Ricky Norwood
Norwood in 2022
Born
Ricky James Saggar

(1983-04-26) 26 April 1983
Forest Gate, London, England
OccupationActor
Years active2009–present
TelevisionEastEnders
EastEnders: E20
Celebrity Big Brother
Dancing on Ice

Ricky James Norwood (né Saggar; born 26 April 1983) is an English actor, known for portraying the role of Fatboy in the BBC soap opera EastEnders (2010–2015, 2023) and its online spin-off EastEnders: E20 (2010–2011). Following his initial exit from the soap, Norwood appeared as a housemate on the eighteenth series of Celebrity Big Brother in 2016 and finished as the runner-up. He is also set to compete in the sixteenth series of Dancing on Ice in 2024.

Early life

Norwood was born Ricky James Saggar on 26 April 1983 in Forest Gate, Newham in London to a Kenyan-Indian mother and an English father.[1][2][3] He lives in Wanstead.[4] From the age of 12, he attended the Theatre Royal Stratford East's Youth Theatre and also studied Performing Arts at Barking College. With friends, Norwood started a production company, writing, producing and starring in five original productions which were performed at the Theatre Royal Stratford.[5]

Career

Norwood's theatre credits include Daddy Cool at Shaftesbury Theatre, Sick at the Almeida Theatre and The Stones at the Royal National Theatre.[5]

EastEnders

Norwood at the 17th National Television Awards in January 2012

In 2009, Norwood was cast in the EastEnders internet spin-off series EastEnders: E20 as Fatboy.[6][7] Norwood said of his casting: "I am so excited to be on the show. It's an honour to now be part of a show that has been on in my house for as long as I have been alive. I am born and bred in the East End—a stone's throw from the real Albert Square. It feels like a homecoming. I love being part of a cast that feels like family and can't wait to have a scene in The Vic."[8] In the run-up to the series, Norwood also appeared in EastEnders for two episodes, and after EastEnders: E20's first series ended, Fatboy became a regular character in EastEnders. Fatboy was called one of the most popular new characters in the show[9] and Norwood won Most Popular Newcomer at the 16th National Television Awards in 2011.[10] Norwood went on to appear in series 2 and 3 of EastEnders: E20 as Fatboy, and has appeared in the spin-offs "East Street"[11] and All I Want for Christmas.[12]

In March 2014, a video surfaced of Norwood reportedly smoking cannabis and performing a sex act during a Skype chat, captured by a woman he had met online. On 1 April, after meeting with BBC and EastEnders bosses, he was suspended from the soap for two months. An EastEnders spokesperson said: "Ricky Norwood has been suspended from the show for a period of two months with immediate effect. In addition, Ricky would like to apologise to EastEnders' viewers for any offence caused and for bringing the show into disrepute."[13] On 16 October 2015, it was announced that Norwood had been axed from EastEnders after nearly six years in the role of Fatboy, after show bosses chose to write the character out.[14] Norwood filmed his final scenes later that month and producers chose to keep details surrounding Fatboy's exit under wraps. A show spokesperson said, "We can confirm that Ricky will be leaving EastEnders. We wish him all the best for the future",[14] whilst a show insider commented: "Ricky is a great guy and very popular on set. He's leaving the show as it's the end of Fatboy's storyline, but everyone wishes him well for the future."[14] His last on-screen appearance was on 24 December 2015, and it transpired that the character was killed off-screen when crushed in the boot of a car. In August 2023, Norwood made a cameo appearance as Fatboy in a flashback episode surrounding the return of Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins).[15][16]

Other work

In 2013, Norwood appeared on Pointless Celebrities[17] and Sweat the Small Stuff.[18] He also took part in the 2013 Christmas special of Strictly Come Dancing, and was paired with professional dancer Janette Manrara.[19]

Norwood's first role after leaving EastEnders was as a "vile, violent homophobe" in Marty Ross's audio drama Romeo and Jude, a gay adaptation of Romeo and Juliet.[20]

From 2016 to 2018, Norwood regularly appeared as a panellist on the Big Brother companion show, Big Brother's Bit on the Side.[21] In July 2016, Norwood became a housemate on the eighteenth series of Celebrity Big Brother.[22] He finished the series as runner-up behind Stephen Bear.[23] In 2020, Norwood appeared as Reggie in the Netflix film The Princess Switch: Switched Again.[24] The following year, he reprised his role for the sequel The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star.[25] In October 2023, it was announced that Norwood would be set to compete in the sixteenth series of Dancing on Ice in 2024.[26]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2010–2015, 2023 EastEnders Fatboy Regular role [27]
2010−2011 EastEnders: E20 Regular role [6]
2010 Children in Need Episode: "East Street" [28]
2012 All I Want for Christmas EastEnders spin-off [29]
2013 Tamwar Tales – The Life of an Assistant Market Inspector EastEnders spin-off [30]
2013 Strictly Come Dancing Contestant 2013 Christmas special [31]
2015–2018 Big Brother's Bit on the Side Himself Regular panellist [32]
2016 Celebrity Big Brother Himself Contestant; series 18 [33]
2020 The Princess Switch: Switched Again Reggie Film role [24]
2021 The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star Reggie Film role [25]
2024 Dancing on Ice Himself Contestant; series 16 [34]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Result Ref.
2010 Inside Soap Awards Best Newcomer Won [35]
2010 TV Quick Awards Best Soap Newcomer Shortlisted [36]
2011 National Television Awards Newcomer Won [10]
2011 British Soap Awards Best Newcomer Nominated [37]
2012 Inside Soap Awards Funniest Male Won [38]
2012 Black International Film Festival and Music Video & Screen Awards Best Newcomer Nominated [39]
2013 Screen Nation Awards Young Shooting Star (16-25) Nominated [40]
2013 British Soap Awards Best Comedy Performance Nominated [41]
2013 Inside Soap Awards Funniest Male Shortlisted [42]

References

  1. ↑ "Ricky James Saggar". freeBMD. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  2. ↑ Norwood, Ricky [@rickyjnorwood] (26 April 2021). "Today is my birthday! Amazingly google got it wrong.!🤣 I gota try and amend that tho! 🤣" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  3. ↑ "Ricky James Norwood". GOV.UK.
  4. ↑ "Enders' Ricky: 'I'm just a boy from Forest Gate'". What's on TV. London: IPC Media. 25 May 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
  5. 1 2 "'Celebrity Big Brother' 2016: Ricky Norwood's (AKA EastEnders' Fatboy) 9 Facts In 90 Seconds". Huffington Post. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Fatboy played by Ricky Norwood". BBC Online. Retrieved 23 February 2010.
  7. ↑ "Ricky Norwood (EastEnders: E20) Interview". Last Broadcast. Retrieved 23 February 2010.
  8. ↑ Green, Kris (25 November 2009). "'EastEnders' announces 'E20' cast". Digital Spy. London: Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  9. ↑ Carlin, Thomas (23 January 2011). "Eastenders bosses are casting a father for 'Fatboy'". The People. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  10. 1 2 "NTA 2011: National Television Awards results". Beehive City. Honeycomb Publishing & Media. 26 January 2011. Archived from the original on 29 January 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  11. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (17 November 2010). "In Pictures: 'Enders, Corrie crossover". Digital Spy. London: Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 17 November 2010.
  12. ↑ Director: Tim Mercier; Executive Producer: Lorraine Newman; Writer: Carey Andrews (27 December 2012). "All I Want for Christmas". EastEnders. BBC. BBC One.
  13. ↑ "EastEnders actor Ricky Norwood suspended from soap". Digital Spy. 1 April 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  14. 1 2 3 "EastEnders exit ahead for Fatboy Chubb". 16 October 2015.
  15. ↑ "EastEnders airs twist unannounced return in early BBC iPlayer release". Radio Times. 29 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  16. ↑ "EastEnders' Ricky Norwood reacts to epic Fatboy return: "Absolutely thrilled"". Radio Times. 29 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  17. ↑ "BBC One - Pointless Celebrities, Series 2, Episode 6". BBC Programmes. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  18. ↑ "BBC Three - Sweat the Small Stuff, Episode 1". BBC Programmes. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  19. ↑ "Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special line-up confirmed". BBC Online. 25 November 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  20. ↑ Lee, Ben (14 February 2016). "A world away from Fatboy! EastEnders star Ricky Norwood plays "vile, violent homophobe" in radio play". Digital Spy. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  21. ↑ "Ricky Norwood Net Worth". www.spearswms.com. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  22. ↑ Walker, Danny (29 July 2016). "Who is Ricky Norwood? Celebrity Big Brother 2016 housemate many EastEnders fans will simply know as 'Fatboy'". The Mirror. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  23. ↑ Travis, Ben (26 August 2016). "Celebrity Big Brother 2016: Stephen Bear wins final as EastEnders' Ricky Norwood comes in second place". The Evening Standard. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  24. 1 2 "Former EastEnders star Ricky Norwood cast in Netflix's The Princess Switch sequel". Entertainment Daily. 2 December 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  25. 1 2 "Former EastEnders star Ricky Norwood to reprise his role Reggie in Netflix film The Princess Switch 3". Entertainment Daily. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  26. ↑ Mensah, Katelyn. "EastEnders legend Ricky Norwood signs up to Dancing on Ice". Radio Times. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  27. ↑ "Arthur Chubb – BBC EastEnders". BBC. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  28. ↑ "BBC – East Street – Children in Need". BBC. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  29. ↑ "BBC EastEnders – All I Want for Christmas". BBC. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  30. ↑ "BBC EastEnders – Tamwar Tales". BBC. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  31. ↑ "Ricky Norwood Quicksteps to Merry Christmas Everyone". BBC. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  32. ↑ "Celebrity Big Brother 2016: Ricky Norwood and Saira Khan added to 'confirmed' line-up". Daily Telegraph. 28 July 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  33. ↑ "Who is Ricky Norwood? Celebrity Big Brother 2016 contestant guide". Radio Times. 16 August 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  34. ↑ Jones, Craig. "EastEnder Ricky Norwood confirmed as latest Dancing On Ice skater with Emmerdale rival rumoured to join". Leeds Live. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  35. ↑ "Inside Soap awards: full list of winners". The Daily Telegraph. London: Telegraph Media Group. 27 September 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  36. ↑ "Vote online in the TVQuick and TVChoice Awards!". EastEnders. BBC Online. 17 May 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
  37. ↑ "The British Soap Awards 2011: Nominations". ITV Press Centre. ITV. 2 May 2011. Archived from the original on 6 May 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  38. ↑ "2012 winners". Inside Soap. Hearst Magazines UK. Archived from the original on 31 July 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  39. ↑ "EastEnders wins two MVSAs". EastEnders. BBC Online. 29 October 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  40. ↑ "Official nominations & winners list 2012/13". Screen Nation. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  41. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (22 April 2013). "'Coronation Street' leads British Soap Awards shortlist". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  42. ↑ Rigby, Sam (15 October 2013). "'Coronation Street' leads Inside Soap Awards 2013 shortlist". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
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