| Alex Walkinshaw | |
|---|---|
| Born | Alex Newcombe Walkinshaw 5 October 1974 Barking, Essex, England |
| Height | 6' (1.83 m) |
| Spouse | Sarah Trusler (2009-present) |
| Children |
Flora Walkinshaw (born February 2004) Jack Walkinshaw (born December 2006) |
Alex Newcombe Walkinshaw (born 5 October 1974) is an English actor best known for playing the role of Inspector Dale "Smithy" Smith in ITV's long running police procedural series, The Bill.
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Walkinshaw was born on 5 October 1974 in Barking, Essex. His first TV appearance was at the age of 12 as an extra in Grange Hill for a year. From 1992 to 1993 he appeared in the sitcom Side by Side.
In between acting jobs in the 1990s, he also worked as a labourer, office fitter and also at a snooker hall in Barking.[1]
In 2000, the left handed Walkinshaw met his wife Sarah when she worked as a make-up artist on The Bill. They married on 20 June 2009 after several years together at the Queen's House in Greenwich. They live in South-East London with their two children, Flora and Jack.
He is very close friends with his former co-stars Roberta Taylor and René Zagger. Taylor is like a second mother to him and is even grandmother by proxy to his children. Zagger is his best friend and they have known each other since they were 15 and 16; they also shared a flat when they were both on The Bill as PCs. Zagger and Scott Maslen were his best men at his wedding.
He is a West Ham supporter and enjoys programmes such as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Doctor Who.[2]
He undertakes local charity work and is the patron for the St Thomas' Lupus Trust.[2] On 24 March 2007, he took part in The Weakest Link and won £9,450, which he donated to Essex based charity "Kids in Need", which grants wishes for underprivileged, sick and terminally ill children.
Walkinshaw's first television appearance was as an extra in Grange Hill.[2]
He first appeared in The Bill in three episodes as a guest star in 1992, 1993 and 1995,[3] before joining as a regular cast member in 1999. It was whilst he was acting at the Royal Court Theatre that he was spotted by one of the producers of The Bill and was encouraged to audition for the programme. He joined The Bill as PC Dale Smith, better known as "Smithy" and then left in 2001.[4] In 2003, he returned when his character was promoted to Sergeant. When The Bill was axed in Scotland in 2009 by STV, Walkinshaw was the last person to appear on Scottish screens alongside Sam Callis as Sgt Callum Stone.
After The Bill was axed in 2010 by ITV, Walkinshaw admitted that "It was emotional shooting the final scenes" and that he found it "tough" to leave behind some of his co-stars.[5]
He has previously admitted that he would be keen to appear in EastEnders.[6]
In 2011 it was confirmed by the BBC that Walkinshaw had been cast in Waterloo Road, replacing Paul Nicholls.[7]
In 2008, he was nominated for Outstanding Drama Performance at the National Television Awards.[8] The award was won by David Tennant.[9]
| Year | Programme | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011- | Waterloo Road | Jez Diamond | |
| 2003-10 | The Bill | Sgt/Insp. Dale Smith | National Television Awards 2008 - Outstanding Drama Performance - Nominated |
| 2002 | Stan The Man | Tommy | |
| 2001 | Holby City | Mickey | |
| 2001 | Urban Gothic | Stevo | |
| 1999-2001 | The Bill | PC Dale Smith | |
| 1995-98 | McCallum | DS Small | |
| 1995 | Crown Prosecutor | Troy Daly | |
| 1995 | The Bill | Andy Franklin | |
| 1995 | A Touch of Frost | Pearce | |
| 1994 | Anna Lee | Kevin | |
| 1993 | The Bill | Lee Tarrant | |
| 1993 | To Play The King | Boy Mugger | |
| 1993 | A Question Of Guilt | Ed Darvas | |
| 1992 | Casualty | Alan | |
| 1992 | The Bill | Steven Murray | |
| 1992-93 | Side by Side | Terry Shane | |
| 1990 | Death in Venice | Older Boy |