John Rowe was born during the Battle of Britain in 1941. Though born in Ross-on-Wye he grew up in Birmingham and after reading English at Oxford he returned to the Midlands where he worked as a teacher before training at the Birmingham School of Speech and Drama in Edgbaston. After some years in repertory theatre he joined the BBC's Radio Drama Company at Broadcasting House and has been a stalwart radio actor ever since,notably as cultured in-comer Professor Jim Lloyd in 'The Archers'. He has also played numerous character roles on television and has extensive stage experience, touring with the Old Vic in Europe,China,the Middle East and Australia. He married theatre director Vicky Ireland by whom he has two children.