The PA today reports that Emmerdale actor James Thornton – who plays John Barton on the rural soap – is training hard in preparation for a charity cycle race.

In fact, he had to be booted out of his gym at closing time, so hard was he training.

He tweeted, “67.5 km done on cycle! They have now kicked me out of the gym! Gutted. I was going for 80km and was feeling ok.

“Gonna have a protein shake as soon as I get in.”

John’s in training for the Emmerdale to EastEnders charity race which will see stars of the Dales based show cycling to the set of EastEnders on the 19th August.

He’ll be joined by co-stars Tom Lister, Rik Makarem and Kelvin Fletcher, to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support in August. Read more & comment »

James Thornton and Charlie Baker have tapped their way to victory in the grand finale of Let’s Dance For… Comic Relief 2011, following a show-stopping performance of Puttin’ On The Ritz.

After the viewers were treated to a supreme dance off between the six finalists – Katie Price (I Want To Break Free, Queen), Charlie Baker and James Thornton (Puttin’ On The Ritz, from the musical of the same name), Noel Fielding (Wuthering Heights, Kate Bush), 80’s Super Group – Toyah Willcox, Limahl, Clare Grogan and Chesney Hawkes (Greased Lightning from the film Grease), Ade Edmondson (ably hindered by Rik Mayall to The Dying Swan from the classic ballet Swan Lake) and Russell Kane (Crazy In Love, Beyonce).

Read more & comment »

Gavin and Stacey star Joanna Page has revealed that her husband, James Thornton – who plays Emmerdale’s John Barton – is “turned on” when she speaks to him in a Scottish accent.

Speaking to Closer magazine, Joanna explained that she’d been practicing a Glaswegian accent for a role in a movie for which she begins filming later this month.

She said, “I’ve been perfecting my Glaswegian accent, my husband says it turns him on!

“I’m playing a depressed nutter – so nothing like Stacey!” Read more & comment »

Emmerdale star James Thornton said his admitted that being involved in an accident recently has made him “determined” to make the most of his life.

James, who plays farmer John Barton, sustained a fractured knee after being hit by a car while shopping in London earlier this year.

He told the PA, “I spent my first two weeks being elated I was all right.

“It makes you realise how quickly stuff can change.

“It made me think ‘all the stuff you want to do, just get on with it.’ Read more & comment »

Emmerdale actor James Thornton – who plays farmer John Barton in the show – has revealed that his on-screen kissing doesn’t worry his actress wife, Joanna Page.

James has recently been seen on the show kissing newcomer Eve Jensen who’s played by Suzanne Shaw.

John said of Joanna, who starred in Gavin and Stacey, “She’s not bothered actually… Read more & comment »

Coming up next week in Emmerdale, things take a rather steamy turn when farmer John Barton – played by James Thornton – will finally succumb to temptress Eve’s womanly wiles.

Eve, who’s played by Suzanne Shaw, has been trying to get into John’s pants ever since she arrived in the village, and apparently, in next Monday’s episode, she gets as far as his lips anyway… Read more & comment »

Gavin and Stacey star Joanna Page has told This Morning today that when her husband James Thornton was hit by a car while on a shopping trip in London, paramedics were more interested in her role in Gavin and Stacey!

James, who plays John Barton in Emmerdale suffered a fractured knee in the accident, and Joanna recalled how he broke the news to her that he’d been hit by a car.

She said, “He [James] was run over about eight weeks ago round the corner from where we live.

“I had a phone call. I was in the house, he was obviously in shock and he said ‘Hi, it’s me, I’ve just been run over… Read more & comment »

Emmerdale actor James Thornton is said to be recovering at home following injuries to his legs when he was knocked down by a car in London earlier this week.

James, who plays John Barton, suffered a fracture to his knee during the accident and was taken to hospital to receive emergency treatment on Wednesday.

An Emmerdale spokesman has said, “We can confirm that James was hit by a car last week, he has a fractured knee and is recovering at home.” Read more & comment »