Giles Francis Watling (born 18 February 1953) is a British

Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...

politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Clacton from 2017 until 2024. He was an

actor An actor (masculine/gender-neutral), or actress (feminine), is a person who portrays a character in a production. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. ...

prior to entering politics.

Early life and education

Giles Watling was born on 18 February 1953 at Chingford,

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

. His parents Patricia Hicks and Jack Watling were actors. Watling was privately educated at Forest School, Walthamstow.

Career

Watling has worked extensively in British theatre and on television, and is probably best known for his portrayal of the vicar Oswald in Carla Lane's series ''

Bread Bread is a baked food product made from water, flour, and often yeast. It is a staple food across the world, particularly in Europe and the Middle East. Throughout recorded history and around the world, it has been an important part of many cu ...

''. He has also directed several UK touring theatre productions, and took on the role of ''Bob'' in the UK tour of ''Priscilla, Queen of the Desert'' in 2013. Watling serves on the board of directors of the Royal Theatrical Fund, a charity which aids those who have professionally practised or contributed to the theatrical arts. Watling served as a

councillor A councillor, alternatively councilman, councilwoman, councilperson, or council member, is someone who sits on, votes in, or is a member of, a council. This is typically an elected representative of an electoral district in a municipal or re ...

for Frinton ward on Tendring District Council until 2016, having been first elected in the 2007 local elections.

Parliamentary career

On 10 September 2014 Watling was shortlisted in the Conservatives' open primary at Clacton to select the party's candidate for the Clacton by-election and was adopted following a public meeting on 11 September 2014. At the by-election, Watling came second with 24.6% of the vote behind the incumbent UK Independence Party (UKIP) MP Douglas Carswell, who previously served as a Conservative but left that party and joined UKIP earlier in 2014. At the 2015 general election, Watling again contested Clacton as the Conservative candidate, coming second behind Douglas Carswell, who won 44.4% of the vote. Watling was elected to Parliament as MP for Clacton at the snap 2017 general election, at which Carswell chose to retire, with 61.2% of the vote and a majority of 15,828. He was returned as MP for Clacton at the 2019 general election with an increased vote share of 72.3% and an increased majority of 24,702. Following an interim report on the connections between

colonialism Colonialism is the control of another territory, natural resources and people by a foreign group. Colonizers control the political and tribal power of the colonised territory. While frequently an Imperialism, imperialist project, colonialism c ...

and properties now in the care of the National Trust, including links with historic slavery, Watling was among the signatories of a letter to ''

The Daily Telegraph ''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a British daily broadsheet conservative newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed in the United Kingdom and internationally. It was found ...

'' in November 2020 by the Common Sense Group of Conservative parliamentarians, which accused the ''National Trust'' of being "coloured by cultural Marxist dogma, colloquially known as the ' woke agenda. Watling lost his seat in the 2024 general election to

Reform UK Reform UK is a right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Nigel Farage has been Leader of Reform UK and Richard Tice deputy leader since 2024. It has five members of Parliament (MPs) in the House of Commons and one membe ...

candidate and leader

Nigel Farage Nigel Paul Farage ( ; born 3 April 1964) is a British politician and broadcaster who has been Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Clacton (UK Parliament constituency), Clacton and Leader of Reform UK since 20 ...

Filmography

Personal life

Married to Vanda Brinkworth in 1979, the younger brother of the actress Deborah Watling and younger half-brother of actress Dilys Watling, Watling is a member of the Garrick Club, an exclusive gentlemen's club which in 2024 opened its doors to women, Frinton Cricket Club, Walton and Frinton Yacht Club and Frinton

War Memorial A war memorial is a building, monument, statue, or other edifice to celebrate a war or victory, or (predominating in modern times) to commemorate those who died or were injured in a war. Symbolism Historical usage It has ...

Club.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Watling, Giles 1953 births Living people People from Chingford People from Loughton English male stage actors 20th-century English male actors English male television actors Male actors from London Conservative Party (UK) councillors Councillors in Essex British actor-politicians 21st-century English male actors UK councillors 2007–2011 UK MPs 2017–2019 UK MPs 2019–2024 People educated at Forest School, Walthamstow Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Clacton Giles Watling