Emmerdale enthusiasts have been part of Jack Downham’s journey since 2009 when he stepped into Noah Dingle’s shoes, the child of Charity Dingle and Chris Tate.
Now over a decade on, Jack has captivated audiences with crucial storylines. In a recent plot twist, Noah gets drugged by his half-brother Joe Tate in a chilling scheme involving kidney theft.
But Jack’s talent isn’t confined to Emmerdale; he also graced screens as Peter Morley on Heartbeat, and donned the role of Young Robin in the star-studded 2010 movie Robin Hood, appearing alongside Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett.
Jack attended Scala School for Performing Arts in Horsforth during those budding years. His mum Clare recalls her son’s cool composure.
Jack attended Scala School for Performing Arts in Horsforth during those budding years. His mum Clare recalls her son’s cool composure.
Speaking to the Telegraph and Argus before the Robin Hood filming, she said: “We are all so excited about it but Jack is taking it in his stride. He had two screen tests at Scala then he went for an audition during half-term.
“He had a chat with Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott and got the part!
She also added: “He’s completely into Robin Hood, he watches it every week,” and “Now he’s going to be Robin Hood himself! It seems a bit surreal.”
Despite his encounters with some of the industry’s biggest names, Jack remained unfazed, reports the Mirror.
His mother commented: “He doesn’t get fazed by things like that so he was pretty relaxed,” and noted, “It probably helped that he hasn’t seen their films yet because they’re generally not suitable for children of his age.”
Jack’s not the only actor in the family; his sister Sophie has also made her mark on the small screen with roles in Unforgiven, Doctor Who, and Appropriate Adult, acting alongside stars like Emily Mortimer and Dominic West.
Landing a permanent spot on Emmerdale in 2009 after various extra gigs, Jack became the third actor to portray Noah Dingle, taking over from Alfie Mortimer and Sam Duffy.
Earlier this year, the 23-year-old talent revealed he’s got his sights set on another TV challenge, albeit with some reservations about how tough it might be.
In a candid chat with Inside Soap, Jack was quizzed about venturing into reality TV. He confessed: “Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins would probably be the one. I think I’d take a battering and might be out on the second day. But I’d give it a go. I like to challenge myself.”
Despite his soap fame, Jack is quite the private person, rarely giving fans a glimpse into his life off-screen and keeping his social media presence to a minimum.