John Axon was an English television and stage actor. Axon trained at the Guildhall school of music and drama after briefly training as a graphic designer. He had a small part in Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights series 1 episode 3. He was perhaps best known for his role as the hospital administrator, Nigel Harper, on the ITV1 television series The Royal. Axon played Harper as a recurring role on the show from 2003 until 2005. Other television credits include Prime Suspect, City Central, Lilies and Monsignor Renard.