Nigel Havers facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Honourable Nigel Havers
Havers in 2004
Born	Nigel Allan Havers (1951-11-06) 6 November 1951 (age 73) Edmonton, Middlesex, England
Occupation	Actor and presenter
Years active	1970–present
Spouse(s)	Carolyn Cox ​ ​ (m. 1974; div. 1989)​ Polly Williams ​ ​ (m. 1989; died 2004)​ Georgiana Bronfman ​ ​ (m. 2007)​
Children	1
Parent(s)	Michael Havers, Baron Havers (father)

Nigel Allan Havers (born 6 November 1951) is a famous English actor and presenter. He is known for playing charming and well-spoken characters.

Havers became famous for his role as Lord Andrew Lindsay in the 1981 movie Chariots of Fire. This role earned him a nomination for a BAFTA award, which is a major British award for film and television. He also appeared in big movies like Empire of the Sun (1987) and A Passage to India (1984).

On television, he is well-known for playing Tom Latimer in the comedy show Don't Wait Up. Many people also know him as the character Lewis Archer in the popular soap opera Coronation Street.

Early Life and Family

Nigel Havers was born in Edmonton, a part of London, England. He is the younger of two sons. His father was Sir Michael Havers, who was a very important lawyer. Sir Michael served as the Attorney General, the government's top lawyer. He also briefly held the title of Lord Chancellor, one of the highest jobs in the British government.

Havers' family has a long history in law. His aunt, Lady Butler-Sloss, his grandfather, Sir Cecil Havers, and his older brother, Philip Havers, were all successful in the legal world.

In 2013, Havers was on the BBC television show Who Do You Think You Are?. On the show, he learned about his family's history. He discovered that his ancestors included a businessman from Essex and a miller from Cornwall.

Education and Early Career

Havers went to Nowton Court Prep School in Suffolk and later the Arts Educational School in London. Many in his family went to the famous Eton College, but Havers chose a different path. He wanted to focus on acting from a young age.

His first acting job was on the radio show Mrs Dale's Diary. After that, he joined the Prospect Theatre Company. At first, his jobs were small, like carrying props on stage. He also worked as a researcher for the Jimmy Young radio show. Because his father was a famous lawyer, Havers was good at getting important politicians to be on the show.

After some time working in the theatre, Havers had a period where he couldn't find acting jobs. During this time, he worked for a company that sold wine. His acting career started to get busy again in 1975.

Acting Career

Nigel Havers is often described as playing the classic English gentleman. He is known for his good looks and polite way of speaking.

Rise to Fame

In 1975, Havers appeared in an episode of the popular TV show Upstairs, Downstairs. His big break came in 1977 when he played the main character in a BBC series based on the book Nicholas Nickleby.

His role in the 1981 film Chariots of Fire made him a star. The movie is about two British runners competing in the 1924 Olympics. After this, he acted in other major films, including A Passage to India and Empire of the Sun.

Throughout the 1980s, he also starred in the popular BBC comedy Don't Wait Up with actors Dinah Sheridan and Tony Britton.

Television Work in the 1990s and 2000s

In 1991, Havers starred in a funny mini-series called Sleepers. He and actor Warren Clarke played two Russian spies who had been living secretly in England for 25 years. When the Russian spy agency, the KGB, tries to bring them back, they go on the run.

In 2009, he appeared in the American TV show Brothers & Sisters and the Doctor Who spin-off The Sarah Jane Adventures.

Coronation Street and Reality TV

From 2009, Havers played the role of Lewis Archer in Coronation Street. Lewis was a charming but tricky man who caused a lot of drama on the show. Havers played the character on and off until the character's death in 2019.

In 2010, Havers was a contestant on the reality show I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!. He left the show after nine days because he did not want to take part in a challenge that involved electric shocks.

Recent Roles

In 2011, Havers appeared in a Christmas episode of Downton Abbey. He played Lord Hepworth, a man who tries to marry a rich widow for her money. The show's creator, Julian Fellowes, said that Havers is one of the best actors at playing a "cad" (a man who is charming but behaves badly).

He has continued to appear in many TV shows, including the comedy Benidorm and the drama All Creatures Great and Small. He has also hosted the BBC show The Bidding Room. In 2025, he played his own grandfather, Judge Sir Cecil Havers, in the ITV series A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story.

Personal Life

Nigel Havers has been married three times. He has one daughter, Kate, who was born in 1977 from his first marriage to Carolyn Cox.

In 1989, he married Polly Williams. They were married until she passed away in 2004. In 2007, Havers married Georgiana Bronfman in New York City.

He is also the godfather of the comedian Jack Whitehall.

Selected Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and Nominations