I’ve been on screen more than 2500 times thanks to my secret weapon

A man who has appeared on-screen more than 2,500 times as the UK’s most prolific extra revealed his secret weapon that kept casting agents calling.

John Walker has appeared in countless beloved projects – all while largely maintaining his anonymity.

Whether in soaps or Hollywood films, he featured as a background artist AKA an ‘extra’ in numerous productions over the years.

Writing for The Guardian, John explained how his journey as a background artist began in 1998, with Doctor Who spin-off Auton.

He soon signed up for an extras’ agency, hoping to land an occasional role – only to unexpectedly find himself booked and busy.

John explained: ‘My look at the time – skinny, mid-30s and not too good-looking – was in high demand to play doctors, gentry in period dramas, police officers and journalists. 

‘I was cast as a newsreader so often that I started signing off with the same name every time – Peter Sommers has announced headlines in at least 30 films and TV shows, and he started being requested by directors.’ 

Among his many appearances were stints on three major soaps – Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks – where, for a short while, John simultaneously played a GP on all of them.

In addition, John was also part of a group of extras who regularly played detectives in four different police shows.

He quipped: ‘We joked it was a wonder any cases ever got solved, given our vast workload.’  

John expanded into feature film background roles, including as Daniel Radcliffe’s butler in A Woman In Black, as well as playing an assassin in Sherlock Holmes 2.

His most notable project – for multiple reasons – is perhaps the now-ended BBC medical soap opera Doctors.

He met his wife Neilum, a fellow background artist, on the show – describing this as ‘the greatest day I ever had on set.’

In perhaps a hint of things to come, the pair were playing a married couple in their first meeting.

John recalled: ‘I fell head over heels for her immediately, and told her I’d marry her for real one day. 

‘She told me afterwards she thought I was quite strange, but I must have grown on her as we tied the knot in 2013.’

Two years later, they welcomed daughter India, who dabbled in background work as a younger child.

As a result of his many on-screen appearances, John said his friends had spotted him on TV many times.

However, only once did a stranger clock who he was – with a woman asking if he was the man who ‘raced in a child’s go-kart in a Pontins advert.’ 

With John having ambitions to direct, he put money into making his own film which later ended up on Netflix – but to limited fanfare.

Meanwhile, John’s life took a major turn after a friend offered him a few days’ work as a runner – on none other than Doctors.

A ‘runner’ is an entry-level member of a film crew who typically carries out duties like running errands, fetching drinks and providing general assistance.

As John himself explained, runners are usually in their early 20s – while he was 47 at the time.

Following these beginnings, he worked his way up to a first assistant director on Doctors – but the show concluded last year after almost 25 years on-screen. 

Of course, John isn’t the only person to have worked as an extra in major projects.

Iustin Costinesti featured in this capacity on season one of Netflix hit Wednesday, where he portrayed a werewolf character.  

Speaking to Curiously, Iustin discussed his experience on set of The Addams Family-inspired show, confirming he had the opportunity to interact with main stars.

He said of series star Jenna Ortega: ‘She was very shy, she was always with headphones and I think she was always in character.

‘She was lovely though, she was kind to all of us and she was saying hello to all of us.’