David Ashton

David Ashton (born David Scott on 10th November 1941 in Greenock) appeared in Coronation Street in July 1985 as Norris Birchall, who enjoyed a holiday romance with Mavis Riley in Blackpool.

He trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London after working at a bank and also appeared in Z Cars, The Shadow of the Tower, Sutherland's Law, The Voyage of Charles Darwin, Shoestring, Juliet Bravo, Doctor Who, Ever Decreasing Circles, The Bill, the regular role of Dr McDuff in Granada Television's Brass, All Creatures Great and Small Waterfront Beat, Boon, the regular role of Major Roddy Maclean in Hamish Macbeth, Monarch of the Glen, Glasgow Kiss, Always and Everyone, Doctors, Waking the Dead, Sea of Souls and New Tricks.

In film, he appeared in Eye of the Needle, Just Us, Tomorrow Never Dies, Stiff Upper Lips and The Last King of Scotland.

On stage he began his career at Worcester Repertory theatre and played roles in A View from the Bridge, Black Comedy, Arms and the Man, The Bear, The Cherry Orchard, The Hostage, The Philanthropist, Hamlet and Happy as a Sandbag while radio appearances include Curlew in Autumn, Magnificat, The Afternoon Play and Last Night.

As writer as well as an actor, he has written for television, radio and the stage and his credits include Me...Dancing (which he also appeared in) The Old Ladies at the Zoo, Casualty, Freddie as F.R.O.7, EastEnders, God on the Rocks, Daziel and Pascoe, Pascoe, Thirty Minute Theatre, A Week with Grandfather, The Afternoon Play, Stations, Morning Story, The Windbear, Saturday-Night Theatre, Sherlock Holmes, Two Sisters, McLevy, Dr Finlay and several episodes of The Archers.

He has also written a series of books about his fictional radio detective McLevy.

External pages

 * Actor's website
 * Internet Movie Database entry for David Ashton
 * Theatricalia entry for David Ashton
 * Wikipedia page for David Ashton