Liam Scholes is a Manchester-born British actor, singer and presenter who has built a strong reputation through energetic and sincere performances. He is best known as Noel McManus in BBC drama Waterloo Road, while his earlier work includes Eli Higginson in Coronation Street, a small role in Peaky Blinders, and an appearance in Butterfly. His career also includes short films, theatre, live music and youth leadership.
Born in March 2003, he is 23 in September 2026. He has strong links with Manchester, Sale and Salford, and works with Linton Management. His verified social accounts present him as an actor and musician, while his work shows a wider ambition.
Liam Scholes: Early Life and Manchester Roots
Liam Scholes was born in Manchester and grew up in the Greater Manchester area. Sale, Cheshire, is associated with his family background, and his early connection with the North West remains central to his career. He has spoken warmly about Northern television and local talent.
His mother, Nicola, came into the spotlight in 2015 after a light-hearted school dispute. At the age of 11, he dressed as Christian Grey from Fifty Shades of Grey for World Book Day. His school asked for changes before allowing him to take part, and the story attracted national media attention.
Liam Scholes Education and First Steps in Acting
Contemporary coverage identified him as a pupil at Sale High School in 2015. Social details supplied in the account also connect him with Lostock College and the Young Actors Company at The Lowry. These details do not form a fully consistent education record, and no confirmed university degree has been found. The reference to Google Classroom seems to describe online study rather than a formal college qualification.
The Lowry Connection
His early work with young performers helped him develop confidence before his professional screen career grew. In 2024, he returned to The Lowry Academy to speak with pupils about acting, career routes and the challenges of the entertainment industry. He gave students a practical view of life on set.
Liam Scholes and His Acting Career
His first screen credits came through smaller roles, but they gave him valuable experience across different types of production. He played Boy 2 in the television drama Butterfly in 2018 and appeared in Peaky Blinders in 2019. These early credits placed him within respected British drama productions before his best-known roles arrived.
Noel McManus in Waterloo Road
The defining role of his career so far is Noel McManus in Waterloo Road. He joined the revived BBC drama as part of its younger generation of characters and became closely connected with Stace Neville, played by Tillie Amartey. Their relationship has been a major part of the programme’s recent storylines, including the possibility of a wedding in Series 17.
Noel works within the school environment and is presented as a lively, warm and sometimes unpredictable young man. His connection with the programme is also personal because he grew up watching Waterloo Road and understands the importance of seeing Northern communities represented on screen.
A Role Written for Him
In a detailed interview, Liam Scholes explained that Noel was not the part he first expected to receive. The character was developed for him after the production team saw his audition. He has said that he recognised parts of his own personality in Noel, particularly the character’s bold and slightly wild energy.
Music has also shaped Noel’s place in the drama. Scholes made his musical debut within the programme and later performed songs connected with Lewis Capaldi and The Courteeners. These scenes joined his two main creative interests and helped audiences see him as more than a television actor.
Other Television and Film Roles
In Coronation Street, Liam Scholes played Eli Higginson in 2021. Eli became involved in the serious storyline surrounding Corey Brent and the attack on Seb Franklin. The role placed him in a demanding plot about violence and hidden responsibility.
His other screen credits include a young messenger role in Peaky Blinders and Boy 2 in Butterfly. He played Luke in the short film Inertia, and he plays Jason in NOWT. That film was made by Idle Work Factory with support from the British Film Institute and Film Hub North, and began its festival journey at Bolton Film Festival.
He has also been connected with theatre work, including an announced Manchester production of Kae Tempest’s Wasted. Theatre offers a different discipline, demanding live concentration and a close relationship with the audience.
Music with The Lanks
Away from acting, Liam Scholes is the lead singer of Salford indie band The Lanks. The group includes Josh Lloyd, Sam McKnight and Stuart Pickett, and draws on the guitar-led sound associated with Manchester and the wider Lancashire music scene.
The band released its debut original single, “Bigger Man”, in April 2023. They have performed in venues across Manchester and Stockport and have shared stages with other modern indie acts. Music gives Scholes a second creative career, allowing him to write, perform and connect directly with people in a live setting.
Youth Leadership, Judging and Awards
During 2020, Liam Scholes was associated with the Greater Manchester Youth Combined Authority and served as its chair. He also took part in youth music events, speaking with young people about the creative industries and the routes available to them.
His work now extends into presenting and judging. In March 2026, he co-hosted the Royal Television Society North West Student Awards with Tillie Amartey. He also served as a celebrity judge at Worksop’s Got Talent in 2025, supporting young performers and encouraging regional talent.
National Film Awards Nomination
In 2025, Scholes received a nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series at the National Film Awards UK for Waterloo Road. The nomination recognised his growing impact in the role of Noel. A confirmed win has not been established, but the nomination marked an important step in his professional development.
Family and Personal Life
Liam Scholes has a close connection with his sister, Georgia Scholes, who is also an actress and is known for The Bay. Georgia congratulated him when he joined Waterloo Road, showing the support between the two performers. Their shared experience gives them an unusual understanding of the pressures and opportunities within the acting world.
He also had a twin brother named Aiden. In a birthday tribute, Scholes wrote that he would continue living with Aiden by his side and live life for both of them. The wording and accompanying messages indicate that Aiden had died, but Scholes has not shared the cause or date. Those private details should remain undisclosed unless he chooses to discuss them.
Relationships and Current Position
Liam Scholes was previously linked with Coronation Street actress Elle Mulvaney after they worked in the same television world. Their relationship ended in 2024. He was later connected with Roisin Riley, with their relationship ending in early 2026 according to entertainment coverage.
In 2026, he was publicly associated with Amberley Barnes through social media posts and birthday messages. That is the latest relationship evidence available, but it does not confirm whether they remain together in September 2026. There is no reliable confirmation that Scholes is married or has children.
Business Record and Unconfirmed Details
Companies House records show that Liam Aaron Scholes became a director of The Honesty Party Nominees Limited in December 2020. The company has since been dissolved. This record confirms a business appointment, but it does not reveal his income, wealth or long-term commercial plans.
No dependable figure has been established for his height or net worth. Those details should not be presented as fact. His strongest confirmed achievements are his television work, music career, youth leadership, award nomination and growing role in regional entertainment.
The Future of Liam Scholes
Liam Scholes has developed from a young Manchester performer into a versatile creative professional. Waterloo Road remains his most visible acting role, but The Lanks, short films, theatre, presenting and youth work show that his ambitions reach beyond one programme.
His Northern identity is a consistent strength. He understands the value of local stories, supports emerging performers and continues to work across acting and music. With experience, recognition and a clear connection to audiences, Liam Scholes has the foundations for a long and varied career in British entertainment.
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