{{Short description|Scottish actor, writer and director}} {{For|the English football player|Eric Potts (footballer)}} {{BLP sources|date=December 2018}} {{Use British English|date=May 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}} {{Infobox person | name = Eric Potts | image = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|09|13|df=y}} | birth_place = Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland, UK | occupation = Actor, writer, director | years_active = 1984–present }} '''Eric Potts''' (born 13 September 1965) is a Scottish actor, writer and director, who appeared in ''Coronation Street'' as the eccentric baker Diggory Compton after playing four smaller parts,<ref>[http://www.dirweigth.com/node/188 dirweigth.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710132044/http://www.dirweigth.com/node/188 |date=10 July 2011 }}, 9 October 2005, "Coronation Street actor, Eric Potts", Retrieved 1 September 2009</ref> the father of Molly Compton,<ref name=RO>{{cite web |url=http://www.rochdaleobserver.co.uk/community/rochdale_150/entertainment/s/512/512084_eric_takes_on_a_tasty_role.html |work=Rochdale Observer |date=22 April 2006 |title=Eric takes on a tasty role |accessdate=1 September 2009}}</ref> and ''Brookside'' as Wrexham Football Club Supporter, Mr Moore.<ref name=CN>[http://www.corrie.net/profiles/actors/potts_eric.html corrie.net], Eric Potts bio, Retrieved 1 September 2009</ref>
Originally from Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland, Eric transferred from law studies at Glasgow University to train at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School from 1984 to 1987, then went on tour with the Theatre of Poland.<ref name=RO/><ref name=CN/> Early television credits included ''Peak Practice'' and ''The Smiths'', and then in 1998 he began a two-year stint as oddball character Mr Moore in ''Brookside''.<ref name=RO/> Subsequent appearances were in ''Heartbeat'', ''The Royal'', ''Last of the Summer Wine'' and ''Steel River Blues''. In 2005 Eric also had a part in Rochdale-based film ''The Jealous God'' and an episode of ''Doctor Who'',<ref name=RO/> while still being active in theatre.
One of his earliest roles was Big Ears in the UK Tour of Noddy Live.
Potts appeared in the pantomime, Dick Whittington, alongside Dame Edna Everage in December 2011 at the New Wimbledon Theatre, London.
In 2013, he played Les Dawson in ''Cissie and Ada: A Hysterical Rectomy'', based upon the characters Cissie and Ada.<ref>{{cite web |title=Interview: Steve Nallon #1 – "A celebration of Les" |date=12 September 2013 |first=John-Paul |last=Stephenson |url=http://www.gigglebeats.co.uk/2013/09/interview-steve-nallon-1-a-celebration-of-les/|work=Giggle Beats |accessdate=12 September 2013}}</ref>
He has starred in Pantomime as Widow Twankey in Aladdin<ref name=Twankey>{{cite news |last=Mallon|first=Maggie|title=There ain't nothing like a dame|work=Daily Express|location=London |date=24 December 2007}}</ref> and in 2013 as Sarah the Cook in Dick Whittington at the Manchester Opera House.
He directed the UK tour of ''See How They Run'' for the Reduced Height Theatre in 2014 starring Warwick Davis.
In 2015 he played Sarah the Cook in Dick Whittington at the Liverpool Empire alongside Warren Donnelly, Sally Lindsay and Kurtis Stacey.
In 2017, he appeared alongside Lee Ryan and Zoe Birkett in Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs and again with Zoe Birkett, Louie Spence and Robin Askwith in Aladdin playing Widow Twankey in 2018 and both times at the Darlington Hippodrome for Qdos Entertainment.
In 2018 he was in the Liverpool Empire Theatre with the musical ''By The Waters of Liverpool''.
==Filmography== ===Film=== {| class="wikitable" !Year !Film !Role !Notes |- | 1995 | ''The Smiths'' | Geezer | Television film |- | 2000 | ''Between Two Women'' | Mr. Hathershaw | |- | 2004 | ''Christmas Lights'' | David Draper | Television film |- | 2005 | ''The Jealous God'' | Trummery | |- | 2013 | ''Oz the Great and Powerful'' | Dancing Munchkin | |- |}
===Television=== {| class="wikitable" !Year !Film !Role !Notes |- | 1989 | ''Coronation Street'' | Colin Dearing | Guest role; 1 episode |- | 1995 | ''Peak Practice'' | Compere | Episode: "Coming Out" |- | 1996 | ''Coronation Street'' | Mr. Saxton | Guest role; 1 episode |- | 1998 | ''Coronation Street'' | Council Official | Guest role; 1 episode |- | 1998–1999 | ''Brookside'' | Mr. C.B. Moore | Recurring role; 17 episodes |- | 2000 | ''Coronation Street'' | Court Clerk | Guest role; 1 episode |- | 2001 | ''Heartbeat'' | Harry Dobson | Episode: "Home Sweet Home" |- | rowspan="2"|2003 | ''The Royal'' | Mr. Pearce | Episode: "Sister of Mercy" |- | ''Last of the Summer Wine'' | Landlord | Episode: "The Man Who Invented Yorkshire Funny Stuff" |- | 2004 | ''Steel River Blues'' | Dorian Lewis | Episode: "Steel River" |- | 2005– 2006 | ''Coronation Street'' | Diggory Compton | Series regular; 50 episodes |- | rowspan="2"|2007 | ''Get a Grip'' | Husband | Episode: "Episode 5" |- | ''Still Game'' | Mr. Henderson | Episode: "Recipe" |- | rowspan="2"|2008 | ''The Royal Today'' | Geoff Witter | Episode: "Episode 10" |- | ''Dear Green Place'' | McKenzie | Episode: "Industrial Daftness" |- | rowspan="2"|2012 | ''Emmerdale'' | Mr. Wilkie | Guest role; 1 episode |- | ''Mount Pleasant'' | Taxi Driver | Episode: "Series 2, Episode 6" |- | 2014 | ''Citizen Khan'' | Mr. Shepherd | Episode: "A Khan Family Christmas" |- | rowspan="2"|2018 | ''Casualty'' | Damian Montserrat | Guest role; 1 episode |- | ''Emmerdale'' | Chaplain | Recurring role; 3 episodes |- | 2019 | ''Demonologist for Hire'' | Gary | Episode: "The Case of the Residential Evil" |- |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|0693426}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Potts, Eric}} Category:Scottish male television actors Category:People educated at Irvine Royal Academy Category:Living people Category:People from Irvine, North Ayrshire Category:Bristol Old Vic Category:Alumni of the University of Glasgow Category:1965 births Category:Scottish male stage actors Category:Male actors from North Ayrshire