Joe Gilgun - from Eli Dingle to Brassic boss and Hollywood star

Eli Dingle in Emmerdale was played by Joe Gilgun. He started his career as a child, playing Jamie Armstrong in Coronation Street. Jamie was the funny,...
Kerry Barrett
By Kerry Barrett

Eli Dingle in Emmerdale was played by Joe Gilgun.

He started his career as a child, playing Jamie Armstrong in Coronation Street. Jamie was the funny, quick-witted son of Tricia Armstrong (played by Tracy Brabin, who’s now Mayor of West Yorkshire).

Jamie Armstrong in Coronation Street
Joe played Jamie Armstrong in Coronation Street (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)

What else has Joe Gilgun been in?

After shooting to fame as Jamie, things got a bit tricky for Joe and he took a break from acting for a while – even working as a plasterer.

But then he came back with a bang, playing Eli in Emmerdale and kind-hearted skinhead Woody in the Shane Meadows film This Is England. Joe is close with his co-stars from This Is England, and calls them “my gang”.

From there, he went on to star in many other television shows including Misfits, Ripper Street in the UK. He also starred in the film Lockout, and in US TV show Preacher as a vampire called Cassidy.

Joe – who’s now known as Joseph professionally – also created, executive produced and stars in the Sky comedy Brassic. Impressive stuff!

He plays Vinnie in the show, which has run for six seasons and has been renewed for a seventh, making it the joint-longest-running scripted show on Sky. Joe stars alongside fellow former Coronation Street residents Michelle Keegan (who played Tina McIntyre) and Bhavna Limbachia (Rana Nazir).

Joe has ADHD and dyslexia and has spoken openly about the struggles he’s had. He also has bipolar disorder – just like his alter ego Vinnie in Brassic. Joe says many of the events in Brassic are based upon things that have happened in his own life and his struggles with his mental health.