John Alford
Biography
The Glasgow-born actor was cast in Grange Hill after attending a London stage school from the age of nine where he studied alongside EastEnders' stars Patsy Palmer and Sid Owen. After appearing briefly in an ITV sitcom called Now and Then (1983), Alford landed the role in Grange Hill (1978) at the age of 11. But the young actor found fame too tough to handle and started drinking heavily. By the time he left the show at the age of 17 he had reportedly spent up to £80,000 on alcohol and gambling. John, most famous for his role of young fireman Billy in the hit TV series, London's Burning (1988), became an overnight pop star with reggae version of the song "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" which went into the UK charts at number 13 in 1996. In December of that year, just before he was due to appear in pantomime in Sunderland, Alford collapsed and was taken to hospital in Newcastle suffering from a rare blood disorder. In May 1999, he was jailed for nine months for supplying drugs to an undercover Journalist. After the drug charges and sentence John found TV work extremely difficult to find and became a roofer. The following year he appeared in Mike Bassett: England Manager (2001), playing the part of Deano.
Known For & Full Filmography11 Titles
Drama Series - 1986, 16 episodes • as Dave Moore
Drama series about the staff and patients at Holby City Hospital's emergency department, charting the ups and downs in their personal and professional lives.
Drama Series - 1986, 16 episodes • as Taxi Driver
Drama series about the staff and patients at Holby City Hospital's emergency department, charting the ups and downs in their personal and professional lives.
Drama Series - 1978, 16 episodes • as Robbie Wright
Children's drama series following the lives of students and teachers at Grange Hill comprehensive school.
Drama Series - 1987, 16 episodes • as Self
Going Live! was a Saturday morning magazine show, broadcast on BBC1 between 1987 and 1993. It was presented by Phillip Schofield and Sarah Greene. Other presenters included Trevor and Simon, Peter Simon, Emma Forbes, and puppet Gordon the Gopher. The show was broadcast during the autumn to spring seasons, with other shows such as the 8:15 from Manchester and Parallel 9 taking over during the summer months. It was preceded by Saturday Superstore, and succeeded by Live & Kicking. In 1988, when the second series started, Greene was hurt in a helicopter crash with her then boyfriend, Mike Smith. Guest presenters stood in for her including T'Pau's Carol Decker. Similarly, in 1992-93 during the final series, Schofield was starring in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and was unable to present the show. A third presenter took his place. Originally, Neighbours actor Kristian Schmid took the role but soon left after problems with his work permit. Various other celebrities to stand in included Shane Richie and Robbie Williams during his Take That days.
Drama Series - 1990, 16 episodes • as Eddie Deakin
The Chief is a British crime drama transmitted on ITV from 20 April 1990 to 16 June 1995. Produced by Anglia Television, it centred on the politics at the top of a typical English police force in its continual battle to solve the problems the times, in this case the fictional Eastland of East Anglia.
Drama Series - 2000, 16 episodes • as Billy
A series of ten 10-minute films – some humorous, some dramatic – capturing key in the lives of taxi drivers and their passengers. Among these journeys, a man visits his lover, a gay prostitute goes to work, two girls party on Christmas Eve, an American tourist sees 'real' London, and a cabbie helps a woman in distress.
Movie - 2017, 2h 15m • as Prison Warder
In April 2015, the Hatton Garden Safe Deposit Company, an underground safe deposit facility in London's Hatton Garden area, was burgled by 4 elderly men. With the stolen property having a value of up to £200 million, the incident has been called the "largest burglary in English history".
Movie - 2001, 2h 15m • as Deano
After England's football (soccer) manager has a heart attack, Mike Bassett is hired as the new manager and promptly announces the team will win the World Cup.
Movie - 1983, 2h 15m • as Master Gunner's Boy
The life of King Henry the Sixth, in three parts.
Movie - 2014, 2h 15m • as Self
Tony's been away for 25 Years. Now he's back and looking to put a team of faces together to do a job in Scotland.
Movie - 2021, 2h 15m • as Shlemko's Number One
Homage to the cult classic “Mondo Hollywood”, a groovy mushrooms dealer and a man from the 5th dimension journey through Hollywood to find the meaning of “Mondo.”