TV star Paddy Considine takes centre stage in the new comedy Small Town, Big Story. The 51-year-old actor portrays Séamus Proctor, a trusted GP and pillar of the community in the fictional Irish town of Drumbán.
However, the peaceful town is thrown into chaos when film crews descend for a new production, and he encounters former resident turned TV producer Wendy Patterson (Christina Hendricks). With a significant secret on the brink of being revealed, how will Séamus and the rest of the town keep their cool?
Born and raised in Burton upon Trent, Considine grew up alongside his brother and four sisters in a council estate in Winshill. He has carved out a successful career in TV and film, with recent roles including King Viserys I Targaryen in House of the Dragon, as well as parts in Hot Fuzz, Tyrannosaur, Dead Man’s Shoes, The Death of Stalin and The Outsider.
But what about the actor’s life off-screen?
Paddy Considine plays a small town doctor with a two decades-old secret (Image: Playground Entertainment)
Who is Paddy Considine married to?
Paddy is happily wedded to his childhood sweetheart Shelley Insley, with whom he tied the knot in 2002. They share three children and reside in his hometown of Burton upon Trent.
Paddy Considine’s life-changing diagnosis
In 2011, Considine received a life-changing diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome. This came after a specialist suggested he might have Irlen Syndrome—a condition that affects light processing and is often associated with autism.
Paddy Considine’s decision to wear tinted glasses has greatly alleviated his discomfort in social settings and while filming.
In an interview with The Guardian, he reflected: “In interviews from four or five years ago, I looked like a guy who wanted to see the exit with regards to acting. It was something I had to learn to love and appreciate because it was giving me so much.”
He continued, “It’s very easy to run and hide, but there’s some part of me that won’t do that. Part of me said, ‘I’m not going to drown here. I’m going to swim.’ And that’s how it’s been. I don’t really know how to drown.”
Paddy Considine is the frontman of rock band Riding The Low (Image: press)
Paddy Considine is the frontman of rock band Riding The Low who will play at Download Festival 2025 (Image: Getty)
Inside Paddy Considine’s band
Beyond his acting career, Considine is also the lead singer of the rock band Riding The Low, known for their blend of catchy pop anthems and psychedelic rock tracks. The band has released multiple albums and embarked on UK tours.
This year, they are slated to perform at Download on the Dogtooth Stage, sharing the bill with punk legends Green Day. Discussing his music, Paddy revealed, “I do the majority of songwriting when I’m working because it just gets me away from everything else.”
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 15: Paddy Considine attends the “House Of The Dragon” Sky Group Premiere in Leicester Square on August 15, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) (Image: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
“Whatever flat I’m in or wherever I’m staying, I’ll set up a studio-ish set-up. Usually it’s just my laptop and a half decent mic and I’ll write.”
For Considine, songwriting serves as an escape from other pressures, though he admitted that balancing performances with contractual obligations can be challenging.
Small Town, Big Story is released on February 27 on Sky Max and NOW