William Mellor (born 3 April 1976) is an English actor and singer. He is known for his roles as Jambo Bolton in Hollyoaks, Gaz Wilkinson in Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, Warren Stamp in EastEnders, DC Spike Tanner in No Offence, Steve Connolly in Broadchurch, Georgie in Barking! and Ollie Curry in White Van Man. He appeared in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street as Harvey Gaskell (2021-2022, 2024). In 2024, he appeared as sub-postmaster Lee Castleton in the ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office, about the British Post Office scandal.
Will Mellor | |
|---|---|
 Mellor in 2012 | |
| Born | William Mellor 3 April 1976 |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Spouse |
Michelle McSween (m. 2007) |
| Children | 2 |
Career
editMellor first came to the public's attention in 1990, when he played Ben Rowlingson in the children's programme Children's Ward. In 1992 he played Paul Howard in Brookside. In 1995, he joined the cast of the soap opera Hollyoaks and played James "Jambo" Bolton until 1998. He had a cameo as Jambo in a Christmas edition of Hollyoaks. He released a cover of Leo Sayer's "When I Need You", which reached number 5 in the UK Singles Chart, as well as a follow-up single called "No Matter What I Do", which reached number 23.[2] He also made an appearance in the music video for Boyzone's Comic Relief single "When the Going Gets Tough".
Shortly after, Mellor appeared as Greg in Is Harry on the Boat?. He played Jack Vincent in Casualty from 2001 to 2003, and starred as Gaz Wilkinson in the comedy Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps from 2001 to 2011.[3] Mellor starred as "Barmpot" in the postal worker drama Sorted, and played DC Jed Griffiths in the second series of Murder Investigation Team.[4] In 2004, Mellor provided the voice for Georgie the dog in the CITV series Barking!. He played Tom in the second series of The Street. Mellor won the first series of the BBC singing contest Comic Relief Does Fame Academy in 2003.[5] He made his EastEnders debut on 20 May 2007 playing womanising salesman Warren Stamp.
Mellor was a guest star in the BBC fantasy drama Merlin, playing the villain Valiant in the series second episode of the same name.[6] In October 2008, he starred in The Prisoner, a documentary about prison life. Mellor portrayed Chris in the British horror thriller film The Reeds.[7][8] Mellor did a brief stint on children's television channel CBeebies, in which he read books for the audience. In 2011, he starred in the BBC Three comedy White Van Man and the BBC One drama Waterloo Road.[9]
From 2011 to 2012, he played Liam Flynn in the BBC One comedy series In with the Flynns,[10] as well as appearing in White Van Man.[11] Mellor had a guest role in the final episode of the BBC Three comedy series Mongrels. In 2013, he played Steve Connolly in the ITV detective drama Broadchurch. In 2014, he appeared on BBC One's Kay Mellor drama series In the Club. In February 2021, it was announced that Mellor would join the cast of Coronation Street as Harvey Gaskell, with his first scenes airing in March.[12][13] From 24 September 2022, Mellor competed in the twentieth series of Strictly Come Dancing, partnered with professional dancer Nancy Xu.[14] The couple made it to the semi-finals, but were eliminated on 12 December 2022, finishing in fifth place.
In 2024, he appeared as sub-postmaster Lee Castleton in the ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office, about the British Post Office scandal. He later criticised the Post Office CEO Paula Vennells for a lack of "humanity" during the scandal.[15]
Personal life
editMellor met dancer Michelle McSween when they starred together in the stage musical Oh, What a Night in 1999. They married in 2007,[16] and have two children. In 2020, in a podcast with fellow actor and friend Ralf Little, Mellor discussed his struggle with depression after the death of his sister six years before.[1] Mellor's father Bill died in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, two weeks after being diagnosed with cancer. In week 8 of Strictly Come Dancing, on 12 November 2022, Mellor danced a waltz to the song "Three Times a Lady", as a tribute to his father.[17]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Children's Ward | Ben Rowlingson | 5 episodes |
| 1995–1998, 2004 | Hollyoaks | James "Jambo" Bolton | Series regular, 73 episodes |
| 2000 | Fat Friends | Gareth | 1 Episode |
| 2001–2003 | Casualty | Jack Vincent | Series regular, 72 episodes |
| 2001–2011 | Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps | Gaz Wilkinson | Series regular, 79 episodes |
| 2004–2006 | Barking! | Georgie | Voice; 20 episodes |
| 2005 | Murder Investigation Team | D. C. Jed Griffiths | Series 2; 4 episodes |
| 2006 | Sorted | Barmpot | |
| 2007 | The Street | Tom | Episode #2.3 |
| 2007 | EastEnders | Warren Stamp | 3 episodes |
| 2008 | Merlin | Knight Valiant | Episode: "Knight Valiant" |
| 2008 | The Prisoner | Himself | |
| 2008 | Miss Conception | Brian | |
| 2009 | Agatha Christie's Marple | Martin Waddy/Ralph Collins | Episode: "Nemesis" |
| 2009 | Unforgiven | Bradley | |
| 2010 | The Reeds | Chris | |
| 2011 | Waterloo Road | Dan Hargrove | Episode: #6.18 |
| 2011–2012 | White Van Man | Ollie Curry | |
| 2011–2012 | In with the Flynns | Liam Flynn | |
| 2013 | Broadchurch | Steve Connolly | Main cast member; 7 episodes |
| 2013 | Dates | David | |
| 2014–2016 | In the Club | Rick | Main cast member; 12 episodes |
| 2015 | Death in Paradise | Karl Slater | Episode #4.2 |
| 2015–2018 | No Offence | DC Spike Tanner | Main cast member; 19 episodes |
| 2016 | Line of Duty | PC Rod Kennedy | 2 episodes |
| 2018 | Viking Destiny | Lord Soini | |
| 2019 | Sanctuary | Redpath | 8 episodes |
| 2019 | MyBad! | Davey Dave | Television film |
| 2021–2022, 2024 | Coronation Street | Harvey Gaskell | 27 episodes |
| 2022 | Strictly Come Dancing | Contestant | Series 20 |
| 2023 | Cops Who Kill with Will Mellor | Presenter | |
| 2024 | Mr Bates vs The Post Office | Lee Castleton | 4 episodes |
Guest appearances
edit- Test The Nation: The Popular Music Test (4 September 2004) - Guest
- All Star Family Fortunes (2011) – Contestant
- All Star Mr & Mrs (5 June 2013) – Contestant
- Big Star's Little Star (4 September 2013) – Contestant
- I Love My Country (28 September 2013) – Guest
- Through the Keyhole (2014, 2017) – Homeowner/panellist
- Celebrity Juice (2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021) – Guest
- A Question of Sport (2022) – Contestant
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 9th National Television Awards | Most Popular Actor | Casualty | Nominated | [18] |
| 2015 | TV Choice Awards | Best Actor | In the Club | Nominated | [19] |
| 2021 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Villain | Coronation Street | Nominated | [20] |
References
edit- ^ a b "Will Mellor opens up on his battle with depression and the sudden death of his father". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 360. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "Who is Will Mellor? Hollyoaks and Line of Duty star". Entertainment Daily. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
- ^ "Meet the cast of Line of Duty – who's who in the 'bent copper' series". Radio Times. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
- ^ "Mellor wins Fame Academy". 15 March 2003. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
- ^ "Merlin - Knight Valiant". BBC. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
- ^ Barton, Steve (5 June 2012). "Stephen Rebello Shares Five Things You Never Knew About the Making of Psycho". Dread Central.
- ^ "Horrorfest '10: After Dark Heading Deep Into 'The Reeds' -". bloody-disgusting.com. 19 December 2009.
- ^ "BBC One – Waterloo Road, Series 6, Episode 18". BBC. 23 March 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
- ^ "BBC One Cancels Comedy Series 'In with the Flynns'". TV Wise. 30 October 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
- ^ "Will Mellor's 'White Van Man' lands second series". Alex Fletcher. 26 May 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
- ^ "ITV announces Will Mellor will join the cast of Coronation Street". ITV. 9 February 2021.
- ^ Sam, Warner. "Coronation Street casts Will Mellor as drugs boss Harvey". Digital Spy. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
- ^ Harrison, Ellie (24 September 2022). "Will Mellor: Who is the Strictly Come Dancing 2022 contestant and what is he famous for?". The Independent. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
- ^ "TV actor Will Mellor criticises Post Office boss" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "WILL MELLOR ON MARRIAGE". People.co.uk. 18 November 2007. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
- ^ "Will Mellor tells his kids he's OK as he cries on Strictly over death of his father". Independent.co.uk. 12 November 2022.
- ^ "National Television Awards 2003". ITV plc. Archived from the original on 1 August 2003. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
- ^ Denham, Jess (19 May 2015). "TV Choice Awards 2015 nominations: Poldark and Broadchurch head up longlist". The Independent. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
- ^ Alexander, Susannah (28 September 2021). "Inside Soap Awards announces 2021 longlist as voting opens – here's who's up for prizes". Digital Spy. (Hearst Magazines UK). Archived from the original on 2 October 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
External links
edit
- Will Mellor at IMDb