John Michie (born 25 October 1956) is a Scottish television and film actor, known for his roles as DI Robbie Ross in the STV detective drama series ''

Taggart ''Taggart'' is a Scottish detective fiction television programme created by Glenn Chandler, who wrote many of the episodes, and made by STV Studios for the ITV network. It originally ran as the miniseries ''Killer'' from 6 until 20 Septe ...

'', as Karl Munro in ''

Coronation Street ''Coronation Street'' (colloquially referred to as ''Corrie'') is a British television soap opera created by ITV Granada, Granada Television and shown on ITV (TV network), ITV since 9 December 1960. The programme centres on a cobbled, terraced ...

'' from 2011 to 2013 and his role as CEO Guy Self in '' Casualty'' and ''

Holby City ''Holby City'' (stylised on-screen as HOLBY CIY) is a British medical drama television series that aired weekly on BBC One. It was created by Tony McHale and Mal Young as a Spin-off (media), spin-off from the established BBC medical drama '' ...

''.

Early life

Michie was born in Burma and boarded at Windlesham House School while his family were based in

Kenya Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country located in East Africa. With an estimated population of more than 52.4 million as of mid-2024, Kenya is the 27th-most-populous country in the world and the 7th most populous in Africa. ...

. The family later settled in Edinburgh, where was sent to study at

Glenalmond College Glenalmond College is a co-educational independent boarding school in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, for children aged between 12 and 18 years. It is situated on the River Almond near the village of Methven, about west of the city of Perth. T ...

from the age of twelve. At the age of nineteen, he worked his passage to Australia on a cargo ship, where he spent a year as a jackaroo herding cattle before returning to Scotland. He took a job as a stagehand at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh, where his interest in acting started. He returned to Kenya when he was 22, beginning his acting career in ''A Private Matter'' at the Donovan Maule Theatre,

Nairobi Nairobi is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Kenya. The city lies in the south-central part of Kenya, at an elevation of . The name is derived from the Maasai language, Maasai phrase , which translates to 'place of cool waters', a ...

in 1980.

Career

Television

He was also in Taggart series 5 1989. Michie appeared in '' Moon and Son'' in 1992. He then had a role in '' The Ruth Rendell Mysteries'' in 1994, co-starring with Colin Firth. He played a pet shop owner, in the two-part episode "Master of the Moor". In 1998, he was given a regular part in ''

'', playing DI Robbie Ross, a dedicated detective not afraid to go about things his own way and fly in the face of authority when he needs to. From 2011 to 2013, Michie played Karl Munro in ''

''. His character was the partner of Stella Price (

Michelle Collins Michelle Danielle Collins (born 28 May 1962) is a British actress. She is known for her role as Cindy Beale in the BBC soap opera A soap opera (also called a daytime drama or soap) is a genre of a long-running radio or television Serial (r ...

). Since leaving ''Coronation Street'', Michie has played a regular role in hospital drama ''

'', playing Guy Self and while continuing the role in 2014, he has also appeared in its sister show '' Casualty''. Michie left ''Holby City'' in November 2016 after Guy handed in his resignation but he returned in August 2017. It was announced in the autumn trailer that Guy will return during the 20th series. In 2022 Michie played Detective Chief Superintendent Jack Mulgrew in series 3 of the

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

police drama '' London Kills''. Michie is the voice behind Windfall Films' ''Big, Bigger, Biggest'' and ''Monster Moves'' series for

Five (TV channel) 5 (formerly known as Channel 5 and Five) is a British free-to-air Public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom, public broadcast television channel owned and operated by Channel 5 Broadcasting Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Param ...

. ''Big, Bigger, Biggest'' explores the engineering marvel of large buildings and sky scrapers, while ''Monster Moves'' documents the most daring and dangerous relocation projects ever attempted. Other voice over work has included

Channel 4 Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by Channel Four Television Corporation. It is state-owned enterprise, publicly owned but, unlike the BBC, it receives no public funding and is funded en ...

's ''The Gunpowder Plot'', and six titles in the series ''Football Stories''.

Presenting

Michie has become increasingly involved in the factual production sector. His first presenting role was for the one-hour documentary ''Murder Capital'', which was produced by STV for ''The Crime & Investigation Network''. It was during filming of ''Murder Capital'' that Michie met STV producer Mick McAvoy and together they developed the idea for Michie's next series '' Highlands''. This six-part historical documentary series focused on the

Highland Clearances The Highland Clearances ( , the "eviction of the Gaels") were the evictions of a significant number of tenants in the Scottish Highlands and Islands, mostly in two phases from 1750 to 1860. The first phase resulted from Scottish Agricultural R ...

of the late 18th and 19th centuries. Michie's most recent presenting work was for STV's ''Made in Scotland'' for which he is also executive producer. This documentary series examines the symbols of Scotland. The final episode saw him unveil a newly designed Michie Tartan.

Films

Michie's first film role was in the 1989 film '' The Conquest of the South Pole'' but his first leading role came in the film adaptation, '' Monk Dawson'' in 1998. Based on the Piers Paul Read novel, it gained a good reception from the critics despite only a short run at the UK box office. Michie played the character David Baird in John Madden's 1996 film ''Truth or Dare'' starring Helen Baxendale and John Hannah. In 1999, Michie starred alongside

Richard Harris Richard St John Francis Harris (1 October 1930 – 25 October 2002) was an Irish actor and singer. Having studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, he rose to prominence as an icon of the British New Wave. He received numerous a ...

in '' To Walk with Lions'', a film based on the life of

George Adamson George Alexander Graham Adamson MBE (3 February 1906 – 20 August 1989), also known as the ''Baba ya Simba'' ("Father of Lions" in Swahili), was a British wildlife conservationist and author based in Kenya. His wife Joy Adamson related in h ...

which featured Michie back in his childhood home of Kenya playing the wildlife conservationist Tony Fitzjohn.

Theatre

Michie began his acting career on the stage and has appeared in several West End productions. Past roles include playing Arthur in Jean Anouilh's comedy, ''Number One'', at the Queen's Theatre in 1984. He also played John in

Noël Coward Sir Noël Peirce Coward (16 December 189926 March 1973) was an English playwright, composer, director, actor, and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what ''Time (magazine), Time'' called "a sense of personal style, a combination of c ...

's play, '' Easy Virtue'', at the Garrick Theatre in 1988–1989, before going on to play Walker in Andrew Davies' ''Prin'' at the Lyric Theatre, 1989–1990, directed by actor/director Richard Wilson. Michie was directed by Wilson twice more in Michael Wall's '' Women Laughing'' at the

Royal Court Theatre The Royal Court Theatre, at different times known as the Court Theatre, the New Chelsea Theatre, and the Belgravia Theatre, is a West End theatre#London's non-commercial theatres, non-commercial theatre in Sloane Square, London, England, opene ...

and in ''Simply Disconnected'' at the

Chichester Festival Theatre Chichester Festival Theatre is a theatre and Grade II* listed building situated in Oaklands Park in the city of Chichester, West Sussex, England. Designed by Philip Powell and Hidalgo Moya, it was opened by its founder Leslie Evershed-Mart ...

in 1996. He played Danny in ''Breed'', a new play from emerging playwright Lou Ramsden, staged at Theatre503 in 2010. Michie played Leontes in the Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh production of Shakespeare's ''

The Winter's Tale ''The Winter's Tale'' is a play by William Shakespeare originally published in the First Folio of 1623. Although it was grouped among the comedies, many modern editors have relabelled the play as one of Shakespeare's late romances. Some criti ...

'' (2017), the fireman in the Traverse Theatre's production of Rob Drummond's ''The Mack'' (2019), and John Rebus in Ian Rankin's ''A Game Called Malice'' at the

Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch The Queen's Theatre is a 507-seat mid-scale producing theatre located in Hornchurch in the London Borough of Havering, east London. The theatre was originally located on Station Lane, Hornchurch, on a site that was used as a cinema and had be ...

in February 2023. In autumn 2023, he played Professor Rennie in the Lyceum Theatre and Pitlochry Festival Theatre production of Peter Arnott's ''Group Portrait in a Summer Landscape''.

Politics

In 2008, Michie publicly backed the

Scottish Labour Party Scottish Labour (), is the part of the UK Labour Party active in Scotland. Ideologically social democratic and unionist, it holds 23 of 129 seats in the Scottish Parliament and 37 of 57 Scottish seats in the House of Commons. It is repres ...

in the run up to the Glasgow East by-election. However it later emerged Michie, in a report for the BBC's '' This Week'' programme the previous year, appeared to back Scottish independence, which the Labour Party officially opposes. Michie said, "An independent Scotland would find a new confidence. It would slow down the brain-drain that causes this country to lose so many of its most brightest and most skilled." The Labour Party subsequently issued a statement on behalf of Michie claiming he did not support independence. In August 2014, Michie was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...

'' opposing

Scottish independence Scottish independence (; ) is the idea of Scotland regaining its independence and once again becoming a sovereign state, independent from the United Kingdom. The term Scottish independence refers to the political movement that is campaignin ...

in the run-up to September's referendum on that issue.

Personal life

Michie has three children with his partner Carol Fletcher, a former Hot Gossip dancer. He is a keen swimmer and player of squash. His nephew is actor Jamie Michie, who has appeared in '' The IT Crowd'', ''

Game of Thrones ''Game of Thrones'' is an American Fantasy television, fantasy Drama (film and television), drama television series created by David Benioff and for HBO. It is an adaptation of ''A Song of Ice and Fire'', a series of high fantasy novels by ...

'' and alongside John in one episode of ''

'' in 2010. In September 2017, his 24-year-old daughter, Louella Fletcher-Michie, died at the Bestival music festival in Dorset after taking the recreational drug

2C-P 2C-P, also known as 2,5-dimethoxy-4-propylphenethylamine, is a relatively potent and long-acting psychedelic phenethylamine of the 2C family. Dosage In his book ''PiHKAL'', Shulgin listed 2C-P's dosage range as 6–10 mg and wrote that wh ...

. Her 28-year-old friend, Ceon Broughton – who had videoed her over a period of six hours hallucinating and begging for help, and failed to take her to the festival hospital tent only 400 metres away – was subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder and questioned by police. In February 2019 Broughton appeared at Winchester Crown Court charged with manslaughter. On 28 February 2019, he was found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence, as well as supplying a Class A drug, and sentenced to eight and a half years in prison. His manslaughter conviction was quashed on 18 August 2020 after

Court of Appeal An appellate court, commonly called a court of appeal(s), appeal court, court of second instance or second instance court, is any court of law that is empowered to Hearing (law), hear a Legal case, case upon appeal from a trial court or other ...

judges ruled that Fletcher-Michie's death had been a tragic accident, but the conviction for supplying a Class A drug stood.

Television

Stage

*''Group Portrait in a Summer Landscape'' (2023) played Professor Rennie at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre and the Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh *''A Game Called Malice'' (2023) played John Rebus at the Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch *''The Mack'' (2019) played the fireman at Òran Mór, Glasgow, and the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh *'' Peter Pan'' (2018) played Captain Hook at the Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury * ''The Winter's Tale'' (2017) played Leontes at the Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh *''Breed'' (2010) played lead role of Danny at Theatre503 – nominated for an Offie award *''Simply Disconnected'' (1996) played Greg at the Chichester Festival Theatre *''Bent'' played Rudy *''Ghosts'' played Oswald *''The Winslow Boy'' played Dickie *''Dangerous Corner'' played Gordon *''Equus'' played Alan *''Black Comedy'' played Brindsley *''Kes'' played McDowall *''

Richard III Richard III (2 October 1452 – 22 August 1485) was King of England from 26 June 1483 until his death in 1485. He was the last king of the Plantagenet dynasty and its cadet branch the House of York. His defeat and death at the Battle of Boswor ...

'' played Hastings. *''The Russian Revolution'' played Trotsky at Riverside Studios *''Number One'' Queens Theatre (1984) played Arthur *''Easy Virtue'' The Garrick Theatre (1988–1989) played John. *''Prin'' The Lyric Theatre (1989–1990) played Walker *''Women Laughing'' Royal Court Upstairs *''The Cherry Orchard'' National Tour (1994) *''Dealing with Claire'' Orange Tree, Richmond with Tom Courtney *''The Impresario From Smyrna'' (1994) Old Red Lion, London *''House'' New Grove Directed by Martin Clunes *''

Measure for Measure ''Measure for Measure'' is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1603 or 1604 and first performed in 1604. It was published in the First Folio of 1623. The play centers on the despotic and puritan Angelo (Measure for ...

'' (1990) Played The Duke in an Oxford Playhouse Production *''Don Juan'' played Don Juan in an Oxford Playhouse Production *''Private Matter'' (1980) Donvan Maule Theatre, Nairobi

Films

*''The Race'' (2004) played Father Pat. Short Film *''Storm, short film'' (2001) played Colonel Pine. *''Puckoon'' (2002) played Colonel Charrington Thurk *''Being Considered'' (2000) short film, plays Frank. *'' To Walk with Lions'' (1999) played Tony Fitzjohn. Co. Lead *'' Monk Dawson'' (1998) played Father John Dawson. Lead Role *''Daphne & Apollo'' (1997) *''Truth or Dare'' (1996) played David Baird *''Conquest of the South Pole'' (1989) played Roddy, directed by Gillies MacKinnon *''A Passage to India'' (1984)

Presenting

*''Murder Capital'' (2007) *'' Highlands'' (2008) *''Made in Scotland'' (2009)

Voice over

*"How Things Work" (Quest) (2016) *"London Underground Revealed" (National Geographic) (2011) *'' Big, Bigger, Biggest'' (Five) (2008) *''Monster Moves'' (Five) (2008) *''Jock Stein'' (BBC) (2007) *''Football Stories'' (Channel 4) (2006) *''

Bay City Rollers The Bay City Rollers are a Scottish pop rock band known for their worldwide teen idol popularity, as a band in the 1970s. One of many 70s acts heralded as the "biggest group since the Beatles", they were called the "tartan teen sensations fro ...

'' (Granada) (2004) *''The Gunpowder Plot'' (Channel 4) (2002 *'' Black Watch'' (BBC Scotland) (1997) *''The Glencoe Massacre'' (BBC Scotland) *''Kelvingrove Museum'' (BBC Scotland) *''Test Pilots'' (Creation Company Films) *''Amazon Abyss'' (BBC Bristol) *''Megamoves'' (FIVE) *''In Search of Speed'' (IWC) *''Guide to Euro 2004'' (TWI) *''Althrop: After Diana & Superstar on Trial'' (BBC) *''Art Crimes & South Sea Bubble'' (Wall To Wall) *''Volcano That Blew The World Away'' *''Confessions of a Spin Doctor'' (STV) *''Swamp Tigers'' (Cicada) *''Big Bigger Biggest'' *"The Loch Ness Monster Revealed" (Discovery Communications 2008) *"Building the Biggest Cruise Ship" (National Geographic)

References

External links

John Michie
at the

British Film Institute The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves filmmaking and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery to encourage film production, ...

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Michie, John Living people 1956 births 20th-century Scottish male actors 21st-century Scottish male actors Scottish male television actors Scottish male film actors Scottish male soap opera actors Male actors from Edinburgh People educated at Glenalmond College Actors educated at Windlesham House School