Duncan Preston (born 11 August 1946) is an 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 (1987), Dr. Jonathan Haslam in the hospital sitcom Surgical Spirit (1989–1995); and Doug Potts in the soap opera Emmerdale (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 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 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.
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 two episodes of Silent Witness as DI Johnny Campbell.
Selected Filmography YearTitleRoleNotes1973 – 1976Hunter's WalkPC Fred Pooley39 episodes1975ThrillerGroomEpisode: "Night is the Time for Killing"1978The ProfessionalsKarl DrakeEpisode: "Not a Very Civil Servant"1979PorridgeWeathermanFilmSecret ArmyJacques Gavain/ Prison Guard4 episodes1980All Creatures Great and SmallSep GibbonsEpisode: "Charity Begins at Home"A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley SquarePolice Car DriverFilm1982Shine on Harvey MoonFiremanEpisode: "Safe as Houses"Wood and WaltersVarious 1 episodes1984A Passage to IndiaClub Member (uncredited)FilmRobin of SherwoodHeinrich von ErlichausenEpisode: "Seven Poor Knights from Acre"ScandalousHalFilm1985BergeracPaulEpisode: ChrissieThat's My BoyMr BraithwaiteEpisode: "What Seems to be the Trouble?"1985 –1987Victoria Wood: As Seen on TVVarious 13 episodes1986The BillFreezer Bob MillerEpisode: "Loan Shark"1987EastEndersDS Todd3 episodesHardwicke HouseMoose Magnusson7 episodes1989The New StatesmanFloor ManagerEpisode: "Live from Westminster"Press GangDouglas HomerEpisode: InterfaceVictoria WoodCaptain (voice)Episode: "We'd Quite Like to Apologise"1989 –1995Surgical SpiritDr. Jonathan Haslam50 episodes1991BoonMr. StainrodEpisode: "When Harry Met Janice"SpatzPeter JonathanEpisode: "Loot"1992Take Off with T-BagPhantom/ FritzEpisode: "Phantom of the Opera"1994Harry Enfield & ChumsKevin's Dad4 episodesScreen OneJimEpisode: "Pat and Margaret"1995Coogan's RunJeremy/ Angela MonkheadEpisode: "Natural Born Quizzers"1997ChalkJ.F. Kennedy6 episodes1998Noah's ArkReverend ThomasEpisode: "Stormy Weather"1998 –2000dinnerladiesStan Meadowcroft16 episodes1999Holby CityDavid CousinsEpisode: "Take Me With You"Midsomer MurdersColin CooperEpisode: "Dead Man's Eleven"MilkSergeant WilsonFilm2000The BillVernon TurnerEpisode: "On the Wagon"CasualtyJames OliverEpisode: "Too Tight to Mention"DoctorsOwen BarrettEpisode: "A Stranger in the Family"HeartbeatDon FosterEpisode: "Chalk and Cheese"My FamilyBernardEpisode: "The Last Resort"Peak PracticeMartin WilsonEpisode: "Playing God"2001Dalziel and PascoeKen CrowleyEpisode: "Wall of Silence"MerseybeatPhil ScottEpisode: "Step by StepRandall & Hopkirk (Deceased)Dr. HickmanEpisode: "Painkillers"2003Born and BredColin PinkertonEpisode: "The Magnificent Colin"The RoyalJohn RutterEpisode: "First Impressions"2004Coronation StreetDennis Stokes12 episodesFive Children and ItSergeantFilm2005Down to EarthHarry PowellEpisode: "Say Hello, Say Goodbye"Murder in SuburbiaWalter ArcherEpisode: "Estate Agents"2006Acorn Antiques: The Musical!CliffordVideoHolby CityGerald PayneEpisode: "Passing Out"2007 –2020EmmerdaleDouglas Potts868 episodes2013Love & MarriageKen Paradise6 episodesMoving OnTommyEpisode: "The House"2014Nativity 3: Dude, Where's My Donkey?Sophie's DadFilm2015HowlGedFilm2022Silent WitnessDI Johnny Campbell2 episodes2023Midsomer MurdersWilliam FlemingEpisode: "Claws Out"2024All Creatures Great and SmallEnoch SykesEpisode: "All God's Creatures"2025The Good Ship MurderHugo Lawrance-BatleyEpisode: "Athens"
Personal life Preston was married to actress Susan Penhaligon between 1986 and 1992. Duncan has supported the Bradford Bulls Rugby League team throughout his life, having first attended a game when he was 3 years old.
Stage work As a Shakespearean actor, Preston has performed in many productions for the Royal Shakespeare Company, including playing Angus in Trevor Nunn's version of Macbeth (stage 1976, television 1978), starring Ian McKellen and Judi Dench. Other theatre work includes a 2006 production of To Kill A Mockingbird as Atticus Finch.
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.
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