John Nicholas Ball (born 11 April 1946) is an English actor. He is best known for playing the title role in the television series Hazell.
He portrayed the vicious gang lord Terry Bates in EastEnders between 2007 and 2009. He played Garry Ryan in series five of Footballers' Wives and both series of its spin-off programme Footballers' Wives: Extra Time. The voice of Nicholas Ball can be heard as well on various audio books offered via the internet; he has narrated books from such authors as Christopher Hitchens and James Maybrick. He was, in 2019, in an advert for Premier Inn, playing the part of Lenny Henry's manager.
Personal life
Ball was married to actress–comedian and psychologist, Pamela Stephenson from 1978 until her affair and eventual elopement, with Billy Connolly.
Selected TV and film roles
Overlord (1975) The Crezz (1976) Rogue Male (1976) Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? (1978) Hazell (1978–79) The House that Bled to Death (1980) (TV) in the Hammer House of Horror series Play for Today Sorry (1981) The Young Ones (TV series) Series 1; Episode: Interesting (1982) "Who Cares Wins - The Key To Success" (Austin Rover staff training video) (1983) Bergerac (TV series) Two appearances: Series 2; Episode 7 (1983); Christmas Special (1988) Alas Smith and Jones, at least one appearance. Episode 1 (January 1984) Lifeforce (1985) Colin's Sandwich Series 2 (1989) Heartbeat (British TV series) Series 7; Episode 7 (1997) : as Charlie Fenton Red Dwarf Series 4, Justice (1991) : as the Simulant The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous (1997) Croupier (1998) Jonathan Creek Series 3; Episode 5 (1999) as Vince Rees Footballers' Wives: Extra Time Series 1–2 (2005–2006) Footballers' Wives Series 5 (2006) Pie in the Sky Series 3; Episode 4 (2006) : as DCI Doggett Heartbeat Series 16; Episode 19 (2007) : as Gregory Flambard EastEnders (2007–2009, 2019) Sisterhood (2008) Hustle (TV series) (2009) : as Frank Rose Holby City (2015) : as Barry Copeland The Krays: Dead Man Walking (2018) : as Harry Webster Doctors (2020) : as Harold 'Aitch' Snetterton The Krays: New Blood'' (2021) : as Harry Webster