
John Henshaw
Acting
John Henshaw is a British actor famed for his roles as Ken the landlord in Early Doors, Wilf Bradshaw in Born and Bred and PC Roy Bramwell in The Cops. Henshaw was born one of 12 children. He grew up in Ancoats, Manchester's "Little Italy" community. He was a refuse collector for ten years before deciding to become an actor at the age of 40. His first big break in acting was as a minder to Robert Lindsay's character Michael Murray in the acclaimed Channel 4 series, G.B.H. Other TV credits include The Royle Family, The Visit, Life on Mars, whilst film credits include the Steve Coogan comedy The Parole Officer, the Bert Trautmann biopic The Keeper, and the Ken Loach films Looking For Eric and The Angels' Share. Henshaw is chairman of the 24:7 Theatre Festival, an annual festival of new writing for theatre based in Manchester.
Born: August 1, 1950 · Manchester, England, UK
Filmography (51)

Talamasca: The Secret Order
2025

Boat Story
2023

The Long Shadow
2023

The Full Monty
2023

Ridley
2022

Remembers…
2022

Stan & Ollie
2018

The Keeper
2018

Pin Cushion
2018

The Man Who Invented Christmas
2017

6 Days
2017

A Street Cat Named Bob
2016

Swallows and Amazons
2016

Cradle to Grave
2015

Documentary Now!
2015

Cilla
2014

Closer to the Moon
2014

By Any Means
2013

Father Brown
2013

The Angels' Share
2012

South Riding
2011

In Our Name
2010

Going Postal
2010

Red Riding: The Year of Our Lord 1974
2009

Looking for Eric
2009

Red Riding
2009

Grow Your Own
2007

Starter for 10
2006

Someone Else
2006

See No Evil: The Moors Murders
2006

Johnny and the Bomb
2006

Life on Mars
2006

Cheeky
2003

Early Doors
2003

The Second Coming
2003

The Afternoon Play
2003

Born and Bred
2002

Cutting It
2002

Happy Now
2001

The Parole Officer
2001

There's Only One Jimmy Grimble
2000

The Royle Family
1998

The Grand
1997

Midsomer Murders
1997

When Saturday Comes
1996

Cracker
1993

Heartbeat
1992

G.B.H.
1991

Dancin' Thru the Dark
1990

Casualty
1986

The Bill
1984
