# Bill Ward (actor)

Bill Ward (born 5 May 1967) is an English actor. He is known for his soap opera roles as Charlie Stubbs in Coronation Street and James Barton in Emmerdale.

## Early life

Ward was educated at Oundle School and Bristol University where he obtained a degree in Modern British History, and worked as an advertising executive before beginning his professional acting career in the 1980s.

## Career

Ward acted widely in theatre and television, joining the cast of Coronation Street in 2003, portraying local builder Charlie Stubbs, until 2007 when his character was killed by Tracy Barlow after a domestic abuse storyline. He made his second appearance in a major soap opera role as James Barton in Emmerdale beginning in 2013. However, Ward announced in August 2016 that he was quitting the soap, and his character was killed off in October 2016. Outside of acting, Ward is noted as a photographer.
Ward also had a role in 2003 in BBC TV's EastEnders, in which he played the role of Mike Parker. He also has had roles in shows such as ITV's The Bill and Heartbeat. In 2019, he starred as retired drag queen Hugo Battersby / Loco Chanelle in the acclaimed musical Everybody's Talking About Jamie at the Apollo Theatre for a limited run. In December 2020, it was revealed that Ward had undertaken work as a delivery driver for Tesco, after several acting jobs he had scheduled were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In September 2023, he appeared in an episode of the BBC soap opera Doctors as Mickey Gilmore.
It was announced in April 2024 that Ward would Headline in Bridlington Spa pantomime playing the role of Fleshcreep in Jack and the Beanstalk, running from 14 December 2024 to 5 January 2025.

## Filmography

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1984 | Secret Places | Mr. Watts | Film |
| 2001 | Jonathan Creek | Vernon Spools | Episode: "Satan's Chimney" |
| 2002 | In Deep | Policeman | Episodes: "Blood Loss: Parts 1 & 2" |
| 2002 | Footballers' Wives | Mike Grainger | Episodes: "Getting a Result" and "Winning the Double" |
| 2002 | Rose and Maloney | Mikey | Episode: "Pilot: Part 1" |
| 2003 | EastEnders | Mike Parker | 1 episode |
| 2003 | The Bill | Charlie Phillips | 2 episodes |
| 2003 | 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" |
| 2008 | Heartbeat | Mad Dan Neeley | Episode: "It Came from Outer Space" |
| 2008 | The Bill | Rob Towler | 4 episodes |
| 2009 | Robin Hood | Rufus | Episode: "Sins of the Father" |
| 2009 | Doctors | Larry Bryan | Episode: "The Romantics" |
| 2009 | Everything But the Ball | Geoff | Television film |
| 2010 | Tangled | Nick Hobbes | Television film |
| 2011 | The Great Ghost Rescue | Lord Alfred Seymour | Film |
| 2012 | Casualty | Vaughan Morrison | Episode: "Zero Sum Game" |
| 2012 | Crime Stories | Carl Thompson | Series 1: Episode 6 |
| 2012 | Doctors | Reverend Roderick McAllister | Episode: "Blood Upon the Rose" |
| 2013 | Silent Witness | Hearns | Episodes: "Trust: Parts 1 & 2" |
| 2013–2017 | Emmerdale | James Barton | Series regular; 341 episodes |
| 2015 | A Dark Reflection | Terry | Film |
| 2015 | Not Alone | Frank | Film |
| 2017 | Legally Blonde: The Musical | Professor Callahan | Musical |
| 2020 | After Life | Simon | Supporting role; 3 episodes |
| 2021 | Before We Die | Sean Hardacre | 3 episodes |
| 2021 | Casualty | Mike Sartwell | Series 35: Episode 26 |
| 2022 | Vera | Peter Henson | Series 11: Episode 3: "Tyger Tyger" |
| 2023 | Doctors | Mickey Gilmore | Guest role |