John Middleton makes his long-awaited debut as Froggy Black in Hollyoaks this week.
The award-winning actor is best known for his long-running role as vicar Ashley Thomas in Emmerdale for 21 years from 1996 until 2017.
However, he’s set to show off his darker side as he joins the Channel 4 soap as the prisoner Froggy who happens to be the grandfather of villains Clare Devine (Gemma Bissix) and Grace Black (Tamara Wall).
Froggy, who is currently residing in Longmere prison, has become allies with recently incarcerated ‘Tax Man’’Tom Cunningham (Ellis Hollins), who is now his off-the-books financial advisor.
In recent episodes, fans have seen Tom conspire against his childhood tormentor Clare, with him seemingly working with Froggy to do so.
Untouchable Froggy has quickly built-up a reputation around the prison, but the king pin is set to be released soon with plans of leaving his criminal life behind and spending time with his precious family, in particular his beloved granddaughter, Gracie.
Viewers are first introduced to Froggy when he receives some startling information from Tom about his granddaughter’s whereabouts and is forced to intervene. However, will his grandchildren welcome him with open arms?
Talking about his new role, John said “From vicar to villain is quite a leap but that’s why I love this part.
“Froggy has a very dark history and he could reveal everyone’s murky past. He knows where all the bodies are buried, perhaps quite literally.”
Despite being mostly recognised for his role as Ashley the vicar in Emmerdale, John also played John Hargreaves in Coronation Street three years before he found fame on the rival ITV soap.
In 1993, John knocked down and killed Lisa Duckworth, the pregnant ex-girlfriend of Terry Duclworth (Nigel Pivaro). Two years later, the actor appeared in Corrie again this time as a hospital consultant when Deirdre Barlow’s (Anne Kirkbride) late husband Samir Rachid (Al Nedjari) was beaten up and killed by a gang of thugs.
His first Emmerdale role was that of PC John Jarvis at the time of the Post Office raid in 1994, before landing the role of the caring and sympathetic Rev. Ashley Thomas in December 1996.
After he starred in Strangers on a Train as American detective Arthur Gerard. In 2021, John played Frank in the one man show Hull & High Water, and throughout 2022 and 2023, John played Colonel Pickering in the UK Tour of My Fair Lady.
John’s other credits include Doctors, The Things You Do for Love, Against all Odds, The Round Tower, The Grand, Hetty Wainthropp Investigates, The Ruth Rendell Mysteries, The World of Lee Evans, The Gambling Man, Cracker, Heartbeat, Medics, In Suspicious Circumstances, Prime Suspect 3, Bad Company and Shadow of the Noose.
