Duncan Preston
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dinnerladies (1998–2000)
Emmerdale (2007–2011, 2014–2020)
Duncan Preston | |
|---|---|
| Born | 11 August 1946 |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1964–2025 |
| Television | Surgical Spirit (1989–1995) dinnerladies (1998–2000) Emmerdale (2007–2011, 2014–2020) |
| Spouse | |
| Partner | Susan Penhaligon (1997–2025) |
Duncan Preston (born 11 August 1946) is an English retired 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.[2] His other television roles include DS Todd in the soap opera EastEnders (1987), Dr. Jonathan Haslam in the hospital sitcom Surgical Spirit (1989–1995); and Doug Potts in the soap opera Emmerdale (2007–2011, 2014–2020).[3]
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.[4] He has also made many guest appearances in various television series, including Hunters Walk, Secret Army, The Professionals, All Creatures Great and Small, Robin of Sherwood, Bergerac, The New Statesman, Press Gang, Chalk, Boon, Casualty, Heartbeat, The Royal, Holby City, The Good Ship Murder, Peak Practice, Midsomer Murders, Dalziel and Pascoe and My Family. His film career includes roles in Porridge (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).
Between 1989 to 1995, he had a regular role as Dr. Jonathan Haslam in Surgical Spirit [5] and appeared as Dennis Stokes in Coronation Street in 2004. Preston played Doug Potts, the father of Laurel Thomas in Emmerdale. He has also appeared on Lily Savage's Blankety Blank.[6]
From 2002 to 2012, Preston co-starred as Det. Sgt. Riley in the BBC Radio crime drama Trueman and Riley, opposite Robert Daws.[7]
In 2022, Preston appeared in two episodes of Silent Witness as DI Johnny Campbell.[8] [9]
Selected Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 –
1976 |
Hunter's Walk | PC Fred Pooley | 39 episodes |
| 1975 | Thriller | Groom | Episode: "Night is the Time for Killing" |
| 1978 | The Professionals | Karl Drake | Episode: "Not a Very Civil Servant" |
| 1979 | Porridge | Weatherman | Film |
| Secret Army | Jacques Gavain/ Prison Guard | 4 episodes | |
| 1980 | All Creatures Great and Small | Sep Gibbons | Episode: "Charity Begins at Home" |
| A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square | Police Car Driver | Film | |
| 1982 | Shine on Harvey Moon | Fireman | Episode: "Safe as Houses" |
| Wood and Walters | Various | 1 episodes | |
| 1984 | A Passage to India | Club Member (uncredited) | Film |
| Robin of Sherwood | Heinrich von Erlichausen | Episode: "Seven Poor Knights from Acre" | |
| Scandalous | Hal | Film | |
| 1985 | Bergerac | Paul | Episode: Chrissie |
| That's My Boy | Mr Braithwaite | Episode: "What Seems to be the Trouble?" | |
| 1985 – 1987 |
Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV | Various | 13 episodes |
| 1986 | The Bill | Freezer Bob Miller | Episode: "Loan Shark" |
| 1987 | EastEnders | DS Todd | 3 episodes |
| Hardwicke House | Moose Magnusson | 7 episodes | |
| 1989 | The New Statesman | Floor Manager | Episode: "Live from Westminster" |
| Press Gang | Douglas Homer | Episode: Interface | |
| Victoria Wood | Captain (voice) | Episode: "We'd Quite Like to Apologise" | |
| 1989 – 1995 |
Surgical Spirit | Dr. Jonathan Haslam | 50 episodes |
| 1991 | Boon | Mr. Stainrod | Episode: "When Harry Met Janice" |
| Spatz | Peter Jonathan | Episode: "Loot" | |
| 1992 | Take Off with T-Bag | Phantom/ Fritz | Episode: "Phantom of the Opera" |
| 1994 | Harry Enfield & Chums | Kevin's Dad | 4 episodes |
| Screen One | Jim | Episode: "Pat and Margaret" | |
| 1995 | Coogan's Run | Jeremy/ Angela Monkhead | Episode: "Natural Born Quizzers" |
| 1997 | Chalk | J.F. Kennedy | 6 episodes |
| 1998 | Noah's Ark | Reverend Thomas | Episode: "Stormy Weather" |
| 1998 – 2000 |
dinnerladies | Stan Meadowcroft | 16 episodes |
| 1999 | Holby City | David Cousins | Episode: "Take Me With You" |
| Midsomer Murders | Colin Cooper | Episode: "Dead Man's Eleven" | |
| Milk | Sergeant Wilson | Film | |
| 2000 | The Bill | Vernon Turner | Episode: "On the Wagon" |
| Casualty | James Oliver | Episode: "Too Tight to Mention" | |
| Doctors | Owen Barrett | Episode: "A Stranger in the Family" | |
| Heartbeat | Don Foster | Episode: "Chalk and Cheese" | |
| My Family | Bernard | Episode: "The Last Resort" | |
| Peak Practice | Martin Wilson | Episode: "Playing God" | |
| 2001 | Dalziel and Pascoe | Ken Crowley | Episode: "Wall of Silence" |
| Merseybeat | Phil Scott | Episode: "Step by Step | |
| Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) | Dr. Hickman | Episode: "Painkillers" | |
| 2003 | Born and Bred | Colin Pinkerton | Episode: "The Magnificent Colin" |
| The Royal | John Rutter | Episode: "First Impressions" | |
| 2004 | Coronation Street | Dennis Stokes | 12 episodes |
| Five Children and It | Sergeant | Film | |
| 2005 | Down to Earth | Harry Powell | Episode: "Say Hello, Say Goodbye" |
| Murder in Suburbia | Walter Archer | Episode: "Estate Agents" | |
| 2006 | Acorn Antiques: The Musical! | Clifford | Video |
| Holby City | Gerald Payne | Episode: "Passing Out" | |
| 2007 – 2020 |
Emmerdale | Douglas Potts | 868 episodes |
| 2013 | Love & Marriage | Ken Paradise | 6 episodes |
| Moving On | Tommy | Episode: "The House" | |
| 2014 | Nativity 3: Dude, Where's My Donkey? | Sophie's Dad | Film |
| 2015 | Howl | Ged | Film |
| 2022 | Silent Witness | DI Johnny Campbell | 2 episodes |
| 2023 | Midsomer Murders | William Fleming | Episode: "Claws Out" |
| 2024 | All Creatures Great and Small | Enoch Sykes | Episode: "All God's Creatures" |
| 2025 | The Good Ship Murder | Hugo Lawrance-Batley | Episode: "Athens" |
Personal life
Preston was married to actress Susan Penhaligon between 1986 and 1992.[10] Duncan has supported the Bradford Bulls Rugby League team throughout his life, having first attended a game when he was 3 years old.[11]
