Duncan Preston (born 11 August 1946) is a retired English actor. He is known for his appearances in television productions written by Victoria Wood, including his role in the soap opera parody sketches '' Acorn Antiques'' and as Stan in the sitcom '' dinnerladies'' (1998–2000). He reprised his role of Clifford in '' Acorn Antiques: The Musical!'' in 2005. His other television roles include DS Todd in the soap opera ''

EastEnders ''EastEnders'' is a British television soap opera created by Julia Smith (producer), Julia Smith and Tony Holland which has been broadcast on BBC One since February 1985. Set in the fictional borough of Walford in the East End of London, the ...

'' (1987), Jonathan Haslam in the hospital sitcom '' Surgical Spirit'' (1989–1995); and Doug Potts in the soap opera ''

Emmerdale ''Emmerdale'' (known as ''Emmerdale Farm'' until 1989) is a British television soap opera that is broadcast on ITV (TV network), ITV. The show is set in Emmerdale (known as Beckindale until 1994), a List of fictional towns and villages, fict ...

'' (2007–2011, 2014–2020).

Career

Preston appeared in a short 1981 Public information film entitled ''Say NO to Strangers'', as a kerb-crawling predator attempting to lure a schoolgirl into his car. He has also made many guest appearances in various TV series, including ''Hunters Walk,'' '' Secret Army'', '' The Professionals'', '' All Creatures Great and Small'', '' Robin of Sherwood'', '' Bergerac'', '' The New Statesman'', '' Press Gang'', ''

Chalk Chalk is a soft, white, porous, sedimentary carbonate rock. It is a form of limestone composed of the mineral calcite and originally formed deep under the sea by the compression of microscopic plankton that had settled to the sea floor. Ch ...

'', '' Boon'', '' Casualty'', '' Heartbeat'', ''

The Royal ''The Royal'' is a British period medical drama, produced by Yorkshire Television (later part of ITV Studios), and broadcast on ITV from 2003 until its cancellation in 2011. The series is set in the 1960s and focuses on the lives of the st ...

'', '' Hetty Wainthropp Investigates'', ''

Holby City ''Holby City'' (stylised on-screen as HOLBY CIY) is a British medical drama television series that aired weekly on BBC One. It was created by Tony McHale and Mal Young as a Spin-off (media), spin-off from the established BBC medical drama '' ...

'',The Good Ship Murder, '' Peak Practice'', ''

Midsomer Murders ''Midsomer Murders'' is a British Mystery fiction, mystery television series, adapted by Anthony Horowitz and Douglas Watkinson from the novels in the ''Chief Inspector Barnaby'' book series created by Caroline Graham (writer), Caroline Graham. ...

'', '' Dalziel and Pascoe'' and '' My Family''. His film career includes roles in ''

Porridge Porridge is a food made by heating, soaking or boiling ground, crushed or chopped starchy plants, typically grain, in milk or water. It is often cooked or served with added flavourings such as sugar, honey, fruit, or syrup to make a sweet cereal ...

'' (1979), '' A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square'' (1979), '' Scandalous'' (1984), ''Milk'' (1999), '' Nativity 3: Dude, Where's My Donkey?'' (2014) and in the horror film '' Howl'' (2015). He was also a regular cast member in the sitcom '' Surgical Spirit'' and appeared as Dennis Stokes in ''

Coronation Street ''Coronation Street'' (colloquially referred to as ''Corrie'') is a British television soap opera created by ITV Granada, Granada Television and shown on ITV (TV network), ITV since 9 December 1960. The programme centres on a cobbled, terraced ...

'' in 2004. Preston played Doug Potts, the father of Laurel Thomas in ''

''. He has also appeared on '' Lily Savage's Blankety Blank''. From 2002 to 2012, Preston co-starred as Det. Sgt. Riley in the BBC Radio crime drama '' Trueman and Riley'', opposite Robert Daws. In 2022, Preston appeared in series 25 of '' Silent Witness''.

Personal life

Preston was married to actress Susan Penhaligon between 1986 and 1992. They subsequently reconciled in 1997, though they have not remarried. Duncan has supported the

Bradford Bulls The Bradford Bulls are a professional rugby league club in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, and compete in the Championship, the second tier of British rugby league. The club have won the League Championship six times, the Challenge Cup f ...

Rugby League Rugby league football, commonly known as rugby league in English-speaking countries and rugby 13/XIII in non-Anglophone Europe, is a contact sport, full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular Rugby league playin ...

team throughout his life, having first attended a game when he was 3 years old.

Stage work

As a

Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's natio ...

an actor, Preston has performed in many productions for the

Royal Shakespeare Company The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs over 1,000 staff and opens around 20 productions a year. The RSC plays regularly in London, Stratf ...

, including playing Angus in Trevor Nunn's version of ''

Macbeth ''The Tragedy of Macbeth'', often shortened to ''Macbeth'' (), is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, estimated to have been first performed in 1606. It dramatises the physically violent and damaging psychological effects of political ambiti ...

'' (stage 1976, television 1978), starring

Ian McKellen Sir Ian Murray McKellen (born 25 May 1939) is an English actor. He has played roles on the screen and stage in genres ranging from Shakespearean dramas and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction. He is regarded as a British cu ...

and

Judi Dench Dame Judith Olivia Dench (born 9 December 1934) is an English actress. Widely considered one of Britain's greatest actors, she is noted for her versatility, having appeared in films and television, as well as for her numerous roles on the stage ...

. Other theatre work includes a 2007 production of ''

To Kill A Mockingbird ''To Kill a Mockingbird'' is a 1960 Southern Gothic novel by American author Harper Lee. It became instantly successful after its release; in the United States, it is widely read in high schools and middle schools. ''To Kill a Mockingbird'' ...

''. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree by the University of Bradford on 4 December 2002 "for his contributions as an actor".UoB Press release
, brad.ac.uk; accessed 20 August 2014.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Preston, Duncan 1946 births English male soap opera actors English male stage actors Living people Male actors from Bradford People educated at Bradford Grammar School Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art