Birmingham actor James Sutton talks about life in Emmerdale
Actor James Sutton flies the flag for his home town whenever he appears on TV – and at the moment, that’s six times a week.
That’s because he’s named after it.
The Emmerdale newcomer was born James Cook in Good Hope Hospital, Sutton Coldfield, but when he joined Equity he discovered there was already an actor with his name.
James remembers: “I emailed him to ask if I could have my name, as he hadn’t worked for a while. He didn’t reply so I had to change it.
“I thought it would be nice to take Sutton from where I was born. It has a good ring to it and I’m very fond of the Midlands.
“It’s weird, though, having a bit of an identity crisis. I am still James Cook in my passport and at the bank, I’m just James Sutton for work.”
James, 26, is already an established soap star, having spent two years playing John Paul McQueen in Hollyoaks.
He made his mark to such an extent that he was shortlisted for Most Popular Actor at the National Television Awards in 2007, losing out to David Tennant.
He had plenty of dramatic storylines – John Paul came out as gay, had an affair with a priest and was blown up by his vengeful secret brother.
You might expect he’d have a slightly easier life now he’s joined Emmerdale as mechanic Ryan Lamb, but life in the Dales doesn’t seem any more relaxed.
Quite apart from the fact he has yet to learn his father is the owner of Home Farm, Mark Wylde, he almost dies in a spectacular accident tonight.
A van crashes into the Home Farm shop, crushing Ryan between the bonnet and a fallen beam.
James says: “I spent two days lying on a bonnet covered in dust and filth, in 30 degree heat, in a tiny room filled with crew and cameras. It wasn’t the most pleasant experience!
“It’s not my first time doing those type of scenes, but they are quite exciting to do. They bring in big cranes and stunt teams, and it makes a change from the more mundane scenes.”
After months of playing a gay character in Hollyoaks, James is now back to kissing girls as he looks forward to a blossoming romance between Ryan and Katie Sugden, played by Sammy Winward.
He was born in Sutton Coldfield but barely lived there before moving to the village of Haughton just outside Stafford with his mother Jeanette, a teaching assistant, and stepfather Steve, who works for BT. He attended King Edward VI School in Stafford. “I had an idyllic childhood, in a lovely village surrounded by fields where I could climb trees and make dens.
