John Alford

Biography: John was born in Glasgow but brought up in Islington, north London with his younger sister, Angela. He started acting aged six and, at the age of nine, enrolled at Acland Burghley drama school, where he trained alongside the likes of EastEnders' Patsy Palmer and Sid Owen. His first appearance on the small screen came two years later as Peter in the ITV drama 'Now and Then' and soon afterwards he landed the role of Robbie Wright in 'Grange Hill', where he met his long-time girlfriend and fiancee Tina Mahon ("Ronnie"). However it was John's role as Billy in ITV's 'London's Burning' that made him a household name. On the back of his success in London's Burning, John turned his hand at singing and, in 1996, released a version of "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes", which peaked at no 13 in the UK chart. Fame and success however came with a heavy price: After a public battle to curb his drinking and gambling habits, John was convicted of drug dealing in 1999 and imprisoned for 9 monthsJohn was born in Glasgow but brought up in Islington, north London with his younger sister, Angela. He started acting aged six and, at the age of nine, enrolled at Acland Burghley drama school, where he trained alongside the likes of EastEnders' Patsy Palmer and Sid Owen. His first appearance on the small screen came two years later as Peter in the ITV drama 'Now and Then' and soon afterwards he landed the role of Robbie Wright in 'Grange Hill', where he met his long-time girlfriend and fiancee Tina Mahon ("Ronnie"). However it was John's role as Billy in ITV's 'London's Burning' that made him a household name. On the back of his success in London's Burning, John turned his hand at singing and, in 1996, released a version of "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes", which peaked at no 13 in the UK chart. Fame and success however came with a heavy price: After a public battle to curb his drinking and gambling habits, John was convicted of drug dealing in 1999 and imprisoned for 9 months after having been caught in a c string, set up by Daily Mirror journalist Mahzer Mahmood.… Expand