Ian Bleasdale

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Ian Bleasdale (b. 1952) is a British actor. He was born in Upholland, Lancashire and divides his time between Haworth in West Yorkshire and Bristol. He started off life as a teacher before deciding that he wanted to become an actor, something which he would later joke forced his mother to take to her sickbed.

He has appeared in various programmes, including Inspector Morse, The Brittas Empire, Andy Capp, Soldier Soldier, All Creatures Great and Small and even as a photographer who got physical with Mike Baldwin on Coronation Street.

However, Bleasdale was best known for his role as paramedic Josh Griffiths on the BBC television drama, Casualty. He is currently the second longest serving character in the show's 20 year history, bettered only by Derek Thompson's character Charlie Fairhead. Josh first appeared in episode 1 of series 4 (1989) and started as a speaking extra. His role has gone from strength to strength over the years and he has had several harrowing storylines so far, including the death of his family in a house fire, and his second wife Collette having an affair with a colleague and finally leaving him. He left the show on 3 November 2007 after 18 years.