- published: 12 Nov 2013
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Christopher Timothy (born 14 October 1940) is a Welsh actor, television director and writer. Timothy is possibly best known today for his role as James Herriot in All Creatures Great and Small; more recently he has starred as Dr. Brendan 'Mac' McGuire in the British television drama Doctors. In 2011, he played himself in the audio drama We are not the BBC written by Susan Casanove and produced by the Wireless Theatre Company.
He was born in Bala, Merionethshire, Wales, and lived in the town up to the age of five, when his parents moved to London. He attended the Priory Grammar School in Shrewsbury in the 1950s, appearing in a number of school plays. On leaving school he worked at Frank Newton's Gentleman's Outfitters in Shrewsbury - now the location of Marks & Spencers in the town.
In the 1960s Timothy was part of Laurence Olivier's National Theatre company and appeared in such productions as The Master Builder, Juno and the Paycock and Olivier's Othello.
After appearing in the film Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush, Timothy's television career started with the 1969 series Take Three Girls. He went on to appear in Doctor at Large in 1971, Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em in 1973 and Murder Most English: A Flaxborough Chronicle in 1977 before winning the role of Herriot. He played the role from 1978 until 1980 and again between 1988 and 1990.