Phil Daniels

Phillip William Daniels (born 25 October 1958) is an English actor, well known for his roles as Jimmy Cooper in Quadrophenia, Kevin Wicks in Eastenders and Grandad Trotter in Only Fools and Horses prequel Rock & Chips.

Daniels has also worked in theatre, having performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company on many occasions.

In 1993, Daniels was approached by the band Blur to recite a poem for their song The Debt Collector, however Blur’s lead singer Damon Albarn couldn’t find a poem he liked, so the song became an instrumental.

We decided Phil should have a go at Parklife instead. The band and I were already pretty sick of that song, but he invigorated it and we were interested again
-Stephen Street, producer of Parklife (1994)

Daniels (left) and Damon Albarn (right) in Parklife’s music video

Daniels has performed the song live multiple times, such as at the 1995 BRIT Awards, Glastonbury 1994 and at the 2013 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

Daniels performing Parklife with Blur on Jools' Annual Hootenanny 1995