Jonny Labey (born 15 January 1993) is a Jersey actor, writer and filmmaker. On television, he is known for his roles as Paul Coker in the BBC soap opera EastEnders (2015–2016) and Rex Gallagher in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks (2024–2026). He is also known for his theatre work. He starred in the West End production of Strictly Ballroom.
Early life Labey is from Grouville, Jersey. He attended Grouville School and Victoria College. He began dancing aged 5 and appeared in his first stage show aged 8 as part of the Jersey Amateur Dramatic Club. In 2011, he left Jersey to take a BA course at the Doreen Bird College of Performance in Sidcup, London, graduating in 2014. His cousin is fellow actor Philip Labey, known for starring as "Acorn" in various television advertisements for Oak Furnitureland alongside Stephen Critchlow in the mid-2010s.
Career After graduating, Labey appeared in stage shows including In the Heights and White Christmas. He appeared in Leon Lopez's film Soft Lad. Labey joined the cast of EastEnders in 2015, in the role of Paul Coker, the grandson of Les Coker (Roger Sloman) and Pam Coker (Lin Blakley). The character falls in love with Ben Mitchell (Harry Reid), but was later killed off in a homophobic attack. Labey appeared in EastEnders between 1 June 2015 and 8 September 2016, appearing in 106 episodes. His first role after leaving EastEnders was as the lead character, Rupert Brooke, in the play Verge of Strife, staged in Edinburgh in August 2016. In 2017, he was a contestant on ITV's Dance Dance Dance.
Labey returned to the stage in 2018 when he starred as lead character Scott Hastings in the original West End production of the musical Strictly Ballroom.
In October 2019, he began competing in The X Factor: Celebrity. He was given a safe seat along with Jenny Ryan and Try Star in week 1, but was eliminated in week 2 after landing in the bottom 2 with Martin Bashir as the result went to deadlock. He finished in tenth place. In 2022, he played Jamie Renton in an episode of the BBC soap opera Doctors.
Labey joined the cast of Hollyoaks in June 2024 as Rex, a gangster and Hannah Ashworth's pimp.
Labey co-founded the production company Doing Brave Productions with Margherita Barbieri, through which he made his directorial debut with the short film Swirl State. He wrote the book for the musical Full Swing, which he premiered at Jersey Opera House in 2026.
Personal life Labey is in a relationship with actress and dancer Margherita Barbieri. Labey is neurodivergent.
Discography
Singles As featured artist Title Year Peak chart positions Album UK SCOPeak positions for singles in Scotland: For "Run": "Run"(as part of The X Factor Celebrities 2019) 2019 87 3
Filmography Year Title Role Notes 2015 Soft Lad David Film 2015–2016 EastEnders Paul Coker Regular: 106 Episodes 2015 Children in Need Himself Performed in "EastEnders Does Top Hat" medley 2017 Dance Dance Dance Himself Winner (First of the series) 2017 Taking The Next Step Judge CBBC talent show 2019 The X Factor: Celebrity Himself Contestant 2022 Doctors Jamie Renton Episode: "Ancient History" 2022 Dare To Dream Theo Short film 2022 Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators Toby Philkes Episode: "If Music Be the Food of Love" 2024–2026 Hollyoaks Rex Gallagher Regular: 51 Episodes
Stage Year Title Role Notes 2014 In the Heights Graffiti Pete Southwark Playhouse, London 2014 White Christmas Ensemble Dominion Theatre, London 2018 Strictly Ballroom Scott Hastings Piccadilly Theatre, London 2022 Barefoot in the Park Paul Bratter The Mill at Sonning 2022 Rehab Kid Rock Playground Theatre, London 2022 Top Hat Jerry Travers The Mill at Sonning 2026 Full Swing Jersey Opera House
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Result 2015 Inside Soap Awards Best Affair (shared with Harry Reid) 2015 Digital Spy Reader Awards Best Newcomer 2016 Inside Soap Awards Best Partnership (shared with Reid)
References
External links