Emmerdale’s Oliver Farnworth lands major new role away from John Sugden

Emmerdale star Oliver Farnworth is taking on a major new role away from the Dales as he joins the cast of The Silence of the Lambs for its world stage play premiere and UK and Ireland tour.

Oliver, who is currently known to viewers as John Sugden in Emmerdale, plays FBI agent Jack Crawford in the new production, joining a cast that also includes Coronation Street’s Mollie Gallagher and former EastEnders star John Partridge.

The role sees Oliver return to the stage alongside his television work, drawing on an extensive theatre career that has already taken him across the UK and beyond.

Oliver Farnworth swaps Emmerdale for the stage

Soap viewers will currently recognise Oliver as John Sugden, who has become a major presence in Emmerdale since his arrival in the village.

He is also familiar to Coronation Street fans after previously playing Andy Carver, while his wider television credits include Endeavour, Mr Selfridge, Doctors, The Royal and Hollyoaks.

Away from television, Oliver has built up a substantial list of theatre credits, making The Silence of the Lambs a natural return to the stage rather than a first step into live performance.

His previous productions include 42nd Street, Fatal Attraction, The Girl on the Train, The Marilyn Conspiracy, Beautiful Thing, Holding the Man and Kes, alongside a wide range of other touring and regional theatre work.

Oliver Farnworth plays Jack Crawford

In The Silence of the Lambs, Oliver takes on the role of Jack Crawford, the FBI agent overseeing the investigation into serial killer Buffalo Bill.

Crawford turns to trainee Clarice Starling and sends her to interview imprisoned psychiatrist and murderer Hannibal Lecter, hoping Lecter’s extraordinary insight can help the FBI understand the killer they are trying to catch.

As another woman remains missing and the pressure intensifies, Clarice finds herself pulled deeper into an increasingly dangerous psychological battle with Lecter.

For Oliver, the role offers something very different from John Sugden and gives audiences another chance to see the actor’s stage experience come to the forefront.

Mollie Gallagher and John Partridge lead an impressive cast

Oliver stars alongside Mollie Gallagher, best known as Nina Lucas in Coronation Street, who takes on the role of Clarice Starling.

The production marks Mollie’s professional theatre debut following more than six years on the cobbles, making her casting one of the biggest talking points surrounding the tour.

Former EastEnders star John Partridge, remembered by soap viewers as Christian Clarke, takes on the iconic role of Dr Hannibal Lecter. John brings extensive West End experience to the production alongside his long television career.

Sam Jackson, known for Skins and Father Brown, plays Jame Gumb, better known as Buffalo Bill, while Minal Patel appears as Frederick Chilton and Jo Mousley plays Senator Ruth Martin.

The wider company includes Lottie Amor as Catherine Martin, Mark Peachey as Pilcher, Andrew Joshi as Peterson and Jonny Magnanti as Wertimer, with Mary Timbrell Hill completing the cast and taking on a variety of roles.

The combination of established theatre performers and familiar television faces gives the production a strong ensemble as Thomas Harris’s story is brought to the stage for the first time.

The Silence of the Lambs begins its UK and Ireland tour

The production has been adapted for the stage by two-time Pulitzer finalist Gina Gionfriddo and is directed by Curve Artistic Director Nikolai Foster.

Its creative team includes designer Michael Taylor, sound designer Carolyn Downing, projection designer George Reeve, composer Grant Olding and lighting designer Howard Hudson, with casting by Harry Blumenau and Julia Thomas serving as Associate Director.

The Silence of the Lambs opened at Curve in Leicester on 1 August 2026 before beginning its major UK and Ireland tour.

Full tour dates, venues and ticket booking information are available through the official The Silence of the Lambs website.

For more Emmerdale news and updates on the stars beyond the village, visit the Emmerdale Hub on SoapLandTV. Images: The Silence of the Lambs / Indigo Productions / Crossroads Live / Curve.