JACK OF ALL TRADES: Noel Clarke

He’s currently playing a police detective in The Level (9pm, ITV), but 40-year-old star Noel Clarke has proved he’s as much of a hit behind the camera as he is in front of it…

Starting out Noel got his big break in 2002, playing Wayne’s son Wyman in the revived Auf

Wiedersehen, Pet, which was closely followed in 2005 by what would become one of his most recognisable roles – Mickey in Doctor Who. In what would be a hugely productive period, Noel’s film-writing debut, urban drama Kidulthood (in which he also starred) came to fruition in 2006, with sequel Adulthood (for which he also added directing to his list of duties) following in 2008. On the up The hard work paid off and in 2008, Noel was given the prestigious Bafta Rising Star Award. He’s no stranger to awards, though, having been named Most Promising Performer at the 2003 Oliviers for his stage work. He’s since been in Star Trek Into Darkness and TV crime series Chasing Shadows, but writing and directing has continued to keep him busy, with credits

including 4.3.2.1., Fast Girls, Storage 24 and The Anomaly.

Family values As well as finding time to film The Level, Noel wrote and directed his third ’hood film, Brotherhood, in which he also reprises his starring role. Family is also important – Noel now has three children – and he was thrilled to provide his voice to 2013 animation Saving Santa, his first kid-friendly film, saying, ‘They can’t watch anything I do, so they loved Saving Santa. They’d say, “That’s daddy’s voice!”, which was lovely.’