John Alford, a talented Glasgow-born actor, began his journey in the entertainment industry at the tender age of nine when he enrolled in a London stage school, where he had the privilege of studying alongside esteemed EastEnders' stars Patsy Palmer and Sid Owen.
Following his brief appearance in the ITV sitcom Now and Then in 1983, Alford landed the iconic role in Grange Hill at the age of 11, becoming an integral part of the show. However, as he navigated the pressures of fame at such a young age, he struggled to cope and developed a dependency on alcohol and gambling, reportedly spending up to £80,000 by the time he left the show at 17.
As he transitioned to new roles, Alford gained widespread recognition for his portrayal of young fireman Billy in the hit TV series London's Burning in 1988. His subsequent pop stardom was fueled by his reggae rendition of "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes," which climbed to number 13 on the UK charts in 1996.
Tragedy struck in December of that year when Alford collapsed and was hospitalized in Newcastle due to a rare blood disorder, mere days before he was set to appear in a pantomime in Sunderland.
In May 1999, Alford's life took a dramatic turn when he was sentenced to nine months in prison for supplying drugs to an undercover journalist. This setback made it increasingly challenging for him to find consistent TV work, leading him to pursue a career as a roofer.
Despite the challenges, Alford managed to revive his acting career with a notable appearance in Mike Bassett: England Manager in 2001, where he played the role of Deano.
