Kevin Whately (Hexham, 6 February 1951) is a British actor. Trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, he came to prominence in 1983 with the role of Neville Hope in the comedy series *Auf Wiedersehen, Pet*. However, his international fame is linked to the character of Sergeant Robert "Robbie" Lewis, the loyal colleague of Inspector Morse in the acclaimed detective series *Inspector Morse* (1987-2000). He reprised the role with great success, this time in the lead role as an inspector, in the spin-off series *Lewis*, which aired from 2006 to 2015. His career also includes film roles, such as in *The English Patient* (1996), and numerous television and theatre appearances that have solidified his reputation as a versatile actor. For his contribution to the dramatic arts, he received an honorary doctorate from Northumbria University in 2008.