Philip played Billy's dad in Elton John's West End stage adaptation of Billy Elliot from 5 December 2005 until 2 December 2006. He returned to the role from 2 June 2008 until 29 November 2008, and played the role on Broadway from 29 January 2010 until 2 May 2010.
In 2008, he starred alongside other former The Bill actors, Cyril Nri and Russell Boulter in an episode of BBC1's Waking the Dead.
In 2012, he starred alongside former Bros member turned actor Luke Goss in the feature film Interview with a Hitman (2012) written and directed by Perry Bhandal in which he played the British crime boss Tosca. Phil also played a character called "The Geordie", a hoodwinked thug, in the ITV drama Doors Open which was transmitted on Boxing Day 2012.
in 2013, he played the role of Alfred Chalmers in Ian Rankin's debut play Dark Road.
In 2016 Whitchurch was cast as the Duke of Gloucester in the Talawa Theatre Company and Royal Exchange Manchester co-production of King Lear.
