Alex Walkinshaw

Alex Newcombe Walkinshaw (born 5 October 1974) is an English actor best known for playing the role of PC/Sergeant/Inspector Dale "Smithy" Smith in the ITV police procedural series, The Bill. He has also appeared in BBC medical dramas, Casualty and Holby City, as Adrian "Fletch" Fletcher and as PE teacher Jez Diamond in BBC school-based drama series, Waterloo Road.

Alex Walkinshaw
Born
Alex Newcombe Walkinshaw

(1974-10-05) 5 October 1974
Barking, London, England
OccupationActor
Height6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
TelevisionThe Bill (1999–2001) and (2003–2010)
Waterloo Road (2011–2012)
Casualty (2012–2014, 2016, 2019, 2020)
Holby City (2014–)
Spouse(s)
Sarah Trusler
​
(m. 2009)​
Children2
RelativesJodie Marsh (first cousin)

Early life and career

Walkinshaw was born on 5 October 1974 in Barking, Essex. His first TV appearance was at the age of 12 as an extra in Grange Hill for a year. From 1992 to 1993 he appeared in the sitcom Side by Side.

In between acting jobs in the 1990s, he also worked as a labourer, office fitter and also at a snooker hall in Barking.[1]

Television

Walkinshaw's first television appearance was as an extra in Grange Hill.[2]

He first appeared in The Bill in three episodes as a guest star in 1992, 1993 and 1995,[3] before joining as a regular cast member in 1999. It was whilst he was acting at the Royal Court Theatre that he was spotted by one of the producers of The Bill and was encouraged to audition for the programme. He joined The Bill as PC Dale Smith, better known as "Smithy" and then left in 2001.[4] In 2003, he returned when his character was promoted to Sergeant. When The Bill was axed in Scotland in 2009 by STV, Walkinshaw was the last person to appear on Scottish screens alongside Sam Callis as Sgt Callum Stone.

After The Bill was axed in 2010 by ITV, Walkinshaw admitted that "It was emotional shooting the final scenes" and that he found it "tough" to leave behind some of his co-stars.[5]

He has previously admitted that he would be keen to appear in the soap, EastEnders.[6]

In 2011, Walkinshaw was cast in Waterloo Road as PE teacher, Jeremy 'Jez' Diamond, replacing Paul Nicholls.[7] Following his departure from the show, he joined the cast of Casualty as nurse, Adrian 'Fletch' Fletcher.[8] In 2014, the character made a permanent switch from Casualty to its sister show Holby City.

Awards

In 2008, he was nominated for Outstanding Drama Performance at the National Television Awards.[9] The award was won by David Tennant.[10]

Personal life

During his time on The Bill as a PC, Walkinshaw met his wife Sarah when she worked as a make-up artist on the show. They married on 20 June 2009 at the Queen's House in Greenwich, London and live in Kent[11] with their two children.

He is very close friends with his former co-stars Roberta Taylor and René Zagger. Taylor is like a second mother to him and is even grandmother by proxy to his children. Zagger is his best friend and they have known each other since they were 15 and 16; they also shared a flat when they were both on The Bill. Zagger and Scott Maslen were his best men at his wedding. His cousin is the glamour model and TV personality Jodie Marsh.[12]

He is a West Ham supporter and enjoys programmes such as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Doctor Who.[2]

He undertakes local charity work and is the patron for the St Thomas' Lupus Trust.[2] On 24 March 2007, he took part in The Weakest Link and won £9,450, which he donated to Essex-based charity "Kids in Need", which grants wishes for underprivileged, sick and terminally ill children. On 2 May 2007, he opened a new community police office in Chislehurst, for the Safer Neighbourhood teams from Chislehurst and Mottingham.[13]

Filmography

Film

Television
Year Programme Role Notes
2014−presentHolby CityAdrian "Fletch" FletcherRegular role
2012–2014, 2016, 2019–2020CasualtyRegular Role (2012–14), Guest Appearances in 2016 and 2019
2011–2012Waterloo RoadJez DiamondRegular role; 18 episodes (Series 7)
2002Stan the ManTommy
2001Holby CityMickey
2001Urban GothicStevo
1999–2001, 2003-2010The BillPC/Sgt/Insp. Dale SmithRegular role
National Television Awards 2008 – Outstanding Drama Performance – Nominated
1995–98McCallumDS SmallRegular role
1995Crown ProsecutorTroy Daly
1995The BillAndy Franklin
1995A Touch of FrostPearce
1995London's BurningTruck Driver
1994Anna LeeKevin
1994Harry Enfield & ChumsUnwanted party guest
1993The BillLee Tarrant
1993To Play the KingBoy Mugger
1993A Question of GuiltEd Darvas
1992CasualtyAlan
1992The BillSteven Murray'Fair play'
1992–93Side by SideTerry Shane
1990Death in VeniceOlder Boy

References
  1. "Alex fits The Bill". United Kingdom: Ilford Recorder. 30 July 2009. Retrieved 5 February 2010.
  2. "About Us". United Kingdom: St Thomas' Lupus Trust. Archived from the original on 19 October 2009. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  3. Pratt, Steve (1 July 2009). "Beat goes on". United Kingdom: The Northern Echo. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  4. "Bill cast clear-out". United Kingdom: BBC. 30 May 2006. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  5. Millar, Paul (22 June 2010). "Soaps – News – Walkinshaw: 'The Bill end was emotional' – Digital Spy". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 24 June 2010. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
  6. Kilkelly, Daniel (21 July 2008). "'The Bill' actor hopes for Walford role". United Kingdom: Digital Spy. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  7. "BBC – Press Office – Jaye Jacobs and Alex Walkinshaw join Waterloo Road". BBC Online. BBC. 30 May 2011. Archived from the original on 2 June 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
  8. Kilkelly, Daniel (13 March 2012). "'Casualty' casts 'Waterloo Road' star Alex Walkinshaw as new nurse". United Kingdom: Digital Spy. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
  9. Gardham, Duncan (21 October 2008). "Seven Dr Whos set for reunion". United Kingdom: Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  10. Hemley, Matthew (30 October 2008). "Double drama win for Doctor Who at National Television Awards". United Kingdom: The Stage. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  11. Married Holby City star Alex Walkinshaw 'exchanged raunchy texts with model behind wife's back' - Mirror Online
  12. "Jodie Marsh shocks fans as she reveals surprising family connection to Holby City's Alex Walkinshaw". 2016.
  13. "New police office opened by TV actor". www.newsshopper.co.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
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