Oliver Farnworth

Oliver Farnworth
Born (1982-08-05) 5 August 1982 (age 42)
Halifax, Yorkshire, England
Alma materBristol Old Vic
OccupationActor
EmployerITV
TelevisionHollyoaks (2006–2007)
Coronation Street (2014–2017)
Endeavour (2019) Emmerdale (2024—)
PartnerSamantha Womack (2021–present)[1]

Oliver Farnworth (born 5 August 1982) is an English actor. Farnworth was brought up just outside Halifax in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, but moved to Sidmouth in Devon when he was fifteen.[2] He trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.[2] He first came to recognition in Hollyoaks playing Will Hackett from September 2006 to May 2007.

Before appearing in Hollyoaks, Farnworth appeared on stage in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe[2] and in The London Plays, written by Ed Hime and directed by Kelly Wilkinson.[2] He has also appeared in three episodes of ITV1's 1960s medical drama The Royal, playing a character called Nev Cartwright.[3]

In 2008, Farnworth played the leading role in Saturday Night and Sunday Morning at the Harrogate Theatre,[4] and Lysander with the British Shakespeare Company in A Midsummer Night's Dream.[3] In 2009 he appeared in The Merchant of Venice at Penshurst Place Gardens in Kent.[3]

In April 2010, Farnworth appeared in the West End production of Holding the Man at the Trafalgar Studios.[5]

In 2014, he played Florian Dupont, a Belgian refugee, in the TV series Mr. Selfridge before joining the cast of Coronation Street as Andy Carver; his departure was announced in 2016.[6] His last scene, aired on 20 January 2017, saw him being supposedly killed by Pat Phelan (Connor McIntyre).[7] However, on 18 August 2017, Farnworth made an unexpected and unannounced return; revealing that Phelan was in fact, holding him captive in the cellar of an abandoned house until his death on 27 October 2017.[8] In 2019, he has appeared in the TV Series Endeavour, playing the role of PC Rich Potter.

Farnworth joined the cast of Emmerdale in 2024, playing John Sugden. His first episode aired on 7 August 2024.

  1. ^ Adejobi, Alicia (16 May 2021). "EastEnders actress Samantha Womack "dating" former Coronation Street actor Oliver Farnworth after split from husband". Metro. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d "The Feature: Introducing... Oliver Farnworth". Official London Theatre. 4 May 2010. Archived from the original on 21 December 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Read, Caroline (2009) "The Merchant Of Venice at Penshurst Place in Kent", thisissussex.co.uk, 17 July 2009, retrieved 3 January 2011
  4. ^ Loffill, Sheila (2008) "Don't Miss This Powerful Play", Harrogate Advertiser, 29 February 2008, retrieved 3 January 2011
  5. ^ Baynes, Valkerie (2010) "Jane Turner Sticks Close to Home for West End Debut", Sydney Morning Herald, 16 April 2010, retrieved 3 January 2011
  6. ^ "Corrie: Police called to Oliver Farnworth's leaving do". Digital Spy. 4 December 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  7. ^ Brown, David (20 January 2017). "Coronation Street: has Phelan REALLY killed Andy? Actor Oliver Farnworth speaks out!". Radio Times. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  8. ^ Bagwell, Matt (19 August 2017). "'Coronation Street' Spoilers: Andy Carver Is Back From The Dead – Eight Months After Shocked Viewers Thought Pat Phelan Had Killed Him". HuffPost. Retrieved 20 August 2017.