Robin Askwith-Gap Rating 3/10

After overcoming polio as a boy, he attended Merchants Taylor School, Rickmansworth until he was expelled for the jolly jape of robbing a post office. As you do, of course! During schooldays, Robin showed an aptitude for music (drums) and the stage performing in several school productions.

Upon "leaving" school, Robin aquired an agent and won parts in commercials before catching the eye of famous director Lindsay Anderson who cast him in the classic film "If". After this, Robin was constantly in demand on television and films throughout the 1960's and 1970's.

A turning point in films came in 1970 when the cinema audiences got the first long look at the part of Robins' anatomy he has since become most famous for - his behind! The film was "Cool It Carol" which also starred Janet Lynn and Jess Conrad. The film, about a couple of teenagers who go to London for an exciting future instead becoming embroiled in porn and prostitution, was based on a real story and is actually an excellent film but at the time was panned as "filth". The film however, with its nudity and occasional comedy, would set a template of sorts for Robins' career.

The next few years saw Robin specialise in comedy ("Bless This House", "Carry on Girls" etc.) and horror ("Horror Hospital", "Flesh and Blood Show" etc.) before in December 1973 being awarded the role that set his career path in stone - "Confessions of a Window Cleaner".

The Confessions films, with its mixture of big name comedy turns, naked actresses and Robin as the unforgetable Timmy Lea, became irresistable to the cinemagoing public. "Window Cleaner" was the most successful UK film of 1974 (and won Robin best newcomer award at the 1975 Evening News Film Awards) and its three sequels followed "Window Cleaner" in being smash hits throughout the world and established Robin as box office gold. Robin would even have a minor UK hit single at the time titled, originally enough, "Confessions".

Robin also starred in films such as the acclaimed "Stand Up Virgin Soldiers", "Let's Get Laid" and the cult classic "Queen Kong".

In the 1980's, Robin appeared on the stage more often, reprising his Timmy Lea character in "Further Adventures of a Window Cleaner" and also appearing in such successes as "Who Goes Bare" and "Run For Your Wife". Robin also was the star of "Bottle Boys" a TV comedy about a randy milkman (no typecasting there then!). This lasted 2 series and has since been lambasted by critics, but regularly acheived 9 million viewers at prime time viewing. Robin was also married in the 1980's to actress Leonie Mellinger, whom he appeared with in the 1983 TV play "Infidelities".

In recent years, Robin has continued with stage work and the lucrative world of pantomime, while making occasional television appearences in popular series' such as "Eastenders", "Sunburn" and "Doctors". In 2000, Robin appeared in the blockbuster movie "U-571" and has also appeared in movies "The Asylum" and "The Raven" (which will finally secure a release in 2006).