Chris Walker

Christopher Walker (born 1964) is an English actor, known for his roles as Larry 'Tiger' Barton in the BBC drama Merseybeat and Rob Hollins in the BBC soap opera Doctors. For his portrayal of Rob, Walker has been nominated for various awards, and in 2010 and 2023, he won the award for Best On-Screen Partnership at the British Soap Awards, alongside Jan Pearson who played his on-screen wife, Karen Hollins. Walker has also appeared in various stage productions, notably ones written by his former teacher, John Godber.

Early and personal life Walker attended Minsthorpe High School, where he was taught by John Godber. He has a wife, Sharron, a son, Gabriel, and a daughter, Anastasia, who was a member of the rock band Bang Bang Romeo. Since competing in Celebrity MasterChef, Walker became an amateur chef, and participated as a chef during the Doncaster Wool Market Show as part of the 2019 Doncaster Food Festival. In addition, he has put on gourmet nights, including nine course meals at locations such as Regent Hotel.

Career Walker's television debut was in the ITV crime drama The Bill, in the role of Nick Shaw, a role he played from 1985 to 1987. He later returned to the series in 2007, in a different role. In the early 1990s, he appeared in a stage production of Bouncers at the Hull Truck Theatre. It was directed by his former teacher John Godber. The production was later ordered for a run on West End theatre. He returned to the Hull Truck Theatre for various other productions, including Up 'N Under. In 1997, he appeared in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street from March to May playing Ray Thorpe, a decorator. A year later, Walker began appearing in the BBC drama series Playing the Field as main character Matthew Mullen. Then in 2001, he joined the cast of the BBC procedural drama Merseybeat as PC Larry 'Tiger' Barton, a role he portrayed until 2004. In December 2005, he returned to Coronation Street, playing reformed killer Ed Jackson until March 2006.

In 2009, Walker began portraying the role of Rob Hollins in the BBC soap opera Doctors. In 2010, he won the award for Best On-Screen Partnership at the British Soap Awards alongside Jan Pearson, who portrayed his on-screen wife, Karen Hollins. Also in 2010, he participated as a contestant in Celebrity Masterchef, where he placed in the final five. He portrayed Rob in Doctors until its final episode in November 2024, after being cancelled by the BBC. During his time with the series, he also directed 12 episodes. In 2025, he returned to theatre and is set to appear in a UK touring production of The Signal-Man.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1985–1987 The Bill Nick Shaw Main role 1986 Dempsey and Makepeace Barman Episode: "The Cortez Connection" 1987 Brookside Mick Smith Guest role 1987 The Fourth Protocol Skinhead Film 1989–1990 The Manageress Brian Rimmer Main role 1990 The Continental Tez Television film 1990 Poirot First Officer Episode: "The Lost Mine" 1990 Portrait of a Marriage Ben Nicholson Main role 1991 Chernobyl: The Final Warning Grisha Television film 1991 Stay Lucky Detective Sergeant King Episode: "Poetic Justice" 1992 An Ungentlemanly Act Jim Fairfield Television film 1993 One Foot in the Grave Fire Officer Episode: "Secret of the Seven Sorcerers" 1993 Peak Practice Danny Jackson Episode: "Hope to Die" 1994 Nelson's Column Mr. Wicks Episode: "Out on a Limb" 1994 Smashie and Nicey, the End of an Era Ken from Pontefract Television special 1994 Funny Man The Hard Man Film 1995 Harry Pullen 1 episode 1995 Heartbeat Eddie King Episode: "Vacant Possession" 1995 Class Act George 1 episode 1996 Our Friends in the North Detective Chief Inspector Paul Boyd Episodes: "1974" and "1979" 1996 When Saturday Comes Mac Film 1996 The Prosecutors Reporter Television film 1997 Coronation Street Ray Thorpe Recurring role 1997 Ivanhoe Athelstane Main role 1997 The Fix Bronco Layne Television film 1998–2002 Playing the Field Matthew Mullen Main role 1998 Getting Hurt Ellis Television film 1998 Casualty Dave Hancock 2 episodes 1999 Silent Witness Keith Connel 2 episodes 1999 Where the Heart Is Geoff Episode: "A Higher Duty" 1999 Maisie Raine Carl Episode: "To Sleep" 2000 The King Is Alive Paul Film 2000 Peak Practice Hugh Mitchell Episode: "Divided We Stand" 2000 Doctors Martin Pearce Episode: "Double Trouble" 2001 In Deep Jess Cooper 2 episodes 2001 Clocking Off Mick Kay 1 episode 2001–2004 Merseybeat PC Larry 'Tiger' Barton Main role 2002 Born and Bred Frank Cosgrove Episode: "Brother in Arms" 2002 Midsomer Murders Sam Fielding Episode: "A Worm in the Bud" 2004 Doctors Tony Tanner Episode: "Wild, Wild West Midlands" 2004 Murder City Billy Gilmartin Episode: "The Critical Path" 2004 Casualty Mick Taylor 2 episodes 2004 Conviction Neil Harding 1 episode 2005 To the Ends of the Earth Oldmeadow Main role 2005 Spooks Driver Episode: "Road Trip" 2005–2006 Coronation Street Ed Jackson Recurring role 2006 Director's Debut Terry Episode: "The Lightning Kid" 2007 Doctors Gerry Carson Episode: "Quid Pro Quo" 2007 The Bill Martin Parks 2 episodes 2007 Holby City Ray Remick Episode: "The Reckoning" 2009–2024 Doctors Rob Hollins Regular role 2010 Celebrity MasterChef Himself Contestant 2011 First-Timer Jimmy Short film 2018 The Last Witness Gerrard Film 2018 Celebrity Eggheads Himself Contestant

Stage Title Role Venue Up 'n Under Tony Burtoft Hull Truck Theatre Bouncers Judd Hull Truck Theatre / West End Cramp The Dig Thor Cambridge Theatre Company Tour Salt of the Earth Hull Truck Theatre / U.S. tour Richard III Keeper National Theatre Live / U.S. tour The Changing Room Fielding Duke of York's Theatre The Signal-Man UK tour

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Result 2010 British Soap Awards Best On-Screen Partnership (with Jan Pearson) 2010 RTS Midlands Awards Male Acting Performance 2013 British Soap Awards Best Actor 2013 RTS Midlands Awards Acting Performance – Male 2014 British Soap Awards Best Dramatic Performance 2016 Inside Soap Awards Best Daytime Star 2017 British Soap Awards Best Actor 2017 Inside Soap Awards Best Daytime Star 2017 RTS Midlands Awards Acting Performance of the Year 2018 National Television Awards Serial Drama Performance 2018 British Soap Awards Best Male Dramatic Performance 2018 Inside Soap Awards Best Daytime Star 2018 RTS Midlands Awards Acting Performance – Male 2019 British Soap Awards Best Actor 2021 Inside Soap Awards Best Daytime Star 2022 British Soap Awards Best Leading Performer 2022 British Soap Awards Best On-Screen Partnership(with Pearson) 2022 Inside Soap Awards Best Daytime Star 2023 British Soap Awards Best Dramatic Performance 2023 British Soap Awards Best On-Screen Partnership(with Pearson) 2023 TVTimes Awards Favourite Soap Actor