FOLLOWING his explosive return to Emmerdale, Mike Parr has shared a post looking back to where it all began for the St Helens actor.

Hard Lane-raised Mike, who portrays 'bad boy' Ross Barton in the long-running ITV soap, shared a picture on Instagram depicting his first time on stage.

Mike said this was in a performance of musical Godspell at St Teresa's Primary School, and was taken back in 1997.

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The 38-year-old reflected how if it wasn't for that first foray on to the stage during his school days his life may have been ended up very different and he may not have ended up getting into acting.

In the post, Mike, also a former De La Salle Secondary School pupil, said: "My first time on stage in Godspell at St Teresas Primary School in 1997 to Ross Barton on Emmerdale in 2024.

"Been at it for almost as long as I can remember. I can still remember all the words from my monologue and the words to All Good Gifts.

"I often wonder if it wasn't for that play/musical would I have gone into acting and what my life would look like had I decided to do something else".

Mike's character Ross made a dramatic return to Emmerdale a few weeks agoMike's character Ross made a dramatic return to Emmerdale a few weeks ago (Image: YouTube (Lorraine))

Speaking on ITV's Lorraine about his Emmerdale return in October, Mike said:  “The first word that comes to my mind is I’m just grateful to be working in the acting industry.

"With the writers’ strikes, it never really bounced back after Covid, it was just getting going again. There’s a lot of actors out of work so I just feel grateful to have a job.

“Emmerdale is such a fun place to work because everybody’s really nice.”

 

If you have a story, I cover the whole borough of St Helens. Please get in touch at simon.mulligan@newsquest.co.uk