James Baxter

Baxter created the role of Bruce Blakemore in Silk Road by Alex Oates at Assembly Studios as part of the Edinburgh Festival 2014.

Since 2013, Baxter has played the role of Leroy in the BBC1 series Still Open All Hours, the revival series of Open All Hours.

In the Fiona Evans stage play Scarborough at the 2007 Edinburgh Festival, his performance as a teenager embarking upon an illicit affair with his PE Teacher won him a best-actor nomination for a Festival Fringe Award, and favourable reviews.

In 2007, Baxter landed the role of Jake Doland, in the long running ITV soap opera Emmerdale. Baxter left the soap in 2009, together with his on-screen family, at the conclusion of their storyline. In 2012, Baxter played Jesus (of Caesarea) in the episode "Lemons" of the sci-fi sitcom Red Dwarf. He also had a bit part in the BBC's The Revenge Files of Alistair Fury, filmed on Tyneside, and played Alan Maddison in the ITV World War II drama Joe Maddison's War. In November 2013, he joined the cast of Hebburn as a guest in series two.

Baxter was born and brought up in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear and educated at Farringdon Community Sports College. He attended weekly classes at NADA (the Northern Academy Of Dramatic Arts) held at the city's Royalty Theatre. Whilst there he appeared in various productions including Some Like It Hot and the pantomime Aladdin (Christmas 2006).

James William Baxter (born 3 August 1990) is an English stage and TV actor best known for his roles as Jake Doland in Emmerdale, Leroy in Still Open All Hours, and Jesus in Red Dwarf.