Michael A. James (29 October 1935 – 5 February 2024), known professionally as Michael Jayston, was an English actor and voiceover artist. He was best known for his numerous television appearances, which included portraying Peter Guillam in the miniseries Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979), playing the Valeyard in all 14 episodes of the Doctor Who serial The Trial of a Time Lord (1986). He was nominated for the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actor in 1971.

Jayston also portrayed Nicholas II of Russia in the epic historical film Nicholas and Alexandra (1971). On stage, he was known for his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company and starring roles in West End productions like Noël Coward's Private Lives and Easy Virtue, The Homecoming, Equus, The Sound of Music, Woman in Mind, and Dancing at Lughnasa. He was also a prolific reader of audiobooks, most notably of John le Carré's novels and as James Bond in a BBC Radio 4 adaptation of You Only Live Twice.

Early life and education Jayston was born on 29 October 1935 in West Bridgford, Nottingham as Michael A. James, the only son of Aubrey Vincent James (died 1937) and Edna Myfanwy Medcalfe (died 1950). His father died of pneumonia when Michael was one, and his mother died when he was a young teenager. Jayston was then raised by his grandmother and an uncle. He attended the Becket RC School on Wilford Lane, West Bridgford. Formerly an accountant, he trained in acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Career

Stage Jayston began his stage career in 1962, performed at the Bristol Old Vic, and joined the Royal Shakespeare Company at Stratford-upon-Avon in 1965. He starred as Captain von Trapp in the 1981 stage revival of The Sound of Music at the Apollo Victoria in London's West End, alongside Petula Clark as Maria. In 1984, Jayston starred as Mirabell in a production of William Congreve's The Way of the World at the Haymarket Theatre opposite Maggie Smith and Joan Plowright.

Television Jayston played Shakespearean roles on TV including Macbeth in Macbeth (1970), Gratiano in The Merchant of Venice (1973) and Edmund in King Lear (1975). An early recurring television role of his was as civil servant Dowling in the final series of boardroom drama The Power Game in 1969.

In 1972, Jayston played Sir Henry Royce alongside Robert Powell in the episode "Mr. Rolls and Mr. Royce" of the BBC drama series The Edwardians; the following year he took the role of Mr Rochester in a BBC adaptation of Jane Eyre, opposite Sorcha Cusack.

Jayston made two appearances in the anthology series Thriller in 1974, and in 1975 played Quiller, a spy who never used a gun, in the short-lived British TV series of the same name. He appeared as Dornford Yates' gentleman hero Jonathan Mansel in the 1978 BBC adaptation of She Fell Among Thieves. In 1979, he played Peter Guillam opposite Alec Guinness in the series Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. In 1981, he played the murderer Frederick Seddon in the Granada Television series Lady Killers. In 1983, he appeared, along with Sue Cook, in Arthur Marshall's team on Call My Bluff (Series 18 Episode 11) on 4 July 1983.

Jayston played Neville Badger in the 1989 television adaptation of David Nobbs's comedy of manners A Bit of a Do. In 1991, he appeared as Colonel Mustard in the television series Cluedo, and a year later made a guest appearance in the Press Gang episode "UnXpected". Other TV appearances include in EastEnders, Coronation Street, Only Fools and Horses, The Darling Buds of May, Tales of the Unexpected, The Bill and the character of Donald De Souza in Emmerdale. He appeared in Foyle's War, Holby City, Sherlock Holmes, Tracy Beaker Returns, and Midsomer Murders.

Doctor Who In 1986, Jayston played the role of the Valeyard in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. In the serial's conclusion, the Valeyard is revealed to be a manifestation of the Doctor's dark side. He later reprised the part of the Valeyard in the Big Finish Productions audio plays He Jests at Scars..., Trial of the Valeyard, The Sixth Doctor: The Last Adventure, and The Eighth Doctor: The Time War 3.

Film In 1968 Jayston played Demetrius in Peter Hall's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Two years later in 1970, he played Henry Ireton in Cromwell. The following year he starred as Tsar Nicholas II of Russia in the film Nicholas and Alexandra.

Jayston appeared as Gratiano opposite Laurence Olivier as Shylock in the National Theatre's film The Merchant of Venice (1974).

Audio Jayston recorded most of John le Carré's novels in audiobook format, providing a link with his role as Peter Guillam in the 1979 TV series Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. He was also the storyteller in the BBC radio readings of the novels Rogue Male and Rogue Justice, both written by Geoffrey Household.

In 1990, he played the role of Ian Fleming's James Bond in a BBC Radio 4 adaptation of You Only Live Twice.

As an official United Kingdom Record Store Day 2017 release, a collaborative double vinyl album between the underground artist Ruben Vine and Jayston, including a 28-page comic, was released. Jayston featured as the narrator on the story-based album entitled The Life & Times of an Imaginary Rock Star.

A prolific reader for audiobooks, Jayston also recorded audio versions of many of the novels of Alexander Kent - the Richard Bolitho adventures set during the age of sail before and throughout the Napoleonic Wars, Winston Churchill's history of the Second World War, and many others. In the 1970s and 1980s he also provided voiceovers for many TV adverts in the UK.

Personal life Jayston was married three times: to Lynn Farleigh in 1965 and, after his first divorce, to Heather Sneddon in 1970. He remarried in 1979 to Ann Smithson. He had three children with Sneddon and two children with Smithson.

Death Jayston lived in Hove in East Sussex. He died on 5 February 2024, at the age of 88, following a short illness.

Select filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1970 Cromwell Henry Ireton 1971 Nicholas and Alexandra Tsar Nicholas II of Russia 1972 Follow Me! Charles Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Charles Dodgson 1973 Bequest to the Nation Capt. Hardy The Homecoming Teddy Tales That Witness Madness Brian Segment: "Mel"1974 Craze Detective Sgt. Wall The Internecine Project David Baker 1978 Dominique Arnold Craven 1979 Zulu Dawn Col. Crealock 1981 From a Far Country Narrator 1994 Highlander III: The Final Dimension Jack Donovan

Television Year Title Role Notes 1968 A Midsummer Night's Dream Demetrius 1969 The Power Game Dowling 1970 Mad Jack Siegfried Sassoon 'The Hero of My Life' Charles Dickens 1972 The Edwardians Henry Royce 1973 The Merchant of Venice Gratiano Jane Eyre Mr Rochester 1974 Thriller Mark Walker "Ring Once for Death" - Roger Masters; "A Coffin for the Bride" 1975 Quiller Quiller King Lear Edmund 1977 She Fell Among Thieves Jonathan Mansell 1979 Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Peter Guillam 1981Lady KillersFrederick Seddon1 episode: Root of All Evil 1984 Tales of the Unexpected G.B.Shaw "The Best Chess Player in the World" 1986 Doctor Who The Valeyard "The Trial of a Time Lord" 1989 A Bit of a Do Neville Badger 13 episodes 1991 Cluedo Colonel Mike Mustard The Disappeance of Lady Carfax Earl of Rufton "The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes (Granada Television) 1992 Press Gang Colonel X1 episode: "UnXpected" The Darling Buds of May Ernst Bristow 4 episodes 1995–1996 Outside Edge Bob Willis 1996 Only Fools and Horses James Turner 1 episode: Time on Our Hands 2007–2008 Foyle's War A. C. Henry Parkins2 episodes: "Casualties of War", "Plan of Attack" 2007–2008 Emmerdale Donald De Souza 2010 Tracy Beaker Returns Mr Spooner 2014 Midsomer Murders Reverend Arthur Gould

References

External links

Michael Jayston at Theatricalia

Michael Jayston fan website

Documentary/Interview: From Stage To Screen: Michael Jayston (2016)