An icon has confirmed his from acting, five years after he was last seen on the soap.
Duncan Preston, who played Laurel Thomas’ dad Doug Potts from 2007 until 2020, quietly announced the news this year.
Doug left the village to move to Australia for a new life living with Betty Eagleton, though the door was always left open for his return and Doug was never officially killed off. Meanwhile, Duncan went on to star in shows including , and Silent Witness after leaving the Dales.
Now, though, it seems as though his acting career has come to an end unless something truly remarkable pops up.
Speaking to This Is Money, Duncan said he wants to “have enough to see myself out and certain other people too. I consider myself retired, but if anything comes up that I want to do I will. I’d love to do one last really nice part.”
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One Emmerdale star has retired from acting (Image: ITV)
His last on-screen appearance is expected to be in Good Ship Murder on – unless another job catches his eye.
Duncan also announced his split from his ex-wife and co-star Susan Penhaligon for a second time. The pair married in 1986, divorced in 1992 but then reconciled in 1997.
Now they’ve called it quits again. Susan was best known for starring as Bob Hope’s first wife Jean Hope in back in 2006, while Duncan was still playing Doug.
Duncan Preston played Doug Potts for 13 years (Image: ITV)
Duncan explained that their last split was in 2015, telling the publication: “I sold the Highgate flat for a good profit and bought a place twice as big for half the price coming back up to Yorkshire in 2015 after Susie and I split up, and that’s the house I have now.
“It’s in a lovely village and looks out over Ilkley Moor. It’s a 1950s detached property with four bedrooms and I rattle around in it, but I love it.”