Born in Leeds as Anthony Bate (he later had to change his name for acting purposes as there was already an actor of that name) he moved to Whitley Bay in Northumberland at the age of three. He was educated at St Edwards School and Skerry's College in the town. He then embarked on a number of jobs and became a musician in a group called Sixteen Strings which performed in the North East. Later he moved to London where he took up amateur dramatics, later returning to the North East to work with the Tyneside Theatre Company. His role in "The Intruder" required him to play the part with a northern accent which he said he found difficult after trying to lose it earlier in his career.
