“… The only performer with any spark or subtlety is John Sessions, in the tiny, twinkling role of Philostrate. (Why can’t we see more of Mr Sessions?)”

Peter Bradshaw, Review of Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Guardian, 24/09/1999

Here’s your chance…

Who is he?

John Sessions was born John Marshall on 11/01/1953. He had to change his name to avoid conflict with the celebrated actor (?) bearing his name when he joined Equity, the British actor’s union. He went to Bedford Modern School (1), then to Bangor University in Wales (1a). He gained his PhD from MacMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, making him Dr John Marshall, then went to RADA (2), where he met Kenneth Branagh in 1979, with whom he has often worked (3). In addition to being a great comedian, character actor and impressionist, he also knows a fair bit about music; one of the skills required to be a good impressionist—a good ear—can also be used for identifying music very quickly, as John demonstrated with his appearance in Full House, a classical music quiz recorded on 09/07/2000 for broadcast in the intervals of the proms, He shows his theatrical roots by hosting the London Evening Standard Theatre Awards. Another notable appearance, in a concept very different to Stella Street, was in the recent Gormenghast.

John lives in Wimbledon (4). He is now openly gay, but didnÌt come out till in his 40s!

In 1999, John stood for the position of Rector of Glasgow University(5), but was out-voted by the students in favour of Eastenders’ Ross Kemp, who has since been asked to stand down by the students! Interestingly, a brief parody of Eastenders appears in Series Three of Stella Street; could the two events perhaps be related?

Finally, an interesting article appears here, and another one here (under “Sinful Sessions”) (see the paragraph starting “Years Ago…”).

Sources: Personal knowledge, except (1) James Pharoah, (1a) Ian Pritchard, (2) Internet Movie Database,(3) Sony Pictures Entertainment “In the Bleak Midwinter” (US: “A Midwinter’s Tale”) website, (4) overheard at Full House recording, 11/07/2000, (5) Guardian Unlimited website.

What has he done?

I could try to put together a complete history on John, but this has, fortunately, already been done by the Internet Movie Database. Below is some information that may not be listed there, plus my personal comments and links to where you can obtain some of the material. To go to the IMDB John Sessions page click here. EOnline also have a rather pointless page, but here it is for completeness. To see the stuff you can get your dirty little paws on, go to Blackstar here.

The list that follows is in no particular order at present.

• Radio
  • Whose Line is it Anyway? (BBCR4)
    The (at this point not very funny) improvisation comedy show, hosted by Clive Anderson. A BBC cassette was available, but is now deleted. He appears with Lenny Henry, Dawn French, Stephen Fry (who was also in Gormenghast), John Bird and Jimmy Mulville (who used to perform but now is mainly an executive producer/script editor or something for Hat Trick). You should hear his D H Lawrence impression!

• Laurel and Hardy (BBCR4)
  A play about Laurel and Hardy (no surprises there) in which John plays Stan. Apparently, John was not a fan of Laurel and Hardy. Still, most of us Stella Street fans can probably forgive him, especially as Laurel and Hardy made The Bohemian Girl and Nothing But Trouble. But I digress…

• Television
  • Gormenghast (2000 BBC2)
    Dr Prunesquallor, one of the main characters, in this excellent production of Mervin Peake’s gothic fantasy novel. While Phil Cornwell also appears, the two are only on screen together briefly. Available on VHS from Blackstar and Amazon and DVD from Blackstar and Amazon.
  • John Sessions' Tall Tales (BBC2)

    A contributer called Rob has sent in some details of this series: “John Sessions Tall Tales was a series of six episodes transmitted in early 1991. I was fortunate enough to be at the recordings of two of these episodes. The episode called “Nowt so queer as folk” had several characters. Two of these were Mick and Keith. His “Keith” was à la Stella Street, but he also did a brilliant “Mick”. The whole performance was sublime.” The show is not available on video. Sorry.

  • Whose Line is it Anyway? (A Hat-Trick production for C4)
    Mainly the early episodes, where owing to his propensity to pick up a character and keep improvising dialogue for him such that others could not get a word in edgeways, he earned the reputation as being the worst ever contestant! Some of these are out on video (there are 2 volumes available), but the older volume has been deleted now. JS would later turn his ability to improvise dialogue into Stella Street…
  • In the Red (BBC2)
    As Hercules Fortescue (the personnel officer) in this very good crime comedy mini-series set in the world of the BBC. Rik Mayall was the killer, by the way. Doh!
  • Spitting Image
    Sessions did many of the voices on the early Spitting Image shows (and extensively on the record “Spit in your Ear”). If you listen carefully, his John Hurt voice can be heard in several places!
  • Porterhouse Blue
    John appears in this TV drama series. It is available on DVD.
• Films
  • My Night With Reg (UK 1995)
    In this drama about a group of gay friends, John plays the title’s Reg’s partner. Only when Reg dies do they realise the impact he has had on them. [I hope this is accurate, as I haven’t seen this film yet.] A film adaptation of the award-winning play. BBC Films. Click picture to see video.
  • The Bounty (US 1984)
    Performer 
  • Freddie as F.R.O.7 (UK 1992)
    Performer
  • Henry V (UK 1989)
    Performer
  • The Pope Must Die (UK 1991) (Released in the US as “The Pope Must Diet”)
    Performer in this extended made-for-cinema Comic Strip episode, which was not in fact made by Comic Strip Ltd.
  • Princess Caraboo (UK/US 1994)
    Performer
  • Sweet Revenge (France/US 1990)
    Performer
  • Whoops Apocalypse (UK 1985)
    Pretty crap film with a few funny bits (and Peter Cook as the mad PM!). Sessions plays the man whose job it is to make screeching interference noises whenever a phone call is made by the US President that it would be preferable to end soon. The film was written by Andrew “Two Point Four Children” Marshall and David “One Foot up the Fucking Ring” Renwick. It is on video from Blackstar and Amazon. Keep your eyes peeled for Greame Garden early on.
  • Henry Fielding's Tom Jones
  • Sweet Revenge (1990)