David Troughton (born 9 June 1950, Hampstead, London) is an English actor, known for his Shakespearean roles on the British stage and for his many roles on British television, including Dr Bob Buzzard in A Very Peculiar Practice and Ricky Hansen in New Tricks.

Biography

David Troughton was born in Hampstead, London. He comes from a theatrical family; he is the son of actor Patrick Troughton, elder brother of Michael Troughton, and father of actors Sam Troughton and William Troughton and Warwickshire cricketer Jim Troughton. He is the uncle of actor Harry Melling.

His memorable performances include King Richard in Richard III (RSC, 1996), Bolingbroke in Richard II (RSC, 2000) and Duke Vincentio in Measure for Measure (Theatre de Complicite, 2004).

On television, his roles have included guest appearances in Survivors, The Life and Times of David Lloyd George, Rab C. Nesbitt and Doctor Who, first as an extra in The Enemy of the World (1967–1968), then as a soldier in The War Games (1969), and in a considerably larger role as King Peladon in The Curse of Peladon (1972). He also appeared in the role of Sir Arthur Wellesley (the Duke of Wellington) in the first two episodes of Sharpe, as well as Bob Buzzard in A Very Peculiar Practice. He appeared in a 1978 TV production of Alan Ayckbourn's trilogy "The Norman Conquests" as Tom, the veterinarian. In 2002, he appeared as an alien hunter in the comedy/drama mini-series Ted and Alice and, in 2005 he also played Sgt. Clive Harvey, side-kick to the title character of the ITV detective show Jericho. He appeared in an episode of Agatha Christie's Poirot in 1993 (The Yellow Iris). He has also appeared in two separate episodes of Midsomer Murders, in 1998 and 2007, playing two separate characters. He appeared in the first episode of the TV adaptation of The Last Detective in which his A Very Peculiar Practice co-star Peter Davison (also ex-Doctor Who) starred.

He appeared in the TV film, All the King's Men, playing King George V.

He appeared in the 2008 series of Doctor Who as Professor Hobbes, in the episode "Midnight". He has also performed in a Big Finish Doctor Who audio production titled Cuddlesome where he plays the Tinghus. He also played the Black Guardian in two audios: The Destroyer of Delights and The Chaos Pool. Finally, he returned as King Peladon in The Prisoner of Peladon audio and in 2011 appeared in The Crimes of Thomas Brewster.

In 2011, it was announced that David Troughton would be taking on his father's role as the Second Doctor in two audio plays, also featuring Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor. He has also performed regularly as a notable villain in the BBC series New Tricks. In the same year he appeared (uncredited) in the US remake of Girl With The Dragon Tattoo alongside Daniel Craig.

He toured alongside Alison Steadman in a production of Enjoy by Alan Bennett, playing the role of Dad. He starred alongside Kevin Spacey in a production of Inherit the Wind by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee at London's Old Vic theatre which ran from 18 September to 20 December 2009.

In 2011 he appeared as Stan Astill in the Sky1 comedy drama series The Cafe. In November 2013, Troughton appeared in the one-off 50th anniversary comedy homage The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot.

In January 2014, David Troughton took on the role of Tony Archer, from Colin Skipp who, for 46 years, had played the part in the BBC radio series The Archers. In November 2014 fiction caught up with reality when David Troughton's son, William Troughton, took over from Tom Graham the part of Tony Archer's son, Tom Archer. He co-starred Fiona O'Shaughnessy in the romantic horror comedy film Nina Forever.

He plays the role of Simon Eyre in The Shoemaker's Holiday for the Royal Shakespeare Company from 11 December 2014 to 7 March 2015.