Cast & creator
Rick Wakeman
Best known for The One Show, Have I Got News for You, Top Gear
Richard Christopher Wakeman (born 18 May 1949) is an English keyboard player, composer and songwriter best known for being the former keyboardist in the progressive rock band Yes. He is also known for his solo albums, contributing to the BBC comedy series Grumpy Old Men and for Rick's Place, his former radio show on Planet Rock that aired until December 2010. Born in west London, Wakeman purchased his first electronic keyboard at 12 years of age. In 1968, he studied the piano, clarinet, orchestration and modern music at the Royal College of Music before leaving after a year in favour of session music work. He went on to feature on songs by artists including Ozzy Osbourne, David Bowie, T. Rex, Elton John and Cat Stevens. Wakeman joined the folk group Strawbs in 1969 and played on three of their albums. He first joined Yes in 1971 to replace Tony Kaye, and left the group in 1974 to work on his solo career. He returned in 1976 before leaving with lead vocalist Jon Anderson in 1980. Wakeman was part of the side project Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe, a group of ex-Yes members formed in 1989, and the eight-member Yes lineup that followed until his third departure in 1992. He returned for two years in 1995 and once more in 2002, where he was part of the band's 35th anniversary tour until its end in 2004. Wakeman began his solo career during his first run with Yes. His perhaps most known records being his first three, The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1973), Journey to the Centre of the Earth (1974) and The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table (1975). He has produced over 100 solo albums that have sold more than 50 million copies. In November 2010, Wakeman was awarded the Spirit of Prog award at the annual Marshall Classic Rock Roll of Honour Awards.
Also known as: Richard Christopher Wakeman, Strawbs, Yes
71
film credits
19
television credits
75
1967–2025 · acting roles
7.0
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (90)
Showing 90 of 90 credits
The One Show
Self
2006
Have I Got News for You
Self
1990
Top Gear
Self
2002
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
Self
1996
Omnibus
Self
1967
An Audience with...
Self
1978
Celebrity Antiques Road Trip
Self - Participant
2011
Songs of Praise
Rick Wakeman
2001
Celebrity Mastermind
2003
The Chase: Celebrity Special
Self - Contestant
2011
Countdown
1982
Perspectives
2011
Friday Night, Saturday Morning
1979
Crimes of Passion
Wedding Photographer (uncredited)
1984Crimes of Passion
Original Music Composer
1984
What the Dickens?
Self
2008
The Alphabet Game
1996
Creepshow 2
Additional Music
1987Night Music
Self (performer)
1982
Grumpy Old Men
Self
2003
The Burning
Original Music Composer
1981
The Music Biz
Self
1995
Midnight in Saint Petersburg
Original Music Composer
1996
Bullet to Beijing
Music
1995
Hero
Original Music Composer
1986
Jongleurs Live!
2012
Beside Bowie - The Mick Ronson Story
Self
2017
David Bowie: Finding Fame
Self
2019
She
Music
1984
XTC: This Is Pop
Self (uncredited)
2017
Lisztomania
Thor
1975Lisztomania
Original Music Composer
1975Lisztomania
Music
1975
Top Gear: From A-Z
Self
2015
Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe In The Big Dream
1989
Celebrating Jon Lord - Live at The Royal Albert Hall
Self
2014
Yes - Union Tour Denver
Self
1991
Yes - Songs From Tsongas - 35th Anniversary Concert
Keyboards
2005
BowieNext - Nascita di una galassia
2018
Prog Rock at the BBC
Self
2009
Celebrating Jon Lord
Keyboards
2014
Ozzy Osbourne: Memoirs of a Madman
2014
An Audience with Jimmy Tarbuck
Self - Audience Member
1994
Yes - Songs From Tsongas
Self - Keyboard
2015
Yes: Yesspeak
Keyboards
2003
Yes: Live at Montreux 2003
Keyboards
2007
Yes - Live at the Apollo
Keyboards
2018
Yes: Live at Montreux 2003
Self — Keyboards
David Bowie: London Boy
Self
2021Rick Wakeman - Live Portraits
2019
The Sunflower Superjam 2012
Self
2013
Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe: An Evening of Yes Music Plus
Himself - Keyboard
1993Yes: Acoustic
2004
Yes: Keys To Ascension
Keyboards
1996
Rick Wakeman: The Legend - Live in Concert 2000
Self - Keyboard
2000
White Rock
Music
1977
A Week In The Life Of Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe
Keys
1989
Yes: The New Director's Cut
2008
G'olé!
Original Music Composer
1983
Yes: Live In Philadelphia 1979
1979
Yes Acoustic: Guaranteed No Hiss
Keyboards
2004
Yes: Close to the Edge
Organ, Grand Piano, Mellotron, Synthesizer
2013
Yes: Greatest Video Hits
2005
Rick Wakeman - Journey To The Centre Of The Earth
Keyboard
1975
The New Sound of Music
Self
1979
Yes - Union Live
Self - Keyboards
2011
Rick Wakeman on Vivaldi's Four Seasons
2015
Moog
Self
2004Roger Dean: Views
2001Roger Dean: Views
Music
2001
Prog Rock Britannia
Self
2009
Rick Wakeman: The Six Wives Of Henry VIII
Himself
2009Rick Wakeman: The Six Wives Of Henry VIII
Producer
2009
Yessongs
Himself - Keyboards
1975
When Pop Went Epic: The Crazy World of the Concept Album
Self - Presenter
2016
Rick Wakeman & The English Rock Ensemble , Special Guest Brian May – Live At Starmus
Rick Wakeman: The Classical Connection
1991
YesYears
1991
Tales from the Tour Bus: Rock 'n' Roll on the Road
Self - Presenter
2015
Rick Wakeman: The Return of the Caped Crusader Part 2
Self
2025
Rick Wakeman & English Rock Ensemble Live From Buenos Aires
2001
Yes: Classic Artists
Himself
2007
Rick Wakeman: Out There
2004
Keyboard Wizards - The Ultimate Anthology
2003
Sequences
Music
1973
Rick Wakeman: Made in Cuba
2006
Rick Wakeman: The Six Wives of Henry VIII. Live at Hampton Court Palace
2009
In Search of the Great Beast 666: Aleister Crowley
Music
2007
YES: Fragile
Keyboards
2002