Michael Jayston (born Michael A. James 29 October, 1935 in Nottingham ) is an English actor.

He worked briefly as a trainee accountant at the offices of the National Coal Board before obtaining a scholarship to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama to train as an actor. He made his professional debut, aged 27, in a production of The Amorous Prawn, going on to work on the stage at the Salisbury Repertory, Bristol Old Vic and with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

He enjoyed success as a classical stage actor before becoming well known on British television. Shakespearean roles on TV include Demetrius in A Midsummer Night's Dream (1968) and Edmund in King Lear (1975). An early recurring television role was as civil servant Dowling in the final series of boardroom drama The Power Game in 1969.

He was once considered for the part of James Bond (both his looks and manner somewhat resemble Daniel Craig) and he portrayed the character in a radio adaptation of You Only Live Twice. In 1970 he played Henry Ireton in Cromwell. In 1971, he starred as Tsar Nicholas II of Russia in the film Nicholas and Alexandra, then in 1973 took the lead role of Mr Rochester in a BBC adaptation of Jane Eyre opposite Sorcha Cusack. He made two appearances in the anthology series Thriller in 1974 and in 1975 played Quiller, a spy who never used a gun, in the British TV series of the same name. He appeared as Dornford Yates' gentleman hero Jonathan Mansel in the 1977 BBC adaptation of She Fell Among Thieves. In 1979 he played Peter Guillam opposite Alec Guinness in the mini-series Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.

In 1986, Jayston played the role of the Valeyard in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. In the serial The Ultimate Foe, the Valeyard is revealed to be an evil version of the Doctor himself. He later reprised the part of the Valeyard in He Jests at Scars..., an audio play in the Big Finish Productions' Doctor Who Unbound series. He has been a close friend of Fourth Doctor actor Tom Baker since they appeared in Nicholas and Alexandra.

Jayston played Neville Badger in the 1989 television adaptation of David Nobbs's comedy of manners A Bit of a Do. In 1991, he appeared as Colonel Mustard in the television series Cluedo and a year later made a guest appearance in the Press Gang episode "UnXpected". Other notable TV appearances include in EastEnders, Coronation Street, The Darling Buds of May, Tales of the Unexpected, The Bill and is currently playing the character of Donald De Souza in Emmerdale.

He has also narrated many audio books, including works by P. D. James and John le Carré.Also the provided voices for the Wind in the Willows within Story Teller group of tapes from 1983 to 1985 now very rare and collectible. In 2004, he narrated a gripping radio version of Geoffrey Household's thriller Rogue Male for digital radio station BBC 7.

He also provided a "voice" for a song by the British group Saint Etienne. He was at one point a prolific voiceover on British television adverts, as well as voicing Capital Radio's station idents. Since 2001, he has been the male station voice on BBC Essex. Michael is now President of the Brighton Little Theatre.

Jayston's first wife was actress Lynn Farleigh.

Classical British stage actor (Hamlet, Henry V) who came into his own briefly in 70s historical films, particularly as Czar Nicholas in Nicholas and Alexandra (1971). Now a familiar face on British TV screens.

Once considered for the role of James Bond during re-negotiations for Roger Moore (I)'s services.

A particulary sought-after actor for sophisticated voiceovers.

Played the role of the evil Valeyard in the "Trial of the Time Lord" season of "Doctor Who" (1963), an amalgamation of the dark side of the Doctor between his twelfth and thirteenth regenerations.

Was offered the part of Captain Striker (played by Keith Barron) in _"Doctor Who" (1963) {Enlightenment (#20.5)}_.

Played James Bond in 'You only live twice', on BBC radio.

He is the only actor to play both Ian Fleming (I)'s James Bond 007 and the Doctor in "Doctor Who" (1963). He played Bond in a 1971 BBC radio adaptation of You Only Live Twice (1967) and was at one point considered for the role on film. He portrayed the Valeyard, a possible future, evil incarnation of the Doctor, throughout the 1986 series of "Doctor Who" (1963). He later reprised his role in the 2003 Big Finish audio drama He "Jests at Scars...".