James Thornton

James Thornton (born 31 October 1975) is an English actor and voice-over artist. He is best known for portraying John Barton on the long-running British soap opera Emmerdale from 2009 to 2012; he previously appeared in the show in 1995. Personal life Thornton married the actress Joanna Page in December 2003. They have four children. Four years before their marriage, they both appeared in the BBC adaptation of the Charles Dickens novel David Copperfield; he as Ham Peggotty, she as Dora Spenlow. On 13 February 2010 Thornton was hit by a motorist in London and received medical treatment for leg injuries. Emmerdale producers rewrote scenes involving Thornton's character.