Trivia

When he first appeared in The Bill (a guest role in episode 1) his character was called Tommy Burnside, but by the time he emerged as a regular character he had become Frank Burnside! This was because, by the time he joined the series as a regular, a real police officer named Tommy Burnside was serving in the Metropolitan Police and as a result, the producers of The Bill had to change the character's name.

Interviewed about his life and career for book "Witness Statements: Making The Bill (Series 1-3)" (2020).

Is an artist painter in his spare time.

He was cast as George Lusk in the abandoned Jack The Ripper mini-series, which would have starred Barry Foster, helmed by David Wickes.

Born as Christopher Michael Ironside.

Father of Louis Ellison.