Inside Balamory star Julie Wilson Nimmo’s relationship with famous husband

If you grew up during the 00s or had children at the time, then at some point you will have tuned in to Balamory, the iconic children’s TV show that aired between 2002 and 2005.

The show was jokingly referred to as the “world’s first soap for pre-school children” and it dealt with the lives and issues faced by the residents of the fictional coastal town. Characters included police officer PC Plum, fitness instructor Josie Jump and café owners Suzie Sweet and Penny Pocket.

However, the show’s central character and narrator was Miss Hoolie, a nursery teacher who was played by Julie Wilson Nimmo. Julie shot to fame thanks to the children’s TV show, and also appeared in the likes of Olga Da Polga, Fags, Mags and Bags and mockumentary series Scot Squad.

Although the return of Balamory will feature new characters, it’s been confirmed that Julie will be reprising her role as Miss Hoolie, despite initially being glad to see the back of her, with the recognition from children meaning that she once had to leave a public park so that her own son wouldn’t be “freaked” out by the attention.

Julie is a proud mum to two sons, Benny and Chevy, and she shares them with her husband, Greg Hemphill, a Scottish actor and comedian, who helped launch the star’s career.

Here’s all you need to know…

Julie’s famous husband Greg Hemphill

Like Julie, Greg is a famous Scottish TV star, with the 56-year-old getting his first big break in sketch series Pulp Video, which he served as a writer on. The show also helped to launch Julie’s career, and the pair also appeared together in Greg’s show, Chewin’ the Fat.

This wouldn’t be the only time that the pair appeared together on-screen, with Greg appearing as Des in an episode of Balamory, and the duo played married couple Mr and Mrs Sawdust in Olga Da Polga between 2022 and 2023. Julie and Greg also present wild swimming programme Jules and Greg’s Wild Swim.

© Alamy Stock Photo

The couple walked down the aisle in 2015

Greg has an impressive list of credits, including playing Ade MacArthur in the BBC’s hit comedy series Dinosaur, Victor McDade in Still Game, Bobby in Coldwater, and he even had a cameo appearance in Marvel film Deadpool & Wolverine.

Julie and Greg married in 1999, four years after they starred together in Pulp Video. The wedding took place in Las Vegas, with Greg revealing that the pair hadn’t intended to get married when they flew out to the United States at the time. Greg’s brother was the only guest at their initial ceremony.

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Julie and Greg host their own wild swimming programme

In an interview with the Telegraph in 2025, the pair shared how wild swimming helped to preserve their relationship. “When you get into your 50s you really have to work at marriage and you have to make an effort to do things together,” Greg shared. “For us, it’s swimming.”

Julie added: “We were becoming empty nesters, and we were dealing with different things: grief, my mum not being well and all the things that happen in your 50s. I’m not judging anybody, but a lot of couples we know are splitting up. We’ve always been able to keep going and have a laugh, but this has just been so nice because I get to do it with my best pal.“