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James William Baxter (born 3 August 1990) is an English actor known for his roles as Jake Doland in Emmerdale, Anthony in Alma's Not Normal, Leroy in Still Open All Hours and Jesus in Red Dwarf. Since 2023, he has portrayed deputy head teacher Joe Casey in Waterloo Road.

Early life

Baxter was born and brought up in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear and educated at Farringdon Community Sports College. He attended weekly classes at NADA (the Northern Academy Of Dramatic Arts) held at the city's Royalty Theatre. Whilst there, he appeared in various productions, including Some Like It Hot and the pantomime Aladdin (Christmas 2006).

Career

Stage

In the Fiona Evans stage play Scarborough at the 2007 Edinburgh Festival, his performance as a teenager embarking upon an illicit affair with his PE Teacher won him a best-actor nomination for a Festival Fringe Award, and favourable reviews.

He has played in the North East musical Fine Fine Fine based on a story by Denise Robertson.

Baxter created the role of Bruce Blakemore in Silk Road by Alex Oates at Assembly Studios as part of the Edinburgh Festival 2014.

Television

In 2007, Baxter landed the role of Jake Doland, in the long running ITV soap opera Emmerdale. Baxter left the soap in 2009, together with his on-screen family, at the conclusion of their storyline. In 2012, Baxter played Jesus (of Caesarea) in the episode "Lemons" of the sci-fi sitcom Red Dwarf. He also had a bit part in the BBC's The Revenge Files of Alistair Fury, filmed on Tyneside, and played Alan Maddison in the ITV World War II drama Joe Maddison's War. In November 2013, he joined the cast of Hebburn as a guest in series two.

Since 2013, Baxter has played the role of Leroy in the BBC1 series Still Open All Hours, the revival series of Open All Hours. In 2021, Baxter played the role of Anthony in Alma's Not Normal on BBC2.

In 2022, Baxter was cast as Joe Casey in the new series of Waterloo Road.

Radio

Imaginary Boys: As part of BBC Radio 4's Afternoon Play strand, Baxter played 17-year-old schoolboy David in a Paul Magrs play. David is followed by, and falls in love with, an alien called Lawrence. Lawrence is a noveliser from Verbatim 6, a species that is also featured in Magrs' Big Finish audio book Find and Replace and Ringpullworld.

Filmography

Personal life

In 2018, he began dating actress Chelsea Halfpenny, and they announced their engagement on 13 June 2021. In April 2023, Baxter and Halfpenny announced that they were expecting their first child together. In June 2023, Halfpenny announced the birth of her and Baxter's daughter.

References

1. Smith, Alistair (17 August 2007). "Assembly Rooms leads nominations for Stage Awards". The Stage News. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
2. "Edinburgh theatre review: Scarborough / Assembly Rooms". The Guardian. 6 August 2007.
3. Wilson, Victoria (26 December 2015). "Still Open All Hours' James Baxter: 'I'm worried the Arkwright till has more screen time than me!' | News | Christmas". What's on TV.
4. Guide, British Comedy. "Still Open All Hours - BBC1 Sitcom". British Comedy Guide.
5. Guide, British Comedy. "Alma's Not Normal". British Comedy Guide.
6. "Kym Marsh confirmed to join BBC One's Waterloo Road as cast is revealed". BBC Media Centre. 10 February 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
7. "BBC Radio 4 - Afternoon Drama, Imaginary Boys".
8. "BBC - Afternoon Drama: Imaginary Boys - Media Centre". Archived from the original on 16 August 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
9. "Emmerdale stars Chelsea Halfpenny and James Baxter reveal they're dating in real life years after leaving soap". Heart. 7 October 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
10. Anderton, Joe (13 June 2021). "Former Emmerdale and Casualty star Chelsea Halfpenny announces engagement to boyfriend James Baxter". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
11. "Former Emmerdale star Chelsea Halfpenny pregnant with her first child". Digital Spy. 15 April 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
12. Seddon, Dan (30 June 2023). "Former Casualty and Emmerdale star Chelsea Halfpenny welcomes new baby". Digital Spy. Retrieved 30 June 2023.

External links

• James Baxter at IMDb

• 1990 births
• Living people
• Male actors from Sunderland
• 21st-century English male actors
• English male radio actors
• English male soap opera actors
• English male stage actors