Anthony Hirst is a British actor and theatre director, best known for playing Mike Barnes on the soap opera "Hollyoaks" and in "Coronation Street" as Paul Kershaw, the love interest of Eileen Grimshaw. Hirst also narrates "Benefits Street" and the UK versions of Mike Rowe's "Dirty Jobs" and "How It's Made" on Discovery channels.
Hirst lives with partner Sue Colgrave and they have two children, actress Kate Colgrave Pope and a son Jack. Hirst has an MSA Competition Licence and competed in the 2012 Silverstone Classic Celebrity Challenge race.