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Michael Jayston

Michael Jayston

Actor · Died February 5, 2024, aged 88 · Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, UK

Michael James (born 29 October 1935), known professionally as Michael Jayston, was an English actor. He played Nicholas II of Russia in the film Nicholas and Alexandra (1971). He has also made many television appearances, which have included playing the Valeyard in all fourteen episodes of the Doctor Who serial The Trial of a Time Lord (1986) and appearing in the Only Fools and Horses episode "Time on Our Hands" (1996) as Raquel's father, James.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 29, 1935
Died
February 5, 2024 (aged 88)
From
Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
34 on MovieCove · 89 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 64 days to Oct 27Down 11% in 30 days

What are Michael Jayston's films like?

Across their 18 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 48th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 30th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
27%
Bonds
26%
Self
20%
Power
16%
Survival
5%
Society
4%
Ideas
3%
Family bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themePower3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this themeObsession2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 16 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 7 · Serious 3 · Dark 6

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 7 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 7 · Charged 6 · Intense 3

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 12 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 8 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 3

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 10 · Even-paced 6 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 7 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 1

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 8 · Affecting 3 · Heavy 5

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 12 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

6 analyzed roles
Hero
1 of 6
Shadow
1 of 6
Mentor
1 of 6
Ally
1 of 6
Trickster
1 of 6
Threshold guardian
1 of 6

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
10
Dread
6
Joyful
5
Melancholic
5
Absurd
4
Other
15

How their films linger

Fun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet7
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous3

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Michael Jayston's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 27 of their 34 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (16).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Michael Jayston's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

89 credits, 34 with a MovieCove page; 5 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Remembers… (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • From This Day Forward (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Him

  • The Doctors: The Colin Baker Years (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Actor

  • Albert's Memorial (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Albert

  • The Making of The Trial of a Time Lord (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Actor

  • Murder in Suburbia(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Bradley

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • Finisterre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Narrator (Voice)

  • The Royal(2003)

    Show 3 episodes · as Henry Appleton

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Foyle's War(2002)

    Show 2 episodes · as AC Henry Parkins

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • A Dinner of Herbs(2000)

    Show 3 episodes · as Justice Craig

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows

  • Holby City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge

  • 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea(1997)

    as Admiral Sellings

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Midsomer Murders(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Reverend Arthur Gould

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Element of Doubt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Kirk

  • First Kid(1996)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Highlander: The Final Dimension(1994)

    as Jack Donovan

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Outside Edge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 15 episodes · as Bob Willis

  • 99-1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Chauncy

  • Heartbeat(1992)

    Show 2 episodes · as Gerald Hudson · as Michael Harvey

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • The Darling Buds of May(1991)

    Show 4 episodes · as Ernest Bristow

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Cluedo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 6 episodes · as Colonel Mustard

  • Haggard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 14 episodes · Actor

  • Stay Lucky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Valentine

  • Somewhere to Run (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Roger Fitzpatrick

  • Press Gang (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Colonel X

  • A Bit of a Do (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 13 episodes · Actor

  • The Ruth Rendell Mysteries(1987)

    Show 3 episodes · as Quentin Nightingale

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Still Crazy Like a Fox(1987)

    as Randall Perry

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Doctor Who: The Ultimate Foe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as The Valeyard

  • Doctor Who: Terror of the Vervoids (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as The Valeyard

  • Doctor Who: Mindwarp (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as The Valeyard

  • Worlds Beyond (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Drayton Thomas

  • Doctor Who: The Mysterious Planet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as The Valeyard

  • Casualty(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as David Northwick · as Ian

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows

  • Time for Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Austin Tupp

  • C.A.T.S. Eyes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Big Deal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 3 episodes · as Grover

  • Sherlock Holmes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as The Earl of Rufton

  • The Man Who Left His Soul on Film (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Actor

  • From a Far Country(1981)

    as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Lady Killers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 1 episode · as Frederick Henry Seddon

  • Dominique(1979)

    as Arnold Craven

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 7 episodes · as Peter Guillam

  • Gossip from the Forest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Alfred Maiberling

  • Zulu Dawn(1979)

    as Col. Crealock

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Tales of the Unexpected(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as G.B. Shaw

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • The Last Romantic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as James

  • She Fell Among Thieves (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Mansel

  • BBC2 Play of the Week (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Mansel

  • Quiller (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 13 episodes · as Quiller

  • King Lear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Edmund

  • Churchill's People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Henry, Bishop of Norwich

  • The Internecine Project(1974)

    as David Baker

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • A Coffin for the Bride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Mark Walker

  • Craze(1974)

    as Detective Sgt. Wall

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • The Importance of Being Earnest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Jack Worthing

  • Ring Once for Death (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Roger Masters

  • Tales That Witness Madness(1973)

    as Brian (segment "Mel")

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • The Homecoming(1973)

    as Teddy

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • The Merchant of Venice(1973)

    as Gratiano

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Jane Eyre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 5 episodes · as Mr Rochester

  • The Nelson Affair(1973)

    as Capt. Hardy

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Thriller(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Mark Walker · as Roger Masters

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • The Edwardians (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Frederick Henry Royce

  • Alice's Adventures in Wonderland(1972)

    as Lewis Carroll (Charles Dodgson)

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Crown Court (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 3 episodes · as Keith Saunders QC

  • The Public Eye(1972)

    as Charles

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Nicholas and Alexandra(1971)

    as Nicholas

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Competition (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Jimmy

  • Green Julia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Jake

  • Macbeth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Macbeth

  • Biography (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Ludwig van Beethoven

  • UFO(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Russell Stone

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Cromwell(1970)

    as Henry Ireton

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The Hero of My Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Charles Dickens

  • Mad Jack (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Actor

  • Solo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • ITV Saturday Night Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Jake

  • A Midsummer Night's Dream(1969)

    as Demetrius

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • ITV Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Gerry Hackett

  • Callan(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • The Power Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 13 episodes · as Lincoln Dowling

  • BBC Play of the Month (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Edmund · as John 'Jack' Worthing

  • Love's Labour's Lost(1965)

    as Longaville

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Wednesday Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Siegfried Sassoon

  • Detective (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Doctor Who(1963)

    Show 14 episodes · as The Valeyard

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Coronation Street(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all shows

  • Armchair Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Jimmy

Career shape

Star power in the 92nd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 89 titles from 1956 to 2022; peak year 1970.

Biggest box office

Highlander: The Final Dimension (1994)

$12M worldwide

Highest rated

Nicholas and Alexandra (1971)

Midcredits 81st

Most popular right now

Thriller (1973)

Film career

19562022

Peak 1970 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting88 of 89: 88 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score60thMusic1 of 89: 1 only music, 0 with another role

By decade

1950s1 · acting1960s11 · acting1970s35 · acting1980s20 · acting1990s12 · 11 acting · 1 crew2000s7 · acting2010s2 · acting2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 11% of 9 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Michael Jayston's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 54th percentile, the median of all 19; across their 16 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 56th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Approval · how many liked their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Reach · how many have seen their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Midcredits score across 34 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

16 of their 34 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser16
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed11

Most divisive · actor

From a Far Country (1981)

69th percentile spread · 27% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Doctor Who (1963)

Midcredits 93rd · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 68/100 in their films, across 14 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 47. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Michael Jayston's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 39 · moderateMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Michael Jayston work with?

People who share at least 2 of Michael Jayston's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; William Shakespeare shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers