Jonny Labey
Jonny Labey | |
|---|---|
 Labey in 2016 | |
| Born | 15 January 1993 |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Television | EastEnders (2015–2016) Hollyoaks (2024–2026) |
Jonny Labey (born 15 January 1993) is a Jersey actor, writer and filmmaker. On television, he is known for his roles as Paul Coker in the BBC soap opera EastEnders (2015–2016)[1] and Rex Gallagher in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks (2024–2026). He is also known for his theatre work. He starred in the West End production of Strictly Ballroom.
Early life
[edit]Labey is from Grouville, Jersey. He attended Grouville School and Victoria College.[2] He began dancing aged 5 and appeared in his first stage show aged 8 as part of the Jersey Amateur Dramatic Club.[3] In 2011, he left Jersey to take a BA course at the Doreen Bird College of Performance in Sidcup, London,[2] graduating in 2014. His cousin is fellow actor Philip Labey, known for starring as "Acorn" in various television advertisements for Oak Furnitureland alongside Stephen Critchlow in the mid-2010s.[3]
Career
[edit]After graduating, Labey appeared in stage shows including In the Heights and White Christmas. He appeared in Leon Lopez's film Soft Lad.[3] Labey joined the cast of EastEnders in 2015, in the role of Paul Coker, the grandson of Les Coker (Roger Sloman) and Pam Coker (Lin Blakley).[4] The character falls in love with Ben Mitchell (Harry Reid), but was later killed off in a homophobic attack.[5] Labey appeared in EastEnders between 1 June 2015 and 8 September 2016, appearing in 106 episodes. His first role after leaving EastEnders was as the lead character, Rupert Brooke, in the play Verge of Strife, staged in Edinburgh in August 2016.[6] In 2017, he was a contestant on ITV's Dance Dance Dance.
Labey returned to the stage in 2018 when he starred as lead character Scott Hastings in the original West End production of the musical Strictly Ballroom.[7]
In October 2019, he began competing in The X Factor: Celebrity.[8] He was given a safe seat along with Jenny Ryan and Try Star in week 1, but was eliminated in week 2 after landing in the bottom 2 with Martin Bashir as the result went to deadlock. He finished in tenth place. In 2022, he played Jamie Renton in an episode of the BBC soap opera Doctors.[9]
Labey joined the cast of Hollyoaks in June 2024 as Rex, a gangster and Hannah Ashworth's pimp.[10]
Labey co-founded the production company Doing Brave Productions with Margherita Barbieri,[11] through which he made his directorial debut with the short film Swirl State. He wrote the book for the musical Full Swing, which he premiered at Jersey Opera House in 2026.[12]
Personal life
[edit]Labey is in a relationship with actress and dancer Margherita Barbieri. Labey is neurodivergent.[11]
Discography
[edit]Singles
[edit]As featured artist
[edit]| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [13] |
SCO [14] | |||
| "Run" (as part of The X Factor Celebrities 2019) |
2019 | 87 | 3 | Non-album single |
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Soft Lad | David | Film |
| 2015–2016 | EastEnders | Paul Coker | Regular: 106 Episodes |
| 2015 | Children in Need | Himself | Performed in "EastEnders Does Top Hat" medley |
| 2017 | Dance Dance Dance | Himself | Winner (First of the series) |
| 2017 | Taking The Next Step | Judge | CBBC talent show |
| 2019 | The X Factor: Celebrity | Himself | Contestant |
| 2022 | Doctors | Jamie Renton | Episode: "Ancient History" |
| 2022 | Dare To Dream | Theo | Short film |
| 2022 | Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators | Toby Philkes | Episode: "If Music Be the Food of Love" |
| 2024–2026 | Hollyoaks | Rex Gallagher | Regular: 51 Episodes |
Stage
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | In the Heights | Graffiti Pete | Southwark Playhouse, London |
| 2014 | White Christmas | Ensemble | Dominion Theatre, London |
| 2018 | Strictly Ballroom | Scott Hastings | Piccadilly Theatre, London |
| 2022 | Barefoot in the Park | Paul Bratter | The Mill at Sonning |
| 2022 | Rehab | Kid Rock | Playground Theatre, London |
| 2022 | Top Hat | Jerry Travers | The Mill at Sonning |
| 2026 | Full Swing | Jersey Opera House | |
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Affair (shared with Harry Reid) | Nominated | [15] |
| 2015 | Digital Spy Reader Awards | Best Newcomer | Second | [16] |
| 2016 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Partnership (shared with Reid) | Nominated | [17] |
References
[edit]- ↑ "Jonny Labey joins EastEnders as Paul Coker". BBC. 16 April 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
- 1 2 "'He's one of the family!' – Champagne corks pop in Grouville as Jonny Labey makes his EastEnders debut". Jersey Evening Post. 2 June 2015. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
- 1 2 3 "Jerseyman joining the cast of EastEnders". Jersey Evening Post. 16 April 2015. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
- ↑ Brown, David (24 May 2015). "EastEnders: Ben Mitchell gets up close and personal with newcomer Paul Coker". Radio Times. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
- ↑ Welsh, Daniel (22 July 2016). "EastEnders' Viewers React As Paul Coker's Death Revealed To Be Result Of Homophobic Attack". HuffPost. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
- ↑ Brown, David (19 April 2016). "EastEnders spoilers: Jonny Labey to leave Paul Coker role". Radio Times. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ↑ Lefkowitz, Andy (10 November 2017). "Jonny Labey, Zizi Strallen & More to Lead West End's Strictly Ballroom The Musical". Broadway. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
- ↑ Duke, Simon (12 October 2019). "When is X Factor: Celebrity on? ITV show returns with star lineup". Evening Chronicle. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
- ↑ Timblick, Simon. "'Doctors' spoilers: WHY is Zara Carmichael on the warpath?". What to Watch. (Future plc). Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ↑ Lindsay, Duncan (4 June 2024). ""EastEnders star Jonny Labey lands in Hollyoaks as a major villain – with a mega Hannah Ashworth twist"". Metro (British newspaper).
- 1 2 Owen James Vincent (1 October 2025). "Jonny Labey". Revamp. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
- ↑ Kelly, Darcy (7 January 2026). "Jonny Labey talks new show at Jersey Opera House". BBC Radio Jersey. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
- ↑ "X Factor Celebrities 2019 | full Official Chart history". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
- ↑ Peak positions for singles in Scotland:
- For "Run": "Chart Archive > 6 December 2019". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
- ↑ Dainty, Sophie (14 July 2015). "Inside Soap Awards 2015 longlist revealed: Who's in line for Best Actor, Actress and Newcomer?". Digital Spy. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
- ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (25 December 2015). "Your soap winners of 2015: Emmerdale, EastEnders whodunit and Hollyoaks classroom clinch". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
- ↑ Sandwell, Ian (21 June 2016). "Inside Soap Awards 2016 longlist revealed". Digital Spy. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
External links
[edit]
- Jonny Labey at IMDb
- Jonny Labey on X
