Bill Ward has joined the cast of Ricky Gervais's Netflix series After Life for its second season, playing the suave newcomer Simon. The 52-year-old actor is best known for his roles in British soap operas, having played villain Charlie Stubbs on Coronation Street and James Barton on Emmerdale.
Ward's television career began in 2001 with small parts in shows like Jonathan Creek, Holby City, and Footballers' Wives. His big break came in 2003 when he landed the role of Charlie Stubbs on Coronation Street, a part he played for four years across 418 episodes. Charlie's storylines included an abusive relationship with landlady Shelley Unwin, an attempt to drown David Platt, and a twisted relationship with Tracy Barlow. His dramatic exit saw Tracy kill him after discovering his lies.
After leaving Coronation Street, Ward joined Emmerdale in 2013 as James Barton, appearing in 271 episodes. His character's storylines included a brief fling with Moira Dingle, reconciliation with his estranged wife Emma, who later killed him by pushing him down stairs and over a bridge into a car pile-up.
In addition to his soap work, Ward has appeared in Midsomer Murders, Silent Witness, and Casualty. In After Life 2, his character Simon vies with Tony (Ricky Gervais) for the affections of care home nurse Emma, played by Ashley Jensen.
