Neil Ashton (actor)

Neil Ashton
BornNeil Smith
(1969-12-11) 11 December 1969 (age 55)
Kendal, Westmorland, England
OccupationActor
NationalityBritish
EducationKirkbie Kendal School
Period1990s–present

Neil Smith (born 11 December 1969), known by the stage name Neil Ashton, is an English actor known for his wide-ranging, often comic, performances in television programmes, notably Channel 4's It's A Sin and Sky's Brassic.

Life and education

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Ashton grew up as Neil Smith in Kendal, Cumbria, living above a newsagents on Highgate in the town. After leaving school, he became a fashion editor for teen magazine Just Seventeen.[1]

His notable television performances include 'Grizzle' in It's A Sin and Davey MacDonagh in Brassic. He has worked several times with screenwriter and Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies.[1] Ashton's lifetime nickname has been 'Nelly' and this was the name of the character he played in Davies' Cucumber.[2]

Personal life

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Ashton took his stage surname from the Lancashire town where his mother was born.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Neil Ashton: Brassic and It's A Sin star on growing up in Kendal". BBC News. 19 November 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Neil Ashton". TresA. 3 March 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  3. ^ "South Lakes actor tells of role in hit Channel 4 drama". The Westmorland Gazette. 13 March 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
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