Emmerdale: Dan Spencer receives a call from Kerry Wyatt
Emmerdale legend Liam Fox’s latest TV role was made all the more special after his son landed a role as a member of the crew. Liam, who recently left the role of Dan Spencer in the long running ITV soap after 12 years, recently wrapped filming on a new drama called Henry House.
He plays a troubled carer in an understaffed and mismanaged care home, alongside a slew of former Doctor Who stars, well known faces, and up and comers.
The production prides itself on having neurodiverse talents working on both sides of the camera and this saw Liam’s autistic son Ben join the crew.
“I absolutely loved having the opportunity to help out with Henry House; it’s given opportunities to many talented individuals, including young people and those with disabilities, and they must be highly commended for that,” he said after filming his final scenes at the picturesque Iscoyd Park in Shropshire.
“Even my own son has benefited from the forward thinking of [writer/director/producer] Gareth Thomas and all at Rocking Horse Media.”
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Liam left Emmerdale last year after his character Dan Spencer was imprisoned for manslaughter after accidentally killing his teenage daughter Amelia Spencer's (played by Daisy Campbell) cyberstalker Lloyd when he punched him.
Liam and the cast all gave their time for free to the expenses only production, which has taken three years to complete. It was thrown into disarray when fellow cast member, Doctor Who and Blue Peter legend, Peter Purves suffered an accident at home in June 2023 near the end of production.
He broke his wrist in two places requiring him to wear a cast. It was too late to write his injury into the story and there was no way to hide it meaning the entire production had to be completely reshot and refinanced.
“Gareth and his team are an example to anyone with a dream that anything is possible,” Liam observed. “Fingers crossed the production gets a commission, it certainly deserves to for all the heart and commitment that has gone in to making the project a reality.”
Liam and the cast all gave their time for free to the expenses only production, which has taken three years to complete. It was thrown into disarray when fellow cast member, Doctor Who and Blue Peter legend, Peter Purves suffered an accident at home in June 2023 near the end of production.
He broke his wrist in two places requiring him to wear a cast. It was too late to write his injury into the story and there was no way to hide it meaning the entire production had to be completely reshot and refinanced.
“Gareth and his team are an example to anyone with a dream that anything is possible,” Liam observed. “Fingers crossed the production gets a commission, it certainly deserves to for all the heart and commitment that has gone in to making the project a reality.”
Liam isn’t the only former soap star in the cast. Ian Puleston-Davies, who plays a character called, Sam Cartwright, was in Weatherfield as builder Owen Armstrong from 2010 until 2015. Meanwhile, Dean Fagan, who plays Riley Sharpe in Henry House, portrayed mechanic Luke Britton in the soap from 2014 until 2018. His character famously met a grisly end at the hands of serial killer Pat Phelan (Conor McIntyre).
The star-studded cast also includes many Doctor Who alumni. Carole Ann Forde, who played The Doctor’s granddaughter Susan in the very first episodes of the long-running BBC sci-fi drama Doctor Who in 1963 portrays a character called Verity Trotter. Also in the cast is the Sixth Doctor Colin Baker, who played the Time Lord from 1984 until 1986, Katy Manning who played companion Jo Grant from 1971-1973 and Sophie Aldred who played Ace from 1987 until 1989.
Many of the other cast members also have Doctor Who links. Jacqueline King played the recurring role of Sylvia Noble, the mother of companion Donna Noble (Catherine Tate). She was most recently seen in the anniversary specials last year. Ian McNiece memorably played Winston Churchill in four episodes between 2010 and 2011. Meanwhile British TV legend Annette Badland appeared in three episodes playing a Slitheen masquerading as human Margaret Blaine.
