Caroline Quentin

Caroline Quentin, born Caroline Amanda Jane Jones on 11 July 1960 in Reigate, Surrey, England, is a celebrated English actress, presenter, broadcaster and author whose career has spanned over four decades. She first gained national attention in the early 1990s when she portrayed the sharp‑witted and endearing Dorothy in the hit sitcom Men Behaving Badly, a role she inhabited for the entire six‑year run of the series and which cemented her status as a beloved comedic talent. Following this breakthrough, Quentin showcased her versatility by taking on the investigative journalist Maddie Magellan in the mystery series Jonathan Creek (1997‑2000), proving she could seamlessly shift between humor and intrigue while working alongside Alan Davies. Her dramatic credentials were further highlighted when she starred as DCI Janine Lewis in the long‑running police drama Blue Murder (2003‑2009), a performance that earned critical praise for its depth and gravitas. In addition to her television successes, Quentin has a rich theatrical background, having performed in the original English chorus of Les Misérables in 1985 and later earning a Laurence Oliver nomination for her supporting role as Mrs Malaprop in the National Theatre’s Jack Absolute Flies Again in 2022. Beyond acting, she has become a respected documentary presenter, fronting series such as Restoration Home, Cornwall with Caroline Quentin, and The World's Most Extraordinary Homes, where her warm personality and genuine curiosity have resonated with audiences worldwide. An accomplished author, Quentin released a gardening book titled Drawn to the Garden in 2024, blending personal anecdotes with watercolour illustrations that reflect her passion for horticulture. Her personal life includes a marriage to comedian Paul Merton (1990‑1998) and a current partnership with Sam Farmer, whom she married in 2006; together they have two children, including daughter Rose, who has followed in her mother’s acting footsteps. In recent years she has remained active in charitable work, serving as patron of Coeliac UK and president of the Campaign for National Parks, while continuing to appear on popular programmes such as Strictly Come Dancing (2020) and the BBC’s coverage of the Chelsea Flower Show (2023).