{{Short description|English actor (born 1959)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Michael McKell | image = | imagesize = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1959|02|10}} | birth_place = [[Tottenham]], [[London Borough of Haringey|Haringey]], England | occupation = {{Hlist|Actor|singer}} | years_active = 1985–present | television = {{Plainlist| * ''[[Murder Investigation Team (TV series)|Murder Investigation Team]]'' * ''[[Doctors (2000 TV series)|Doctors]]'' * ''[[Emmerdale]]'' }} }}
'''Michael McKell''' (born 10 February 1959) is an English actor and singer. His career began in music, co-writing various songs for [[Toyah Willcox]], [[Dollar (band)|Dollar]] and [[Julien Clerc]], as well as embarking on a brief solo career. McKell then focused on acting and became known for playing Inspector Trevor Hands in ''[[Murder Investigation Team (TV series)|Murder Investigation Team]]'' (2003–2005), [[Nick West (Doctors)|Dr. Nick West]] in ''[[Doctors (2000 TV series)|Doctors]]'' (2006–2008) and [[Nick Henshall]] in ''[[Emmerdale]]'' (2008–2011). Alongside various television and theatre roles, McKell has led an established film career since the 1990s, having appeared in numerous films including ''[[Essex Boys]]'' (2000), ''[[Once Upon a Time in London]]'' (2019) and ''[[Prizefighter: The Life of Jem Belcher]]'' (2022).
==Early life== McKell was born on 10 February 1959 in [[Tottenham]], [[London Borough of Haringey|Haringey]], in his grandparents' house. He was initially to be named Paul, chosen by his mother, but after weeks of not having a registered name, his father registered him as Michael. Alongside his mother, a factory worker, and his father, a chargehand, moved to [[Walthamstow]] in his youth. Growing up, the family had money troubles.<ref>{{cite web |title=I was born an 8lb baby on Shrove Tuesday Pancake day, in my grandparents large rented house, 13 Daleview Road in Tottenham London England at 8.45pm on the 10th of February 1959. After weeks of my name not being officially registered by my father, my mother was on his case to get it sorted. |url=https://www.facebook.com/story.php/?story_fbid=9014813435200450&id=100000156490549&_rdr |publisher=[[Facebook]] |access-date=25 March 2025}}</ref>
==Career== ===Music=== McKell started his working life as a musician. He was the singer/songwriter for the band The Park, penning hits for [[Toyah Willcox]], [[Dollar (band)|Dollar]] and [[Julien Clerc]]. His solo career after deals with Phonogram, WEA and EMI was cut short by a near fatal car crash in August 1991.<ref>{{cite web |title=Michael McKell - Discogs |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/2397903-Michael-McKell?srsltid=AfmBOorjVZMt3J4YZWp057kp4pxVlyt6pk-miJoNfw6vo-rSQRLbqQzM |publisher=Discogs |access-date=25 March 2025}}</ref>
In 1985, he toured as Michael St James with French star Julien Clerc and worked with French singer–songwriter [[Serge Gainsbourg]]. McKell released an EP, ''Shower over Moon Street'', in 2009 and performed tracks from his album ''Shower over Moon Street'' at the [[Royal Albert Hall]] in November 2009. "Save Me", the first single from the album, was released on 25 July 2010. In 2022, he released the album ''The Last Picture Show''.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Last Picture Show - Album by Michael McKell |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/1qkmUiZXz9WVDFkrfftivO |publisher=[[Spotify]] |access-date=24 March 2025}}</ref>
=== Television === McKell is known for appearing in two British soap operas, ''[[Doctors (2000 TV series)|Doctors]]'', in which he played [[Nick West (Doctors)|Dr. Nick West]] from 2006 until the character was run over and killed in 2008,<ref name="Nick">{{cite web |title=Dr Nick West |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/doctors/characters/nick_west_person_page.shtml |publisher=[[BBC]] |access-date=22 August 2022 |archive-date=10 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140210111310/http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/doctors/characters/nick_west_person_page.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> and ''[[Emmerdale]]'', in which he played DC Nick Henshall over two separate periods from 2008 to 2011, until the character committed suicide. He has also appeared in a third soap opera, ''[[EastEnders]]'', as the hitman Carter who supposedly killed [[Paul Trueman]] under the orders of [[Andy Hunter (EastEnders)|Andy Hunter]]. For his role as Nick in ''Doctors'', McKell received nominations for Sexiest Male at the 2006, 2007 and 2008 [[British Soap Awards]].<ref name="2006 BSAs">{{cite news|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8bd815ec|title=The British Soap Awards 2006 (2006)|work=[[British Film Institute]]|access-date=26 January 2020|archive-date=26 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126102134/https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8bd815ec|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="2007 BSAs">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/news/a58280/the-british-soap-awards-2007-the-winners.html|title=The British Soap Awards 2007: The Winners|publisher=[[Digital Spy]]|date=27 May 2007|last=Green|first=Kris|accessdate=20 May 2012|archive-date=19 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019175838/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/news/a58280/the-british-soap-awards-2007-the-winners.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="2008 BSAs">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/news/a94815/the-british-soap-awards-2008-the-winners.html|title=The British Soap Awards 2008: The Winners|publisher=[[Digital Spy]]|last1=Hilton|first1=Beth|last2=Green|first2=Kris|date=4 May 2008|accessdate=20 May 2012|archive-date=19 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019164040/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/news/a94815/the-british-soap-awards-2008-the-winners.html|url-status=live}}</ref> His exit storyline later saw a nomination at the 2009 ceremony.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/news/a154689/british-soap-awards-2009-the-winners.html|title=British Soap Awards 2009: The Winners|publisher=[[Digital Spy]]|last1=Green|first1=Kris|last2=Kilkelly|first2=Daniel|date=10 May 2009|accessdate=20 May 2012|archive-date=16 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016051744/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/news/a154689/british-soap-awards-2009-the-winners.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=McLennan |first1=Patrick |title=British Soap Awards 2009: Nominations revealed! |url=https://www.whatsontv.co.uk/british-soap-awards/british-soap-awards-2009-nominations-revealed-189110/ |access-date=16 February 2021 |work=[[What's on TV]] |publisher=[[Future plc]] |archive-date=9 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409230830/https://www.whatsontv.co.uk/british-soap-awards/british-soap-awards-2009-nominations-revealed-189110/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
He is also known for playing D.S./D.I. Trevor Hands in two series of the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] drama ''[[Murder Investigation Team (TV series)|Murder Investigation Team]]'', two series of Channel 4's ''[[Totally Frank]]'' and the BBC series ''[[Blessed (TV series)|Blessed]]'', playing Ronnie, a Jaggeresque musician.<ref name="Manc">{{cite web |title=We Will Rock You: In conversation with Michael McKell |date=4 September 2022 |url=https://mancunion.com/2022/09/04/we-will-rock-you-in-conversation-with-michael-mckell/ |publisher=The Mancunion |access-date=24 March 2025 |archive-date=18 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240618083516/https://mancunion.com/2022/09/04/we-will-rock-you-in-conversation-with-michael-mckell/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
=== Film === McKell starred in the cult film ''[[Essex Boys]]'' alongside [[Sean Bean]] as drug dealer Wayne Lovell. Other films include ''Beneath Still Waters'', ''Acts of Godfrey'', ''The Low Down'', ''Blood'', ''Bar'', ''Death'', ''Freight'', ''Shouting Men'', ''[[Outpost: Rise of the Spetsnaz]]'', ''[[Hatton Garden: the Heist]]'' and ''Who Needs Enemies''.<ref name="Manc" /> McKell played [[Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (character)|the titular roles]] in Steve Lawson's 2021 film ''[[Adaptations of Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde|Jekyll and Hyde]]'', and appeared in 2022's ''[[Prizefighter: The Life of Jem Belcher|Prizefighter]]'' with [[Matt Hookings]], [[Ray Winstone]] and [[Russell Crowe]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Midlands Review of Jekyll and Hyde |date=January 2022 |url=https://www.midlandsmovies.com/midlands-review-of-jekyll-and-hyde |publisher=Midlands Movies |access-date=24 March 2025}}</ref>
=== Theatre === McKell appeared in a production of ''[[Macbeth]]'' at the [[Lyric Theatre (Hammersmith)|Lyric Hammersmith]] in the late 1990s. He has appeared in West End musicals, including ''[[Blood Brothers (musical)|Blood Brothers]]'' and the [[Rod Stewart]] musical ''[[Tonight's the Night (2003 musical)|Tonight's the Night]]'', written and directed by [[Ben Elton]]. Elton later went on to write the character Ronnie for McKell in his BBC comedy ''Blessed''. McKell played "Lank" in the double Olivier winning production of ''Crazy for You'' in 2012 and returned to the role he created "Stoner" in the 2014 production of ''Tonight's the Night''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Michael McKell stars in The Heist |url=https://mmbcreative.com/news/michael-mckell-stars-heist/ |publisher=MMB Creative |access-date=25 March 2025 |archive-date=4 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204084056/https://mmbcreative.com/news/michael-mckell-stars-heist/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
From January to July 2015, McKell co-starred with [[Tina Hobley]], [[Jamie Lomas]], [[Rik Makarem]] and [[Gray O'Brien]] in a nationwide touring production of [[Peter James (writer)|Peter James's]] ''Dead Simple''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Michael McKell is currently starring in 'Dead Simple' at Milton Keynes Theatre & Hertfordshire Constabulary's Heritage Watch |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02snpxm |publisher=[[BBC]] |access-date=24 March 2025}}</ref> From September to October 2015, McKell appeared with [[Nick Moran]] in ''Roaring Trade'' at the [[Park Theatre (London)|Park Theatre]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Casting announced for ROARING TRADE at Park Theatre |date=10 September 2015 |url=https://www.londontheatre1.com/theatre-news/nick-moran-michael-mckell-roaring-trade-park-theatre/ |publisher=LondonTheatre1 |access-date=24 March 2025 |archive-date=25 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240625091334/https://www.londontheatre1.com/theatre-news/nick-moran-michael-mckell-roaring-trade-park-theatre/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
From 7 December 2015 to 3 January 2016, McKell appeared in his first pantomime as Abanazar in ''Aladdin'' at the [[Derby Arena]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Michael McKell - Bum on a Seat |url=https://bumonaseat.wordpress.com/tag/michael-mckell/ |publisher=Bum on a Seat |access-date=24 March 2025}}</ref> McKell then portrayed Paul in Irvine Welsh's play ''Creatives'' at the Edinburgh Festival 2017. McKell embarked on a UK and Ireland tour when he appeared in ''[[We Will Rock You (musical)|We Will Rock You]]'' from 2019.<ref>{{cite news |title=Interview With Michael McKell As We Will Rock You Comes To The North |url=https://chimeo.com/article/Interview-With-Michael-Mckell-As-We-Will-Rock-You-Comes-To-The-North |access-date=24 March 2025 |work=Chimeo |archive-date=4 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220704035112/https://chimeo.com/article/Interview-With-Michael-Mckell-As-We-Will-Rock-You-Comes-To-The-North |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Filmography== ===Film=== {| class="wikitable" ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | 2000 | ''[[Blood (2000 film)|Blood]]'' | Guy | |- | 2000 | ''[[Essex Boys]]'' | Wayne Lovell | |- | 2000 | ''The Low Down'' | Pubman | |- | 2000 | ''Kitchen Sync'' | Man | Short film |- | 2001 | ''Bar'' | Barman | |- | 2005 | ''[[Beneath Still Waters]]'' | Dan Quarry | |- | 2010 | ''Freight'' | Vasile | |- | 2011 | ''[[Will (2011 film)|Will]]'' | First Detective | |- | 2012 | ''Acts of Godfrey'' | Billy McGann | |- | 2012 | ''After Death'' | Buck Darrenson | |- | 2013 | ''[[Outpost: Rise of the Spetsnaz]]'' | Colonel Strasser | |- | 2013 | ''Who Needs Enemies'' | Ian | |- | 2014 | ''O.'' | Sgt. Miles | |- | 2015 | ''Shoe Polish'' | Sidney | Short film |- | 2016 | ''Essex Vendetta'' | Spencer | |- | 2016 | ''[[Hatton Garden: the Heist]]'' | Basil | |- | 2016 | ''[[Allied (film)|Allied]]'' | German Officer at Anfa Café | |- | 2017 | ''The Birth of Boxing'' | Frank the Ringmaster | Short film |- | 2017 | ''Freehold'' | Gerry | |- | 2017 | ''Transhuman'' | Michael |- | 2017 | ''Leonard'' | Bernie | Short film |- | 2018 | ''[[Winter Ridge]]'' | John Faulkner | |- | 2018 | ''[[Where Hands Touch]]'' | Gestapo #4 | |- | 2018 | ''The Guard of Auschwitz'' | Klaus | |- | 2019 | ''The Cloaking'' | Doctor Michael Thompson | |- | 2019 | ''[[Once Upon a Time in London]]'' | Detective Rogers | |- | 2019 | ''13 Graves'' | Len | |- | 2019 | ''I Know What You Did'' | Michael Downey | |- | 2019 | ''The Angel of Auschwitz'' | Josef Mengele Senior | |- | 2019 | ''Abatement'' | Andrew | |- | 2019 | ''Pentagram'' | Oliver | |- | 2019 | ''Lucas and Albert'' | Tony Mac | |- | 2019 | ''A Midwinter Night's Dream'' | The Vicar | Short film |- | 2021 | ''Splinter'' | Bobby | |- | 2021 | ''[[Adaptations of Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde#Film|Jekyll and Hyde]]'' | [[Henry Jekyll]] / [[Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (character)|Mr Hyde]] | |- | 2022 | ''Darkheart Manor'' | Buck Darrenson | |- | 2022 | ''[[Prizefighter: The Life of Jem Belcher]]'' | Frank the Bomber | |- | 2022 | ''Reset'' | Doctor Frank | Short film |- | 2023 | ''Trafficking'' | The Duke |- | 2023 | ''A New Breed of Criminal'' | Vic | |- | 2023 | ''[[The New Housekeeper]]'' | Leading Detective | |- | 2023 | ''[[Thieves in the Night]]'' | Mike | |- | 2024 | ''War Blade'' | {{N/A}} | |- | 2025 | ''Treasures of Terror Vol 3'' | Vicar | |}
===Television=== {| class="wikitable" ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2010 | ''[[The Bill]]'' | Various | 7 episodes |- | 1996 | ''[[Madson (TV series)|Madson]]'' | Ray McGreevy | 1 episode |- | 1996 | ''[[Thief Takers]]'' | Jones | Episode: "Nasty Boys" |- | 1997 | ''[[Supply & Demand (TV series)|Supply & Demand]]'' | Police Observer | Television film |- | 1997 | ''[[The Vanishing Man]]'' | Steve | Television film |- | 1998 | ''[[Animal Ark]]'' | Jude Somers | Episode: "Donkey on the Doorstep" |- | 1999 | ''[[Kavanagh QC]]'' | Clifford Luscombe | Episode: "End Game" |- | 1999 | ''[[CI5: The New Professionals]]'' | Phoenix | Episode: "Phoenix" |- | 2000 | ''[[Lock, Stock...]]'' | Terry Gardner | Episode: "...And Two Sips" |- | 2000 | ''[[Urban Gothic (TV series)|Urban Gothic]]'' | Dr. Stillman | Episode: "Cry Wolf" |- | 2002 | ''[[NCS: Manhunt]]'' | Lee Wilde | Recurring role |- | 2003 | ''[[A Touch of Frost]]'' | Flynn | Episode: "Hidden Truth" |- | 2003 | ''[[Danielle Cable: Eyewitness]]'' | Terry Cable | Television film |- | 2003–2005 | ''[[Murder Investigation Team (TV series)|Murder Investigation Team]]'' | Trevor Hands | Main role |- | 2004 | ''[[EastEnders]]'' | Carter | Guest role |- | 2005 | ''[[Holby City]]'' | Billy Andrews | Episode: "Dignity" |- | 2005 | ''[[Blessed (TV series)|Blessed]]'' | Ronnie | Main role |- | 2005–2006 | ''[[Totally Frank]]'' | David | Recurring role |- | 2006–2008 | ''[[Doctors (2000 TV series)|Doctors]]'' | [[Nick West (Doctors)|Nick West]] | Regular role |- | 2008–2011 | ''[[Emmerdale]]'' | [[Nick Henshall]] | Regular role |- | 2009 | ''Myths'' | Daedalus | Episode: "The Fall of Icarus" |- | 2013 | ''[[Casualty (TV series)|Casualty]]'' | Paul Rivers | Episode: "Three's a Crowd" |- | 2013 | ''[[Marple (TV series)|Marple]]'' | Frank Stanford | Episode: "Endless Night" |- | 2015 | ''[[Cradle to Grave]]'' | Joey Churcher | 1 episode |- | 2016 | ''[[Obsession: Dark Desires]]'' | Bill | Episode: "The Devil in the Pews" |- | 2017 | ''Brussel'' | Gordon | Recurring role |- | 2018 | ''[[Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators]]'' | Len Tekler | Episode: "The Rascal Cook" |- | 2019 | ''[[Vera (TV series)|Vera]]'' | Michael Claythorpe | Episode: "The Seagull" |- | 2021 | ''The Engineering That Built the World'' | Joseph Strauss | Episode: "Battle of the Bridges" |- | 2025 | ''[[Juice (TV series)|Juice]]'' | Brian | Recurring role, series 2 |}
==Awards and nominations== {| class="wikitable" ! Year ! Ceremony ! Category ! Nominated work ! Result |- | 2006 | rowspan="4" | [[British Soap Awards]] | rowspan="3" | Sexiest Male | rowspan="4" | ''Doctors'' | {{nom}} |- | 2007 | {{nom}} |- | 2008 | {{nom}} |- | 2009 | Best Exit | {{nom}} |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|0571264}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McKell, Michael}} [[Category:1959 births]] [[Category:20th-century English male actors]] [[Category:20th-century English male singers]] [[Category:21st-century English male actors]] [[Category:21st-century English male singers]] [[Category:English male soap opera actors]] [[Category:English male musical theatre actors]] [[Category:English male film actors]] [[Category:English male television actors]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Male actors from London]] [[Category:People from Tottenham]]