James Thornton, who played John Barton in Emmerdale, was killed off in a car crash in February 2012, and 14 years on he has built a successful career as a voice artist and is married to Gavin and Stacey star Joanna Page.
The Barton family arrived in the Dales in 2009, taking over the tenancy of Butler's Farm from Andy Sugden, played by Kelvin Fletcher. John and his wife Moira, played by Natalie J Robb, were parents to Matty, played by Ash Palmisciano, and Holly, played by Sophie Powles. John also adopted Adam, played by Adam Thomas, who was the biological son of his brother James Barton, famously played by Bill Ward.
Romance and rivalry in the Dales
John and Moira had been a couple since childhood, but both cheated on each other with other villagers. Eve Jenson, played by Suzanne Shaw, shared a kiss with John, while Moira's fling with Cain Dingle, played by Jeff Hordley, tested their bond. Moira later married Cain.
In February 2012, the couple got back together before John was killed off in a car crash, leaving his wife devastated. Speaking to the Daily Star at the time about his exit, James Thornton explained why he left Emmerdale.
"When I first joined I signed for three years but it took me a while before I got it into my head that I would be staying that long. But then once I started doing it, the people and the atmosphere, I really, really enjoyed it. The main problem has been the logistics - I still live in London."
"It's been hard. When you're on a soap your life is dictated by a two-week block. If you want to go anywhere you have to put a request in four months before. I'm really lucky as I do a lot of voiceover work, which is a safety net for me coming out of the show."
Life after Emmerdale
James now works as a voice artist, lending his vocals to numerous documentaries, including the BBC programme This Farming Life. He also provided narration for Benefits By the Sea: Jaywick (2015–2016), voiced the Channel 5 series The Motorway, serves as the voice of Talk TV, and provides narration for advertising campaigns for brands such as Ford, Amazon, Shell, and BP.
Away from Emmerdale, James starred in the series Stella (2014), as well as The Last Witch and Frankie (2013). Before landing the role of John Barton, he was known as Philip Roper in the series Red Cap between 2001 and 2004, and he also starred as Scott Bradley in Playing the Field (2000).
It was James' role in David Copperfield that led him to his now wife, Joanna Page; he played Ham Peggotty, and she portrayed Dora Spenlow in the two-part series. Joanna, 49, shot to fame in the BBC sitcom Gavin and Stacey, and has also starred in a long list of popular movies and television shows, including Doctor Who (2013), Midsomer Murders (2019), Love Actually (2003), and Nativity 2 (2012).
Family life in Henley-on-Thames
She also hosts the podcast Lush! with Joanna Page, where she and her husband share stories about their chaotic family life. James married the Welsh actress in December 2003, and they have four children together - Eva, Kit, Noah, and the youngest, Boe, who was born in 2021.
The family now lives in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, after living in London. They used to reside in East Dulwich and despite spending seven happy years there, she felt "cursed" and decided to leave.
"Somebody became fixated with my neighbour's Porsche [and also] shouted at us: 'The devil's watching you!' and I thought we had been cursed. Another neighbour, George, fed foxes from meat on a silver tray, and they screeched all night. So it felt like we were ready to move," Joanna told The Times.
Emmerdale airs weekdays on ITV and ITVX.
