Eric Tomlinson (born 26 September 1939) is an English actor. He is best known for his television roles as Bobby Grant in the soap opera Brookside (1982–1988), DCI Charlie Wise in Cracker (1993–2006) and Jim Royle in The Royle Family (1998–2012). He also played the titular character in the 2001 football mockumentary Mike Bassett: England Manager. == Early life == Eric Tomlinson was born at Burleigh House in the Bispham area of Blackpool on 26 September 1939, the son of... [more on Wikipedia]