GIVE A DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTER YOU PLAY?
Grantly is in his late 40s and looking forward to retirement. He is Head of English at Waterloo Road. He does not hold a degree and is suspicious of the new teaching methods implemented by new deputy Andrew Treneman. He is passionately in love with his wife.

DESCRIBE YOUR CHARACTER IN 3 WORDS:
Cynical, disillusioned and sarcastic.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT GRANTLY?
His dry sense of humour and his love for his wife.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE LEAST ABOUT GRANTLY?
He is an educational dinosaur who cares little for his pupils.

WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR CHARACTER IF YOU MET THEM?
He would briefly amuse me.

WHAT ARE GRANTLY'S LIFE VALUES AND DO THESE DIFFER FROM YOUR OWN?
Grantly takes as much as possible with as little effort as possible, which is not like me at all.

HOW ARE YOU SIMILAR ARE YOU TO GRANTLY?
I have the same sense of humour but that is all I hope.

DOES YOUR CHARACTER HAVE LOVE INTEREST?
Grantly is devoted to his rather large wife.

WHICH CHARACTER AT WATERLOO ROAD DOES GRANTLY RELATE TO BEST?
Steph.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN A VICTIM OF BULLYING?
No, thankfully I've never been bullied.

ANY WORDS OF ADVICE TO KIDS WHO ARE VICTIMS OF BULLYING?
Tell your parents and teachers straight away.

IF YOU HAVE KIDS OF YOUR OWN - DO YOU TAKE A KEEN INTEREST IN THEIR EDUCATION?
Yes.

WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND BROUGHT UP?
Manchester, Carlisle, Barrow-In-Furness and Blackpool. My dad was a clergyman and moved a lot.

WHERE DO YOU LIVE NOW?
Kent.

WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF ARRIVING AT THE WATERLOO ROAD SET?
The set is excellent. It is, in fact, a disused school which adds to the authenticity.

ARE THE CLASSROOMS AND CORRIDORS OF WATERLOO ROAD THE SAME AS WHEN YOU WERE AT SCHOOL OR CAN YOU SEE CHANGES?
They have changed I think. My old school was a Victorian, unwelcoming building.

DO YOU SEE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN WATERLOO ROAD AND A SCHOOL YOU KNOW OR ATTENDED?
Yes, the detail is excellent in terms of notices, staffroom, furniture etc.

DESCRIBE THE STAFF ROOM AT WATERLOO ROAD?
Organised chaos - typical.

DO YOU THINK WATERLOO ROAD IS A REALISTIC PORTRAYAL OF A SCHOOL?
Of some schools, yes it is.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST PROFESSIONAL ACTING ROLE?
My first TV role was Sam Potter in "A Horseman Riding By".

WHAT ROLE ARE YOU BEST KNOWN FOR?
People know me as the actor who always plays villains. There have been lots of different parts that people remember me from, Casualty, and Coronation Street more recently.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE STORYLINE COMING UP AND WHY?
Mistakenly believing that a student is on drugs.

WHAT HAVE YOU ENJOYED MOST ABOUT RECORDING WATERLOO ROAD.
I've enjoyed all of it - it's been a great job.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING AFTER FINISHING FILMING THE SERIES?
Have a foot operation!

HAVE YOU ANY LONG TERM GOALS OR AMBITIONS FOR THE FUTURE?
To keep doing the best work I can.