John Duttine

John Arthur Duttine (born 15 March 1949) is an English actor noted for his roles on stage, films and television. He is well known for his role as Sgt George Miller in Heartbeat and Bill Masen in the TV series The Day of the Triffids.

Early life Duttine was born on 15 March 1949 in Barnsley, West Riding of Yorkshire, England.

He attended Buttershaw Secondary School; Stephen Petcher from his school would also appear in Heartbeat. He grew up in Buttershaw, in southwest Bradford. He trained at the Drama Centre London in north London. In London he shared a flat with Bradford actor Ken Kitson.

Career In 1973, Duttine starred opposite Francesca Annis in the BBC adaptation of A Pin to See the Peep Show by F. Tennyson Jesse. This was followed in 1974 by a small role in the TV adaptation of the Lord Peter Wimsey story The Nine Tailors. His first big break came when he played John the Apostle in the 1977 television mini-series Jesus of Nazareth. This was followed almost immediately by his portrayal of Keith Nicholson, husband of football pools winner, Vivian Nicholson in John Goldschmidt's Spend, Spend, Spend (a Play for Today). He went on to star in the 1978 historical drama series The Devil's Crown, as the future King John.

Duttine then played leading roles in major BBC adaptations such as Wuthering Heights (as Earnshaw) in 1978. He became a household name for his lead performance in To Serve Them All My Days in 1980, for which he won the TV Times Best Actor award. He appeared to great acclaim in The Day of the Triffids (1981). In 1983 he starred in The Outsider as well as in the Tales of the Unexpected episode Hit And Run in which he played Doctor Roger Ashburn, a doctor who co-conceives an elaborate insurance fraud involving the staged disappearance and death of his wife (Susan Penhaligon), the sitcom Lame Ducks in 1984, and Ain't Misbehavin' from 1994 to 1995 as well as DI Eric Temple in all twelve episodes of Out of the Blue. He played opposite Sir Laurence Olivier in the play Saturday, Sunday, Monday, part of the Laurence Olivier Presents anthology series.

His film roles include Who Dares Wins (1982) and The Hawk (1993). More recent TV credits include: Doc Martin, Touching Evil, Taggart, Dangerfield, Midsomer Murders, Peak Practice, The Bill, Casualty, EastEnders, Dalziel and Pascoe and Jane Hall.

Duttine has played two characters in the UK television series Heartbeat. His first appearance was as Paul Methorn, an MP and peace activist, in episode 7 of the first series: Face Value. He then played the role of Sgt. George Miller, the character making his first appearance in episode 16 of series 14: Golf Papa One Zero.

In 2007, he guest starred in the Doctor Who audio drama "Exotron & Urban Myths". In 2011 he guest-starred in Vera, playing a lieutenant colonel. More recently (November 2013) Duttine appeared in BBC TV's The Paradise.

In 2015, he appeared as Douglas Taylor in Series 3 of the BBC series WPC 56.

In 2016, he appeared as George Hammond in the BBC series Father Brown episode 4.3 "The Hangman's Demise". In 2016, he also appeared in the ITV/Netflix series Paranoid.

Personal life Duttine has a son by a former partner (now deceased) in Tarleton, West Lancashire. In 1998 he married actress Mel Martin, with whom he lived in Cornwall until 2011. The two have appeared on screen together in Talking to Strange Men, Casualty and EastEnders. Though Mel Martin appeared in Heartbeat when John Duttine played Sergeant Miller, they never appeared in scenes together. His nephew is fellow actor Joe Duttine, who currently plays Tim Metcalfe in ITV soap opera Coronation Street. Joe's father, Geoffrey, is John's brother.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1982 Who Dares Wins Rod Walker Feature film 1993 The Hawk John Feature film

Television Year Title Role Notes 1973 A Pin to See the Peepshow Leonard Carr Miniseries, 3 episodes 1973 Armchair Theatre New Soldier TV series, 1 episode 1973 Softly, Softly: Task Force Thomas Ross TV series, 1 episode 1974 The Nine Tailors Walter Pratt Miniseries, 2 episodes 1974 Centre Play Leach TV play series, 1 episode 1974 Rooms Tony TV series, 2 episodes 1975 Churchill's People Richard Murlyn TV series, 1 episode 1975 Ten from the Twenties Bill TV play series, 1 episode 1976 Warship AB Scobie TV series, 1 episode 1974; 1976 Z-Cars Bartlett / Jesse Alty TV series, 2 episodes 1975; 1976 Angels Larry / Dr Frank Crozier TV series, 2 episodes 1977 Coronation Street Alec Baker TV series, 2 episodes 1977 Holding On Harry Wheelwright TV series, 2 episodes 1977 Jesus of Nazareth John the Evangelist Miniseries, 4 episodes 1977 Beryl's Lot Mervyn TV series, 3 episodes 1977–84 Play for Today Jimmy Walker / Stone / Keith Nicholson TV series, 3 episodes 1977 London Belongs to Me TV series 1978 Laurence Olivier Presents: Saturday Sunday Monday Frederico TV movie 1978 People Like Us Archie Carver Miniseries, 12 episodes 1978 The Law Centre David Metcalfe TV series, 1 episode 1978 The Devil's Crown King John TV series, 9 episodes 1978 Wuthering Heights Hindley Earnshaw Miniseries, 4 episodes 1979 Strangers Lennie Brookes TV series, 1 episode 1979 The Mallens Donald Radlet TV series, 7 episodes 1980–81 To Serve Them All My Days David Powlett-Jones TV series, 13 episodes 1981 Jackanory Storyteller TV series, 5 episodes 1981 The Day of the Triffids Bill Masen Miniseries, 6 episodes 1982 Jackanory Playhouse Scar TV series, 1 episode 1982–83 Tales of the Unexpected Doctor Roger Ashburn / Max TV series, 2 episodes 1983 Shades of Darkness Garvin TV series, 1 episode 1983 The Outsider Frank Scully Miniseries, 6 episodes 1984 Love and Marriage Dave TV series, 1 episode 1984–85 Lame Ducks Brian Drake TV series, 12 episodes 1985 A Woman of Substance Joe Lowther Miniseries, 3 episodes 1985 Summer Season Alan Hardacre TV series, 1 episode 1986 Rainbow John TV series, 1 episode 1986 Unnatural Causes John Forrest TV series, 1 episode 1987 A Killing on the Exchange DS Lance Thorne Miniseries, 6 episodes 1987 Imaginary Friends Roger Zimmerman Miniseries, 3 episodes 1989 The Play on One Tim TV series, 1 episode 1992 Heartbeat Paul Methorn TV series, season 1, episode 7 1992 The Ruth Rendell Mysteries John Creevey TV series, 1 episode: "Talking to Strange Men" 1993 Love Hurts Nikolai Herzen TV series, 2 episodes 1993; 1995: 2001; 2003 Casualty Various characters TV series, 4 episodes 1994–95 Ain’t Misbehavin Dave Drysdale TV series, 12 episodes 1996 Taggart Robert Stirling TV series, 3 episodes 1995–96 Out of the Blue Detective Inspector Eric Temple TV series, 12 episodes 1996 Dangerfield Stephen Wakeman TV series, 1 episode 1997 Pilgrim's Rest Duncan FV series, 1 episode 1997 Noah's Ark Robin Layton TV series, 1 episode 1998 Touching Evil Michael Hawkins TV series, 4 episodes 1998 Verdict Dr Matthew Dixon TV series, 1 episode 1998 Maisie Raine Howard Jeavons TV series, 1 episode 1999 Midsomer Murders Will Saxby TV series, 1 episode 2000 This Is Personal: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper Detective Chief Supt Jim Hobson Miniseries, 2 episodes 2000 Peak Practice Larry Pearce TV series, 1 episode 1992; 1994; 1998; 2001 The Bill Ray Lyons / Andrew Cross / Kavanagh / Michael Bennett TV series, 4 episodes 2001 Sweet Revenge Police Inspector Miniseries 2001 Brookside Richard Dobson / Defence Barrister TV series, 5 episodes 2002 The Jury Mark Waters TV series, 6 episodes 2002 Rockface John Taylor TV series, 1 episode 2002 EastEnders Mr Haywood TV series, 7 episodes 2002 Where the Heart Is Graham Bryant TV series, 1 episode 2002 Real Crime Colin Pitchfork TV series, 1 episode 2002 Dalziel and Pascoe Danny Macer TV series, 1 episode 2003 The Inspector Lynley Mysteries John Penellin TV series, 1 episode 2003 Murder Investigation Team John Pemberton TV series, 1 episode 2004 The Courtroom Gavin Street TV series, 4 episodes 2004–08 Heartbeat Sergeant Miller TV series, seasons 14–18, 105 episodes 2006 Jane Hall Gareth Hall TV series, 3 episodes 2010 A Passionate Woman Rick Miniseries, 1 episode 2011 Doc Martin Paul Hale TV series, 1 episode 2011 Vera Lieutenant Colonel Chappell TV series, 1 episode 2013 The Paradise Campbell Balentine TV series, 1 episode 2015 WPC 56 Douglas Taylor TV series, season 3, 5 episodes 2016 Father Brown George Hammond TV series, episode 4.3: "The Hangman's Demise" 2016 Paranoid Eric Benton TV series, 5 episodes

Audio Year Title Role Notes 2007 Doctor Who Major Taylor Audio drama: "Exotron & Urban Myths"