Introducing Author and Actor John Lyons!

John Lyons started his acting career as a founder member of the ‘East 15 Acting School’ in 1961. Upon leaving he went into the Professional company of the school ‘Theatre Workshop’ which at the time was under the direction of Joan Littlewood. In the intervening 50 years John’s career has been both long and varied, covering both West End musicals and straight plays, including three separate years in ‘The Mousetrap’ and tours both in England and The Continent with the Musical ” Oh! What a Lovely War”         

His TV appearances are numerous (over 500) ranging from ‘Upstairs Downstairs’ Play for Today’ ‘The Sweeney’ to ‘On the Buses’ ‘George & Mildred’ and ‘The 19th Hole with Eric Sykes. John Lyons is of course best known for playing Sir David Jason’s long suffering sidekick D.S. George Toolan in ‘A Touch of Frost’ which ran for a very successful 17 ½ years and currently being repeated daily on ITV3.

Panto has played a very big and fun time in John’s life, starting in 1997 with productions of Dick Whittington and Aladdin with the Comedian Jim Davidson, playing Bristol. Palace Theatre Manchester, Mayflower  Southampton etc, over a period of ten years. 

During 2015 to present John has appeared in Cinderella, Aladdin, and Peter Pan, with John playing Capt Hook, for Paul Holman Associates.  December 2014/January 2015 John appeared as ‘King Crumble’ in Sleeping Beauty at the Spa Theatre Bridlington. December 2016 saw John appearing as ‘Baron Hardup’ in ‘Cinderella’ at the Harlequin Theatre, Redhill. 

During 2018, John appeared as ‘Father Brown’ on tour throughout the UK in Rumpus Theatre’s production of ‘The Curse of The Invisible Man’ and in 2021/22 will be appearing as ‘Father Brown’ in Rumpus Theatre production of ‘The Murderer in the Mirror’.  John has also toured in Rumpus Theatre productions in ‘Caught in the Net’ and ‘The Eleventh Hour’.  

In December 2018 and January 2019, John appeared again as ‘King Crumble’ in Paul Holman Associates production of ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ at Bridlington Spa, and appeared during 2019 as  ‘Mr Brownlow’ in Aberystwyth Arts Centre’s production of ‘Oliver’.  December and January of 2019 John appeared as ‘Baron Hardup’ in Paul Holman Associates production of ‘Cinderella’.

John is in great demand on the after dinner speaking circuit, personal appearances at ‘On the Buses’ reunions and numerous P & O Cruises talking about ‘An actor’s life – the beginning and conclusion’ – ‘The Touch of Frost Years’ (his 17 years in a Touch of Frost with clips, outtakes, clips of pranks played on him).

A very busy and varied career I would say.

We’re proud to be publishing John’s book, Not Just George, coming this spring!