Brian Bovell (born 26 October 1959) is an English theatre, television and film actor. His roles include Rob Thatcher in The Bill, Bishop John Thornber in Coronation Street, Leo Valentine in the soap opera Hollyoaks.
Background Brian Bovell was an actor in Black TheatreThe Dancing Face, A Collection of Rediscovered Works Celebrating Black Britain Curated by Booker Prize-winner Bernardine Evaristo , By Mike Phillips · 2021 - - Introduction when he appeared in the film, Babylon.Reading Evening Post, Thursday 13 February 1986 - Page 8 Actors As a theatrical actor, he won the Critics Circle Theatre Award for Best Supporting Actor for his part in Where is the Darkness.Apple TV - Brian Bovell
Since 1986, he has played three characters in Casualty, and four characters in Doctors.TV Insider, January 11, 2025 - As ‘Miss Scarlet’ Returns, Catch Up With 9 Alums, Including Stuart Martin - Dan Clarendon, Brian Bovell (Solomon)
Bovell was a Celebrity MasterChef semi-finalist in 2017.BBC - BBC One's Celebrity Masterchef serves up series 12, Experiencing the heat of the MasterChef kitchen are:Hello!, June 23, 2017 - Celebrity MasterChef 2017: the full line-up - Gemma Strong, Brian Bovell
Career 1980s Bovell played the part of Spark in the 1980 film, Babylon, which is about Jamaican life in Brixton.BBC - TWO BABYLON, Credits
Bovell played the character of Nat west in the 1981/82 film, Burning an Illusion which was directed by Menelik Shabazz.Women of the Lens, Oct 1, 2017 - Tribute To A Classic: Burning An Illusion (1981) Directed By Menelik ShabazzBrooklyn Academy of Music, May 3—May 7, 2024 - FILM, Burning an Illusion
Acting alongside Gary Olsen, Bovell co-starred in the television series Prospects, a twelve-episode comedy drama, directed by Alan Janes which began in 1986. Olsen was cast as Pincy and Bovell was cast as Billy, two East Londoners who were living on the breadline and always on the lookout to make a quid.Britch Comedy Guide - Prospects
Acting alongside Kate Hardie, Kevin McNally, and Nicky Henson, Bovell played the role of late-night deejay Joe Jeffries in the 1988 Antonia Bird directed miniseries Thin Air.Nostalgia Central - Thin AirThe Guardian, 13 Aug 2008 - The TV shows that time forgot
1990s Bovell played the role of Sammy Dean, the central character in the Lesley Manning directed 1990 serial, Blood Rights. Sammy Dean, a journalist who has become a detective, is hired by the wife of a conservative MP to find their missing daughter.Directors UK - Lesley ManningThatcher's Thrillers By Andrew Mark Lavender - Page 156 Blood Rights (1990)
Bovell had a recurring role as PC Charlie Webb in the television series, The Chief.The Guiness Television Encyclopedia, Jeff Evans, 1995 - - Page 107 CHIEF, THE, PC Charlie Webb Brian Bovell Bovell also appeared in the 1995 series Welcome II the Terrordome.TV Guide - Welcome II the Terrordome - Full Cast & Crew, Actor, Brian Bovell, Officer Bovell, Slave Hand He acted in the 1996 film, Playing Away which was directed by Horace Ové.Radio Times guide to film 2007 - Page 957 Playing Away
Bovell played Antonio in the BBC Radio version of William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night which was directed by Eoin O’Callaghan. It was broadcast on BBC Radio 3, on 7 May 1998 at 7:30 pm.Learning on Screen - Twelfth Night, Credits: Brian Bovell - Antonio
2000s – 2020s
In 2003, Bovell joined the cast of The Bill as DC Rob Thatcher. He appeared in fifty-seven episodes until his character was killed off in December 2004.Imdb - Brian Bovell, Credits, The Bill, 57 episodesTV Guide - Brian Bovell, The Bill
Bovell played the part of Carl Glenn in the television film, McCready and Daughter.Filmweb - FILM, McCready and Daughter, Obsada filmu McCready and Daughter > Brian Bovell Carl Glenn
Appearing in Thirteen Steps Down, Bovell guest starred as Tom Akwaa in two episodes that were aired in August 2012.TV Maze - Brian Bovell, Credits, Cast Credits, Thirteen Steps Down (2012)
Bovell played Corporal Marcus Blake in the 2014 play Kingston 14 that was directed by Clint Dyer.Everything Theatre, 4 April 2014 - Kingston 14, Theatre Royal Stratford East – Review - Anna ForsythKingston 14, by Williams, Roy, 1968 - CAST
In 2015, Bovell played the part of Ray Wilton in Unforgotten. His role as the bereaved father, who along with his wife Beth cope with their loss by doing community work with troubled teens in their area.The Guardian, Fri 9 Oct 2015 - Review, Unforgotten review – magnificent cast, dodgy dialogue Along with Peter Egan, Tom Courtenay, Trevor Eve, Gemma Jones and Ruth Sheen, he was referred to by Hollywood Soapbox as one of the real who’s who of British TV and theatre actors.Hollywood Soapbox, August 19, 2019 - REVIEW: ‘Unforgotten’ by John Soltes
From 2016, Bovell played the role of Bishop John Thornber on Coronation Street.Our Heritage TV - Hall of Fame, Brian BovellHello!, June 23, 2017 - Celebrity MasterChef 2017: the full line-up - Gemma Strong, Brian Bovell Also starting in 2016, Bovell appeared in about 24 episodes as the football coach Mr. Hansard in the series, Jamie Johnson.TV Maze - Mr Hansard, Appearances Jamie Johnson, Guest cast, played by Brian BovellBBC - Jamie Johnson, Ep. 1/1 -
Bovell had the recurring role of Solomon in the 2020s series Miss Scarlett.TV Insider, January 11, 2025 - As ‘Miss Scarlet’ Returns, Catch Up With 9 Alums, Including Stuart Martin - Dan Clarendon, Brian Bovell (Solomon)
Filmography Television
Year(s) Programme Role 2026 Benidorm Is Murder Archie Breach Interrogator Bridgerton John's Uncle 2025 The Famous Five Jeremiah The Chelsea Detective Billy Ford 2024 Silo Barney 2023 Vera Sam Hampton Ghosts Antique Expert Grantchester Bernie Palmer Malpractice Sir Anthony Owusu 2022-2025 Miss Scarlet Solomon 2021 Crime George Marsden Foundation Trantorian Seer Priest Jerk Immigration Officer Shadow and Bone Innkeeper Midsomer Murders Eric Gladberry 2020 Flesh and Blood Therapist 2017 The Other One Rupert C.B. Strike Derrick Wilson 2016 The Missing Henry Reed 2016-2022 Jamie Johnson Mr Hansard 2016-2018 Coronation Street Bishop John Thornber 2015 Unforgotten Ray Wilton Death in Paradise Erol Dumas 2012 13 Steps Down Tom Akwaa 2007 Humf (voice) 2006-2010 Hollyoaks Leo Valentine 2006 Judge John Deed Brian Mansridge 2003 Silent Witness Derek Johns My Dad's the Prime Minister Detective Andy Sharp In Deep Brigstock 2002-2024 Doctors Various 2002-2014 Holby City Various 2000 Lock, Stock... Bunny 1999-2001 Gimme Gimme Gimme Jez 1998-1991 Whizziwig Daniel Sinclair 1998 Maisie Raine D.C. Stephen Homes 1995 Class Act Don Walsh The Imaginatively Titled Punt & Dennis Show The Chief PC Charlie Webb 1994 A Touch of Frost Terry Bamtema 1993 Between the Lines David Baron Drop the Dead Donkey Barry Inspector Morse Pierre 1992-1993 Screen One Driver 3, DS Ibbotsen 1990 Blood Rights Sammy Dean 4 Play Richard 1989-2004 The Bill Various 1989 Bangkok Hilton Postman High Street Blues Disc Jockey 1988-1990 South of the Border Fitz 1988 Thin Air Joe Jefferies 1986-2024 Casualty Various 1986-1987 Tickle on the Tum Gary Ball 1986 Prospects Billy 1985 Bulman Car Park Attendant 1984 Driving Ambition Bill Miracles Take Longer Trafford Garfield 1983 The Hard Word Lenny 1982 The Gentle Touch Mark Livesey 1980 Strangers Youth
References
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