Nichola Petra "Niky" Wardley (born 11 August 1973) is an English stage and screen actress. Her most notable role is schoolgirl Lauren Cooper's sidekick in the BBC's Emmy and BAFTA-nominated sketch series The Catherine Tate Show (2004–2007). She also appeared alongside Catherine Tate in the Netflix mockumentary sitcom Hard Cell (2022) and played the lead role in the BBC One sitcom In with the Flynns (2011–2012). As a voice actress, she is best known for her role as the Eighth Doctor's companion Tamsin Drew in audio dramas based on the BBC's long-running science fiction series Doctor Who.
Early life and education Wardley was born on 11 August 1973 in Luton, Bedfordshire. She started out in acting when she was in high school. Her drama teacher cast her as Nancy in Oliver! when she was about 13 years old. Reminiscing on her first ever role, Wardley said: "I knew from the very first moment that I stepped out on stage that this was what I wanted to do with my life."
She studied acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
Career Work with Catherine Tate
While doing her first theatre production for the Royal Shakespeare Company, A Servant to Two Masters (2000–2001), she met comedian Catherine Tate and shared a dressing room with her for ten months. In 2004, Tate invited Wardley to her BBC Two sketch series, The Catherine Tate Show (2004–2007). Her most notable role in the show was schoolgirl Lauren Cooper's sidekick, Liese Jackson. In November 2005, she performed for Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip at the Royal Variety Performance, appearing again in the guise of Liese. During the sketch, Wardley's character remarked: "That old man sitting next to her has fallen asleep." Prince Philip then reportedly complained to the show's executive producer, saying he had been insulted.
The Catherine Tate Show lasted for three series and received critical acclaim and multiple nominations from BAFTA, the National Television Awards and the British Comedy Awards. After the show ended, Wardley and Tate continued to work together on other projects, including the show's spin-off series, Catherine Tate's Nan (2014–2015), and its UK, Australian and New Zealand live tours. She also appeared alongside Tate in the autobiographical short film My First Nativity (2010), the Netflix mockumentary series Hard Cell (2022), which she also co-wrote, the BBC sitcom Queen of Oz (2023), and the feature films Nativity 3: Dude, Where's My Donkey?! (2014) and The Nan Movie (2022).
Doctor Who In 2010, she portrayed a companion of the Eighth Doctor (Paul McGann), failing actress Tamsin Drew, in the audio series The Eighth Doctor Adventures, produced by Big Finish Productions and based on the BBC's long-running science fiction series Doctor Who. She felt "really excited" about becoming a Doctor Who companion, having previously watched the show as a kid and being good friends with fellow companion actress Catherine Tate. Wardley was cast after being recommended to the producers by the Fifth Doctor actor, Peter Davison, with whom she had previously worked in the ITV drama series The Complete Guide to Parenting (2006). After a period of travelling with the Doctor, Wardley's character became disillusioned with him after he showed coldness in the face of others' deaths whilst favouring the lives of his friends. The Meddling Monk soon convinced her that the Doctor was a destructive force in the universe and took her under his wing. Drew travelled with the Monk for a while, but later came to regret her decision, as he told her countless lies and had sided with Earth's invaders, the Daleks. She helped the Doctor try to stop the Daleks but was eventually killed by them in the story "To the Death" (2011).
In November 2013, the Eighth Doctor mentioned Tamsin Drew among his past companions in the BBC iPlayer mini-episode "The Night of the Doctor", making her part of the official television canon. In the same month, Wardley appeared as writer Steven Moffat's receptionist in the one-off comedy homage to Doctor Who, The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot. Since 2016, she has continued to work with Big Finish and has played several other characters in Doctor Who-related audio adventures, most notably Donna Noble's (Catherine Tate's character) school friend Natalie Morrison in the four-part audio series Donna Noble: Kidnapped! (2020).
Other work In 2006, Wardley played Joe Macer's daughter Megan in two episodes of the BBC One long-running soap opera EastEnders. She also played the lead role in the BBC One sitcom In with The Flynns (2011–2012), followed by appearances in nine episodes of Coronation Street (2012). She was then cast as Miss Brahms in the one-off revival episode of Are You Being Served? (2016). Her other television appearances include Benidorm (2007–2008), Silent Witness, My Family (both 2007), Peep Show (2008), How Not to Live Your Life (2008), Shameless (2010), The Spa, Love and Marriage (both 2013), Asylum (2015), Home from Home (2018) and Call the Midwife (2019).
From 2000 to 2022, she starred in 13 theatrical productions. Her stage work includes Alan Ayckbourn's plays Bedroom Farce (2009) and A Small Family Business (2014), as well as William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing (2007–2008), starring Zoë Wanamaker and Simon Russell Beale as Beatrice and Benedick, and Twelfth Night (2017), starring Tamsin Greig as Malvolia. Both A Small Family Business and Twelfth Night were professionally recorded and broadcast through National Theatre Live.
As a voice actress, she has provided the voice of Tamara the Poodle in most episodes of the CBBC animated children's series The Pinky and Perky Show (2008–2009).
Personal life Born in Luton, Wardley now lives in Camberwell, London, and has two children. In May 2018, she married Welsh actor Daniel Hawksford, with whom she had previously worked in the National Theatre production of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing (2007–2008). In 2022, they both appeared in the Netflix mockumentary sitcom Hard Cell.
Filmography Film YearTitleRoleNotes2001The Affair of the NecklaceMadame de Neiss2002Out DoneSammyShort film2004AlmostCatherineShort film2006ReallyKelly2008SearchingNatalieFilm adaptation of the 2003 play Hello You, which also starred Wardley2009CondimentiaFrank's MumShort film2014Nativity 3: Dude, Where's My Donkey?!Bridesmaid Bella2018This Weekend Will Change Your LifePamAlso known as Killer Retreat (U.S.)StuffedEllenShort film2020The Gays DaysSuzanne EwenShort film2022The Nan MovieOfficer MahlerGo Away!Post-production
Television YearTitleRole Notes2002CasualtyLouisaSeries 16; episode 23: "Acceptance"2004–2006The Catherine Tate ShowVarious charactersSeries 1–3; 18 episodes. Also co-writer2005Holby CityJulia 'Jools' MallinsonSeries 7; episode 21: "Awakenings"Rosemary & ThymeDaisy MellorSeries 3; episode 1: "The Cup of Silence"2006EastEndersMegan Macer2 episodesThe Complete Guide to ParentingKarenEpisodes 1–5The Family ManNICU Nurse (Emma Butcher)Episodes 1–32007Holby CitySandie BoothSeries 9; episode 25: "Is There Something I Should Know?"Silent WitnessDC Kate DickersonSeries 11; episodes 5, 7 & 8Funny CutsVariousEpisode: "Chikipedia"My FamilyCrystalSeries 8; episode: "Ho Ho No" (Christmas special)2007–2008BenidormKellySeries 1; episode 3, and series 2; episodes 5 & 62008The BillMary HaworthSeries 24; episode 4: "To Catch a Killer: Part 2"Love SoupKendraSeries 2; episode 8: "Lobotomy Bay"Peep ShowCallySeries 5; episode 5: "Jeremy's Manager"How Not to Live Your LifeMaggieSeries 1; episode 1: "Home Sweet Home"Zip and HollowSusieTelevision filmHere Comes the Queen(unknown role)Unbroadcast pilot2008–2009The Pinky and Perky ShowTamara (voice)42 episodesParents of the BandSandy SoutakisEpisodes 1–62009All the Small ThingsLouise 'Lulu' PrykeEpisodes 1–6Nan's Christmas CarolVarious charactersTelevision special (a spin-off of The Catherine Tate Show) 2010ShamelessHazelSeries 7; episode 9: "The Wild Tales"Life of RileySuzySeries 2; episode 4: "Is She Really Going Out with Him?"Little CrackersAngieSeries 1; episode 3: "Catherine Tate's Little Cracker: My First Nativity"2011–2012In with the FlynnsCaroline FlynnSeries 1 & 2; 12 episodes2012Coronation StreetJenny Sumner9 episodes2013The SpaSallyEpisodes 1–8Love and MarriageHeather McCallisterEpisodes 1–6The Five(ish) Doctors RebootReceptionistTelevision film (shown on the BBC Red Button service)2014–2015Catherine Tate's NanMiss Donelly / Samantha / Lorna3 television specials2015AsylumLornaMini-series; episodes 1–32016Are You Being Served?Miss BrahmsA one-off revival episode of the original seriesCitizen KhanSuzanneSeries 5; episode 4: "Scab's Parents"2018Still Open All HoursMrs. JacksonSeries 4; episode 6SettlingAngelaMini-series; episodes 1–6Home from HomeFiona HackettEpisodes 2–72019CasualtyKate HerbertSeries 33; episode 20Call the MidwifeEnid WilsonSeries 8; episode 42022Hard CellAnastasiaEpisodes 1–6. Also co-writer2023Queen of OzAnabelEpisodes 1–62024–2025BoardersCarol Watlington-GeeseSeries 1 & 2; 11 episodes
Audio YearTitleRoleProductionNotes2010–2011Doctor Who: The Eighth Doctor AdventuresTamsin DrewBig Finish ProductionsSeries 4; 7 episodes2016Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor AdventuresRebecca 'Bex' YoungSeries 1; episode 1: "Technophobia"The Avengers: The Lost EpisodesLiz WellsEpisode: "Death on the Slipway"Jago & LitefootHannah BennetSeries 12; episode 3: "School of Blood"2018Animal Instinct: Human ZooMaggieAudibleTorchwood OneStaceyBig Finish ProductionsSeries 2; episode 3: "9 to 5"2020Dracula's GuestsMadelinePart of the Big Finish Classics rangeDonna Noble: Kidnapped!Natalie MorrisonEpisodes 1–4High StrangenessMrs. HippisleyAudible6 episodes
Theatre YearTitleRoleVenue / Company2000–2001A Servant to Two MastersClariceRoyal Shakespeare Company2002The Three SistersNatashaNuffield TheatreOur Country's GoodMary Brenham2003Making WavesHelenStephen Joseph TheatreHello YouVariousFecund Theatre2007–2008Much Ado About NothingMargaretNational Theatre2009Bedroom FarceJanWest Yorkshire Playhouse2013The Same Deep Water as MeJen NeedlemanDonmar Warehouse2014A Small Family BusinessAnita McCrackenNational Theatre2016–2019The Catherine Tate Show LiveVariousVarious venues across the UK, Australia and New Zealand2017Twelfth NightMariaNational Theatre2018MayflyCatOrange Tree Theatre2022JerusalemLinda FawcettApollo Theatre
References
External links
Niky Wardley at British Comedy Guide