Alex Newcombe Walkinshaw

Born on Saturday 5th October 1974, Alex is a 34 year old Libran who was born in Barking in Essex and he has one younger sister.

Living in Salisbury Road, Barking, he went to St Margaret's Primary School, but the family moved to South Ockendon when he was six. However, he regularly returned to visit the Barking area as his grandmother has lived there her entire life.

As a child Alex used to train 5 days a week and competed in various competitions across Europe, finding it helped his asthma, his strongest event being the 100m butterfly. Like most 12 year old boys, Alex was energetic and began to get himself in trouble and badly needed an outlet for his enthusiasm. After studying drama at his secondary school, Alex found he had a real talent, joined a Saturday drama class at the Sylvia Young Theatre School and soon forgot about the swimming. Alex was elated to receive a scholarship for the Sylvia Young Theatre School a year later and later attended the London Dance Studios where he specialised in drama.

Starting in Grange Hill as an extra, Alex soon moved on to take up roles in Casualty, Nelsons Column, A Touch Of Frost and many more, before he secured himself a part as a regular in Side By Side and McCallum. He also worked in theatre and estimated that over 100,000 people saw him naked during the run of Judas Kiss in the West End and on Broadway. It was Alex’s first play and also his first nudity and sex scene! Whilst he wasn’t acting, Alex paid his way partitioning for a building firm, office fitting and was also a white van man. Alex has fond memories of working in Flukes in Barking Town Centre, a snooker club that belongs to his friend.

It was whilst performing in Lift Off at the Royal Court Theatre that Alex was spotted by one of the producers of The Bill and put was encouraged to audition for the role he is best known as, Dale Smith. Having appeared in The Bill three times before, Alex was familiar with some of the other actors and soon settled in and PC Smith soon proved to be a popular character both onscreen and off, gaining him many fans.

Alex first left The Bill in 2001 to move to America to get married, quit acting and open a bar, but it didn’t work out and he returned to England and to The Bill after a few other roles, but this time he was a Sergeant! Upon returning, Alex started a relationship with former The Bill make up artist, Sarah Trusler, and they married June 2009 after Alex proposed by writing a message in the sand on a Cornish beach. The couple live in Kent and have two children together, Flora, born in 2004 and Jack born December 2006.

Alex is a devoted family man who thanks The Bill for giving him not only Sarah and their children, but also best friends Roberta Taylor (who played Gina Gold) but also René Zagger (who played Nick Klein). Alex was gutted when René’s theatre commitments meant he couldn’t be best man in person at the wedding, but René did film his best mans speech where he told guests that “Alex is like a brother” to which the camera panned out and showed him in a dress and high heels!

Alex is a firm supporter of various charities and appeared on The Weakest Link in March 2007 where he won £9450 and gave it to the Essex based Charity Kids In Need of which René Zagger is a patron. He and René have also helped out St Thomas’ Lupus Trust with other actors on The Bill, and Alex, who is now a Patron for them, hosted an auction in 2006 as part of their Bollywood Ball dressed in traditional Indian clothing. He has also walked on coals for them…!

A massive West Ham fan, Alex wore a black armband to work the day after they were relegated and has even taught his daughter how to sing ‘I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles’ from a young age. He enjoys playing football and is honoured at having had the chances to play Charity matches with former West Ham stars during various Soccer Six matches. As well as football, Alex also enjoys DIY, golf (being nicknamed ‘Swear Up’ for constant foul language!) and other sports.