From ‘Chav Phase’ to TV Star: Showtrial’s Michael Socha Overcomes Adversity

He’s currently making waves in BBC legal drama Showtrial, which returned on Sunday for a second series.

Actor Michael Socha stars as cocky PC Justin Mitchell, a serving officer accused of killing a climate activist in a hit-and-run incident – with the show having left viewers divided thanks to its gruesome scenes and gripping plot.

But while Michael, 36, is one of the hottest stars of the programme, his road to the top was paved with difficulty, with the star enduring a tough childhood and a shocking stabbing in the head.

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While Michael has overcome adversity in his life and put his ‘chav phase’ behind him, he isn’t the only person in his family to find fame as he has a well-known sister who has also carved out a successful acting career.

With Showtrial getting everyone talking, we take a look at the Michael Socha’s private life away from the screen.

Michael Socha is currently making waves in BBC legal drama Showtrial, which returned on Sunday for a second series

 Actor Michael Socha stars as cocky PC Justin Mitchell, a serving officer accused of killing a climate activist in a hit-and-run incident [pictured with Adeel Akhtar as Sam Malik]

With Showtrial getting everyone talking, we take a look at the Michael Socha’s private life away from the screen

Difficult childhood 

Michael’s younger years was plagued with violence, with the actor previously revealing that he was constantly in fights while growing up in Derby, of which he branded a ‘battlefield’. 

He told The Guardian: ‘Me and my lot, it was very violent. A lot of fighting, drink and drugs around, it weren’t a very nice place. None of us were from conventional families, we’d all been in the s**t. 

‘Our childhoods were just general violence, a place where you couldn’t back down from a fight, you had to fight. It was constant, all the f**king time: battles here, or that bloke’s after you, or called you whatever, and you’d have to sort that out. Derby was a battleground.’

Michael’s younger years was plagued with violence, with the actor previously revealing that he was constantly in fights while growing up in Derby, of which he branded a ‘battlefield’ [pictured in 2012]

Things soon turned around for the would-be TV however when he later enrolled in Nottingham’s Central Junior Television Workshop aged 14 after taking an interest in acting [Michael pictured on stage in the production of GLAMOUR in 2009]

When asked if it was a stressful situation to be in, he replied: ‘It was. You couldn’t go to school the next day having said no to a fight, or running away. Sometimes, you’d get your head kicked in, just so when you went to school, they couldn’t say, he ran.’ 

Michael was born in 1987 to parents Kathleen Lyons and Robert Socha who separated when he was younger, while magician’s assistant Debbie McGee is his godmother.

His mother worked as a social worker while father Robert struggled for many years with alcoholism before passing away in 2004 from an alcohol-related heart attack when Michael was just 16.

His younger days was plagued with drugs, drinking and fighting, with the thespian attributing this to falling into the ‘wrong crowd’. 

He also added to The Guardian that his life may have been different if his father was still around. 

He shared: ‘I thought of myself as quite an independent person. As I look back, I think I was very easily manipulated and swayed by adults, by men.’ 

He attended Saint Benedict school, however, Michael, who branded himself a ‘naughty boy’ would often skip class. 

Things soon turned around for the would-be TV however when he later enrolled in Nottingham’s Central Junior Television Workshop aged 14 after taking an interest in acting.

His younger days was plagued with drugs, drinking and fighting, with the thespian attributing this to falling into the ‘wrong crowd’.

His role was almost scuppered as he failed to learn a monologue for the audition and was placed on the ‘reserve group’, before eventually being let in.

After knock-backs in the past, Michael was determined to prove his former teachers wrong, with the workshop going on to have a strong impact on him as he worked hard in acting. 

After moving to London aged 18, his rise up the ladder wasn’t easy as he desperately struggled to get casting directors to move past his ‘chav phase’, with Michael even switching up his wardrobe in a bid to be taking more seriously.   

Shocking stabbing

Michael previously told how he was horrifically stabbed in the head in Derby while he following a night out with pals.

Speaking in an interview with The Telegraph, Michael, who was a then jobbing actor explained: ‘I ended up getting stabbed in the head. I had to work on all these [expletive] jobs with a face that was ballooned.’

Michael previously told how he was horrifically stabbed in the head in Derby while he following a night out with pals [pictured on social media]

Finding a positive in the terrifying ordeal, Michael noted that the knife ‘didn’t go through my skull.’

Detailing the events that led up to the shocking incident, the TV star told how his friend was involved in an ‘alter­cation’ with ‘another lad’, with Michael not recalling much else after that as he later woke up to ‘one of my friends crying above me.’

Michael further opened up on the attack, in which he also hit with a dog chain, adding of his stabbing: ‘I think it was a Stanley blade. My other mate got stabbed in the leg.’

Michael, who had three TV jobs lined up at the time told how he lied to bosses and said he’d got into a fight on the train, with the make-up teams forced to cover ‘massive f***ing gaps in my head’.

Famous family

Michael isn’t the only well-known face in the Socha family as his younger sister is none other than Misfits actress Lauren Socha.

As well as portraying Kelly Bailey in the E4 comedy-drama, BAFTA-award winning Lauren, 34, has also appeared in BBC sitcom The Other One,  BBC drama Five Daughters and short film Scummy Man alongside Stephen Graham.

Lauren also appeared in Channel 4’s The Unloved, which also featured brother Michael playing a care worker.

Michael isn’t the only well-known face in the Socha family as his younger sister is none other than Misfits actress Lauren Socha [pictured]

As well as portraying Kelly Bailey in the E4 comedy-drama, BAFTA-award winning Lauren, 34, has also appeared in BBC sitcom The Other One, BBC drama Five Daughters and short film Scummy Man alongside Stephen Graham

Michael previously revealed that he struggles to act in front of his family, which working wsithb his sister was didfficult as it ‘doesn’t work.

He told The Mirror: ‘Me and Lauren – we’re not from that acting background. I can do it out of a family situation, away from home, but even bringing my mum to set, I found it all a bit odd. She was like, “What are you doing?”. 

‘When me and Lauren are [acting] together, it just doesn’t work. We did a show called The Unloved together – I was a residential care worker and she was a kid in care and Lauren couldn’t stop laughing.’

Lauren has also branched out into reality TV, having appeared in Celebrity Big Brother in 2014 and 761 Degrees North back in 2010, where she was the first contestant to be voted off. 

Impressive career

Michael’s TV career kicked off aged just 17, when he charismatic gang member Harvey in Shane Meadows’s 2006 film This Is England [pictured]

Michael played the character of Lewis in The Aliens

He portrayed Private Andrews in BBC Three miniseries Our World War

Michael starred as Tom alongside Lenora Critchlow (Annie) and Damian Molony (Hal) in Being Huma

Michael’s TV career kicked off aged just 17, when he charismatic gang member Harvey in Shane Meadows’s 2006 film This Is England.

Since then, Michael’s’ star has continued to rise as he appeared in several TV shows over the years, most notably Being Human, The Aliens, Chernobyl and The Gallows Pole.

He’s also appeared in the ’86, ’88 and ’96 editions of the This Is England TV series, as well as fantasy drama series Once Upon A Time In Wonderland and BBC Three miniseries Our World War. 

Children

He has a young son called Ellis, whom he shares with ex-partner Faye Ray. The pair were said to have split eight years ago [Michael and Ellis pictured in 2019]

Michael is rather private about his personal life and doesn’t share images of his loved ones on social media.

He has a young son called Ellis, whom he shares with ex-partner Faye Ray. The pair were said to have split eight years ago.

While Ellis lives in Derby, Michael is also said to have two younger children who are based in South London.

Speaking about parenthood, he told The Telegraph: ‘My mum’s never been impressed by a film set. I think she’s just happy that I’m a good father to my kids.’

Michael is thought to be currently single.