Bernard Wrigley

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Bernard Wrigley (born 1948 in Bolton, Lancashire) is a singer, actor and comedian. He is sometimes known by the nickname "The Bolton Bullfrog".

Bernard's career as a singer and storyteller began in the late sixties, when a love of folk music led him to perform in folk clubs. Since then he has released over sixteen albums of traditional and original songs, stories and monologues.

He began acting around the same time and has made many appearances on stage, most famously in Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot alongside Mike Harding at Bolton's Octagon Theatre, and Jim Cartwright's "Road" at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester.

Bernard has made many appearances in British TV programmes such as Phoenix Nights (where he was Dodgy Eric, who sold club owner Brian Potter a phallic bouncy castle), Emmerdale (as eccentric rocket inventor Barry Clegg), and his sixth character in Coronation Street (as the Rev. Marvin Winstanley, the dodgy internet priest Roy and Hayley approached to arrange their wedding). Also Last of the Summer Wine, Cold Feet, Coogan's Run and Victoria Wood's Dinnerladies and Victoria Wood With All The Trimmings. He also appeared as a union official in Brassed Off and as a school teacher in Rita, Sue and Bob Too.

On national BBC Radio 4 he has acted in plays from 15 to 90 minutes. BBC Radio Lancashire has seen many of his pre-recorded series such as "Wrigley's Ramblings", "Home Brewed" and readings of many stories written by the late great author from Bury - Tommy Thompson.

As a writer he has released various combinations of his songs and monologues. In 2006 he produced a book of silly one verse poems "Shorts For All Occasions", to be followed in 2008 by "The Longs and the Shorts of it".