 After attending Bradford Grammar School, a degree in French and Spanish at the University of Nottingham followed and led to him working as a night porter and a bodyguard on the Cote D'Azur and in Mexico City respectively.His first professional acting role came in "Trial & Retribution", which led to the role of Grant in the world premiere of Liz Lochhead's "Perfect Days" at The Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh.Here he was spotted by Wendy Brazington who was casting Michael Winterbottom's "Wonderland" which at the time had the working title "Snarl Up".