David Neilson was born in Loughborough, Leicestershire on 13th March 1949 and attended Garendon Secondary Modern School, leaving when he was 15 years old. He was 20 when he decided to try for drama school, auditioned successfully and did a 3-year drama course at the Central School of Speech and Drama. In 1972 he went into rep in Watford. In his time, he has worked as a gas fitter, plumber, ice cream salesman and barman. Since becoming an actor he had stints as a theatre director, (running the Little Theatre Company in Bristol and directing the premiere of Raymond Briggs' "When The Wind Blows" at the Whitehall Theatre, London), taught drama at RADA Central and Rose Bruford College, and written plays. His "Robin Hood-The Truth Behind The Green Tights" is published by Samuel French, pre-dates and is funnier than Mel Brooks's version which has a similar title. He was interviewed for his current role as Roy Cropper in "Coronation Street" after having been recommended for it by the writer, Stephen Mallatratt.