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Ian Embleton (born 21st November 1964 in Jarrow, Tyne and Wear) appeared in Coronation Street as Des Barnes' brother Colin between July and September 1993, with brief returns to the role in 1998, 1999 and 2000.

The son of a coal miner, he grew up in Boldon, near Newcastle and Sunderland. At the age of eight, he was advised by the family doctor to take up dancing to strengthen the bones in his feet. He learned all forms of dancing and, whilst at school, won the Northumberland Tap Dancing Championship.

At the age of sixteen, he moved to London and trained at Arts Educational Drama School on a three-year musical theatre course. His stage work included a pantomime season with Anita Harris in Dorset, followed by three years as Baby John in West Side Story. The production originated at Leicester's Haymarket Theatre and then toured the country before moving into the West End at Her Majesty's Theatre. He also performed with the cast of West Side Story at the Royal Variety Performance. This was followed by a spell in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

Ian made his television debut dancing in a Persil New System Automatic commercial before taking the role of Georgie Gill in BBC Television's An Ungentlemanly Act. Ian then played the lead role of Jimmy Ellis in Carlton Television's musical drama Head Over Heels, and appeared in Doctor Finlay and a British Beef commercial before joining the Royal Shakespeare Company, playing Curio in Twelfth Night, Seward in Macbeth, Matevis in Edward III, Slater in Curse of the Stowing Class and Treat in Orphans, which he also directed.

In 1995 Ian joined EastEnders as Gary, Michelle Fowler's council boss and lover, and subsequent TV credits included Game On, A Touch of Frost, The Bill, Casualty, Doctors and Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. On film, he played a porter in Preaching To The Perverted and Andy in Calendar Girls.

He also formed a company with Tony Armatrading, providing computer graphics for corporate and TV, including Lynda La Plante's Killer Net.

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