 After being expelled from Eaglesfield Boys Comprehensive in Woolwich at 15, Fairbrass successfully auditioned for the National Youth Theatre.He then worked as a roofer's labourer for the following years, while managing to land an agent.After a few years of doing walk-on roles in "Emmerdale", "Three Up Two Down", and "Shelley", Fairbrass made his first real TV appearance as an actor in the 1984 BBC television series "Big Deal" as Nev in the episode "Fighting chance" followed by another BBC role in "Tuckers Luck".