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Ross Boatman

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Ross Boatman
Boatman in 2023
Nickname(s)Rocky Ross
ResidenceLondon, England
BornRoss Maxim Boatman
(1964-03-03) 3 March 1964 (age 60)
King's Cross, London, England
World Series of Poker
Bracelet(s)None
Money finish(es)12
Highest ITM
Main Event finish		34th, 2002
World Poker Tour
Title(s)None
Final table(s)None
Money finish(es)3
European Poker Tour
Title(s)None
Final table(s)1
Money finish(es)1

Ross Maxim Boatman (born 3 March 1964) is an English actor, professional poker player and a member of the poker-playing group the Hendon Mob. He is known for the role of firefighter Kevin Medhurst in the ITV drama series London's Burning from 1988 to 1995 and again in 2000. He appeared as Derek in the BBC Two sitcom Mum from 2016 to 2019, before starring in Stay Close on Netflix in 2021, and then joined the cast of the BBC One soap opera EastEnders as Harvey Monroe.

Acting

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Boatman was born in Camden, London. After completing his training at RADA, Boatman began his acting career in fringe theatre. He began working as a television actor in 1988, appearing in an episode of The Storyteller ("The Luck Child") and Dramarama, before earning his best-known role as Fireman Kevin Medhurst in the long-running television series London's Burning. Boatman portrayed Medhurst in over 100 episodes between 1988 and 1995, and again in 2000. His other television roles include A Touch of Frost, three episodes of The Bill (in 2006 and 2 episodes in 2009), Murder in Mind, Dream Team, ITV's 2005 drama Planespotting. He appeared in the award-winning West End play Dealer's Choice by Patrick Marber.[1][2] Boatman starred in a NatWest bank television advertisement in 2015[3] playing a father who struggled with his utility bills.

On the big screen, Boatman has appeared in the gangster film Hard Men and as a rock star in the comedy Bring Me the Head of Mavis Davis. He famously turned down a role in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels as he had just completed filming Hard Men and feared being typecast. More recently, Boatman has appeared in alongside Clive Owen and Charlotte Rampling in the Mike Hodges film I'll Sleep When I'm Dead.[1][4][5][6] Boatman has maintained he has a preference for acting rather than poker, although he finds poker easier to profit from.[2][4] In June 2021, his casting on the BBC soap opera EastEnders was announced.[7] Boatman made his debut appearance as Harvey Monroe in July 2021.[8] For his portrayal of the role, he won the British Soap Award for Best Newcomer.[9]

Poker

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Ross Boatman in a World Series of Poker Omaha event.

In the 1970s, Boatman observed his older brother Barny playing poker against his friends at their house. He begged to become involved in the game, and although initially dissuaded by his brother, he sat down and played his first poker session. Barny went on to teach him in the mid-'70s, and by the age of 12 Boatman was gambling at "pitch and toss" behind his school gym. In the early 1980s, he regularly observed a poker game in his local pool hall, where he learnt the basics of poker strategy. Soon after he began playing poker events whenever he had the opportunity, and turned professional in 1992.

Together with his brother, Boatman began attending a poker game in North London run by Joe Beevers and Ram Vaswani. The four quickly formed an ongoing friendship, and began travelling to poker events throughout Europe together. This became such a regular sight that the four were later dubbed "The Hendon Mob".[6][10] Ross and the rest of the Hendon Mob were invited by Nic Szeremeta to appear in the brand new Late Night Poker television series, and supported the then-questionable idea of using a hole cam to make poker into a spectator sport. He appeared in all 6 series of the show, but had his best run at the title in the second season. He reached the final by defeating Hemish Shah in the runners-up final to advance to the grand final, where he finished 2nd to Simon Trumper.[4][11]

Like the rest of the Hendon Mob, Boatman has become a regular fixture at the World Series of Poker (WSOP), where he made his first final table in 2002 in the pot limit Omaha event. He finished 7th in the event, where he and Barny became the first brothers to make the same WSOP final table. In the same year he finished in the money of the $10,000 no limit Texas hold 'em main event, eventually going out in 34th place out of 631 entrants. Boatman has also had success in the European Poker Tour (EPT), where he made the final table of its largest ever event – the second grand final, finishing in 6th place for €140,000.[12][13][14][15]

His titles include:

  • FF 3,000 no limit hold 'em, Autumn Tournament 1999;[16]
  • £100 pot limit hold 'em, Christmas Cracker 2001;[17]
  • €300 pot limit Omaha, Austrian Masters 2002;[18]
  • £2,000 no limit hold 'em, European Poker Championships 2002;[19]
  • €400 pot limit Omaha, Irish Winter Tournament 2002;[20]
  • £200 pot limit Omaha hi-lo, British Open 2004.[21]

In addition to the above, Boatman has written over 20 articles[22] on The Hendon Mob's website and also authored a poker lesson for internettexasholdem.com.[23] After 3 years of sponsorship by the Prima Poker Network, he is now sponsored by Full Tilt Poker.[10] As of 2009, his total live tournament winnings exceed $2,000,000.[24]

Personal life

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His partner is photographer Sarah Jeynes. Boatman resides in Holloway and has three children.[4][25]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1987 The Finding Policeman Television film
1989 Tank Malling Security Guard
1996 Hard Men Bear
1997 Bring Me the Head of Mavis Davis Rock Star
2002 Turner – The Man Who Painted Britain Turner Television film
2003 Danielle Cable: Eyewitness Policeman Television film
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead Malone, Chauffeur
2004 Wall of Silence DC Ian Ashby Television film
Can't Buy Me Love DS Colin Briggs Television film
2005 Planespotting Steve Rush Television film
X-Mass Dad Short film
Ripley Under Ground Taxi Cab Driver
2006 Good Girl, Bad Girl Joshua Television film
Penelope Cheery Dealer
2007 Cassandra's Dream Detective
2010 Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll Pub Landlord
2013 Three Stops Down From Plaistow Charlie Short film
2014 Paddington Trader
2015 Hooligans at War: North vs. South Charlie
Essex Boys: Law of Survival Franks
2020 Bicycle Thief John Short film

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1988 The Storyteller Page Episode: "The Luck Child"
All in Good Faith Trevor Collins Episode: "The Prodigal Son"
Dramarama Soldier Episode: "Now You See Them"
1988–1995, 2000 London's Burning Kevin Medhurst Main role
1989 Screen Two Gary Austin Episode: "Death of a Son"
1999 A Touch of Frost Owen Kimble Episode: "Private Lives"
Daylight Robbery Alan McArdale Main role
The Bill Steve Bennett Episode: "Security"
2001 Swallow Bob 1 episode
2002 The Estate Agents Spencer Episode: "Gangsters"
Murder in Mind Detective Superintendent Pryce Episode: "Rage"
2006 Dream Team Fraser Hibbs Episode: "War of the Roses"
The Bill Ricky Lasiter Episode: "Mistaken and Misspoken"
2009 Kenny Bordmann 2 episodes
2010 Holby City Alexi Zjasvic Episode: "Skipping a Beat"
2011 DCI Banks DI Richard Brownlow Episode: "Cold Is the Grave: Part 1"
2012 Secret State Michael Miniseries
2014 The Secrets Dave Episode: "The Return"
2016–2019 Mum Derek Main role
2017 Casualty John Galloway Episode: "Break Point"
2019 Endeavour Mac Honeydew Episode: "Apollo"
London Kills Graham Evans Episode: "Connected"
Temple Victor Miniseries
2020 Grantchester Vic Morgan Recurring role
2021 Stay Close Del Flynn 5 episodes
2021–present EastEnders Harvey Monroe Regular role

References

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  1. ^ a b "Ross Boatman". Internet Movie Database. Archived from the original on 31 October 2005. Retrieved 8 August 2006.
  2. ^ a b "Blue Watch Star's Red Hot at Poker". News of the World. Archived from the original on 1 January 2006. Retrieved 8 August 2006.
  3. ^ "NatWest Advert Song – 'I Got Bills' Reward Current Account | TV Advert Music". Sounds-familiar.info. 22 October 2015. Archived from the original on 4 November 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d Wilson, Des (2006). Swimming with the Devilfish. Macmillan. ISBN 1-4050-8952-0.
  5. ^ Devine, Christy (16 July 2004). "The Hendon Mob". Card Player Magazine. Archived from the original on 21 March 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Ross Boatman – Poker Player Profile". www.PokerListings.com. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 8 August 2006.
  7. ^ "London's Burning star to make EastEnders debut this summer". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 9 June 2021. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  8. ^ Dainty, Sophie (9 June 2021). "EastEnders casts Ross Boatman for big Bobby Beale storyline". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  9. ^ Warner, Sam (10 May 2022). "British Soap Awards 2022 announces full nominations shortlist". Digital Spy. (Hearst Communications). Archived from the original on 13 June 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  10. ^ a b ""Rocky" Ross Boatman". Full Tilt Poker. Archived from the original on 20 July 2006. Retrieved 3 August 2006.
  11. ^ "Late Night Poker Series 2, No Limit Hold'em – Grand Final". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Archived from the original on 24 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  12. ^ "33rd World Series of Poker – WSOP 2002, Pot Limit Omaha". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Archived from the original on 28 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  13. ^ "33rd World Series of Poker – WSOP 2002, Championship Event". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  14. ^ "European Poker Tour – EPT Monte Carlo Grand Final, No Limit Hold'em – EPT Grand Final". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Archived from the original on 8 January 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  15. ^ "Ross Boatman". www.HomePokerGames.com. Archived from the original on 26 October 2006. Retrieved 3 August 2006.
  16. ^ "Autumn Tournament 1999, No Limit Hold'em". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Archived from the original on 28 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  17. ^ "Christmas Cracker Tournament 2001, Pot Limit Holdem". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Archived from the original on 28 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  18. ^ "Austrian Masters 2002, Pot Limit Omaha". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Archived from the original on 28 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  19. ^ "European Poker Classics 2002, No Limit Holdem". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  20. ^ "The Irish Winter Tournament 2002, Pot Limit Omaha". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  21. ^ "British Open 2004, Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Archived from the original on 24 March 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  22. ^ Boatman, Ross. "Articles by Ross Boatman". The Hendon Mob. Archived from the original on 20 May 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2006.
  23. ^ Boatman, Ross. "Ross Boatman: NL Cash". InternetTexasHoldem.com. Archived from the original on 15 August 2006. Retrieved 3 August 2006.
  24. ^ "Ross Boatman's profile on The Hendon Mob". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Archived from the original on 24 December 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  25. ^ Beevers, Joe. "The Sincerest Form of Flattery". The Hendon Mob. Archived from the original on 13 August 2006. Retrieved 8 August 2006.
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