Few British TV actors have turned a childhood accident into a defining part of their public identity quite like Amanda Redman. The actress, best known for her decade-long run as Detective Superintendent Sandra Pullman on BBC’s New Tricks, has built a career that invites curiosity as much as admiration.
Born: 12 August 1957 ·
Nationality: British ·
Known for: New Tricks, Sexy Beast, Mike Bassett: England Manager ·
Arm injury: Burns sustained at age 18 months ·
Awards: TV Times Award for Favourite Actress (2006)
Quick snapshot
- Sustained severe burns from a kettle at 18 months old (Express (UK media))
- Played Sandra Pullman on New Tricks from 2003 to 2013 (Wikipedia)
- Left the show in 2013 after 10 series (Digital Spy (entertainment news))
- Exact net worth — estimates vary across sources
- Whether she had a romantic relationship with Dennis Waterman — no confirmed evidence
- Full reasons for New Tricks ending — multiple factors including cast changes and ratings
- Exact number of operations she underwent — reports say “many” but no precise count
- Whether she still has visible scars on other parts of her body — only her left arm is consistently documented
- 1957: Born in Brighton
- 1958–1959: Burn accident
- 2003–2013: New Tricks run
- 2017: Married Damien Schnabel
- Continuing acting in TV, theatre, and film (IMDb (film database))
- Charity work with burns survivors (IMDb (film database))
Eight facts about Amanda Redman, one pattern: a career defined by a childhood accident that shaped both her public identity and her choices.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Amanda Jacqueline Redman |
| Born | 12 August 1957, Brighton, East Sussex, England |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Spouse(s) | Damien Schnabel (m. 2017); previously married to Robert Glenister (1984–1994) |
| Children | 1 daughter (with Robert Glenister) |
| Notable work | New Tricks, Sexy Beast, Mike Bassett: England Manager |
| Arm injury | Burned by kettle at 18 months old |
What happened to Amanda Redman?
Career overview and recent activities
Amanda Redman, born 12 August 1957 in Brighton, has been a fixture on British screens since 1979 (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia)). Her big break came in 2003 when she was cast as Detective Superintendent Sandra Pullman on the BBC crime drama New Tricks, a role she played for a decade (IMDb (film database)). The show followed a team of retired police officers who reopen cold cases, and Redman’s character was the no-nonsense boss keeping them in line.
Before New Tricks, she appeared in films such as Sexy Beast (2000) and Mike Bassett: England Manager (2001), and worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company. More recently, she has guest-starred in Death in Paradise and The Madame Blanc Mysteries (IMDb (film database)).
Redman didn’t let a childhood trauma define her — she used it. Her openness about her scars has made her a visible advocate for burn survivors, turning a personal story into a public platform.
The pattern is clear: every chapter of her career intersects with the resilience forged in that early accident.
Why was Amanda Redman replaced on New Tricks?
Departure details and replacement
Redman announced in 2012 that she would leave New Tricks after nearly ten series (The Custard TV (TV news site)). She told the Daily Mirror that turning 55 made her want “a fresh lease of life” (Daily Mirror (UK tabloid)). She also cited the demanding schedule — 10 episodes per series left her unable to fit in other projects (Digital Spy (entertainment news)).
Tamzin Outhwaite was brought in as a new character, but the show’s cast had already been shifting — Dennis Waterman and Alun Armstrong were still on board when Redman left. The show itself ended in 2015 after declining ratings, but Redman’s departure was her own choice.
This departure underscores her priority: creative freedom over a binding contract.
What happened to Amanda Redman’s arm?
The arm injury and its origin
When Redman was 18 months old, she pulled a pan of boiling vegetable and turkey soup over herself, causing burns covering 75% of her body (ITV-style broadcast clip (interview)). The scars are most visible on her upper left arm. She spent much of her early childhood in a hospital burns unit, undergoing numerous operations (Express (UK media)).
On New Tricks, the character Sandra Pullman had a similar backstory — a childhood accident with a kettle — to explain the actress’s real scars. Redman has spoken openly about the accident, using it to connect with burn survivors through her charity work with Changing Faces (CB Trust (burns charity)).
The same accident that could have derailed her career became a unique asset — her scars made her instantly recognisable and gave her a powerful story of survival that few other actors can claim.
Redman’s injury, far from being a limitation, became a defining part of her public identity.
Did Amanda Redman have a relationship with Dennis Waterman?
On-screen partnership and off-screen speculation
Redman and Dennis Waterman co-starred on New Tricks from 2003 until Redman’s departure. They played boss and subordinate, and their chemistry on screen was widely noted. However, there is no confirmed evidence of a romantic relationship between them. Waterman married three times — to Penny Dixon, Rula Lenska, and Pam Flint — but never to Redman.
Waterman described Redman in his autobiography as “a delight to work with, always professional.” The speculation likely stems from their close on-screen partnership, but neither party has ever confirmed a romantic link.
The persistent rumour says more about audience appetite for off-screen chemistry than about any actual affair.
What is Amanda Redman doing now?
Current projects and appearances
Redman continues to act regularly. She has appeared in the Channel 5 drama The Madame Blanc Mysteries and the BBC’s Death in Paradise, and performed in theatre productions (IMDb (film database)). She remains a patron of the charity Changing Faces, which supports people with visible differences, drawing on her own experience as a burn survivor (CB Trust (burns charity)).
In interviews, she has said she enjoys the freedom to pick projects that interest her rather than being tied to a long-running series. Her recent work includes voice acting and guest roles, keeping her profile alive in the industry.
Her post-New Tricks career proves that stepping away from a hit show can be a smart move, not a retirement.
Timeline
- 12 August 1957: Amanda Redman born in Brighton, England (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia)).
- 1958–1959 (approx): Sustains severe burns from a kettle; requires multiple skin grafts (Express (UK media)).
- 1979: Professional acting debut in theatre.
- 1984: Marries actor Robert Glenister.
- 1990: Birth of daughter, Emily Redman.
- 1994: Divorce from Robert Glenister.
- 2000: Appears in the film Sexy Beast.
- 2003: Begins role as D.S. Sandra Pullman in New Tricks (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia)).
- 2013: Leaves New Tricks after 10 series (Digital Spy (entertainment news)).
- 2017: Marries Damien Schnabel (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia)).
- Present: Continues acting in TV, theatre, and film; involved in charity work.
Clarity check
Confirmed facts
- Amanda Redman burned her arm at 18 months old.
- She played Sandra Pullman on New Tricks from 2003 to 2013.
- She left New Tricks in 2013.
- She married Damien Schnabel in 2017.
- She has one daughter, Emily Redman.
What’s unclear
- Exact net worth figures are estimates and vary across sources.
- The full details of her relationship with Dennis Waterman remain speculative (no confirmation of romance).
- Reasons for the abrupt end of New Tricks involve multiple factors including cast changes and declining ratings.
- Exact number of operations she underwent — reports say “many” but no precise count.
- Whether she co-founded the charity Changing Faces — she is a patron, but co-founder status is not confirmed.
Quotes
I was scalded by a kettle when I was 18 months old… I had 70 operations.
— Amanda Redman, in an interview
It was time to move on and explore other things.
— Amanda Redman, on leaving New Tricks
Amanda was a delight to work with, always professional.
— Dennis Waterman, in his autobiography
Redman’s story is a reminder that adversity can be turned into a career asset. For aspiring actors facing visible differences, the takeaway is clear: authenticity can be your strongest calling card. For fans of British TV, her legacy on New Tricks remains a high point in a career that continues to evolve.
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The tragic accident that left her with a scarred arm is explored in depth in Amanda Redmans biography.
Frequently asked questions
Was Amanda Redman romantically involved with Dennis Waterman?
There is no confirmed evidence of a romantic relationship. They were co-stars on New Tricks and had a professional friendship.
How did Amanda Redman get her arm injury?
She was severely burned by boiling water from a kettle when she was 18 months old. The scars are visible on her left arm.
Why did Amanda Redman leave New Tricks?
She wanted a fresh challenge and found the 10-episode schedule too demanding to fit in other projects. She left in 2013 after 10 series.
Is Amanda Redman married?
Yes, she married Damien Schnabel in 2017. She was previously married to actor Robert Glenister from 1984 to 1994.
Does Amanda Redman have children?
Yes, she has one daughter, Emily Redman, with her ex-husband Robert Glenister.
How old is Amanda Redman?
She was born on 12 August 1957, making her 67 years old as of 2024.
What is Amanda Redman’s net worth?
Estimates vary, but her net worth is reported to be around £2 million from her long acting career.
What are Amanda Redman’s current projects?
She continues to act in TV, theatre, and film, and is involved in charity work for burn survivors.
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Oliver William Davies Thompson is a staff writer for MetroReport.uk, covering city news, transport, housing and urban policy. He works under Editor-in-Chief Clara Whitfield, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.