Ryan Clayton (actor)

Last updated
Ryan Clayton
Ryan Clayton in 2018.jpg
Ryan Clayton in 2018
Education Academy of Live and Recorded Arts
OccupationActor
Years active2018–present
Television Coronation Street
Waterloo Road

Ryan Clayton is an English actor known for his roles as Josh Tucker in Coronation Street and Mike Rutherford in Waterloo Road .

Contents

Early and personal life

Ryan Clayton is from Manchester [1] and grew up in Hyde, Greater Manchester. [2] He described himself as being a "class clown" and "little terror" when he was in school. [3] He graduated from Academy of Live and Recorded Arts North in 2015 with a BA in acting. [4] [2] Clayton has Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. [5] He supports Manchester City F.C. [2]

Career

In January 2018, it was reported that Clayton would portray Josh Tucker in the British soap opera Coronation Street as part of a male rape storyline. [6] Clayton told the BBC that it was important to portray the issue of male rape, adding, "The great thing, with whatever soap is covering it, is you've got millions of people tuning into a programme"; Clayton also worked with a male survivor of rape on the storyline. [7] For his role as Josh, Clayton was longlisted for "Best Bad Boy" at the 2018 Inside Soap Awards. [8] Clayton departed at the end of his initial stint and the character's exit aired on 1 October 2018. [9] Clayton called being on the soap an "honour", adding on social media, "Feeling so grateful & blessed - From being apart of this storyline/ working with such talented & sound people/ All the kind words & support from loved ones & complete strangers. It's meant the world to me". [10] He returned for another stint in 2019, with his return airing in October of that year. [11] Clayton's final appearance as Josh aired in January 2020, when Josh faced prison for his rapes. [12]

In February 2022, it was reported that Clayton would join the cast of the new series of Waterloo Road . [13] He played police sergeant Mike Rutherford, which he continued to play into the show's 16th season in 2025. [14] Of joining the show, Clayton explained that he felt that he needed to be part of it as he is from Manchester and the show was returning to Manchester; he added, "everyone is just lovely, there's a great vibe to just the place itself so I think the audiences are going to love it". [3] He believed that the show was "capturing that essence" of being in a Manchester school as it reminded him of what people were like when he was in school. [3] Clayton and his co-star James Baxter did research into the impacts of fostering children on relationships for their storyline. [15]

In January 2026, it was announced that Clayton had joined the cast of the soap opera Hollyoaks as Jenson. [16] [17] He was introduced as a love interest for established character Mercedes McQueen (Jennifer Metcalfe), who he meets at a rehabilitation facility. [18] [19]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2018–20 Coronation Street Josh Tucker Regular role [12]
2023–25 Waterloo Road Mike RutherfordSeries 11–16 [14]
2026 Hollyoaks Jenson Upcoming role [12]

Awards and nominations

List of acting awards and nominations
YearAwardCategoryTitleResultRef.
2018 Inside Soap Awards Best Bad Boy Coronation Street Longlisted [8]

References

  1. ↑ "Interview with Ryan Clayton who plays Mike Rutherford in Waterloo Road". Pressparty. Retrieved 2024-01-31.
  2. 1 2 3 "9 things you never knew about Corrie's Ryan Clayton". Digital Spy . 2018-03-12. Retrieved 2024-01-31.
  3. 1 2 3 "Waterloo Road's cast of staff, parents and students reveal all about the new series". BBC Media Centre . BBC. 1 January 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  4. ↑ "The Young Gifted and Sam Podcast: The Ryan Clayton Interview on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 2024-01-31.
  5. ↑ Hallam, Katy (2023-11-29). "Corrie's Ryan Clayton shares health diagnosis and says 'I've had an acceptance'". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 2024-01-31.
  6. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (16 January 2018). "Coronation Street's male rape storyline begins as mysterious newcomer Josh arrives". Digital Spy . Hearst Communications. Archived from the original on 7 January 2026. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  7. ↑ Rackham, Annabel (21 March 2018). "Coronation Street: The story behind David Platt's rape". BC News . BBC. Archived from the original on 7 January 2026. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  8. 1 2 Davies, Megan (24 July 2018). "Inside Soap Awards 2018 full longlist revealed: Which Corrie, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks stars are up?". Digital Spy . Hearst Communications. Archived from the original on 7 January 2026. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  9. ↑ Lee, Jess (1 October 2018). "Coronation Street confirms Ryan Clayton exit as Josh Tucker's final appearance airs". Digital Spy . Hearst Communications. Archived from the original on 7 January 2026. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  10. ↑ Fitzpatrick, Katie (2 October 2018). "Coronation Street's Ryan Clayton announces he's left the show as Josh Tucker - but fans wonder why Josh didn't go to prison for rape". Manchester Evening News . Reach plc. Archived from the original on 7 January 2026.
  11. ↑ Fitzpatrick, Katie (10 October 2019). "Coronation Street reveals why rapist Josh Tucker is back". Manchester Evening News . Reach plc. Archived from the original on 7 January 2026. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  12. 1 2 3 Laurie, Dan (5 January 2026). "Coronation Street and Waterloo Road hunk Ryan Clayton joins rival soap". OK! . Reach plc. Archived from the original on 7 January 2026. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  13. ↑ Morris, Grace (17 February 2022). "'Coronation Street' star Ryan Clayton joins cast of 'Waterloo Road'". What to Watch . Future plc . Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  14. 1 2 Rosseinsky, Katie; Lewis, Knight (25 September 2025). "Waterloo Road cast: Full list of actors and characters". Radio Times . Immediate Media Company. Archived from the original on 8 January 2026. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  15. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (16 May 2023). "Waterloo Road stars tease bigger storyline for Joe Casey and Mike Rutherford". Digital Spy . Hearst Communications. Archived from the original on 8 January 2026. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  16. ↑ Laurie, Dan (5 January 2026). "Coronation Street star joins Hollyoaks as Mercedes McQueen's new love interest". RSVP Live . Reach plc . Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  17. ↑ Adams, Michael (5 January 2026). "Hollyoaks and Brookside to crossover again as three legendary characters arrive in the village". Radio Times . Immediate Media Company. Archived from the original on 5 January 2026. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  18. ↑ Zammitt, Erin (5 January 2026). "7 huge Hollyoaks spoilers from the dramatic New Year trailer". Digital Spy . Hearst Communications . Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  19. ↑ "New and Returning Characters Set to Shake Up the Hollyoaks Village in 2026". Lime Pictures . 5 January 2026. Archived from the original on 5 January 2026. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
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