Ben Keaton

Ben Keaton (born 1956) is an Irish actor who appeared as Jeff Brannigan in ITV soap opera Emmerdale. He appeared in BBC's Casualty playing the part of Spencer between 1999-2002. He guest starred as Father Austin Purcell in "Think Fast, Father Ted", an episode of the Channel 4's sitcom Father Ted. He had a small part in the British film East is East as a priest.

Keaton is also a well established actor in the theatre, and has appeared at The Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester in Animal Crackers, American Buffalo, Harvey, Cyrano de Bergerac, and playing the role of David Bliss in Noël Coward's Hay Fever. Keaton also works as a comedian, and has won the Perrier Comedy Award at the 1986 Edinburgh Festival, two Manchester Evening News Best Actor Awards and a Laurence Olivier Nomination. He is a regular guest member with the Comedy Store Players, the Steve Frost Improv All Stars and Eddie Izzard, and appeared in this style of comedy at the Royal Exchange in his show "Ben Keaton & Friends" which has included Stephen Frost, Niall Ashdown, Steve Steen, Andy Smart, Brian Conley and Paul Merton. He was a founder member of the improv group South Of The River with Jeremy Hardy and Kit Hollerbach. He set up The Phwoar Horsemen Improv Group in 2016 with Paul Mutagejja.

He began teaching at the University of Lincoln in 2008 where he specializes in Physical Theatre and Acting for Camera.

Keaton set up Lincoln Film and Television School in 2013 teaching all aspects of filmmaking to young people.

In 2014, Keaton returned to the role of Father Austin Purcell, performing a stand-up routine and hosting pub quizzes entirely in character. Keaton also set up a Twitter page for the character, and a website where fans can purchase customised Father Austin Purcell video greetings.

In 2015 he set up Lincoln Comedy Academy with Paul Mutagejja. They teach performing and writing comedy for stage and screen.

Keaton currently lives in Lincolnshire.