Philip Martin Brown

Philip Martin Brown (born 9 July 1956) is an English actor, born in Manchester, Lancashire. He has appeared in many TV shows and films in a career that has spanned decades. He is best known for his role as Grantly Budgen in the television series Waterloo Road and as Steve McDonald's therapist in the soap opera Coronation Street. He also had a small yet significant role in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. He has recently completed his 4th episode of "Doctors" as different characters. Philip also shot "Suspects" for Channel 5 in November 2015.

Brown first appeared on UK television screens playing the role of Sam Potter in A Horseman Riding By (1978).

Brown has appeared in over 130 episodes of Waterloo Road over nine series; this makes him the longest serving cast member. He has also worked on The Professionals and The Bill, where he appeared in ten episodes as Seth Mercer, and has made appearances in many other British dramas, including Heartbeat, Midsomer Murders, Hetty Wainthropp Investigates, New Tricks and Doctors. His most prominent role in a drama before Waterloo Road was Eddie Vincent in Casualty, where he appeared in 17 episodes between 2002 and 2003. He also played John Adams in the film The Bounty and appeared in Sharpes Justice in 1995. He played a detective in series 1 episode 2 of the ITV drama Rosemary & Thyme. He also appeared in a Skins Online episode in 2012 as a drug dealer. Brown left Waterloo Road during the autumn term of series 9. He appeared briefly in the 1999 film Sleepy Hollow starring Johnny Depp. In January 2015, he joined Coronation Street as Steve McDonald's therapist.

Brown has been a supply teacher in Mascalls School in Tonbridge, Kent.

He attended Barrow-in-Furness Grammar School for Boys where his favourite subject was English. At the end of his fifth year, Brown was asked to leave the school, later stating that he was a "dreadful troublemaker". He lives in Paddock Wood, Kent, with his wife Pip. They have two children, Jodie and Rupert.

In 2010, Brown was nominated for the Best Actor prize in the 2010 TV Choice Awards, and won it three years in a row.

He is an ex-epileptic and had to leave the stage until he underwent brain surgery which has left him seizure-free for 22 years. 'Waterloo Road' star Philip Martin Brown recalls epilepsy struggle

He was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 19 and is now an ambassador for the charity Young Epilepsy.