Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 23, 2026

Sam Retford

Sam Retford is an Australian actor, known for portraying the role of Cory Wilson on the Channel 4 drama Ackley Bridge (2017–2019). As well as starring in various stage productions, he has also made appearances in television series such as Casualty (2019) and Death in Paradise (2021). In 2021, he joined the cast of the ITV soap opera Coronation Street as Curtis Delamere.

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Sam Retford
Retford in 2025
Born (1999-06-22) 22 June 1999
Gosford, New South Wales, Australia
Education
OccupationActor
Years active2014–present

Sam Retford (born 22 June 1999) is an Australian actor, known for portraying the role of Cory Wilson on the Channel 4 drama Ackley Bridge (2017–2019). As well as starring in various stage productions, he has also made appearances in television series such as Casualty (2019) and Death in Paradise (2021). In 2021, he joined the cast of the ITV soap opera Coronation Street as Curtis Delamere.

Early life

Retford was born on 22 June 1999 in Gosford, New South Wales, Australia. His family then relocated to Crewe, England.1 He attended Brine Leas High School,2 and later studied acting at The Lowry Actors Company.1 Before he began acting professionally, Retford aspired to be a marine biologist.3

Career

Retford began acting in fringe productions around the Manchester theatre scene, such as Lord of the Flies and The Newspaper Boy. He made his television debut in Hollyoaks: Tom's Life, a Hollyoaks spinoff series.3 The series premiered in 2014 on All 4, and Retford portrayed the role of Nate for four episodes.

From 2017 to 2019, he portrayed the role of Cory Wilson in the Channel 4 school drama Ackley Bridge.456 His storylines in the series revolved around the subject of domestic abuse, coming to terms with his sexuality, and engaging in an illicit relationship with a teacher.78

In August 2018, he co-starred in the musical Closets alongside Lloyd Daniels.9 In February 2019, Retford made his London theatre debut when he starred in Kings of Idle Land as Michael, at Vaults festival.1011 Later that year, Retford appeared at Diana Award anti-bullying events in Blackpool and London.1213 In December 2019, he portrayed the role of Tyler Begbie in an episode of the BBC medical drama Casualty.14

In 2020, Retford starred in the short film S.A.M.1516 Later that year, it was announced that he would appear in the tenth series of Death in Paradise.17

In May 2021, Retford joined the cast of the ITV soap opera Coronation Street as Curtis Delamere.18 Later that year, he was cast in the musical film White Wedding as Hunter.19

In February 2024, it was announced that Retford had been cast as Dougal MacKenzie in the Outlander prequel series Outlander: Blood of My Blood.20

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2014 Hollyoaks: Tom's Life Nate Main role 3
2017–2019 Ackley Bridge Cory Wilson Main role 21
2019 Casualty Tyler Begbie 1 episode 22
2020 Granada Reports Himself Guest 23
S.A.M Sam Short film 24
2021 Death in Paradise Joseph Verdinikov 2 episodes 25
Coronation Street Curtis Delamere Series regular 26
White Wedding Hunter Film 19
The Boleyns: A Scandalous Family George Boleyn Miniseries 27
2022 Ralph & Katie Gary Recurring role 28
2023 All Creatures Great and Small FO Woodham Episode: "On a Wing and a Prayer" 29
Hoard Sean Film 30
2024 Grace Jamie Brown Episode: "You Are Dead"
2025 Outlander: Blood of My Blood Dougal MacKenzie 10 episodes 20

Stage

Year Title Role Venue Ref.
2014 The Wardrobe George National Theatre Connections 31
At Night Jake Royal Exchange 32
2015 Lord of the Flies Ralph The Lowry 33
2016 Henry V Bardolph Open Air Theatre 34
2018 The Newspaper Boy Max 53Two 35
Closets Henry Hope Mill Theatre 21
2019 Kings of Idle Land Michael The Vault Theatre 36
References

References

  1. "Sam Retford talks to Northern Soul about time travel, typecasting and telly". 27 August 2018. Archived from the original on 6 June 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  2. "Brine Leas Bulletin Winter Edition 2017" (PDF). School Bulletin. 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 January 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  3. "Sam Retford". TresA. 6 June 2019. Archived from the original on 6 June 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  4. "Ex EastEnders actor and Ackley Bridge star Paul Nicholls: 'I still feel like a 16-year-old kid!'". What's on TV. 26 June 2018. Archived from the original on 29 January 2019. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  5. "Ackley Bridge gets a third series on Channel 4". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  6. Houghton, Rianne (21 August 2019). "Channel 4 confirms series three of Ackley Bridge". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 30 January 2019. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  7. Joe Anderton (16 July 2019). "Ackley Bridge fans are not happy with student/teacher affair story". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 27 July 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  8. O'Connor, Rory (12 June 2018). "Ackley Bridge spoilers: Viewers in tears at brutal domestic abuse scene". Daily Express. Archived from the original on 29 January 2019. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  9. "Closets the Musical". Hope Mill Theatre. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  10. "Kings of Idle Land". Archived from the original on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  11. Morgan, Fergus. "Kings of Idle Land review at Vaults, London – 'delicate performances'". The Stage. Archived from the original on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  12. Gavell, Tom (11 November 2019). "Celebrities, Will Poulter, Cel Spellman and Sam Retford to appear at anti-bullying event in Blackpool". Blackpool Gazette. Archived from the original on 11 November 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  13. "Diana Awards celebrates anti-bullying week". London Live. 11 November 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  14. Writer: Dana Fainaru; Director: Jordan Hogg; Producer: Dafydd Llewelyn (28 December 2019). "Episode 17". Casualty. BBC. BBC One. Archived from the original on 8 December 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  15. Damshenas, Sam. "Hollyoaks star David Tag cast in upcoming LGBTQ film". Gay Times Magazine. Archived from the original on 15 January 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  16. "Teenage Leeds actor stars in new British LGBTQ film". Yorkshire Evening Post. Archived from the original on 23 January 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  17. "Death in Paradise season 10 guest cast: Who will appear in Death in Paradise series 10?". Daily Express. 11 November 2020. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  18. Kitson, Calli (18 May 2021). "Coronation Street spoilers: Emma Brooker's dashing new love interest revealed – but Steve McDonald recognises him". Metro. DMG Media. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  19. Seddon, Dan (27 July 2021). "Coronation Street's Sam Retford and Hollyoaks' David Tag team up for a new project". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  20. Otterson, Joe (26 February 2024). "'Outlander' Prequel Series 'Blood of My Blood' Adds Four to Cast as Younger Versions of Key Characters". Variety.
  21. "We chat to Actor Sam Retford". 7 June 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  22. Reilly, Elaine. "Casualty spoilers: Dylan's failures exposed as Ethan's exit is revealed". What's on TV. Archived from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  23. "A new coming of age film S.A.M explores love and acceptance". ITV News. Archived from the original on 25 January 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  24. Edwards, Chris. "Hollyoaks actor David Tag teams up with Ackley Bridge's Sam Retford for new LGBTQ+ film". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 25 January 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  25. "Meet the cast of Death in Paradise season 10". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  26. Patterson, Stephen (18 May 2021). "Ackley Bridge star Sam Retford joins Coronation Street as Emma's new love interest". Metro. DMG Media. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  27. "Who is in The Boleyns: A Scandalous Family cast? BBC actors and historians!". The Focus. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  28. Hibbs, James (5 October 2022). "Meet the cast of Ralph & Katie". Radio Times. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  29. Mann, Robert (30 June 2023). "Coronation Street star Sam Retford lands next TV role". Digital Spy. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  30. Otterson, Joe (26 February 2024). "'Outlander' Prequel Series 'Blood of My Blood' Adds Four to Cast as Younger Versions of Key Characters". Variety. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  31. "Sam Retford CV". Curtis Brown. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  32. "At Night - Royal Exchange Theatre". www.royalexchange.co.uk. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  33. Bushell, Steph (13 July 2014). "The Lord of the Flies". Violent Delights. Archived from the original on 19 July 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  34. "Coming out as a kid in the 90's was never going to be easy..." Out News Global. 1 February 2018. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  35. "The Newspaper Boy". Manchester Salon. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  36. "Theatre review: Kings of Idle Land at Vault (Cavern) Leake Street". British Theatre Guide. 6 February 2019. Archived from the original on 5 July 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
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