For nearly 25 years, 6ft 2in
Graham Cole played the all-round good guy as
PC Tony Stamp in the hit TV drama,
The Bill.
While on screen for more than two decades, Graham won praise for his carefully crafted portrayal of dependable PC Tony Stamp at
Sun Hill Police Station. Off-screen, he worked tirelessly with the real police to make sure he kept up-to-date with frontline officers.
An actor since the age of 22, Graham and his wife,
Cherry have a special love for
Norfolk and their dream is to move house from
Kent to
Wroxham.
Amid all the buzz and glitz of showbusiness, Graham is a man of faith who has worked hard as a 'celebrity ambassador' for decades to support children's charities, such as
Childline, working with the show business charity, the
Grand Order of Water Rats that does a lot to help children in need.
Born in
Harlow, Graham was deeply moved as a teenager by the famous US evangelist
Dr Billy Graham - and he made a life-time commitment 'to follow Christ' at one of Billy's London meetings at
Earl's Court in 1966.
While Graham has seen national success in show business, there have been hard times, too: "my faith and the support of my church and family helped me to keep upbeat," he says.
"I firmly believe that Jesus is with me and He influences every decision I make. And the way I choose to live my life is a reflection of what He means to me. It really matters how you treat people, especially those who don't seem particularly nice on the outside."
Graham began his acting career working in summer season holiday camps. His TV break came as an extra playing monsters, in very uncomfortable costumes, in
Doctor Who.
Later, his skill at stage fighting and fast car driving won him work as an extra on ITV's The Bill and it wasn't long before his acting talents won him a full-time job on what became Britain's favourite police drama.
In his early years he first met Cherry, his 'beautiful knock-out' wife-to-be when Cherry was a teenage model for swimsuits at a holiday camp.
"Cherry has always been the only woman for me," he says. "In the words of
Princess Diana, she has been my rock and helped me to stay sane in a rewarding but insane profession."
Today, Graham and Cherry have two grown-up children,
Matthew and
Laura.
Graham has told his story in a witty and candid memoir, called "
On the Beat". He loves the festive fun of pantomime, and is delighted to be playing the villainous role of
Abanazer in
Aladdin at the
Theatre Royal in Norwich from December 18 to January 19.
He is "specially thrilled" to be back in East Anglia – an area he has grown to love – and where he and Cherry hope soon to set up their new home.
Pictured is Graham Cole as the villainous Abanazer in Aladdin.
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