Mark Skirving

Mark Antony Skirving (born 13 March 1966 in Wednesbury, England, United Kingdom), professionally known as King Pleasure, is a musician (and professional artist since 2003) who appeared in the early 1997 episodes of the Teletubbies TV series. In the band, King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys, he is professionally as King Pleasure, the main member of the band. The other musicians are the Biscuit Boys, which has evolved over time. The only founding Biscuit Boy who was a part of the band since it began is Christopher Shirley. King Pleasure's Biscuit Boys lineup as of 2008, consists of Christopher Shirley, John Battrum, Craig Sunderland, Matt Foundling, and Gary Barber.

Episode Appearances

• The Grand Old Duke of York (first appearance)
• See-Saw
• Humpty Dumpty
• Hey Diddle Diddle
• Hickory Dickory Dock (last appearance)

Trivia

• On his first four appearances, he wore a yellow double-breasted suit with flap pockets and cuffs with four buttons, on his fifth and last appearance, he wore a black double-breasted suit with flap pockets and cuffs with four buttons.
• His Biscuit Boys on Teletubbies wore red double-breasted suits with welt pockets and cuffs with three buttons.
• His musical instrument originally has been the tenor saxophone. He also later played both the tenor and baritone saxophones, but has been very popular on the baritone saxophone since 2004, with the tenor saxophone became scarcely played since then.
• He and the Biscuit Boys (lineup evolved over time) have made many albums, more than 50 television appearances, and 75 radio broadcasts that have established them as the Kings of Swings, in addition to dazzling musicianship, as well as riveting stage performances.
• Alongside Christopher Shirley (as Bullmoose K. Shirley), Skirving is the only other remaining founding member of King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys since 2001.
• At the time of his appearances on Teletubbies, he was 30 years old.
• In the Teletubbies TV series, he made five episode appearances.
• On all of his appearances on the show, his tenor saxophone with its stand and his saxophone strap never appeared at all. Although Mark Skirving's tenor saxophone with its music instrument stand and the saxophone strap around him were never shown in the final version of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens episodes, they were only possibly shown in the deleted footage or bloopers.
• His voice mostly resembles the late great American singer, Elvis Presley.
• As of the early 2010s, Mark Skirving is fully bearded, such as silver hair.
• When not performing with King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys, Mark Skirving creates paintings.
• Mark Skirving founded King Pleasure Art, when he began painting in 2003. Skirving painters created artworks throughout more than two centuries.
• In addition to a musician, Mark Skirving is a professional artist.
• The paintings created by Mark Skirving are sold through galleries, exhibitions, and commissions by private collectors in the United Kingdom of Great Britain, European nations, South Korea, Argentina, the United States of America, and Canada. Mark Skirving also created many large scale public murals for the Borough of Walsall, and has also produced work in digital photography and film. The painting methods are oil paints or acrylic paints on canvas.
• In summer 2017, Mark Skirving married Ruth Rebecca McParland Skirving, and at his wedding, he had both his baritone and tenor saxophones on stands, which made a rare scenario. One of the King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys members who attended the wedding was double bassist Craig Sunderland (as Shark Van Schtoop).
• In rare videos featuring King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys wearing black dinner jackets filmed at the 2002 Riverboat Festival in Silkeborg, Denmark, Mark Skirving had a baritone saxophone stand onstage, alongside his tenor saxophone on its own stand, also onstage. Since 2004, his baritone saxophone stand and his tenor saxophone with its stand were absent, replaced by his baritone saxophone case with the baritone saxophone laid down on top of the case laid down on top of the case, then in the case with the open lid since 2011, for some unknown reason.
• In rare photographs of King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys wearing black dinner jackets performing in the United Kingdom city of Norwich, England, King Pleasure played his tenor saxophone with his baritone saxophone on a stand onstage, and played the baritone saxophone with his tenor saxophone on another stand, also onstage, meaning King Pleasure had rotated between the baritone and tenor saxophones. Since 2004, the scenario had been increasingly scarce, with King Pleasure only having a baritone saxophone case onstage for some unknown reason. In the first few years of Craig Sunderland's King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys tenure alone, the band's concerts featured four saxophone stands.
• On 8 May 1998 under the headline The Pleasure's all ours in the Evening Telegram, Skirving stated the band changed their name for the appearance where they sang the first four nursery rhymes, The Grand Old Duke of York, See-Saw Margery Daw, Humpty Dumpty, and Hey Diddle Diddle with a rhythm and blues version to different selections of Pupils of Chuckery Infants School, which were gangs of kids from Chuckery School at Birmingham Botanical Gardens in the city's West Midlands region of Edgbaston, but King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys regretted the name change when the show, which became the Teletubbies TV series, attracts a cult following.
• On 12 March 1999 under the headline Swing Kings Back Their Roots in The Walsall Observer, Skirving of King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys stated he wore the yellow double-breasted suit to sing The Grand Old Duke of York, See-Saw Margery Daw, Humpty Dumpty, and Hey Diddle Diddle at Birmingham Botanical Gardens, and strangely, the kids in the music videos were Pupils of Chuckery Infants School, however, their first four appearances were filmed separately from the four episodes that contain their music videos.
• On 22 March 2002 under the headline Biscuit Boys in Tubblyand in a British news company, Skirving stated that after he met Teletubbies co-creator Anne Wood at a gig in Stafford, she asked King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys to sing nursery rhymes on the Teletubbies TV series, so he rewrote the first four nursery rhymes, The Grand Old Duke of York, See-Saw Margery Daw, Humpty Dumpty, and Hey Diddle Diddle with a swing style by adding more lyrics, which were then performed by King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys featuring the Pupils of Chuckery Infant School at Birmingham Botanical Gardens filmed in 1996, although not shown on television until 1997.
• King Pleasure's multi-great-grandfather, Archibald Skirving, who was a Scottish painter from the late 18th century (1700s) and the early 19th century (1800s), was known for the sketch of Robert Burns, who was a Scottish poet and lyricist.
• In 2010, Mark Skirving made an oil self portrait painting of his own.
• After former King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys member Michael Burney died from cancer on 13 November 2014, the painting of Michael Burney, which was created by Mark Skirving, was then inspired by the musician who was a former member of the early 1970s glam rock band, Wizzard, a band established in 1972 and disestablished in 1975. British music fans mourned the late Michael Burney after his death. The late Michael Burney, who once performed with King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys 1997, was the only former King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys member so far to have since died.
• In 2014, shortly Riley B. King professionally known as B.B. King died 14 May 2015, Skirving made a canvas painting of the late American blues singer Riley B. King, who once worked with Skirving in the 1990s. King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys paid tribute to the late B.B. King when music fans mourned the death of Riley B. King after his passing. The song "You Upset Me Baby" from 1956 was acquired by King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys in the 1990s, and have performed the song in concerts.
• In summer 2021, Mark Skirving was the author of a book of his own titled Drinkers Thinkers Outright Stinkers, the first book brilliant verse from the Black Country frontman of King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys. The Kindle version with 120 pages was published 31 July 2021, and the hardcover version with 92 pages was published 29 August 2021. Both versions were published by APS Books, under the genre of the Poetry portion in Literature & Fiction.
• In addition to a singer of songs and an oil painter, Mark Skirving is also a writer and a teller of tales, which are stories that are usually short.
• The book titled Drinkers Thinkers Outright Stinkers features a letter to people who read the book, with Dear Reader at the top, and Mark Skirving's sincerely signed name at the bottom.
• From 11 October 2021 to 13 November 2021, Mark Skirving's book signing tour occurred where he was signing the book titled Drinkers Thinkers Outright Stinkers, the title authored by Mark Skirving in summer 2021. Throughout the event, Mark Skirving was selling the copies of the book to a variety of readers in different municipalities around the United Kingdom.
  • On 11 October 2021, Mark Skirving's book signing tour commenced in Birmingham, England, United Kingdom, signing the book titled Drinkers Thinkers Outright Stinkers, the title authored by Mark Skirving in summer 2021.
  • Many years earlier, Mark Skirving once worked as security guard at The Saddlers Shopping Centre in Walsall, England, United Kingdom until he was removed from the job due to legal problems. The fact was then part of the book titled Drinkers Thinkers Outright Stinkers, where Mark Skirving was the author many years later.
  • The only banned photograph from the gallery featuring the book tour was the lack of clothes, with a fake inspector costume on the head, made of some plastic material.
  • On 13 November 2021, Mark Skirving's book signing tour concluded in Birmingham, England, United Kingdom, the city where he lives. His book, Drinkers Thinkers Outright Stinkers authored by Mark Skirving in summer 2021, was getting rave reviews. The announcement on the last day of the book signing tour was get your copy for Christmas 2021. In fact, 13 November 2021 marked the day where seven years passed since Michael Burney died.

• In 1997, Mark Skirving appeared in the music documentary Dusk 'til Dawn. He then portrayed M.C. Ricardo in Mum's the Word, the 46th episode from the third season of Doctors in 2001, where King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys starred as themselves.
• On 10 January 2022, Mark Skirving announced his moving house painting sale, due to downsizing to a smaller dwelling, where a number of Skirving's paintings he created were sold at slashed prices. The painting sale was completed in late March 2023.
• In 2022, Skirving Art celebrated its 250th anniversary, a true family tradition that began in 1772. The fine British Portraiture features commissioned portraits undertaken beautifully painted in oils on the finest Italian linen.
• On 18 February 2022, King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys announced that their gig at The Night Owl in Birmingham, England, United Kingdom, previously scheduled for 19 February 2022, would be sadly rescheduled to 20 August 2022 due to the fact that Mark Skirving (known as King Pleasure) had fell ill after testing positive for COVID-19. Their gig at The Night Owl in Birmingham, England, United Kingdom was rescheduled by a total of six months. When it finally took place, the gig featured a couple substitute musicians.
• When Skiriving announced the moving house sale, and later downsized in late March 2023, Mark Skirving (professionally known as King Pleasure) had to find a new position for some of his art works. His paintings sold featured the following:
  • The pair of Eve paintings for £500, which is £250 each for both Forbidden Fruit and The Loss of Innocence, both of which are oil on canvas with a dimension of 122 centimeters by 70 centimeters
  • Branwen: Celtic Goddess of love & beauty oil and acrylic on canvas with a dimension of 80 centimeters by 101 centimeters for £300 (shown in gallery, changed to £500)
  • Fair Rosamund, an oil and acrylic on canvas with a dimension of 60 centimeters in a square shape for £600 (changed to £500)
  • Blodeuedd - Celtic Goddess of Spring, oil and acrylic on canvas with a dimension of 80 centimeters by 101 centimeters for £300 (changed to £200)
  • Cleopatra - Queen of Egypt, oil on canvas with a dimension of 50 centimeters by 100 centimeters also for £300 (changed to £200)
  • Sanctity Of The Heart, oil and acrylic on canvas for £175 (changed to £100) and Abstract Appropriation, oil on canvas (sold for £225), which both have a dimension of 60 centimeters in a square shape
  • Keef and Tom Waits, both described as oil and acrylic on canvas with a dimension 100 centimeters in a square shape, both for £500, which is £1,000 for both paintings, both sold for £500 individually
  • The late Ian "Lemmy" Kilminster, oil and acrylic on canvas with a dimension of 61 centimeters by 92 centimeters for £275 (changed to £225)
  • The late John Lennon - Strawberry Fields, oil and acrylic on canvas with a dimension of 100 centimeters by 121 centimeters, sold for £450
  • The oil and acrylic Bowie painting of Lazarus with a dimension of 61 centimeters by 92 centimeters, sold for £400
  • The late Ian Dury - Reasons To Be Cheerful, oil and acrylic on canvas with a dimension of 51 centimeters by 71 centimeters for £325
  • The oil and acrylic Bowie painting of Farewell Starman with a dimension of 90 centimeters in a square shape, sold for £400
  • George "Buddy" Guy, oil and acrylic on canvas with a dimension of 60 centimeters by 78 centimeters, sold for £250
  • The late Jimi Hendrix - Experience, oil and acrylic on canvas with a dimension of 127 centimeters by 70 centimeters for £850

• In late April 2022, due to the cancellation of a 1950s themed exhibition later in 2022, the paintings later sold also featured Rock and Roll Legends and other famous people:
  • (The now late) Jerry Lee Lewis, who was known as The Killer, oil and acrylic on canvas with a dimension of 60 centimeters by 90 centimeters, sold for £850
  • The late Antoine "Fats" Domino Jr., oil and acrylic on canvas with a dimension of 51 centimeters by 76 centimeters, sold for £800
  • The late Chuck Berry with a dimension of 100 centimeters in a square shape sold for £1,000
  • The late Richard Penniman, who was known as Little Richard, with a dimension of 90 centimeters also in a square shape, also sold for £1,000
  • Tom Waits, oil and acrylic on canvas with a dimension of 100 centimeters in a square shape, sold for £500
  • The late Ian Dury - Reasons To Be Cheerful, oil and acrylic on canvas with a dimension of 51 centimeters by 71 centimeters for £325
  • The late Terry Thomas - Hard Cheese, oil and acrylic on canvas with a dimension of 51 centimeters by 76 centimeters for £450 (changed to £400)
  • The late Phil Silvers - Master Sergeant Ernest G. "Ernie" Bilko, portrayed by the late Phil Silvers, oil and acrylic on canvas also with a dimension of 51 centimeters by 76 centimeters, also for £450

• In September 2022, another painting was later sold:
  • A Single Stem, oil and acrylic on canvas with a dimension of 40 centimeters by 30 centimeters for £85

• The late Jerry Lee Lewis, who was known as The Killer on one of Skirving's canvas paintings, died 28 October 2022, six months after the painting was declared for sale.
• On 20 March 2023, the last phase of the moving house painting sale was announced, and the painting sale was completed when Mark Skirving moved to a smaller dwelling.
• On 30 October 2023, Mark Skirving announced the Big Fat Painting Sale of the Year, features prices slashed, stick pegged, heavily broaded down into the different categories of Mythical Beauty, Floral, Abstract, and Rock n Roll. Other than copies of the above paintings including the pair of Eve paintings for £400 together and £250 each, the paintings on sale feature to following:
  • The Hillbilly Cat sang by the late Elvis Presley with a dimension of 90 centimeters by 60 centimeters for £500
  • New York New York featuring an abstract saxophonist also with a dimension of 90 centimeters by 60 centimeters for £600
  • The late Louis Prima and the late Sam "Sammy" Butera, also with a dimension of 90 centimeters by 60 centimeters for £900
  • Boogie Woogie featuring an abstract pianist also with a dimension of 90 centimeters by 60 centimeters for £600
  • The late Joseph Rudolph "Philly Joe" Jones with a dimension of 51 centimeters by 76 centimeters for £300
  • The late Jean Reinhardt, known by his Romani nickname Django also with a dimension of 51 centimeters by 76 centimeters for £600
  • The late Grant Green with a dimension of 90 centimeters by 60 centimeters for £500
• In addition to the paintings which were sold, Mark Skirving also has Limited Edition prints of his art works.

Gallery

Mark Skirving singing The Grand Old Duke of York at Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

Mark Skirving singing Humpty Dumpty at Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

Mark Skirving singing Hey Diddle Diddle at Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

Mark Skirving at his wedding in summer 2017. You can see both his baritone and tenor saxophones on stands, which made a rare scenario.

Mark Skirving with his artworks.

Branwen: Welsh Goddess of love and beauty. Oil painting by Mark Skirving. Being sold for £300.

Mark Skirving painting Branwen: Welsh goddess of love and beauty at his former dwelling.

Mark Skirving painting Hendrix - Experience in his painting studio at his former dwelling.

King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys singing See Saw Margery Daw at Birmingham Botanical Gardens, featuring the Pupils of Chuckery Infants School.

Mark Skirving holding a tenor saxophone, who also plays the baritone saxophone, which made a rare scenario.

King Pleasure at Chuckery School with the band's former pianist Danny McCormack at the Chuckery Schools (now known as Chuckery Primary School).

King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys at Birmingham Botanical Gardens, featuring the Pupils of Chuckery Infant School, where the band sings Hey Diddle Diddle.

King Pleasure with a tenor saxophone, with a stand holding up the tenor saxophone and the baritone saxophone both onstage, which then became increasingly scarce in later years.

King Pleasure having his baritone and tenor saxophones together, which then became increasingly scarce in later years.

King Pleasure with his baritone and tenor saxophones together, which, in later years, then became increasingly scarce.

The front cover of Drinkers Thinkers Outright Stinkers, authored by Mark Skirving.

The back cover of Drinkers Thinkers Outright Stinkers, featuring the author's portrait, and a biography about Mark Skirving.

King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys at Birmingham Botanical Gardens, featuring the Pupils of Chuckery Infant School, where the band sings The Grand Old Duke of York.

Mark Skirving's self portrait, an oil painting he made in 2010.

Mark Skirving in Birmingham, England, United Kingdom after the book signing tour commenced 11 October 2021, with thank you appreciations from the staff members John Menzies, Darlaston and all the lovely people who came and had a chat. Mark Skirving in the photograph is wearing a cream dinner jacket with a black bow tie.

Mark Skirving on his book signing tour in October 2021, with special thank you from Midland Educational. Photograph features Mark Skirving wearing the same black bow tie, but is wearing a black dinner jacket.

Mark Skirving on his book signing trail in October 2021, where he sells a copy and readers buy a copy, appreciative thank you from Dillon's of Dudley.

Mark Skirving on his book signing tour on 17 October 2021. Love cov means love coventry, like a ghost town. He says if anyone was fancy for a book of poetic fumblings. The sign above Mark Skirving reads George Coventry.

Mark Skirving on his book signing tour at Preedy's Shopping Mall in Walsall, England, United Kingdom. Many years earlier, Mark Skirving once worked as security guard at the shopping centre until he was removed from the job due to legal challenges.

A canvas painting of the late great American singer, Elvis Presley. Mark Skirving's voice resembles the deceased singer.

Mark Skirving on 23 October 2021, as his book signing tour continued. He had invited down to the smoke his old pal, Jon Dyke, who is the new chief executive officer for Grace Brothers Oxford Street. It had tied well with King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys' evening gigs at Pizza Express in Birmingham, England, United Kingdom.

Mark Skirving on 13 November, 2021 in Birmingham, England, United Kingdom, where the book tour concluded. His book title was getting rave reviews, the announcement was get your copy for Christmas 2021.

Mark Skirving as Santa Claus, reading the book Drinkers Thinkers Outright Stinkers, a poetic memoir he wrote of his own.

Mark Skirving on 14 November 2021, sharing a memory from his book signing tour that commenced 11 October 2021 which then concluded one day earlier. He is shown having a reet old larf with his hero and new mate, The Bard of Salford. However, Mark Skirving was shocked to find out that his hero and new mate is only 3 feet 6 inches.

Hendrix - Experience. Painting by Mark Skirving. Being sold for £850.

King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys at Birmingham Botanical Gardens to sing Humpty Dumpty, featuring the Pupils of Chuckery Infants School.

Mark Skirving performing See Saw Margery Daw at Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

Mark Skirving creating a canvas painting.

Mark Skirving as Santa Claus in his painting studio.