Who is Tom Hanson? Brassic actor who starred as Shannon Matthews’ stepdad Craig Meehan in The Moorside
TOM Hanson is starring in Sky One original drama Brassic alongside Michelle Keegan.
The role comes after his 2017 screen debut in gritty two-part drama The Moorside with Gemma Whelan and Sheridan Smith. Here's what you need to know about him.
Who is Tom Hanson?
Tom Hanson is starring in Sky One's original drama Brassic as Cardi.
The Brit actor broke into television with his role as Craig Meehan in The Moorside in 2017.
Ahead of his TV debut, Tom studied at Rada and performed in ten of their productions, including Oedipus, Much Ado About Nothing and Poetic Bodies.
He then participated in several productions across the UK, including taking on the role of Hugo in Posh - the play based on an exclusive Oxford dining club - at the Nottingham Playhouse.
The gritty play was later adapted for screen and became The Riot Club.
Tom was also understudy for Romeo in the Shakespeare play Romeo and Juliet at the Garrick Theatre, and also played the part of Paris.
Who is Craig Meehan?
Craig Meehan was the boyfriend of Karen Matthews - Shannon's mum - and his uncle Michael Donovan helped orchestrate the elaborate plot to kidnap the girl and claim she was missing.
While he was not involved in the extortion plot, he was found to be in possession of child pornography during police investigations and later jailed.
The supermarket fishmonger shared a house with Matthews, dubbed "Britain's Most Hated Mum", for around five years.
They lived on the Dewsbury Moor estate in West Yorkshire - just a mile from where Shannon was found in Batley Carr.
Then 22, Meehan was arrested after police searching for Shannon found child pornography on his computer.
He was found guilty and issued a 20-week jail sentence, but was released as he had already spent it in jail on remand.
They had been together for around four years when Shannon disappeared and stayed together up until Matthews' trial.
Throughout the cruel mum's trial for child neglect and perverting the course of justice, Meehan continued to profess his love for her.
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He told the court they had a "pretty good relationship", but said Matthews suspected he was cheating on her with a fellow supermarket worker.
Matthews initially told a similar story, but soon changed her tune entirely.
Giving evidence in court Matthews tried to portray Meehan as violent rapist and attempted to blame him for Shannon's abduction.
Meehan was never charged in connection with the nine-year-old's abduction.