Michael Dundonald Cochrane (born 19 May 1947) is an English actor. He has played Oliver Sterling in the Radio 4 soap opera The Archers since 2007.
Early life Cochrane was born 19 May 1947, in Brighton, East Sussex. He was educated at Cranleigh School.
Career Cochrane played the role of a fireman in Are You Being Served? in 1972 and Lieutenant Charles Gaylion, a Royal Flying Corps pilot in the BBC television series Wings (1977–78). He has twice appeared in the BBC science fiction series Doctor Who, first as Charles Cranleigh in the serial Black Orchid (1982) and later as Redvers Fenn-Cooper in Ghost Light (1989). Cochrane was later associated with Doctor Who when he appeared in the 2006 Big Finish Productions audio drama, No Man's Land. This was followed by further appearances in the 2008 Big Finish Productions audio drama Brotherhood of the Daleks, Trail of the White Worm/The Oseidon Adventure in 2012, and The Fate of Krelos/Return to Telos in 2015.
Cochrane has also appeared as different characters in the Yorkshire Television period drama Heartbeat. His first appearance was as the narcissistic businessman Derek Lightfoot in the episode Fool for Love (1997). A further appearance came in 2009, when Cochrane appeared as a character named Cunningham, a confidence trickster and sneak thief, in two episodes ("Thursday's Children" and "The Middle of Somewhere"), both of which were set in Australia.
Other significant roles in which Cochrane has appeared are The Pallisers (1974), Love in a Cold Climate (1980), The Citadel (1983), a BBC serial adaptation of Goodbye Mr. Chips (1984), Raffles (1985–1993), No Job for a Lady, The Chief (1990–1995), and as Sir Henry Simmerson in the Sharpe series. His film career has included roles in Escape to Victory (1981), The Return of the Soldier (1982), Real Life (1984), Number One Gun (1990), The Saint (1997), Incognito (1998), A Different Loyalty (2004), and The Iron Lady (2011).
He was featured in the ITV science fiction series The Uninvited. In 2008, he appeared in the soap opera Doctors as Daniel's solicitor and in 2009 in Margaret as MP Alan Clark.
He appeared in the sitcom Perfect World as the sex-obsessed marketing director. He appeared in Offending Angels (2002). He was seen as the vicar in Downton Abbey with Hugh Bonneville and Maggie Smith.
He had a small role in episode 5 of the BBC serial drama The Musketeers (2014). He had a small role as Roger in series 1 episode 1 of the BBC sitcom Dear John. He appeared as the ship's officer in the BBC's Keeping Up Appearances episode titled "Sea Fever" (1993), and he also appeared as Mr Price in the ITV's detective drama Wycliffe episode titled "Strangers" (1997).
In 2016, he played the role of Henry Marten in the Netflix series The Crown.
Since 2007, Cochrane has played Oliver Sterling in the Radio 4 soap opera The Archers.
In 2019 Cochrane appeared as one of the Number 2's in the 2016 Big Finish Productions audio drama adaptation of the cult 1960s British TV series The Prisoner aired by BBC Radio 4 Extra. In 2021, he appeared as Mr Kingsley the lawyer in The Outlaws.
Personal life Cochrane is married to the actress Belinda Carroll.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1974 The Pallisers Gerald Miniseries 1974 Warship Lieutenant Palfrey, RM 2 episodes 1975 Love Thy Neighbour Bernard Season 6 episode 6 1976–1978 Wings Lt. Charles Gaylion 1980 Love in a Cold Climate Cedric Hampton TV Serial1981 The Life and Times of David Lloyd George Charles Masterman TV Serial Escape to Victory Farrell – The English 1982, 1989 Doctor Who Lord Cranleigh/Redvers Fenn-Cooper "Black Orchid"/"Ghost Light" 1982 The Return of the Soldier Stephen 1983 Ascendancy Officer1984 Strangers and Brothers Sammikins 2 episodes Frankenstein Henry Clervell TV movie Real Life LiptonHay FeverSandy TyrellTV play 1987 Fortunes of War Clifford Miniseries 1989–2010 The Bill Commander Whiteside/Nigel Boscombe/Howard Walsh 3 episodes1990 Howard's Way Pierre Challon 1 episode Number One Gun Flash Fairmaid1992The Darling Buds of MayFormer Battle of Britain pilotEpisode: A Season of Heavenly Gifts 1992 A Dangerous Man: Lawrence After Arabia Winston Churchill TV movie 1993–2008 Sharpe Sir Henry Simmerson 1993 Keeping Up Appearances The Ship's Officer Episode: Sea Fever 1994 EastEnders Coroner 2 episodes1997 The Saint Cold Fusion Broker Wycliffe Mr. Price Episode: StrangersHeartbeatDerek LightfootEpisode: Fool for Love1998 Coronation Street Bob Fay 1 episode Incognito Deeks 2000 Offending Angels Mentor 2002 A Touch of Frost Babcock, HMI 2 episodes2003 Spooks Ross Vaughan 1 episode Rosemary & Thyme Franklin Danvers 1 episode 2004 A Different Loyalty Dick Madsen 2004 Monarch of the Glen Colonel Ford 1 episode 2004 Jonathan Creek Owen Glendower 1 episode 2005–2019 Doctors Rowland Bryant/Charles Honeychurch/Tom O'Docherty/Judge David Tennyson 2006 Wire in the Blood Judge Hynes 1 episode 2009 Heartbeat Cunningham Episode: Thursday's Children 2010 Law & Order: UK Judge Burchville Episode: Help 2011–2012, 2015 Downton Abbey Reverend Travis 2011 The Iron Lady William2012 Run for Your Wife Man on Bus Titanic: Blood and Steel Captain Smith Miniseries 2013 The Escape Artist Judge Miniseries (Part 2) 2014 The Musketeers Judge Episode: Homecoming 2016 The Crown Henry Marten Episode: Scientia Potentia Est 2016 We're Doomed! The Dad's Army Story (TV movie) Arnold Ridley/Pte Godfrey2021The Outlaws Mr Kingsley (lawyer)Episodes 2&5 2022 Living Sir James 2023 Call the Midwife Sir Brigham Aylward 1 episode2026Beyond ParadiseKenneth LinderSeries 4, Episode 1
Radio +YearTitleRoleNotes1985–1993RafflesBunny MandersBBC Radio 41995-1997Thackeray (radio plays)Private detective Jim ThackerayBBC Radio 42000–The ArchersOliver SterlingBBC Radio 4 Soap Opera2002–2003King Street Junior RevisitedMr MaxwellBBC Radio 4
Video games Year Title Role Notes 2021 Bravely Default II Archbishop Domenic Voice role
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