Who is Coronation Street actor Daniel Brocklebank? The Shakespeare in Love star playing Weatherfield’s Billy Mayhew
Here, we look back on the actor's life and career so far - plus find out which film he starred in with Gwyneth Paltrow
CORONATION Street's Billy Mayhew has been dealing with a tough time, after spiralling into drug addiction.
And it turns out, the actor behind the character, Daniel Brocklebank, has also been dealing with traumatic events, as he led the search for missing soldier Daniel Johnston. Here's all you need to know...
Who is Daniel Brocklebank?
Daniel Brocklebank, 38, was born December 21, 1979, and is an English actor.
He is best known for playing Billy Mayhew in Coronation Street.
At the age of ten, he joined several local amateur dramatic societies with his grandma and was soon hooked on performing.
Daniel then took private LAMDA tuition outside of school.
In 1994 he was cast in a children's TV show Brum.
In 1999 Daniel received a Screen Actors Guild Award for his performance in the multi-award–winning movie Shakespeare in Love.
What films and TV shows has Daniel been in?
Before Corrie, Daniel was the star of the big and small screen, his credits include:
- Lord of the Flies playing Ralph (1995)
- Merlin playing Young Merlin (1998)
- Shakespeare in Love playing Sam Gosse (1998)
- The Hole playing Martyn Taylor (2001)
- The Hours playing Rodney (2002)
- The Devil's Arithmetic playing Schmuel Lubitch (1999)
- As You like It playing Silvius (2003)
- Release playing Jack Gillie (2010)
- EastEnders playing Roger Green (2010)
- Casualty playing Tom Watkins (2011)
- Coronation Street playing Billy Mayhew (2014 to present)
- Midsomer Murders playing Brian Grey (2015)
What has Daniel said about his Corrie character Billy Mayhew?
On March 12, 2018 Daniel revealed his own mother has been "disgusted" by Billy Mayhew's drug addiction on Coronation Street.
The actor - who has played the former vicar in the ITV soap since 2014 - has seen his character be put through hell with his drug addiction spiralling out of control and culminating with him taking heroin while in church.
Viewers have watched Billy's descent into addiction and how his life is being slowly ruined by the decisions he has made, but with Ofcom receiving almost 100 complaints about the scenes, Daniel revealed that his own mother was equally as horrified by the scene.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun Online, he said: "Of course there are some people have been horrified by it, no less than my mother.
"She was disgusted by the whole thing, but I think it’s an important story to tell."
He added: "That people functioning, well-adjusted, moralistic people can also fall to the darker elements that the world can offer."
More on Corrie
Who was Danny Johnston and how was Daniel involved?
Danny Johnston is a British soldier who vanished from his mum's home in Bognor Regis on Sunday, May 20.
Corrie actor Daniel was among those who led the search for Danny after he disappeared on the morning of May 20 at around 9am.
He previously tweeted: "A friend of mines brother is missing. Danny Johnston ex PWRR soldier & SRR went missing from Bognor Regis area 20/5/18 he is possibly in the Portsmouth/Winchester area.
"His family and friends are desperate to find him. Any info please contact the police on 101 ref 134/20th
PLS RT."
Tragically, police searching for the veteran, who served in Afghanistan and Northern Ireland, confirmed they had found his body.