John Alford, best known for his roles in “London’s Burning” and “Grange Hill,” has been charged with alleged sex offences involving a child. The 52-year-old actor faces six charges in total and was arrested earlier this year, according to reports by The Sun.
Alford, whose real name is John Shannon, has been accused of four counts of sexual activity with a child, one count of sexual assault, and one count of sexual assault by penetration. The trial is set to take place at St Albans Crown Court in December, with a pre-trial review scheduled for November.
The Glasgow-born actor first gained fame as Robbie Wright in the school drama “Grange Hill” in 1985 when he was just 13 years old. He later became well-known for his portrayal of fireman Billy Ray in the ITV firefighting drama “London’s Burning.
In addition to his notable television roles, Alford had appearances in other programs, including a bit-part role on “The Bill” as Steve Weller. He also pursued a brief pop career, achieving three UK top 40 singles in 1996.
Alford’s acting career began after training at Anna Scher’s stage school in north London, where he studied alongside future “EastEnders” stars Sid Owen and Patsy Palmer. Despite his early success, Alford struggled with the pressures of fame and reportedly spent large sums on alcohol and gambling after leaving “Grange Hill” at age 17. In 1999, it was reported that he confessed to consuming up to 18 bottles of beer and nine shots of spirits nightly.
From 1993 to 1998, Alford became a fan favourite as firefighter Billy Ray in “London’s Burning,” a role that coincided with the show’s peak popularity, drawing over 18 million viewers per night. The series became ITV’s third longest-running drama, following only “Coronation Street” and “Emmerdale.
Following his TV success, Alford also enjoyed a brief music career with several top 40 singles produced by Stock/Waterman. His debut single “Smoke In Your Eyes” reached No. 13 on the charts and earned him a performance on “Top Of The Pops.”
Alford later took a break from acting to work as a scaffolder and minicab driver but returned to the screen at the turn of the millennium. He appeared in the film “Mike Bassett: England Manager” and the reality show “Trust Me: I’m a Beauty Therapist” in 2001 and 2003, respectively. More recently, he had bit parts in “Casualty” and “The Hatton Garden Job.”
As the legal proceedings unfold, Alford’s once-bright career in entertainment faces an uncertain future amid these serious allegations.
