Tom Chambers (actor) facts for kids

Tom Chambers (born 22 May 1977) is an English actor and TV personality. He is well-known for playing Sam Strachan in the BBC medical shows Holby City and Casualty. He also played Max Tyler in Waterloo Road and Inspector Edgar Sullivan in Father Brown. Tom also won the sixth series of the popular dance show Strictly Come Dancing. On stage, he has performed in musicals like Elf in London's West End.

Early Life and Training

Tom Chambers was born in Darley Dale and grew up in a small village called Parwich in Derbyshire, England. His parents are Stuart and Rosemary. He went to Repton School for his education.

After school, Tom joined the National Youth Music Theatre. He then studied acting at the Guildford School of Acting. These experiences helped him prepare for his career in acting.

Becoming an Actor

Tom Chambers has appeared in British films, including Fakers, where he acted alongside Matthew Rhys and Kate Ashfield.

His love for dance helped him get a big acting role. He recreated a famous tap dance scene from the 1937 film A Damsel in Distress, where Fred Astaire dances with a drum kit. He sent a video of this dance to casting directors. This video helped him get the part of Sam Strachan, a heart doctor, in the TV show Holby City. He played this role from 2006 to 2008.

Winning Strictly Come Dancing

In 2008, while still filming Holby City, Tom Chambers competed in the sixth series of Strictly Come Dancing. He was paired with professional dancer Camilla Dallerup. Their first dance was the cha-cha-cha, and they scored 28 points.

Throughout the series, Tom and Camilla did very well. They even topped the leaderboard twice, showing off their amazing dance skills. They made it all the way to the semi-finals. Even though they finished last on the leaderboard in the semi-finals, all three couples were allowed to go through to the final.

In the grand final, Tom and Camilla competed against Rachel Stevens. Their special show dance was highly praised by the judges. Tom Chambers and Camilla Dallerup received the most votes from the public and won the competition! This made Tom the third male winner of Strictly Come Dancing.

Tom returned for the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special in 2008 with Camilla, placing second from the bottom. They also went on the Strictly Come Dancing tour in 2009. In 2015, Tom appeared in another Christmas special, dancing with professional dancer Oti Mabuse.

Later Acting Roles

After Strictly Come Dancing, Tom Chambers continued his acting career. In 2009, he joined the BBC drama Waterloo Road for ten episodes, playing the role of Max Tyler, the Executive Head Teacher. He also narrates a series called The Real A&E on Sky One.

In 2011, Tom starred as Jerry Travers in the UK tour of the musical Top Hat. The show then moved to London's West End, where he performed until 2013.

From 2014, Tom became a main cast member in the BBC detective show Father Brown. He played Inspector Sullivan in series 2 and 3. He returned as a guest star in series 7 and 8, and then became a regular cast member again from series 10 onwards.

Tom returned to singing and dancing in 2017 and 2018. He starred as Bobby Child in the UK tour of the musical Crazy for You, based on the music of George and Ira Gershwin. In 2020, he toured in the play Dial M for Murder, playing Tony Wendice. In 2022 and 2023, he played Walter Hobbs in the musical Elf in the West End. From 2023 to 2024, he was part of a touring play called Murder in the Dark.

Tom Chambers is scheduled to star as Inspector Morse in a touring play called Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts in 2025. This play is based on the popular television series.

Personal Life

In December 2000, Tom Chambers was on a flight from London to Nairobi when there was an incident on board. A passenger tried to enter the cockpit. During the struggle, the plane dropped about 19,000 feet before the pilots regained control. Everyone on board landed safely. This experience made Tom realize how important his loved ones were.

After this event, Tom decided to propose to his childhood sweetheart, Clare Harding. They got married in October 2008 in Derbyshire. They had to change their wedding date because of Tom's commitments to Strictly Come Dancing. Tom and Clare have three children.

In 2008, Tom also participated in the Great Walk to Beijing. This event was organized by singer Olivia Newton-John to raise money and awareness for breast cancer research.

Film and Television Roles

Tom Chambers has appeared in various films and television shows throughout his career.

Film Appearances

Television Appearances