John Simm

Acting

John Simm

Born

1970-07-10 (56)

Place of birth

Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, UK

Known for

Acting

Credits

80 titles

John Simm grew up in Nelson, Lancashire. He attended Edge End High School, Nelson, Lancashire followed by Blackpool Drama College at 16 and the Drama Centre, London at 19. He lives with his wife, actress Kate Magowan, and their children Ryan (born 13th August 2001) and Molly (born February 2007). Simm won the best actor award at the Valencia Film Festival for his film debut in "Boston Kickout" (1996).

Known for

Doctor Who poster
7.6

The Doctor is a Time Lord: a 900 year old alien with 2 hearts, part of a gifted civilization who mastered time travel. The Doctor saves planets for a living—more of a hobby actually, and the Doctor's very, very good at it.

Doctor Who

2005

The One Show poster
4.3

A topical magazine-style daily television programme broadcast live on BBC One.

The One Show

2006

Heartbeat poster
7.1

Set during the 1960s in the fictional North Yorkshire village of Aidensfield, this enduringly popular series interweaves crime and medical storylines.

Heartbeat

1992

Would I Lie to You? poster
7.8

A comedic panel show featuring team captains Lee Mack and David Mitchell plus two guests per side, hosted by Rob Brydon (formerly Angus Deayton). Each person must reveal embarrassing facts and outrageous lies during a series of different rounds including "Home Truths", "This Is My..." and "Quickfire Lies". It is up to the opposing team to tell tall tales from fantastic facts.

Would I Lie to You?

2007

DNA Journey poster
6.0

Celebrities are given a unique insight into their lives using innovative DNA science and technology to trace their ancestors.

DNA Journey

2019

Grace poster
6.8

Brighton based Detective Superintendent Roy Grace is a hard-working police officer who has given his life to the job, but his career is currently at rock bottom. He’s fixated by the disappearance of his beloved wife, Sandy, and running enquiries into long forgotten cold cases with little prospect of success. Following another reprimand for his unorthodox police methods, Grace is walking a career tightrope and risks being moved from the job he loves most.

Grace

2021

Film credits

2020s · 2 titles

2010s · 5 titles

2000s · 22 titles

24 Hour Party People poster
7.0

Manchester, 1976. Tony Wilson is an ambitious but frustrated local TV news reporter looking for a way to make his mark. After witnessing a life-changing concert by a band known as the Sex Pistols, he persuades his station to televise one of their performances, and soon Manchester's punk groups are clamoring for him to manage them. Riding the wave of a musical revolution, Wilson and his friends create the legendary Factory Records label and The Hacienda club.

24 Hour Party People

2002

Miranda poster
5.5

A librarian begins a passionate affair with a mysterious woman who walks into his library. When she suddenly disappears he travels down to London to search for her only to discover that she has three identities - dancer, dominatrix and con-woman. But which one is the real Miranda?

Miranda

2002

Skellig poster
6.2

An ordinary boy named Michael is going through some extraordinary changes in his life. His family has just moved into an unfamiliar house, and his brand new baby sister has fallen ill. One day, while cleaning out the garden shed, he stumbles across something mysterious, a strange creature huddled in the corner; weak of body but strong of will. This is Skellig.

Skellig

2009

The Dark Side of Porn: The Real Animal Farm poster
8.3

A look at the story behind the bestiality tape ANIMAL FARM. From its production in early 70's Denmark, to when it was smuggled to the UK and distributed in 1981.

The Dark Side of Porn: The Real Animal Farm

2006

Crime and Punishment poster
6.7

Former student Raskolnikov is pushed to murder when struggling to pay the rent on his apartment. When the murder is being investigated by the police, Raskolnikov struggles between trying to hide his guilt and the pressure to confess.

Crime and Punishment

2002

Brothers of the Head poster
5.5

In the 1970s a music promoter plucks Siamese twins from obscurity and grooms them into a freakish rock'n'roll act. A dark tale of sex, strangeness and rock music.

Brothers of the Head

2006

The 50 Greatest Television Dramas poster
NR

Boasting an amazing selection of the most watched, most influential and most highly acclaimed programmes ever made, The 50 Greatest Television Dramas presents a long overdue assessment of the rich heritage television drama has to offer. Channel 4 invited over 200 of Britain's top television drama professionals – writers, directors, producers and commissioners – to take part in an exclusive poll to discover what they consider the finest dramas ever produced.

The 50 Greatest Television Dramas

2007

Nero poster
6.0

As a young boy, future emperor Nero witnesses the mad Emperor Caligula kill his father and exile his mother. While in exile in the pontine islands, Agrippina, his mother, sees a vision telling her that her son can become emperor, but she will have to die first. She accepts the proposal. Back in Rome, Nero, now being raised by emperor Claudius after Caligula's death, Agrippina returns. She poisons Claudius' food and Nero becomes emperor. At first, Nero cuts taxes and introduces successful programs and invades Brittania. Soon he meets a beautiful slave named Claudia Acte, and marries her, throwing off his engagement with Claudius' daughter, Claudia Octavia, telling her she can marry someone she will be happy with. Heartbroken, she arrives at an island and kills herself. Nero enjoys being married to Claudia Acte, but soon he gradually goes mad with power and sets fire to Rome.

Nero

2004

The Human Spider poster
8.5

A look at Alain Robert, dubbed the Human Spider, who scales some of the world's tallest buildings without the aid of ropes or safety equipment, despite suffering with epilepsy.

The Human Spider

2008

Boys Alone poster
6.0

Take ten boys aged 11 and 12. A variety of backgrounds. Put them together in a house, with no adult control. Followed by a camera crew, the boys form hierarchies, rarely organise meals, and argue about where to sleep.

Boys Alone

2002

Forgive and Forget poster
5.5

David O'Neil, a plasterer and mature student Theo have been best mates for fourteen years and are practically inseparable. However, their friendship has become strained as Theo is about to move in with his long-term girlfriend, photographer Hannah. A raging jealousy awakes in David and he starts scheming to break up the loving couple using Hannah's insecurities against them. When the couple eventually separate David is in a quandary about his next move and is forced to confront his long-hidden homosexuality and feelings towards Theo. Eventually, David decides to reveal his sexual orientation and deep love for Theo very publicly by arranging for them both to appear as guests on Judith Adams' talk-show, "forgive and forget", with tragic consequences for their friendship and David's family.

Forgive and Forget

2000

Is Harry on the Boat? poster
4.9

On Ibiza, tour rep Brad is determined to win the informal competition among the male reps to sleep with the most female clients, while his friend Mikey is looking for true love.

Is Harry on the Boat?

2001

The Ties That Bind Us poster
NR

A look at the subtle (and not so subtle!) links to the show's past and future contained within the story of The Five Doctors.

The Ties That Bind Us

2008

Ten Minute Movie poster
7.0

A lowly extra gets a shot at stardom. Now the glory, and the girl, are at Sam's fingertips. But suddenly his best friend is packing heat and his femme has gone all fatale. Sam's got ten minutes to stop the plot twisting out of control.

Ten Minute Movie

2004

The Yellow House poster
7.4

John Simm stars as Vincent Van Gogh in The Yellow House, a feature-length drama that tells the moving human story of the most influential and explosive housemates in art history. For just nine weeks, in late 1888, Van Gogh and Gauguin share a home, The Yellow House, in Arles, southern France.

The Yellow House

2007

Monsoon Railway poster
NR

A look at three typical employees on Indian Railways as they fight the annual battle to keep the railway service running during the monsoon season.

Monsoon Railway

2005

No artwork available
7.0

A documentary about the conclusion of Life on Mars

The End of 'Life on Mars'

2007

Tu£sday poster
5.5

Four career criminals, two glamorous bank workers and one over-the-hill has-been all happen to be planning a robbery on a London bank on the same day, by sheer coincidence. The two investigating detectives must try and deduce how these seemingly unrelated people came to be in the area and which were responsible for the lifting a priceless emerald.

Tu£sday

2008

Factory: Manchester from Joy Division to Happy Mondays poster
7.7

Documentary celebrating the triumph, tragedy and human comedy that was Manchester record company, Factory. Started by the late Tony Wilson, Alan Erasmus, Peter Saville and Martin Hannett in the late 1970s, it became known as the home of Joy Divsion, New Order and Happy Mondays and for creating the Hacienda club. The label pioneered Britain's independent pop culture, creating a new Manchester and blowing a shed-load of money. Includes interviews with all the main players in the Factory story.

Factory: Manchester from Joy Division to Happy Mondays

2007

Blue/Orange poster
6.7

In a psychiatric hospital, a junior doctor is treating a young black man diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. The patient is having a final interview with the doctor, who has invited his mentor to sit in on the session. He is concerned that the diagnosis is inaccurate and would like the patient hospitalised for longer. The senior doctor, however, disagrees.

Blue/Orange

2005

Devilwood poster
7.0

In a lawless outpost in 17th Century England, the people have ceased to be God-fearing but learn to fear the Devil instead.

Devilwood

2006

Moose on the Loose poster
NR

Anchorage capital city of Alaska is the wildest city on Earth thanks to its dramatic wildlife. Alongside 260,000 people are up to 1,000 moose, 200 black bears and 60 grizzlies as well as large numbers of beavers, ravens and eagles. Managing this urban menagerie is all in a day's work for rangers Rick and Jesse. They believe that people and large dangerous animals can live in one city and through the groundbreaking Alaska Fish and Game project they're determined to prove it.

Moose on the Loose

2007

1990s · 9 titles

Human Traffic poster
6.8

For Jip, Lulu, Koop, Nina, and Moff, the dead-end jobs they endure during the week just kill the time until Friday night. That's when they cut very loose and get on the rollercoaster ride that takes them right through to Monday morning.

Human Traffic

1999

Wonderland poster
6.6

Living in working-class London, Bill, Eileen, and their three grown daughters navigate quiet lives of loneliness: cafe waitress Nadia searches for love through personal ads, hairdresser and single mother Debbie balances casual romance with co-parenting alongside her volatile ex, and expectant mother Molly copes with a partner overwhelmed by impending fatherhood.

Wonderland

1999

Carrying Dad poster
6.0

Frank and his brother Len meet on the day of their father's funeral. Together, with the help of Len's son Sean and Jean, a mysterious woman connected to the deceased, they will set off on a rather peculiar journey.

Carrying Dad

1995

A Pinch of Snuff poster
NR

Receiving a tip from his dentist Jack Shorter, policeman Peter Pascoe takes a closer look at the Calliope Kinema Club, a film club notorious for showing adult entertainment movies. Shorter is convinced that one particular scene in a movie he recently saw was too realistic to have been staged with fake blood, but when Pascoe and his bluff superior Andy Dalziel starts investigating, they soon comes across the actress in question, Linda Abbott, who obviously didn't suffer from any harm and assures Pascoe that the concerns are unnecessary.

A Pinch of Snuff

1994

No artwork available
NR

When the schizophrenic Gary Kingston murders his social worker, his case is handed over to the unsuspecting Anna Spalinsky. Social Services know that when Gary doesn't take his medication his friend Michael can exert an undue influence over him. But who is Michael?

Mirror Man

1995

Understanding Jane poster
6.8

In desperation Elliot and Oz decide to reply to a telephone dating ad to kickstart their non-existent love lives. Their Prayers are answered when two gorgeous girls agree to meet them on a blind date. Whilst fanning the flames of passion the two boys find themselves playing with fire! A fun filled roller coaster ride begins as the boys get more than they bargained for in their search for love.

Understanding Jane

1998

Boston Kickout poster
6.3

School leaver Phil moves with his father from inner-city London to the satellite Hertfordshire New Town of Stevenage, where they are promised a brighter future...but all Phil finds there is a bleak, cultural wilderness; a world of unemployment, violence, alcoholism and drug abuse in 90s Britain

Boston Kickout

1995

Diana & Me poster
6.0

Australian Diana Spencer wins a competition in a women's magazine, and as a prize gets a trip for two to London, where she wants to meet her idol and namesake, Princess Diana. She goes there with her fiance, Mark, but during the garden party the Princess plans to attend, things get mixed up and Aussie Diana gets arrested with Paparazzi photographer Rob. Diana really wants to meet the Princess and follows Rob as he searches for Princess Di to take some photos.

Diana & Me

1997

Meat poster
4.5

Brilliant, brutal and shocking drama starring Jonny Lee Miller and John Simm, following an ex-convict who falls for a prostitute, but makes a dangerous enemy of her pimp.

Meat

1994

Series credits

Doctor Who poster
7.6

The Doctor is a Time Lord: a 900 year old alien with 2 hearts, part of a gifted civilization who mastered time travel. The Doctor saves planets for a living—more of a hobby actually, and the Doctor's very, very good at it.

Doctor Who

2005

The One Show poster
4.3

A topical magazine-style daily television programme broadcast live on BBC One.

The One Show

2006

Heartbeat poster
7.1

Set during the 1960s in the fictional North Yorkshire village of Aidensfield, this enduringly popular series interweaves crime and medical storylines.

Heartbeat

1992

Would I Lie to You? poster
7.8

A comedic panel show featuring team captains Lee Mack and David Mitchell plus two guests per side, hosted by Rob Brydon (formerly Angus Deayton). Each person must reveal embarrassing facts and outrageous lies during a series of different rounds including "Home Truths", "This Is My..." and "Quickfire Lies". It is up to the opposing team to tell tall tales from fantastic facts.

Would I Lie to You?

2007

DNA Journey poster
6.0

Celebrities are given a unique insight into their lives using innovative DNA science and technology to trace their ancestors.

DNA Journey

2019

Grace poster
6.8

Brighton based Detective Superintendent Roy Grace is a hard-working police officer who has given his life to the job, but his career is currently at rock bottom. He’s fixated by the disappearance of his beloved wife, Sandy, and running enquiries into long forgotten cold cases with little prospect of success. Following another reprimand for his unorthodox police methods, Grace is walking a career tightrope and risks being moved from the job he loves most.

Grace

2021

Rumpole of the Bailey poster
7.1

Rumpole of the Bailey is a British television series created and written by the British writer and barrister John Mortimer. It stars Leo McKern as Horace Rumpole, an aging London barrister who defends any and all clients, and has been spun off into a series of short stories, novels, and radio programmes.

Rumpole of the Bailey

1975

Doctor Who Confidential poster
8.0

Doctor Who Confidential is a documentary to complement the revival of the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Each episode was broadcast on BBC Three on Saturdays, immediately after the broadcast of the weekly television episode on BBC One. The running time of the first two series was 30 minutes, being extended to 45 minutes in the third. BBC Three also broadcast a cut-down edition of the programme, lasting 15 minutes, shown after the repeats on Sundays and Fridays and after the weekday evening repeats of earlier seasons.

Doctor Who Confidential

2005

Moving On poster
7.3

Moving On is a British television series set in contemporary Britain consisting of standalone dramas all sharing the theme of someone going through some kind of change in their life and moving on.

Moving On

2009

Cracker poster
6.6

The wise-cracking Edward 'Fitz' Fitzgerald is a brilliant but flawed criminal psychologist with a remarkable insight into the criminal mind.

Cracker

1993

The Catch poster
6.6

Strong and successful Alice Martin is a fraud investigator who's about to be the victim of fraud by her fiancé. Between her cases, she is determined to find him before it ruins her career.

The Catch

2016

The Catch poster
6.6

Strong and successful Alice Martin is a fraud investigator who's about to be the victim of fraud by her fiancé. Between her cases, she is determined to find him before it ruins her career.

The Catch

2016

The Culture Show poster
6.7

A weekly BBC Two magazine programme focusing on the best of the week's arts and culture news, covering books, art, film, architecture and more.

The Culture Show

2004

Life on Mars poster
7.7

A detective chief inspector from 2006 is investigating a serial killer when he is knocked over by a speeding car. Waking up, he finds himself mysteriously transported back in time to 1973. Initially struggling to come to terms with his situation, he has to come to terms with the old-fashioned technology and attitude of the day, while figuring out how he came to be trapped in the past.

Life on Mars

2006

Screen One poster
7.2

Anthology drama series.

Screen One

1989

Toast of London poster
7.5

Steven Toast, an eccentric middle-aged actor with a chequered past, spends more time dealing with his problems off stage than performing on it.

Toast of London

2013

The Village poster
7.3

The Village is a BBC television drama created and written by Peter Moffat. Consisting of two six-episode series—the project intended as a 42-hour televised epic—the first series covers 1914 to 1920; the second continued the story into the 1920s. However, it was not commissioned for a third series. An epic drama charting the turbulent times experienced by one English village throughout the 20th century; births, deaths, political events and rebellions are among the events that occur during the time. Bert Middleton lives across the entire 100-year period, and his story from boyhood to old age forms the crux of the story, seen via flashbacks as Bert is interviewed in the present day by a documentarian working on a project about the second eldest man in the United Kingdom and his village.

The Village

2013

Cutting Edge poster
7.0

The flagship documentary series show distinctive, compelling films that offer a snapshot of life in Britain today.

Cutting Edge

1990

This World poster
6.0

The series is mainly focused on social issues and current affairs stories around the world. International current affairs documentaries, replacing "Correspondent".

This World

2004

Crime poster
6.5

Detective Inspector Ray Lennox investigates the disappearance of a schoolgirl while battling cocaine addiction and a mental breakdown.

Crime

2021

Crime poster
6.5

Detective Inspector Ray Lennox investigates the disappearance of a schoolgirl while battling cocaine addiction and a mental breakdown.

Crime

2021

I, Jack Wright poster
5.3

Explosive events unfold after Wright family patriarch Jack is discovered dead from a supposed suicide, leaving his immediate family utterly devastated.

I, Jack Wright

2025

The Lakes poster
7.0

The Lakes is a mystery drama created and written by Jimmy McGovern for BBC1. The first series – comprised of four episodes – broadcast from 14 September to 5 October 1997. A second series of ten episodes ran from 10 January to 14 March 1999. Danny Kavanagh leaves Liverpool for the Lake District, finding work at a hotel and love with a local girl named Emma. Yet Danny remains an outsider in the close-knit community, and through the machinations of fate, he finds himself implicated in a tragedy. The secrets, lies, and crimes, of the seemingly tranquil community continue to be revealed.

The Lakes

1997

Starstruck poster
6.6

A drunken New Year's Eve hook-up becomes far more complicated for Jessie when she discovers her one night stand is actually a film star.

Starstruck

2021

Spaced poster
7.9

Spaced: the anti-Friends, in that it examines the lives of common 20 somethings, but in a way that is more down to earth and realistic. Here we have Daisy and Tim; two 'young' adults with big dreams just trying to get by in this crazy world. They are thrown together in a common pursuit of tenancy, which they find by posing as a couple. The house has a landlady and an oddball artist living there. The series explores the ins and outs of London living.

Spaced

1999

State of Play poster
7.5

The murder of Sonia Baker, a young political researcher, leads journalist Cal McCaffrey to uncover complex links between government and big business.

State of Play

2003

Clocking Off poster
7.6

Clocking Off is a British television drama series broadcast on BBC One for four series from 2000 to 2003. It was produced by Red Production Company, and created by Paul Abbott. Effectively an anthology programme that followed the lives of a group of workers at a Manchester textile factory, with each episode focusing on the private life of a different character. How much do you know about the person working next to you? From the outside, life at Mackintosh Textiles appears to run smoothly, but in a community with so many secrets to hide, things are far from straightforward. In six powerful, self-contained dramas, everyday life is fractured by tumultuous marriages, snatched passions, disappearing spouses, and gang harassment.

Clocking Off

2000

Canterbury Tales poster
6.4

Six single dramas adapted from six of Geoffrey Chaucer's 14th century Canterbury Tales, transferred to a modern, 21st century setting, but still set along the traditional Pilgrims' route to Canterbury.

Canterbury Tales

2003

Code of a Killer poster
7.2

Based on the extraordinary true story of Alec Jeffreys' discovery of DNA fingerprinting and its first use by Detective Chief Superintendent David Baker in catching a double murderer.

Code of a Killer

2015

Collateral poster
6.4

When a pizza delivery driver is shot dead in south London, a tenacious detective goes after the people traffickers behind his murder and unravels a conspiracy that goes to the top.

Collateral

2018

Prey poster
6.8

Three-part crime thriller. When detective Marcus Farrow looks into a seemingly forgotten case, he has no idea of the chaos and heartache that will soon follow. He is found at the scene of a murder, and with all the evidence pointing towards him, he is arrested and charged.

Prey

2014

No artwork available
NR

One life is a BBC ONE's documentary programme. Each episode is a high quality and compelling film which reflects life in contemporary Britain.

One Life

2003

Cold Courage poster
5.7

Two young Finnish women in London are drawn inexorably together via the Studio - a clandestine group dedicated to bringing justice to those beyond the law. But, as their battle against exploitation, violence and corporate greed intensifies, will the Studio's ends continue to justify its means?

Cold Courage

2020

Exile poster
7.2

Exile is a British psychological thriller television series created by Paul Abbott and Danny Brocklehurst for BBC One. The three-part serial stars John Simm as London journalist Tom Ronstadt, whose world falls apart as a result of his own actions. Upon returning to his Lancashire hometown after 18 years, he finds his father, Sam, in the grips of Alzheimer's disease. During the course of the series, Tom begins to unravel the mystery of his childhood that drove him away many years earlier. Trying to extract information from Sam causes Tom to grow frustrated with his father's inability to remember. Tom continues on his quest for the truth, unaware he is unearthing a devastating crime that will reveal unimaginable secrets. The series received varying reviews, with praise for the script and performances but criticism for the clichés. Simm received a BAFTA nomination for his lead role, as did director John Alexander.

Exile

2011

Intruders poster
6.5

Members of a secret society chase immortality by seeking refuge in the bodies of others.

Intruders

2014

Chiller poster
6.2

Chiller is a five-part British horror anthology television series, produced by Yorkshire Television, broadcast on ITV from 9 March to 27 April 1995. Described by The Guardian as ITV's 'answer to The X Files', the series is inspired by, but unconnected to, the 1991 Channel 4 thriller Gray Cray Dolls, which broadcast under the Chiller banner. The series featured writing contributions from renowned playwrights Stephen Gallagher, Glenn Chandler and Anthony Horowitz.

Chiller

1995

The Devil's Whore poster
6.8

The Devil's Whore is a four-part television drama serial produced by Company Pictures for Channel 4, broadcast from 19 November to 10 December 2008. As the English Civil War rages, when both politics and religion divide the nation, spirited aristocrat Angelica Fanshawe is drawn to the anti-monarchist cause. She tells the story as England dares to execute its king and search for an alternative means of government.

The Devil's Whore

2008

Sex Traffic poster
6.7

The wrenching plight of two Bosnian sisters and their descent into the dark world of enforced prostitution. Their journey is intersected by a British journalist struggling to uncover a conspiracy by American peacekeepers and the machinations of an international charity organisation.

Sex Traffic

2004

Strangers poster
6.5

A sheltered London professor attempts to uncover the cause of his wife’s mysterious death in Hong Kong, traveling there after discovering she died in a car accident on the mountain roads of Tai Po.

Strangers

2018

The Dark Side of Porn poster
5.2

This documentary series examines the adult entertainment industry.

The Dark Side of Porn

2005