Christopher Ettridge (born 21 February 1948) is an English actor from Isleworth, London. He is principally known for television work and has been identified as a reliable character performer in British comedy and drama. His most widely recognised role is PC Reg Deadman in the time‑travel sitcom Goodnight Sweetheart, a part that brought him national visibility in the 1990s and again when the series returned for a one‑off special in 2016.

Career and roles

Ettridge’s screen persona often placed him in supporting roles that required comic timing and a sturdy presence. As PC Reg Deadman he played a local police officer who functions as a foil to the show’s protagonist, supplying both humour and a sense of period authenticity. Beyond that signature part, Ettridge has appeared in long‑running British programmes such as the soap EastEnders and the policing drama The Bill, and contributed to sketch and comedy formats like Harry Enfield and Chums.

Notable appearances

  • Goodnight Sweetheart — recurring role as PC Reg Deadman.
  • EastEnders — guest and supporting appearances in the popular BBC soap.
  • The Bill — roles in episodic police drama.
  • Harry Enfield and Chums — sketch comedy contributions.

Ettridge’s work exemplifies the career of a British character actor whose visibility is built on a succession of memorable small parts rather than leading film stardom. His performances are valued for their clarity, dependable comic instincts and ability to anchor scenes within ensemble casts.

Context and legacy

Goodnight Sweetheart, the programme most closely associated with Ettridge, combined period drama and comedy, giving supporting players like him opportunities to inhabit distinctive, era‑specific characters. For fans of British television from the 1990s onward, his name is linked to that show and to the steady tradition of repertory television where versatile actors move between soaps, dramas and sketch series. While not a household name in all circles, Ettridge’s body of work illustrates the important role of recurring and guest actors in the fabric of UK television production.