Bill Paterson

William Tulloch Paterson (born 3 June 1945) is a Scottish actor. Throughout his career he has appeared regularly in radio drama and provided the narration for a large number of documentaries.

Paterson has appeared in films and television series including Comfort and Joy (1984), Traffik (1989), Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (1986), Truly, Madly, Deeply (1990), The Witches (1990), Wives and Daughters (1999), Sea of Souls (2004–2007), Amazing Grace (2006), Miss Potter (2006), Little Dorrit (2008), Doctor Who (2010), Outlander (2014), Fleabag (2016–2019), Inside No. 9 (2018), Good Omens (2019), Brassic (2020) and House of the Dragon (2022). He is a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Scottish BAFTAs.

Early life William Tulloch Paterson was born in Glasgow on 3 June 1945. Paterson was raised in Dennistoun by his father, a plumber, and his mother, a hairdresser.

Career 1967–1977: Theatre debut and early roles

Paterson made his professional acting debut in 1967, and then in BAFTA award winning drama Licking Hitler. He then played King James in the UK television serial Will Shakespeare the same year. Paterson would later recall that the biggest regret of his career was during this period, when in 1978 he failed to attend an audition for a role in the film Alien. He played Lopakhin in the BBC production of The Cherry Orchard in 1981. Paterson did not, however, entirely neglect the theatre, and in 1982, he was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for his performance as Schweyk in another Brecht play, Schweik in the Second World War at the National Theatre. He was in the original National Theatre production of Guys and Dolls (1982). and A Private Function (all 1984). He also performed in The Crow Road (1996), a miniseries from the novel by Iain Banks In television, much of his later work has been for the BBC, starring as Dr Douglas Monaghan in three seasons of the supernatural drama series Sea of Souls (2004–2007). He also played the key role of SIS Chief Percy Alleline in the 2009 BBC Radio 4 version of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

In 2010, Paterson starred in Doctor Who as Professor Edwin Bracewell, in the episode "Victory of the Daleks", with his character making a second appearance in the opening half of the season finale, "The Pandorica Opens". Later in the year, Paterson narrated the BBC Four wildlife documentary Birds Britannia.

2011–2022: TV, film and radio In 2011, Paterson starred in Fast Freddie, The Widow and Me. His most recent theatre is Earthquakes in London at the National Theatre in the summer of 2010. He also narrated the BBC's annual coverage of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and in 2013 appeared as Adam Smith in The Low Road at the Royal Court.

Paterson played lawyer Ned Gowan in the 2014 Starz period TV series, Outlander. In 2014, Paterson landed a part as Douglas Henshall's father in TV series Shetland. He also narrated "Now Westlin' Winds", originally called "Composed in August" in a recording for Robert Burns 250 years, for the BBC.

In 2015, he starred alongside Brian Cox in a performance of Waiting for Godot at the Royal Lyceum Theatre.

In 2016, he narrated The Farmers' Country Showdown, a series for the BBC following the agricultural show season and broadcast early in 2017. In 2016, Paterson performed with his friend Simon Callow in The Rebel. He also appeared as the Scottish character Private Frazer in the remake film Dad's Army.

Beginning with the first season in 2016 and ending with the second season in 2019, Paterson played the father of the main character and her sister in the British TV show Fleabag. In 2019, Paterson also performed in the four-part BBC drama Guilt. He is the narrator of the British TV show The Repair Shop.

Personal life In 1980, while filming The Lost Tribe, Paterson purchased a holiday home in Fordyce with fellow actor Miriam Margolyes.

In 1984, Paterson married German stage designer Hildegard Bechtler. They have a son and daughter.

Paterson has published a series of book stories, based on his childhood in Glasgow, entitled Tales From The Back Green.

Filmography + Year Title Role Notes1978 The Odd Job Sergeant Mull 1982 Scotch Myths Samuel Johnson / Harry Lauder written and directed by Murray Grigor and financed by Channel 41983 The Ploughman's Lunch Lecturer 1984 Comfort and Joy Alan "Dickie" Bird written and directed by Bill Forsyth The Killing Fields Dr. MacEntire A Private Function Morris Wormold the Meat Inspector 1986 Defence of the Realm Jack MacLeod 1987 Friendship's Death Sullivan Coming Up Roses Mr. Valentine 1988 Hidden City Anthony The Adventures of Baron Munchausen Henry Salt 1989 The Return of the Musketeers Charles I The Rachel Papers Gordon Highway 1990 The Witches Mr. Herbert Jenkins Bearskin: An Urban Fairytale Jordan Truly, Madly, Deeply Sandy written and directed by Anthony Minghella Just Ask for Diamond Chief Inspector Snape 1991 The Object of Beauty Victor Swayle 1992 Chaplin Stage Manager 1995 The Turnaround James Webb Richard III Sir Richard Ratcliff 1996 Victory Captain Davidson 1997 Spice World Brian 1998 Hilary and Jackie Cello Teacher 1999 Chrono-Perambulator Professor Teddy Knox Short film Heart Mr. Kreitman The Match Tommy Sunshine Minister of Justice 2000 Complicity Wallace Byatt 2005 Kingdom of Heaven Bishop Director's cut only 2005 Rag Tale Lucky Lloyd 2006 Amazing Grace Henry Dundas Miss PotterRupert Potter2009 Creation Dr. Gully Into the Storm Clement Attlee 2010 The Gruffalo The Gruffalo (voice) Short film, Gaelic version 2015 The Vote Simon Weatherstone 2016 Dad's Army Private Frazer Film adaptation of original BBC sitcom2017 The Man Who Invented Christmas Mr. Grimsby 2020 Rebecca Dr. Baker 2025The House Was Not Hungry ThenDad (voice)

Television