# Chris Walker (actor)

Christopher Walker (born 1964) is an English actor, known for his roles as Larry 'Tiger' Barton in the BBC drama Merseybeat and Rob Hollins in the BBC soap opera Doctors. For his portrayal of Rob, Walker has been nominated for various awards, and in 2010 and 2023, he won the award for Best On-Screen Partnership at the British Soap Awards, alongside Jan Pearson who played his on-screen wife, Karen Hollins.

## Career

Walker's television debut was in the ITV crime drama The Bill, in the role of Nick Shaw, a role he played from 1985 to 1987. He later returned to the series in 2007, in a different role. In 1997, he appeared in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street from March to May playing Ray Thorpe, a decorator. A year later, Walker began appearing in the BBC drama series Playing the Field as main character Matthew Mullen. Then in 2001, he joined the cast of the BBC procedural drama Merseybeat as PC Larry 'Tiger' Barton, a role he portrayed until 2004. In December 2005, he returned to Coronation Street, playing reformed killer Ed Jackson until March 2006. In 2009, Walker began portraying the role of Rob Hollins in the BBC soap opera Doctors. In 2010, he won the award for Best On-Screen Partnership at the British Soap Awards alongside Jan Pearson, who portrayed his on-screen wife, Karen Hollins. Also in 2010, he participated as a contestant in Celebrity Masterchef, where he placed in the final five.

## Personal life

Walker has a wife, Sharron, a son, Gabriel, and a daughter, Anastasia, who is a member of the rock band Bang Bang Romeo. Since competing in Celebrity MasterChef, Walker became an amateur chef, and participated as a chef during the Doncaster Wool Market Show, as part of the 2019 Doncaster Food Festival. In addition, he has put on gourmet nights, including nine course meals at locations such as Regent Hotel.

## Filmography

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1985–1987 | The Bill | Nick Shaw | Main role |
| 1986 | Dempsey and Makepeace | Barman | Episode: "The Cortez Connection" |
| 1987 | The Fourth Protocol | Skinhead | Film |
| 1989–1990 | The Manageress | Brian Rimmer | Main role |
| 1990 | The Continental | Tez | Television film |
| 1990 | Poirot | First Officer | Episode: "The Lost Mine" |
| 1990 | Portrait of a Marriage | Ben Nicholson | Main role |
| 1991 | Chernobyl: The Final Warning | Grisha | Television film |
| 1991 | Stay Lucky | Detective Sergeant King | Episode: "Poetic Justice" |
| 1992 | An Ungentlemanly Act | Jim Fairfield | Television film |
| 1993 | One Foot in the Grave | Fire Officer | Episode: "Secret of the Seven Sorcerers" |
| 1993 | Peak Practice | Danny Jackson | Episode: "Hope to Die" |
| 1994 | Nelson's Column | Mr. Wicks | Episode: "Out on a Limb" |
| 1994 | Smashie and Nicey, the End of an Era | Ken from Pontefract | Television special |
| 1994 | Funny Man | The Hard Man | Film |
| 1995 | Harry | Pullen | 1 episode |
| 1995 | Heartbeat | Eddie King | Episode: "Vacant Possession" |
| 1995 | Class Act | George | 1 episode |
| 1996 | Our Friends in the North | Detective Chief Inspector Paul Boyd | Episodes: "1974" and "1979" |
| 1996 | When Saturday Comes | Mac | Film |
| 1996 | The Prosecutors | Reporter | Television film |
| 1997 | Coronation Street | Ray Thorpe | Recurring role |
| 1997 | Ivanhoe | Athelstane | Main role |
| 1997 | The Fix | Bronco Layne | Television film |
| 1998–2002 | Playing the Field | Matthew Mullen | Main role |
| 1998 | Getting Hurt | Ellis | Television film |
| 1998 | Casualty | Dave Hancock | 2 episodes |
| 1999 | Silent Witness | Keith Connel | 2 episodes |
| 1999 | Where the Heart Is | Geoff | Episode: "A Higher Duty" |
| 1999 | Maisie Raine | Carl | Episode: "To Sleep" |
| 2000 | The King Is Alive | Paul | Film |
| 2000 | Peak Practice | Hugh Mitchell | Episode: "Divided We Stand" |
| 2000 | Doctors | Martin Pearce | Episode: "Double Trouble" |
| 2001 | In Deep | Jess Cooper | 2 episodes |
| 2001 | Clocking Off | Mick Kay | 1 episode |
| 2001–2004 | Merseybeat | PC Larry 'Tiger' Barton | Main role |
| 2002 | Born and Bred | Frank Cosgrove | Episode: "Brother in Arms" |
| 2002 | Midsomer Murders | Sam Fielding | Episode: "A Worm in the Bud" |
| 2004 | Doctors | Tony Tanner | Episode: "Wild, Wild West Midlands" |
| 2004 | Murder City | Billy Gilmartin | Episode: "The Critical Path" |
| 2004 | Casualty | Mick Taylor | 2 episodes |
| 2004 | Conviction | Neil Harding | 1 episode |
| 2005 | To the Ends of the Earth | Oldmeadow | Main role |
| 2005 | Spooks | Driver | Episode: "Road Trip" |
| 2005–2006 | Coronation Street | Ed Jackson | Recurring role |
| 2006 | Director's Debut | Terry | Episode: "The Lightning Kid" |
| 2007 | Doctors | Gerry Carson | Episode: "Quid Pro Quo" |
| 2007 | The Bill | Martin Parks | 2 episodes |
| 2007 | Holby City | Ray Remick | Episode: "The Reckoning" |
| 2009–2024 | Doctors | Rob Hollins | Regular role |
| 2010 | Celebrity MasterChef | Himself | Contestant |
| 2011 | First-Timer | Jimmy | Short film |
| 2018 | The Last Witness | Gerrard | Film |
| 2018 | Celebrity Eggheads | Himself | Contestant |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Result |
| 2010 | British Soap Awards | Best On-Screen Partnership (with Jan Pearson) | Won |
| 2010 | RTS Midlands Awards | Male Acting Performance | Nominated |
| 2013 | British Soap Awards | Best Actor | Nominated |
| 2013 | RTS Midlands Awards | Acting Performance – Male | Nominated |
| 2014 | British Soap Awards | Best Dramatic Performance | Nominated |
| 2016 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Daytime Star | Nominated |
| 2017 | British Soap Awards | Best Actor | Nominated |
| 2017 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Daytime Star | Nominated |
| 2017 | RTS Midlands Awards | Acting Performance of the Year | Nominated |
| 2018 | National Television Awards | Serial Drama Performance | Nominated |
| 2018 | British Soap Awards | Best Male Dramatic Performance | Nominated |
| 2018 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Daytime Star | Nominated |
| 2018 | RTS Midlands Awards | Acting Performance – Male | Nominated |
| 2019 | British Soap Awards | Best Actor | Nominated |
| 2021 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Daytime Star | Nominated |
| 2022 | British Soap Awards | Best Leading Performer | Nominated |
| 2022 | British Soap Awards | Best On-Screen Partnership (with Pearson) | Nominated |
| 2022 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Daytime Star | Nominated |
| 2023 | British Soap Awards | Best Dramatic Performance | Nominated |
| 2023 | British Soap Awards | Best On-Screen Partnership (with Pearson) | Won |
| 2023 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Daytime Star | Won |
| 2023 | TVTimes Awards | Favourite Soap Actor | Nominated |