John McArdle

Last updated

John McArdle
Born (1949-08-16) 16 August 1949 (age 76)
Alma mater East 15 Acting School
OccupationActor
Spouse Kathy Jamieson

John McArdle (born 16 August 1949) is an English actor. He is most notable for playing Billy Corkhill in the soap opera Brookside , with many other smaller appearances in other soaps and dramas. Playing a regular character in Brookside's heyday (alongside Ricky Tomlinson and Sue Johnston, and working with writers such as Jimmy McGovern), he made himself memorable with his portrayal of a man beyond breaking point, which culminated with him ranting at neighbours and churning up their lawns as he drove his car around in circles.

Contents

McArdle was the subject of This Is Your Life in 2003 when he was surprised by Michael Aspel on the set of Merseybeat .[ citation needed ]

In 2006, McArdle portrayed Frank Taylor in an episode of BBC TV's Surviving Disaster that concerned the Munich air disaster of 1958, which Taylor was the only newspaper reporter to survive.

In 2010, McArdle played Christopher Mead's father in Waterloo Road .

He is also a stage actor, seen in Our Country's Good at the Liverpool Playhouse.

He is a patron of the Octagon Theatre in Bolton.

From 2016 to 2017, he appeared in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale as regular character Ronnie Hale. Then in March 2023, he portrayed Phil Griffiths in an episode of the BBC soap opera Doctors . [1]

In August 2025, it was announced McArdle would reprise his role of Billy Corkhill in a special Brookside crossover episode with Hollyoaks , to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the latter. [2]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleOther notes
1982–1984 Brookside Mr. P. Todd4 episodes
1984CharlieFirst Shop Steward2 episodes
ScullyTeacherEpisode: "#1.3"
1985–1990Brookside Billy Corkhill 83 episodes
1985How We Used to LiveDoctor WallaceEpisode: "1915: Epidemic"
SeaviewPolicemanEpisode: "The Godfather"
Fell TigerReporterEpisode: "#1.1"
1986 Screen Two 'Election Countdown' PanelEpisode: "Frankie and Johnnie"
1992UnderbellyJack Preston4 episodes
ThackerMartin StricklandTV movie
1992–1994 Firm Friends Peter Creswell7 episodes
1993 Gallowglass Paul Garnet3 episodes
Spender Sam HarperEpisode: "Best Friends"
1994 Screen One HarryEpisode: "Bambino Mio"
The Chief DC Dave CorbynEpisodes: "Four and Twenty Blackbirds" and "Strained Relations"
Screen TwoDilkeEpisode: "Skallagrigg"
Cracker Tom CarterEpisode: "Men Should Weep, Part 1"
SeaforthFred Spence7 episodes
Finney Louis Souter3 episodes
1995 Wycliffe Alex KeirEpisode: "The Trojan Horse"
Rich DeceiverMalc FreemanTV movie
Heartbeat Terry TinniswoodEpisode: "Vigilante"
1996 Kavanagh QC Simon LloydEpisode: "Men of Substance"
And the Beat Goes OnCharlie Woods8 episodes
Prime Suspect DCS BallingerEpisodes: "Errors of Judgement", parts 1 & 2
ThrowawaysSpindorTV movie
1997 The Place of the Dead Major Ron FosterTV movie
Born to Run Eddie GallagherEpisode: "#1.3"
Casualty Pete EllingtonEpisode: "A Taste of Freedom"
1998 Out of Hours Dr. Daniel Laing6 episodes
1999 Playing the Field GrahamEpisode: "#2.3"
City Central Michael DennisonEpisode: "Paradise Lost"
Holby City KenEpisode: "Staying Alive, Part 1"
2000 Peak Practice Clive RichardsEpisode: "Faith, Hope & Love"
Metropolis Steve NorrisEpisodes: "#1.3" and "#1.4"
Where the Heart Is Eddie ArmitageEpisode: "Shifting Sands"
In Defence DCI Brian WalshEpisode: "#1.4"
My Fragile Heart Roy Lavery2 episodes
There's Only One Jimmy Grimble Headmaster
2001 Always and Everyone Mr. RogersEpisode: "Med School Educate"
The Cazalets Tonbridge6 episodes
2001–2004 Merseybeat Supt. Jim OultonSeries 1—4; 38 episodes
2003 Gifted Steve MoranTV movie
2004 Casualty@Holby City Frank Morgan2 episodes
Dalziel and Pascoe Matthew DavisEpisode: "The Price of Fame"
Through My Eyes McAuley2 episodes
The Afternoon Play Bob CollinsEpisode: "Viva Las Blackpool"
2005 The Bill Commander Ian Barrett8 episodes
HeartbeatNat JubbEpisode: "Duty of Care"
2006 Surviving Disaster Frank TaylorEpisode: "Munich Air Disaster"
Foyle's War Stan DaviesEpisode: "Invasion"
Blue Murder Colin McAteerEpisode: "The Spartacus Thing"
2007 Mobile Paul StoanEpisode: "The Soldier"
2008 Doctors Les RobsonEpisode: "The Front Page"
2009 All the Small Things Jimmy6 episodes
U Be Dead Brian PembertonTV movie
2010 Waterloo Road Oliver Mead6 episodes
Casualty Mick GarlandEpisode: "Going Solo"
Law & Order: UK Dan CallaghanEpisode: "Denial"
Doctors John FairleyEpisode: "A Child Called Moon"
2011 Waking the Dead Murray StuartEpisodes: "Solidarity", parts 1 & 2
The Case Gordon McAllister4 episodes
2012 Doctors Clive RoyleEpisode: "Fall of a Sparrow"
Vera MartyEpisode: "A Certain Samaritan"
Holby City Jock BuchanEpisode: "When Sacha Met Chrissie"
Crime Stories Bill JonesEpisode: "Jackpot"
2013 New Tricks Jim MarshallEpisode: "Things Can Only Get Better"
2016–2017 Emmerdale Ronnie Hale 116 episodes
2023 Doctors Phil Griffiths Episode: "Runaway Train"

References

  1. Timblick, Simon. "Doctors spoilers: Luca McIntyre tells Jamie about his past..." What to Watch . (Future plc). Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  2. "Soap villain Barry Grant to join Brookside return". BBC News. 29 August 2025. Retrieved 30 August 2025.