Ricky Whittle

Vorlage:For Vorlage:Infobox actor Ricky Whittle (born 23 November 1981) is a British actor from Oldham, Greater Manchester.

Biography

The son of former Royal Air Force serviceman Harry Whittle, Whittle grew up travelling with his father's career around the world, with a home base near Reading, Berkshire .

A keen sportsman, Whittle represented England and the United Kingdom at youth level in football, rugby, American football and athletics. After having been watched by Arsenal and Celtic, an injury brought about the pursuit of a law degree in criminology at the University of Southampton.

Career

At university, Whittle began modelling, becoming the face of a Reebok(R) campaign in 2000. This brought him to the attention of casting agents for Sky One's Dream Team. Cast as Ryan Naysmith, Whittle left university to pursue an acting career. Carrying on with his sports ambitions, in the third series Whittle broke his leg in seven places, and was forced into a long hospital stay. The writers wrote a broken leg into the Dreamteam script, allowing Whittle a slower recuperation.

After playing his first gay character as a guest star on BBC One's Holby City, Whittle is currently playing Calvin Valentine in popular Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks.

In January 2008, Ricky appeared on a celebrity edition of The Weakest Link, reaching the final, but losing out to Crimewatch UK star, Rav Wilding.

Strictly Come Dancing

In August 2009, Whittle was announced as a contestant on the BBC One reality TV show Strictly Come Dancing, paired with Australian professional dancer Natalie Lowe. A fellow contestant on the show, Ali Bastian, also starred with him in Hollyoaks.

Personal life

Since October 2007 Whittle has dated fellow Hollyoaks actress Carley Stenson, who plays Steph Cunningham. The pair reside in Billinge Higher End, Wigan.

Whittle is good friends with Carrie Coleman and co-stars Jamie Lomas, Stuart Manning, Barry Foy and former Dream Team co-stars Robert Kazinsky, Wayne Carter and Kara Tointon. He still keeps in touch with many of his Dream Team co-stars.

Having recovered from his broken leg, Whittle spends his spare time playing running back for the Manchester Titans American Football team.

At 5.30 am on Friday 27 November 2009 Whittle was arrested by Merseyside Police on suspicion of assault, after turning himself in to St. Helens Police Station, Liverpool. The car Whittle had been driving in the early hours of that morning had collided with a male pedestrian on Duke Street, Liverpool City Centre. Whittle was released on bail later that day after being questioned by the police.

External links

• Ricky Whittle on Myspace
• Ricky Whittle's official website
• Vorlage:Imdb name
• Ricky's Charity