Bill Ward (actor)
Bill Ward | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1967 (age 57–58)[1] Newcastle upon Tyne, England |
| Alma mater | Bristol University |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Known for | Coronation Street Emmerdale |
Bill Ward (born 1967) is an English actor. He is known for his soap opera performances, playing Charlie Stubbs in Coronation Street (2003–2007) and James Barton in Emmerdale (2013–2017). His stage work includes West End roles in Spamalot (2007), Viva Forever! (2012), Million Dollar Quartet (2016), and Everybody's Talking About Jamie (2019), as well as national tours of Shakespeare in Love, Legally Blonde (both 2017–2018), and The Full Monty (2023–2024). Outside acting, Ward is a noted photographer.[2]
Early life
Ward was educated at Oundle School and then Bristol University, where he obtained a degree in Modern British History.[3] He worked as an advertising executive before beginning his professional acting career.[3]
Career
Having already worked extensively in theatre, Ward joined the cast of the long-running ITV soap opera Coronation Street in 2003, portraying local builder and serial womaniser Charlie Stubbs. His character was involved in two major coercive abuse storylines: first involving his fiancé Shelley Unwin, and later his girlfriend Tracy Barlow. To ensure authenticity, Ward worked closely with the charity Women's Aid during this period, becoming an ambassador for them.[4] Stubbs was subsequently murdered by Barlow, with Ward departing the show in January 2007.[5]
Ward's second regular soap role was that of charismatic farmer James Barton in Emmerdale, beginning in 2013.[6] After announcing three years later that he had quit the series,[7] Ward's character was killed off—dying in a car crash; an elaborate stunt filmed at Pinewood Studios—in October 2016.[8][9] His other television credits include guest-starring roles in Jonathan Creek, Footballers' Wives, EastEnders, The Bill, Holby City, Midsomer Murders, Heartbeat, Casualty, Silent Witness, After Life, Vera, and Doctors.[10]
Following national theatre tours of Shakespeare in Love and Legally Blonde between 2018 and 2019, Ward played retired drag queen Hugo Battersby (aka Loco Chanelle) in the musical Everybody's Talking About Jamie, from July to September 2019 at the Apollo Theatre. It was revealed the following year that Ward had briefly undertaken work as a delivery driver for Tesco—alongside teaching film and drama students—after several acting jobs he had scheduled were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[11] Next, he appeared in a 29-date tour of the musical The Full Monty (2023–2024), receiving strong reviews for his portrayal of Gerald,[12][13][14] and headlined Jack and the Beanstalk at Bridlington Spa from December 2024 to January 2025.[15]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Scent of Burning Mortar | Jeremiah | Short film |
| Adam & Steve | Adam | Short film | |
| 2011 | The Great Ghost Rescue | Lord Alfred Seymour | |
| 2014 | Nothing More | Unknown | Short film |
| 2015 | A Dark Reflection | Terry | |
| The Haunting of Ellie Rose | Frank | ||
| 2023 | To a Cinder | Gustav |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Jonathan Creek | Vernon Spools | Episode: "Satan's Chimney" |
| 2002 | In Deep | Policeman | 2 episodes |
| Footballers' Wives | Mike Grainger | 2 episodes | |
| Rose and Maloney | Mikey | Episode: "Pilot: Part 1" | |
| 2003 | EastEnders | Mike Parker | Episode #1.2447 |
| The Bill | Charlie Phillips | 2 episodes | |
| Holby City | Patrick Sanders | Episode: "House of Cards" | |
| 2003–2007 | Coronation Street | Charlie Stubbs | Series regular; 421 episodes |
| 2004 | Fallen | Sykes | Television film |
| 2007 | Cold Blood | Paul Attwell | Episode: "Dead and Buried" |
| 2008 | Midsomer Murders | Sam Nelms | Episode: "Talking to the Dead" |
| Heartbeat | Mad Dan Neeley | Episode: "It Came from Outer Space" | |
| The Bill | Rob Towler | Recurring; 4 episodes | |
| 2009 | Robin Hood | Rufus | Episode: "Sins of the Father" |
| Doctors | Larry Bryan | Episode: "The Romantics" | |
| Everything But the Ball | Geoff | Main cast; pilot | |
| 2010 | Tangled | Nick Hobbes | Main cast; pilot |
| 2012 | Casualty | Vaughan Morrison | Episode: "Zero Sum Game" |
| Crime Stories | Carl Thompson | Episode #1.6 | |
| Doctors | Reverend Roderick McAllister | Episode: "Blood Upon the Rose" | |
| 2013 | Silent Witness | Hearns | 2 episodes |
| 2013–2017 | Emmerdale | James Barton | Series regular; 341 episodes |
| 2020 | After Life | Simon | Recurring; 3 episodes |
| 2021 | Natural History Museum: World of Wonder | Narrator (voice) | Documentary; 4 episodes |
| Before We Die | DI Sean Hardacre | Recurring; 3 episodes | |
| Casualty | Mike Sartwell | Episode #35.26 | |
| 2022 | Vera | Peter Henson | Episode: "Tyger Tyger" |
| 2023 | The Hunt for Raoul Moat | Mike Anderson | Miniseries; 2 episodes |
| Doctors | Mickey Gilmore | Episode: "Out in the Cold" |
Theatre
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Antigone | The Messenger | Bristol Old Vic |
| The Beggar's Opera | Ben Budge | ||
| A Chorus of Disapproval | Guy Jones | ||
| 2003 | Oh, What a Lovely War! | Drill Sergeant | Theatr Clwyd |
| 2007 | Not Dead Enough | DS Roy Grace | UK tour[16] |
| Spamalot | Mortimer | Palace Theatre | |
| 2008 | Edward II | Mortimer | Battersea Arts Centre |
| 2009 | Look Back in Anger | Jimmy Porter | UK tour |
| 2010 | The Tempest | Prospero | Guildford Shakespeare Company[17] |
| The Lady from the Sea | The Stranger | Royal Exchange | |
| 2012 | The Hairy Ape | Yank | Southwark Playhouse |
| Viva Forever! | Jonny | Piccadilly Theatre | |
| 2016 | Million Dollar Quartet | Sam Phillips | Noël Coward Theatre |
| 2017–2018 | Legally Blonde | Professor Callahan | UK tour |
| Shakespeare in Love | Lord Wessex | UK tour | |
| 2019 | Everybody's Talking About Jamie | Hugo/Loco Chanelle | Apollo Theatre |
| 2020 | The Glee Club | Bant | UK tour |
| 2021 | The Legend of Sleepy Hollow | Baltus Van Tassel | UK tour |
| 2022 | Are You As Nervous As I Am? | Bob Parr | Greenwich Theatre |
| 2023 | The Book of Will | Henry Condell | UK tour |
| 2023–2024 | The Full Monty | Gerald | UK tour |
| 2024 | Gerry & Sewell | Mr McCarten | Theatre Royal |
| 2024–2025 | Jack and the Beanstalk | Fleshcreep | Bridlington Spa |
| 2025 | The Winter's Tale | Polixenes/Lord Sicilia | Tobacco Factory Theatre |
| The Shawshank Redemption | Stammas | UK tour |
References
- ^ "Before We Die cast: How old is Bill Ward and who did he play in Coronation Street?". Heart. 27 May 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Whetstone, David. "Ex-Corrie actor Bill Ward on his passion for photography". The Journal. Archived from the original on 25 July 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
- ^ a b "About Bill". Bill Ward Photography. Archived from the original on 12 May 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
- ^ Dainty, Sophie (4 April 2013). "Former 'Coronation Street' actor Bill Ward 'glad' about Charlie legacy". Digital Spy. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
- ^ Dent, Grace (27 January 2007). "World of lather". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
- ^ Lloyd, Albertina (29 August 2013). "From the cobbles to the Dales: Coronation Street actor Bill Ward joins Emmerdale". The Independent. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
- ^ Harp, Justin (31 August 2016). "Is Bill Ward the THIRD major Emmerdale star to leave this month?". Digital Spy. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
- ^ "Pinewood Studios play starring role in iconic Emmerdale car crash scene". Bucks Free Press. 27 October 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
- ^ Noah, Sherna (31 March 2017). "Bill Ward: I was delighted to be killed off in Emmerdale". Irish Independent. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
- ^ Timblick, Simon. "Doctors spoilers: Ruhma Carter meets a new man?". What to Watch. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
- ^ "Emmerdale and Coronation Street star Bill Ward became delivery driver during pandemic". Metro. 21 December 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
- ^ "Review: The Full Monty". Belfast Times. 24 January 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
- ^ "Review: The Full Monty (Manchester)". Culturebean. 14 February 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
- ^ "Review: The Full Monty, Theatre Royal Glasgow". BroadwayWorld. 23 February 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
- ^ "Ex-Coronation Street actor Bill Ward headlining Bridlington panto". BBC News. 20 April 2024. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
- ^ "Emmerdale's Bill Ward joins cast of Not Dead Enough". West End Theatre. 15 December 2016. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
- ^ "The Tempest". Guildford Shakespeare Company. Retrieved 20 July 2025.