Ian Kirkby is a British actor and writer. He is best known for his role as DI Harry Batt on the children's programme Dick and Dom in da Bungalow & Diddy TV and Sandy Toes on Swashbuckle. Additionally, he has appeared in Diddy Movies and The Slammer.
In his early years, Kirkby became a member of the Central Junior Television Workshop. From there he was selected as an extra in 1987 in ITV sitcom, Hardwicke House.[1] In 1992, Kirkby graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and was employed in a number of minor roles in theatre and television productions. He also spent a year with the Royal Shakespeare Company and performed in the West End.[2] In 2003, Kirkby was hired by the BBC to play Newcastle detective, Harry Batt on CBBC's Dick and Dom in da Bungalow. Kirkby said he based the character of Harry Batt on a "Seventies Sweeney stereotype, but with a Geordie accent." The character was only intended to be a one-time appearance; however, the character became popular so Kirkby reprised the role as a recurring character and a regular actor until the end of the programme in 2006.[3] Kirkby also played Harry Batt in Da Dick and Dom Dairies and The Legend of Dick and Dom.[4] During this time, he also co-wrote a programme for CBBC based around Harry Batt, which was broadcast in 2007.[5]
Also in 2006, in a role that Kirkby was permitted to write for himself,[3] played the role of Mr. Burgess in the talent programme The Slammer.[6] In 2010, Kirkby was hired by Channel 4 to play commentator Terry McIlroy in the comedy Pete versus Life.[7]
Kirkby is a fan of association football; however, he had expressed a dislike of motor racing as "just a waste of petrol".[8]