He rose to prominence in the soap Brookside spending six years on the show. Ricky also had a recurring role in crime drama, Cracker, but it was his role in The Royle Family which really saw his career take off.
Portraying the idle and cynical head of the family, Jim Royle, Ricky’s hilarious performances spanned three series and eight specials, starring as the character for over ten years. The show is often regarded as one of Britain’s greatest comedies and was frequently viewed by millions.
Another comedy role which he has become well known for is as Mike Bassett in the film Mike Bassett: England Manager which sees Ricky portray an incompetent football manager. This film has gone on to become incredibly popular amongst sports fans and its success sparked a follow-up television series, Mike Bassett: Manager with Ricky reprising his role.
A versatile performer, Ricky continues to take a mix of comedy and grittier roles including Hillsborough, Nativity! and In the Flesh.
Ricky’s on-screen career has seen him become an immensely popular television personality, appearing on Who Do You Think You Are? investigating his heritage as well as documentaries that see him give his insight on the political activism and issues he faced when he was younger.
