It’s been over a decade since James Thornton bid farewell to the Emmerdale village, with his character John Barton’s heart-wrenching exit following a devastating car crash, just as he and his on-screen wife Moira (now Dingle) found their way back to each other. The Bartons became the new faces of Butler’s Farm in 2009, bringing a fresh and sultry vibe described as “sexy modern, and contemporary.” Before James graced our screens, series producer Gavin Blyth had shown enthusiasm for the character, calling him “a very charismatic and modern farmer”. But after a whirlwind of less than three years packed with juicy plots, James dramatically departed from the soap. Since hanging up his Emmerdale boots, James has embraced a quieter life out of the spotlight, spending time with his celeb wife and their children. Let’s peek into James’ journey, from his early acting gigs to an off-set car mishap that shook up Emmerdale’s storylines and what he’s up to now. Early life and career Hailing from Bradford, West Yorkshire, the now 49-year-old James cut his teeth in the acting world with roles in shows like The Lakes, Playing The Field, Red Cap, and No Angels. His first brush with ITV’s Emmerdale came in 1995, well before he stepped into John Barton’s boots.
The character of John Barton was described as a “very charismatic and modern farmer”
(Image: ITV)
James arrived on set as John in 2009, alongside Natalie J Robb, who brought to life his on-screen partner, Moira. The pair played high school sweethearts with a marriage that seemed rock-solid. But the plot thickened when John was caught kissing Eve Jenson (played by Suzanne Shaw). Two years later, Moira’s fling with Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) threw their relationship into turmoil. Despite the betrayal, John realised he couldn’t bear to be without Moira. After a three-year stint on the soap, James waved goodbye in February 2012. Fans were gripped by John and Moira’s tale, which ended in a harrowing car crash down a ravine in icy conditions. Describing the storyline, James said: “As I learned more, I discovered that the scale of John’s departure was going to be huge and that the amount of money they were spending was massive. So I was really, really pleased. As an actor, you always want to do something that’s going to grab the audience’s attention.” Celebrity wife and family James is married to Joanna Page, famously known as Stacey from BBC’s hit show Gavin and Stacey. They have a busy household with four children: Eva, Kit, Noah, and their youngest, Boe, born in 2021. The couple even appeared on-screen in the BBC’s version of David Copperfield.
James Thornton and wife Joanna Page
(Image: James Thornton/Instagram)
While Joanna was pregnant with their youngest, James couldn’t contain his delight over their latest addition, posting a snapshot of his radiant wife with a caption that sang her praises: “My wonderful wife @iamjoannapage is pregnant and doesn’t she look amazing! We are having baby number 4! #almostafiveasideteam #nosleep”. Through all the excitement, life hasn’t been without its challenges. Joanna has candidly discussed the struggle for some alone time amid lockdown, as the children were home around the clock with schools and nurseries closed. The couple struggled with intimacy issues, causing tension in their relationship and leading to constant bickering. Joanna confessed to The Sun: “We spent the whole of the first lockdown arguing and threatening to divorce each other. Then we went through a month of literally not saying a single word to each other.” Thankfully, they overcame these challenges and now frequently give fans a glimpse into their domestic bliss with their two dogs via social media.
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Real-life car accident James experienced serious leg injuries when he was hit by a car in London back in February 2010, meaning soap writers had to make swift changes to his Emmerdale storyline. A source from Emmerdale told the Daily Star at that time about the concern within the cast: “He was having a few days off in London with Jo, and they’d been out for dinner when he was hit by the car. Joanna was in a right state and James was in absolute agony. “He knows he was lucky. We have no idea when he’s going to be back.”
James Thornton as John Barton in Emmerdale
(Image: ITV)
James today Since leaving Emmerdale, James has enjoyed success as a voice actor. He’s known for narrating documentaries for UK viewers, including The Curse of Oak Island. His other work features narration for Benefits By the Sea: Jaywick and appearing in Channel 5’s The Motorway. James also lends his voice talents to Talk TV and has voiced commercials for major names like Ford, Amazon, Shell, and BP.
