Chris Chittell
Christopher John Chittell is an English actor, known for his role as Eric Pollard in ITV's Emmerdale, a part that he has played since 1986. He is the longest serving character having played Eric for nearly 34 years.
Early life and career
Chittell was born in Aldershot, Hampshire. His father served in the Indian Army, and on leaving school Chittell intended to join the Royal Navy, but instead, he became a model. His first acting stint was in 1964, with the National Theatre, at Chichester Festival Theatre, in Peter Shaffer's The Royal Hunt of the Sun. He appeared as Potter in the 1967 film To Sir, with Love. In 1968 he appeared as a Trooper in The Charge of the Light Brigade, and made an uncredited appearance in If..... This was followed by a starring role as one of the Freewheelers, made as an action/adventure children's serial by Southern Television between 1968 and 1973. He also acted for two seasons in the 1970s science fiction TV drama The Tomorrow People. His other film appearances included roles in The Beast in the Cellar, The Weekend Murders, The Raging Moon, The Last Valley, Erotic Inferno, Golden Rendezvous, Zulu Dawn and Game for Vultures. He also appeared in a number of Swedish sex films in the 1970s including Swedish Sex Games in 1975, and Sex in Sweden and Practice Makes Perfect in 1977.He performed on stage at the Old Vic in Macbeth with Peter O'Toole. In 1972, Chittell appeared in the untransmitted Doomwatch episode "Sex and Violence", playing Dick Burns, widely believed to be a parody of Cliff Richard and Richard's part in the Nationwide Festival of Light. The "Sex and Violence" episode was included as part of the Doomwatch DVD box set release in April 2016.
Chittell is married to his Emmerdale'' co-star Lesley Dunlop, who plays Brenda Walker. He was awarded the British Empire Medal in the 2019 Birthday Honours for services to drama and charity.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1967 | To Sir, with Love | Potter | |
| 1968 | The Charge of the Light Brigade | Trooper | |
| 1968 | If.... | Senior | Uncredited |
| 1970 | The Breaking of Bumbo | The Prisoner | |
| 1970 | The Weekend Murders | Georgie Kemple | |
| 1971 | The Raging Moon | Terry | |
| 1971 | The Last Valley | Svenson | |
| 1971 | The Beast in the Cellar | Baker | |
| 1971 | They Call Him Cemetery | John McIntire | |
| 1974 1974 | The Intruders Man About The House | Richard, the intruder Alan, man from pub who was a supposed secret admirer of Chrissy | |
| 1975 | Erotic Inferno | Martin Barnard | |
| 1977 | Molly | Peter | |
| 1977 | Ta mej i dalen | Richard | |
| 1977 | Golden Rendezvous | Rogers | |
| 1978 | The Wild Geese | Philips | Uncredited |
| 1979 | Zulu Dawn | Lt. Milne | |
| 1979 | Game for Vultures | McAllister |