Leon Harrop

Leon Harrop (born 1991 or 1992)[1] is a British TV actor with Down's Syndrome, known for playing characters with the condition, most notably playing Ralph Wilson in The A Word (2016–2020)[2] and its spin off series Ralph & Katie (2022).[3][4]

Leon Harrop
Born1991 or 1992 (age 30–31)
NationalityBritish
Education
OccupationActor
Years active2009–present
Known for

Career

Harrop is from the town of Royton in Greater Manchester, and his first TV acting role was in a 2009 episode of the BBC drama The Street set in an unnamed street in Manchester. He starred alongside his onscreen mother Maxine Peake and onscreen dad Stephan Graham. Harrop got the part after the casting company rang his school, New Bridge School, and Harrop's teacher suggested him. After Harrop's teacher asked his mother what she thought, she read the script to see if the role was a good fit for Harrop. Harrop says that reading the script made his mother cry.[1] After filming the episode the series' creator and writer Jimmy McGovern said Harrop was a "natural talent".[5]

Harrop then went on to perform in another BBC drama set in Manchester, portraying Lee in the mini series From Here to There (2014) about the 1996 Manchester bombing by the IRA.[6] He also appeared in a 2015 episode of the Channel 4 police procedural drama No Offence also set in Manchester, and a 2016 episode of the BBC anthology drama series, Moving On created by Jimmy McGovern, with whom Harrop had previously worked on The Street.[1][5]

Harrop played series regular Ralph Wilson in The A Word between 2016 and 2020 in for all three series of the show, with the news and entertainment website HITC noting in September 2020 that his performance was being praised by fans of the show.[2]

Between 2019 and 2021 Harrop had guest appearances in three episodes of the Sky One comedy drama Brassic. [7] Also in 2021 he guest starred in the BBC medical drama Casualty as Jordan "Jordy" Holt in the 11th episode of the 35th series.[8]

In 2022 Harrop reprised his role of Ralph Wilson in The A Word's spin off show Ralph and Katie starring alongside Sarah Gordy who plays the eponymous character of Katie Thorne.[3][4]

Filmography
TV Show Role Year Episode(s) Channel Genre
The Street Otto 2009 1 episode ("Past Life") BBC One Drama
From Here to There Lee 2014 3 episodes BBC One Mini series
No Offence Adam 2015 1 episode Channel 4 Police procedural
Moving On George 2016 1 episode ("Eighteen") BBC One Drama anthology
The A Word Ralph Wilson 2016–2020 17 episodes BBC One Drama
Brassic Albie 2019–2021 3 episodes Sky One Sitcom
Casualty Jordan "Jordy" Holt 2021 1 episode BBC One Drama
Ralph & Katie Ralph Wilson 2022 6 episodes BBC One Drama

References: Harrop's agency: Conway Van Gelder Grant,[9] and IMDb[10]

References
  1. Byrne, John (15 November 2016). "My First Audition: Leon Harrop". The Stage. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  2. Fogarty, Paul (3 June 2020). "Who plays Ralph in The A Word? Fans are full of praise for the 'brilliant' Leon Harrop". HITC. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  3. Molina-Whyte, Lidia (21 September 2020). "The A Word spin-off Ralph & Katie gets confirmed October air date". Radio Times. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  4. McCallum, Iain (22 February 2022). "Ralph & Katie commences filming in Manchester and The Lake District". BBC Media Centre (Press release). Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  5. Beckett, Jessica (5 August 2009). "Leon's a natural says top TV writer". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  6. Heward, Emily (5 June 2014). "Leon's dream of Corrie role after starring in Manchester bomb drama". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  7. "Brassic (2019– ) Full Cast & Crew". IMDb. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  8. "Leon Harrop: Jordan 'Jordy' Holt". IMDb. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  9. "Leon Harrop". Conway Van Gelder Grant. Archived from the original on 13 October 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  10. "Leon Harrop". IMDb. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
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