Bill Ward (born 5 May 1967, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland) is an English actor and photographer known for his roles as Charlie Stubbs in Coronation Street and James Barton in Emmerdale.

Biography

He completed a degree in History at Bristol University. He is a former advertising executive. After Coronation Street, he had a role in the ITV series Cold Blood with Pauline Quirke. He is due to play Sir Lancelot, and other characters, in the latest Monty Python West End, Stage Production, Spamalot. He also had a small cameo role in the Jonathan Creek episode "Satan's Chimney", as a man who chatted up Julia Sawalha's character Carla Borrego after briefly offending her.


Coronation Street
In 2003, he joined the cast of Coronation Street, portraying local builder Charlie Stubbs. The character was frequently involved in controversial storylines, including an abusive relationship with former Rovers Return landlady, Shelley Unwin, portrayed by Sally Lindsay.

In 2006, Ward announced that he was to leave Coronation Street in an episode to air during 2007. The plot device required for his exit was provided by his affair with Maria Sutherland, prompting his lover, Tracy Barlow, to take drastic revenge by killing him. He won "Best Exit" and 'Best Storyline' at the 2007 British Soap Awards.


Theatre work
He has performed in West End musicals Spamalot (Sir Lancelot), The Lion King (Scar) and Million Dollar Quartet (Sam Phillips).

Ward also toured with Northern Stage in Look Back in Anger, the classic John Osbourne play in which he plays the disillusioned young graduate Jimmy Porter. He was recently playing the banished Duke Prospero in the Guildford Shakespeare Company's production of The Tempest and receiving rave reviews.

It was announced on 28 September 2012 that Ward had been cast in the original production of the Spice Girls musical Viva Forever!, playing T.V. talent show judge Johnny. The show premiered in the West End from November 2012, before officially opening on 11 December.


Emmerdale
In late 2013, Ward began starring in Emmerdale as James, introduced with three fictional sons as part of the Barton family.