When you think of Ilkeston’s most famous sons, few names shine brighter than Robert Lindsay. Born Robert Lindsay Stevenson on 13 December 1949 in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, he grew up in a close-knit working-class family and went on to become one of Britain’s most respected and versatile actors. His story is one of local pride, determination, and the kind of humour and grit that could only have been forged in a town like Ilkeston.
A Derbyshire upbringing
Lindsay was the eldest child of Joyce, a cleaner, and Norman Stevenson, a joiner who later worked for Derbyshire County Council. The family lived modestly, but the warmth and spirit of the community shaped Lindsay’s values from an early age. “We were a typical Derbyshire family,” he once said. “There wasn’t much money, but there was love and there was laughter.”
Growing up in post-war Ilkeston, surrounded by miners, ironworkers, and mill hands, Lindsay developed a deep respect for ordinary people. “My dad worked for the council and was one of the most hardworking men I’ve ever known,” he recalled. “He and my mum taught me that no job is beneath you, and that’s something I’ve carried all my life.”
Like many Ilkeston lads, Lindsay also grew up with a love of football. A proud Derby County supporter, he has often spoken about the game’s importance in his life. “Football was everything to us as kids,” he once said. “Saturday afternoons were sacred. Even when I’m in London or working abroad, I still check how the Rams are doing.”
Finding the stage at Gladstone Boys’ School
Lindsay attended Gladstone Boys’ School, where a teacher named John Lally would change everything. Lally taught both art and drama and quickly recognised the young Robert’s flair for performance. Encouraged by Lally, Lindsay took to the stage for the first time, discovering a passion that would define his life. “John Lally saw something in me before I ever did,” he later said. “He was the one who made me believe I could do something different.”
After Gladstone, Lindsay studied drama at Clarendon College in Nottingham, before winning a coveted place at RADA (the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art) in London on a government grant — a life-changing step for a boy from a small Derbyshire town.
Power to the People
Lindsay’s breakthrough came in 1977 with the BBC sitcom Citizen Smith, where he played the scruffy, idealistic revolutionary “Wolfie Smith.” His cry of “Power to the People!” became a national catchphrase and made him a household name. He later proved his versatility on stage and screen, starring in everything from Shakespeare’s King Lear to the hit musical Me and My Girl, which earned him both an Olivier Award in London and a Tony Award on Broadway.
In the 2000s, he became familiar to a new generation through the long-running BBC sitcom My Family, playing the grumpy but lovable dentist Ben Harper. “I’ve been lucky,” Lindsay once said. “From Ilkeston to the West End, I’ve played dream roles. But you never forget where you came from — the people who made you who you are.”
Proud of his roots
Despite his global success, Lindsay has never lost touch with Ilkeston. In 2006, he appeared on Who Do You Think You Are? and returned to the town to explore his family history. The episode saw him walking the same streets where he grew up, tracing generations of miners, ironworkers, and mill hands. “Coming back here, I realised how deep those roots go,” he said. “It’s in your bones — this town, this landscape, these people.”
He has often credited his upbringing for his sense of empathy and social awareness. Known for his outspoken views and passion for fairness, Lindsay has described himself as “a proud socialist,” shaped by the values of the community that raised him. “Ilkeston taught me what hard work looks like,” he once said. “It’s where I learnt to respect ordinary people doing extraordinary things.”
A lasting connection
Over the years, Lindsay has returned to Ilkeston several times — most memorably in 2016, when he was awarded the Freedom of the Borough of Erewash, the highest civic honour the council can bestow. Accepting the award, he described Ilkeston as “the place that made me” and paid tribute to the teachers, neighbours, and friends who supported him along the way.
He has also visited the Erewash Museum, where an exhibition celebrated his old teacher John Lally — the man who first encouraged him to act. “Seeing his work honoured means a great deal,” Lindsay said during that visit. “He was more than a teacher — he was a mentor, and I owe him everything.”
Health, honesty, and humanity
Lindsay’s public openness about his struggles with depression and seasonal affective disorder has also earned him respect off-screen. “You can win awards and play kings,” he once said, “but being honest about what you’ve been through — that’s where the real strength lies.” In 2011, he faced a health scare after being diagnosed with prostate cancer but made a full recovery following surgery. His honesty about the experience encouraged other men to seek early testing and treatment.
An Ilkeston inspiration
Today, Robert Lindsay’s name carries both national recognition and local affection. From Citizen Smith to My Family, from Me and My Girl to King Lear, he has done it all — but never forgotten where he started. For Ilkeston, he remains a source of pride, proof that great talent can come from the most ordinary places.
As Lindsay himself once put it:
“You can take the boy out of Ilkeston, but you’ll never take Ilkeston out of the boy.”