Paul Clayton (actor)

{{About|the actor|the fictional character of the same name in Coronation Street|Paul Clayton (Coronation Street)}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Paul Clayton

| image = Paul Clayton 2024.jpg

| image_size = 200px

| caption = Paul Clayton in 2024

| birth_date =

| birth_place = Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England

| occupation = Actor, director, author, Columnist

}}

Paul Clayton is an English actor, director and author.

Career

Clayton played Ian Chapman in Channel 4 sitcom Peep Show.{{cite web|url=http://www.nsdf.org.uk/paul-clayton-for-actors-centre/|title=Paul Clayton for Actors Centre|publisher=National Student Drama Festival|accessdate=11 November 2013}} for five series. In 2011, Clayton portrayed Sam Foster, father of Frank Foster in Coronation Street. Clayton also appears in the BBC Three sitcom Him & Her where he plays Graham. In 2013 and 2014, he played Superintendent Marlow in Hollyoaks, until his character was murdered on 21 April.

Clayton has made other notable television appearances in Doctor Who, My Family, Doctors and Wire in the Blood, as well as films such as Ali G Indahouse. He also features in the British crime thriller The Rise.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/rise-video|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131113113320/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/rise-video|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 November 2013|title=The Rise|publisher=British Board of Film Classification}}

Clayton filmed "Danny Boy" for Expectation films in November 2020. He appeared in the film Greed released in February 2020 and in Sky One original Breeders He also appears in an episode of Cursed for Netflix as Ladislas. He has also directed Joe Orton's The Ruffian on the Stair at The Hope Theatre in January 2019 featuring Lucy Benjamin, Gary Webster and Adam Buchanan. Clayton was seen in "Outrageous Fortune", the opening episode of Series two of Shakespeare & Hathaway, alongside Alan Partridge in This Time with Alan Partridge, and in the acclaimed Black Earth Rising. He also appeared in season 2 of The Crown on Netflix as Bob Boothby. He also filmed Delicious with Dawn French for Sky One. Clayton made his first stage appearance for ten years in Brimstone and Treacle at the Hope Theatre in 2017 for which he was nominated for an Off West End award for Best Actor. In May 2018, Clayton appeared in major roles in Holby City and The Split on BBC One. He also shot the short horror picture Service directed by Theo Watkins.

Clayton plays Mr Colchester in Torchwood for Big Finish Productions.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bigfinish.com/news/v/new-series-5-of-torchwood-aliens-among-us|title=New Series 5 of Torchwood: Aliens Among Us! – News – Big Finish|website=www.bigfinish.com|access-date=2017-12-10}}

In 2021 Clayton recorded "The Red List," a new adventure for Big Finish.{{cite web|url=https://www.flickeringmyth.com/2021/08/doctor-whos-ace-joins-torchwood-for-the-red-list/|publisher=Flickering Myth|title=Doctor Who's Sophie Aldred returns as Ace for Torchwood: The Red List|date=28 August 2021 |access-date=2022-09-23}}

On stage, Clayton was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company where he appeared alongside actors including Judi Dench and Zoe Wanamaker.{{cite web|title=Theatricalia Website|url=http://theatricalia.com/play/ha/mother-courage-and-her-children/production/1yx}} In the West End, Clayton played the leading role of Tony in the improvised comedy whodunnit Scissor Happy at the Duchess Theatre{{cite web|last=Whatsonstage|title=Scissor Happy Review|url=http://www.whatsonstage.com/west-end-theatre/reviews/01-1998/scissor-happy_29959.html|accessdate=29 September 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114102030/http://www.whatsonstage.com/west-end-theatre/reviews/01-1998/scissor-happy_29959.html|archivedate=14 November 2013|df=dmy-all}} alongside The Comedy Store Players.

Clayton's directing credits include Privates on Parade at the Greenwich Theatre, starring Tony Slattery, The Comedy of Errors at Nottingham Playhouse starring Robert Bathurst, Paula Wilcox and Janet Dibley, The Pocket Dream at York Theatre Royal starring Lucy Benjamin{{cite web|last=British Theatre Guide|title=Pocket Dream Review|url=http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/pocketdream-rev|accessdate=29 September 2013}} and seven productions at the Watermill Theatre, Newbury.

Clayton was Chairman of the Actors' Centre in Covent Garden for ten years, stepping down in January 2018 and a former member and associate artist of the National Youth Theatre.{{cite web|title=The Actors Centre Website|url=http://www.actorscentre.co.uk/board.asp#clayton}} He is a regular columnist for The Stage newspaper{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/author/paul-clayton/|title=Paul Clayton {{!}} The Stage|website=The Stage|language=en-US|access-date=2017-12-10}} and patron of The Hope Theatre in Islington.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/2017/paul-clayton-becomes-new-patron-londons-hope-theatre/|title=Paul Clayton becomes new patron of London's Hope Theatre {{!}} News {{!}} The Stage|date=2017-11-23|work=The Stage|access-date=2017-12-10|language=en-US}} He is also a patron of children's literacy charity, Grimm & Co, based in his home town of Rotherham.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk/news/view,its-curtain-up-for-grimms-glorious-grand-gala_1292.htm|title=It's curtain up for Grimm's Glorious Grand Gala|work=Rotherham Advertiser|accessdate=2017-12-10}}

Clayton's most recent appearances inlucde Drew Peacock in BBC One's Eastenders,{{Cite web |title=EastEnders casts Peep Show legend as drag queen Drew Peacock for Elaine shock {{!}} Radio Times |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/eastenders/eastenders-drew-peacock-drag-queen-paul-clayton-newsupdate/ |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=www.radiotimes.com |language=en-GB}} Sir William Kingsley in Wolf Hall The Mirror and the Light,{{Cite web |title=Wolf Hall season 2 cast: List of characters in Mirror and the Light {{!}} Radio Times |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/wolf-hall-season-2-cast-characters-mirror-light/ |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=www.radiotimes.com |language=en-GB}} and more Torchwood adventures for Big Finish.{{Cite web |title=90. Torchwood: Reflect - Torchwood - Monthly Range - Big Finish |url=https://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/torchwood-reflect-2991 |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=www.bigfinish.com}}

He played Bernard Ingham in Channel 4's Brian and Maggie in 2025.{{cite web|website=Channel 4|date=21 January 2025|title=Brian and Maggie Press Pack|url=https://www.channel4.com/press/press-pack/brian-and-maggie-press-pack|archive-date=24 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250124122218/https://www.channel4.com/press/press-pack/brian-and-maggie-press-pack|access-date=12 February 2025}}

Filmography

= Film & Television =

Year	Title	Role	Episode
class="wikitable sortable"
2025 \|Brian and Maggie \|Bernard Ingham \|2 episodes
2024 \|EastEnders \|Drew Peacock \|Guest
2023 \| The Full Monty \|Dennis \|8 episodes
2022 \|House of the Dragon \|Lord Merryweather \|The Green Council
rowspan="3" \|2020 \|Danny Boy \|Sir Thayne Forbes \|Film
Holby City \|Roger Ffoulkes \|1 episode
Breeders \|Jeweller \|1 episode
rowspan="4" \|2019 \|Cursed \|Ladislas \|1 episode
Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators \|Leonard Baxter \|1 episode
This Time with Alan Partridge \|Dr Harding \|1 episode
Holby City \|Roger Ffoulkes \|1 episode
rowspan="2" \|2018 \|Greed \|Headmaster \|Film
Holby City \|Roger Ffoulkes \|1 episode
rowspan="3" \|2017 \|The Split \|Stanley Brining \|1 episode
The Forgiving Earth \|Jack Markham \|1 episode
The Crown \|Bob Boothby \|3 episodes
rowspan="4" \|2016 \|Man in an Orange Shirt \|Registrar \|1 episode
Drifters \|Uncle Gerald \|1 episode
Delicious \|Guy Trevelyan \|1 episode
The Frankenstein Chronicles \|Confectioner \|2 episodes
rowspan="2" \|2015	Wolf Hall	Sir William Kingston	2 episodes
Mr Selfridge	Auctioneer	Episode 3.3
2013–14	Hollyoaks	Supt. Marlow	9 episodes
2012–13	Him & Her	Graham	5 episodes
2013	Vera	Hotel Manager	Prodigal Son
rowspan="4" \|2012	Gambit	Sweaty Man	Film
The Secret of Crickley Hall	Ted Mason	Episode 1
The Rise	Albert Rendell	Film
VIP	The Daily Mail	1 episode
rowspan="3" \|2011	Coronation Street	Sam Foster	3 episodes
Sugartown	Panel Member 1	Episode 2
Law & Order: UK	Kenny	Crush
2010	Doctors	Rowly Calderone	5 episodes
rowspan="3" \|2009	The Queen	Bernard Ingham	Episode: "The Rivals"
Monday Monday	William Campbell	Episode No. 1.6
My Family	Peter	A Difficult Undertaking
rowspan="5" \|2008	Wire in the Blood	Governor Williams	3 episodes
Affinity	Mr. Vincy	TV film
Doctor Who	Mr Bartle	Planet of the Ood
He Kills Coppers	Tweed Suit	1 episode
Doctors	Eddie Martindale	Holding Back
2007–2015	Peep Show	Ian Chapman	6 episodes
rowspan="3" \| 2007	Doctor Who: The Infinite Quest	Mergrass (voice)	3 episodes
Hotel Babylon	Businessman	Episode No. 2.4
Rich Man, Poor Man: Ben Dover Straightens Up	Himself – Acting Coach	Documentary
rowspan="3" \|2006	The Amazing Mrs Pritchard	John Hughes MP	Episode No. 1.1
The Bad Food Guide	Raymond Postgate	Drama documentary
Save Lullingstone Castle	Himself – Narrator	Six Part documentary
rowspan="2" \|2005	Coronation Street	Mal Quillan	Episode No. 1.6108
55 Degrees North	Charles Bellows	Episode No. 2.4
2004	Fakers	Henry Price	Film
2003	Georgian Underworld	Ordinary	Invitation to a Hanging
rowspan="2" \| 2002	My Family	Director	The Second Greatest Story Ever Told
Ali G Indahouse	Alan Swan	Film
2001	Doctors	John Lanson	Coming Home
rowspan="2" \| 2000	One Foot in the Grave	Mitch Werner	The Futility of the Fly
The Man Who Cried	Second Official	Film
rowspan="2" \| 1999	Kiss Me Kate	Client	Money Matters
Tabs Tales	Various	Multiple Episodes
1996	Drop the Dead Donkey	Mike	Luck
1989	Forever Green	Commentator 2	Episode No. 1.2
1988	Salome's Last Dance	1st Nazarean	Film
1982/83	Jigsaw	Himself – Presenter	Multiple Episodes
1981	Brideshead Revisited	Tom Markham	Orphans of the Storm
1980	All Creatures Great and Small	Brian Weeting	If Wishes Were Horses
rowspan="2" \| 1979	Screenplay	Major Von Richter (Barricade Major)	Gossip from the Forest
Mersey Pirate	Himself – Presenter	Multiple episodes