t speak English, but at least I got to wear a suit of armour.
David Essex
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