Philip Bretherton (born 30 May 1955) is an English actor best known for his role as Alistair Deacon in the long-running British television series '' As Time Goes By''.

Early life

Bretherton was born in

Preston Preston is a place name, surname and given name that may refer to: Places England *Preston, Lancashire, an urban settlement **The City of Preston, Lancashire, a borough and non-metropolitan district which contains the settlement **County Boro ...

, Lancashire, and studied English and drama at the University of Manchester, where he decided to become an actor. As a young man, Bretherton was in an episode of the BBC TV series '' Miss Marple'': " At Bertram's Hotel", playing Detective Inspector Campbell in 1987. Another early screen role came in ''

The Balance of Nature ''The Balance of Nature'' is a 1983 British television drama film directed by Paul Annett, starring Leslie Ash. Outline The film is about the beauty business, seen mostly through the eyes of a Cockney girl from a tower block. Dawn Winch (Les ...

'' (1983).''The Balance of Nature'' at bfi.org.uk

Career

Bretherton appeared in ''Rumpole of the Bailey
'' in "The Barrow Boy" in November 1988 and made a brief appearance as "Rod" in ''Coronation Street'' also in 1988. He returned as "Robert Weston" in 1991, and again as "Ian Davenport" in 2004. He was in ''Casualty (TV series), Casualty'' as Andrew Bower (Lisa "Duffy" Duffin's husband), '' Footballer's Wives'' as Stefan Hauser, '' New Tricks'' as Doug Standeven. He also appeared in an episode of '' The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes'', " The Problem of Thor Bridge" in 1990 as Mr. Joyce Cummings Q.C. He has appeared in Series 1 of '' Murder in Suburbia'', as Phillip Whitmore. He further appeared in the episode "Last Seen Wearing" of the television series '' Inspector Morse'' in the role of French teacher David Acum. He also appeared in the fifth and final series of '' Young Dracula'' as Roquelaire, the vampire high council's head of security and father of Vlad Dracula's bodyguard Talitha. He played Matthew Woodley in ''

Midsomer Murders ''Midsomer Murders'' is a British crime drama television series, adapted by Anthony Horowitz and Douglas Watkinson from the novels in the '' Chief Inspector Barnaby'' book series (created by Caroline Graham), and broadcast on two channels of I ...

'' “Made-to-Measure Murders” in 2010. Bretherton is probably best known in the role of Alistair Deacon in '' As Time Goes By'' from 1992 to 2002 and then 2005 for a reunion special.

Theatre

He is also active in theatre, performing as Henry Higgins in a nationally acclaimed production of '' Pygmalion'' at Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Mold, Flintshire.

Filmography

*''

'' (1983) *'' Cry Freedom'' (1987) *'' Dark Floors'' (2008) *'' The Fifth Estate'' (2013)

References

External links

* 1955 births Living people English male stage actors English male television actors Actors from Preston, Lancashire Alumni of the University of Manchester Male actors from Lancashire 20th-century English male actors 21st-century English male actors {{England-tv-actor-stub