Paul Usher | |
---|---|
Born | |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1978–present |
Television | Brookside The Bill EastEnders |
Spouse | Charlotte Usher |
Children | 2 |
Paul Usher (born 20 April 1961) is a British actor. [1] He is known for his roles as Barry Grant in the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside and Des Taviner in the ITV drama The Bill . [2] [3] In 2019, he began appearing in the BBC soap opera EastEnders as Danny Hardcastle. [4]
Usher made his television debut in an episode of Z Cars as a gang member. In 1982, he began appearing in the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside as Barry Grant. He also appeared in Liverpool 1 and London's Burning and starred in Six Bend Trap . In 1999, he appeared in Swing as Liam Luxford. In 2001, he began appearing in The Bill , an ITV police drama, as PC Des Taviner. [5] He continued in the role until 2004, appearing in a total of 135 episodes.
In March 2019, it was announced that Usher would join the cast of the BBC soap opera EastEnders. He portrays the recurring role of Danny Hardcastle. [6] In May 2023, he appeared in an episode of the BBC soap opera Doctors as Terry Exton. [7]
Usher was educated at Wirral Grammar School for Boys. He met his wife, Charlotte, while working on The Bill. They married in Rhodes and have one child, Lucas. His son from a previous marriage, James, died in 2014. [8] [2] [9]
Brookside is a British television soap opera, set in Liverpool, England, which began on the launch night of Channel 4, 2 November 1982. It ran for 21 years until 4 November 2003. It was produced by Mersey Television and conceived by Grange Hill and Hollyoaks creator Phil Redmond.
Claire Jane Sweeney is an English actress, singer, and television personality. Known for her portrayal of Lindsey Corkhill on Channel 4's Brookside (1991–2003), she also played Roxie Hart in Chicago and starred in touring productions of Guys and Dolls (2006), Tell Me on a Sunday (2011), Legally Blonde (2011), and Educating Rita (2012). She was a panellist on ITV's Loose Women between 2003 and 2005, and presented 60 Minute Makeover from 2004 to 2006. Her debut album, Claire, reached number 15 on the UK Albums Chart in 2002. Sweeney has portrayed Cassie Plummer on the ITV soap opera Coronation Street since 2023. Her other credits include Candy Cabs (2011), Scarborough (2019), and The Good Ship Murder (2023).
Philip Lawrence Borg-Olivier is a British actor, model and stage performer best known for playing the role of Tim "Tinhead" O'Leary in the soap opera Brookside.
Gillian Louise Kearney is an English actress best known for her early role as Debbie McGrath in Channel 4's Liverpool-based soap opera Brookside and the spin-off mini-series Damon and Debbie, and for playing Jessica Harrison in the long-running BBC television medical drama series Casualty, as well as Emma Barton in the ITV Yorkshire-based soap opera Emmerdale. The role of Emma gained her recognition because of character's involvement in Emmerdale’s most high-profile storylines during her three-year stint.
Louis Emerick Grant is a British television actor, known for his role as Mick Johnson in the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, as well as his appearances in the BBC soap opera Doctors.
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Simon O'Brien is a British television actor and radio presenter as well as a property developer. He is known for his role in the soap opera Brookside from 1982 to 1987 and for presenting on a number of different television shows.
Dean Sullivan was an English actor, best known for playing Jimmy Corkhill in the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside between 1986 and 2003.
Michael Starke is a British actor and singer from Liverpool, England. He was best known for his role as Thomas 'Sinbad' Sweeney, which he played for sixteen years in the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside.
Barry Grant is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, played by Paul Usher. The character debuted on-screen during the first episode of Brookside, broadcast on 2 November 1982. Barry is one of the show's original characters and the only character to appear in the first and final episodes of Brookside. Usher decided to leave Brookside in 1984, but returned the following year and remained a regular cast member until 1995. He then returned for guest stints in 1997 and 2003. Actor Joe McGann was originally cast as Barry, but when McGann failed to gain an actors equity card, producers decided to recast the role to Usher. Barry is characterised as a "hard man" and constant law breaker. Writers transformed Barry into Brookside's long-standing villainous character. Despite his hard man characterisation, Barry has a special relationship with his mother Sheila Grant. He would do anything to protect Sheila and to the extent that it created problems with his father Bobby Grant.
Frank Rogers is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, played by Peter Christian. The character made his first on-screen appearance during the episode broadcast 1 December 1987 and remained in the show for an additional six years, being killed off in the episode aired on 5 November 1993.
Damon Grant is a fictional character in the defunct British soap opera Brookside, played by Simon O'Brien. The character was part of the initial cast, appearing from episode one in 1982 until 1987. At the time of the soap's inception, Damon was the youngest son of Bobby and Sheila Grant, with an older brother, Barry, and older sister, Karen.
Terry Sullivan is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, played by Brian Regan. One of the show's original characters, Terry debuted on-screen during the episode broadcast on 17 November 1982. Regan appeared in the show between 1982 and 1997. At the time of his departure, Regan was Brookside's longest serving cast member. Terry became one of Brookside's most iconic characters and was recognisable via his trademark curly permed hair and moustache. Terry also became known as one of soap opera's most unlucky characters because of his numerous storylines involving trauma, loss and heart-break. Writers created an on-screen partnership between Terry and Barry Grant. Their friendship is endured for their entire tenure. Their characterisation was the inspiration for the comedy sketches titled The Scousers, which appeared in the television show, Harry Enfield's Television Programme.
Raymond Arthur Quinn is an English actor, singer, and dancer. He is best known for his role as Anthony Murray in Brookside from 2000 to 2003. He achieved more public recognition when he auditioned for the third series of The X Factor in 2006, finishing in second place behind Leona Lewis.
The Scousers was a regular series of sketches from the Harry Enfield & Chums BBC comedy show of the early 1990s. Each sketch began with "The Scousers" written in large yellow letters and a short parody version of the Brookside theme song being played.
Brian James Regan is an English actor known for playing Terry Sullivan, one of the lead roles in the Channel 4 soap Brookside, during the 1980s and 1990s. He has also had small parts in other television series. In 1988, he won the Christmas special of Wheel of Fortune.
Cyril Alan Partridge is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, played by Dicken Ashworth. Alan appeared in the series until 18 July 1984. Ashworth was happy with his casting because he had previously been typecast in villainous roles. Alan is characterised as a "friendly type" and Ashworth relished the opportunity to play him. Writers portrayed him vastly different to other characters in the show. Alan is "scatter-brained" and an eccentric who enjoys computers, rugby and keeps a boat on his driveway. Other characters in the series view Alan as odd and find it difficult to understand his personality. Writers gave Alan enthusiastic dialogue in scenes which made him appear different to everyone else in his stories.
Petra Mary Taylor is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, played by Alexandra Pigg. One of the show's original characters, Petra debuted on-screen during the episode broadcast on 23 November 1982. Brookside is set in Liverpool and Pigg is a Liverpudlian from Knotty Ash. Her casting was announced on 5 October 1982 and she spoke optimistically about joining the show. Petra is characterised as a moody typist working at an insurance office. Petra is introduced into the series alongside her husband Gavin Taylor. The Taylor's problematic marriage causes Petra's moodiness and writers scripted her transformation into a tragic character.
Simon Howe is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, played by Lee Hartney. The character debuted on-screen during the episode broadcast on 13 October 1993. Hartney received the role the day after he had auditioned for it. Simon is introduced as a new petrol pump attendant working in the local petrol station. Writers first portrayed him as being mild-mannered before revealing his true manipulative persona.
Kristopher Ian Mochrie is an English actor. He is known for his roles as Ali Gordon in the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside (2002–2003), Jez in the BBC drama series Ordinary Lies (2015) and Lee Posner in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale (2019).