Acting · Manchester, England, UK · Born August 1, 1950
John Henshaw is a British actor famed for his roles as Ken the landlord in Early Doors, Wilf Bradshaw in Born and Bred and PC Roy Bramwell in The Cops. Henshaw was born one of 12 children. He grew up in Ancoats, Manchester's "Little Italy" community. He was a refuse collector for ten years before deciding to become an actor at the age of 40. His first big break in acting was as a minder to Robert Lindsay's character Michael Murray in the acclaimed Channel 4 series, G.B.H. Other TV credits include The Royle Family, The Visit, Life on Mars, whilst film credits include the Steve Coogan comedy The Parole Officer, the Bert Trautmann biopic The Keeper, and the Ken Loach films Looking For Eric and The Angels' Share. Henshaw is chairman of the 24:7 Theatre Festival, an annual festival of new writing for theatre based in Manchester.
TVTalamasca: The Secret Order
2025
as Detective Hough
TVBoat Story
2023
as Nigel
TVThe Long Shadow
2023
as Mike Dugdale
TVThe Full Monty
2023
as Bus Driver
MovieWolf Manor
2022
as Thaddeus Saxon (the landlord)
TVRidley
2022
as Frank Stanford
TVRemembers…
2022
as Self
MovieEarly Doors - Live
2021
as Ken
MovieSilky Hotel
2021
as Jim Knightshade
MovieI'm Not in Love
2021
as Tony
MovieSunny
2019
as Pavlo
MovieStan & Ollie
2018
as Nobby Cook
MovieThe Keeper
2018
as Jack Friar
MoviePin Cushion
2018
as Percy
MovieThe Man Who Invented Christmas
2017
as Butcher / Mr. Fezziwig
Movie6 Days
2017
as Metropolitan Police Spokesman
MovieA Street Cat Named Bob
2016
as Tube Station Guard
MovieSwallows and Amazons
2016
as Harbour Master
TVCradle to Grave
2015
as Mr Glover
TVDocumentary Now!
2015
TVCilla
2014
as John White
MovieCloser to the Moon
2014
as Judge
MovieThe Night Runner
2014
as Dennis
TVBy Any Means
2013
as Stan Bond
MovieThe Ringer
2013
as Danny
MovieThe Last British Execution
2013
as Marcus Peabody
TVFather Brown
2013
as Barny Butterfield
The Rochdale Pioneers
2012
as John Holt
MovieThe Angels' Share
2012
as Harry
TVCandy Cabs
2011
as Mervyn Monkford
TVSouth Riding
2011
as Alfred Huggins
MovieThe Royle Family: Behind the Sofa
2010
as Self
MovieIn Our Name
2010
as Frank
TVGoing Postal
2010
as Mr Pony
MovieRed Riding: The Year of Our Lord 1974
2009
as Bill Hadley
MovieCoronation Street: Romanian Holiday
2009
as Glen
MovieLooking for Eric
2009
as Meatballs
TVRed Riding
2009
as Bill Hadley
MovieA Bit of Tom Jones?
2009
as Bar Owner
TVThe Visit
2007
as Dad
MovieGrow Your Own
2007
as Charlie
Confessions of a Diary Secretary
2007
as John Prescott
MovieStarter for 10
2006
as Des
MovieSomeone Else
2006
as Paul
TVSee No Evil: The Moors Murders
2006
as DCS Arthur Benfield
TVNew Street Law
2006
as Tony Lyons
TVJohnny and the Bomb
2006
as Councillor Seeley
TVLife on Mars
2006
as Ted Bannister
MovieOpen Wide
2005
as Brian Tonkin
MovieCheeky
2003
as Kenny
TVEarly Doors
2003
as Ken Dixon
TVThe Second Coming
2003
as Clive Saxon
TVThe Afternoon Play
2003
as Sir Terry Bucklethwaite
The Fishmonger
2002
as Davis
Put Your Coat On
2002
as Dad
TVBorn and Bred
2002
as Wilf Bradshaw
TVCutting It
2002
as Bruce Gutteridge
This Is Not a Love Song
2002
as Arthur
MovieHappy Now
2001
as Pete Copsey
MovieThe Parole Officer
2001
as Cochran
MovieThere's Only One Jimmy Grimble
2000
as Ken Burley
TVThe Cops
1998
as Roy
TVThe Royle Family
1998
as Roger Kavanagh
TVThe Grand
1997
as Taxi Driver
TVMidsomer Murders
1997
as Arthur Potts
MovieWhen Saturday Comes
1996
as M.C
TVCracker
1993
as Quarry Foreman
Olly's Prison
1993
as Prisoner (uncredited)
TVHeartbeat
1992
as Guard
TVG.B.H.
1991
as Murray's Minder
MovieDancin' Thru the Dark
1990
as Doorman
TVCasualty
1986
as Lenny Adams
TVThe Bill
1984
MovieFishbrain
as Jeb
