Duncan Boyd

Infobox EastEnders character 2


character_name=Duncan Boyd
actor_name=David Gillespie
years=1987–1989
first=20 October 1987
last=27 July 1989
status=Single
occupation=Curate
mother=Joan Boyd

Duncan Boyd was a fictional character in the BBC soap opera "EastEnders". He was played by David Gillespie.

As curate at the local church, Duncan provided a sympathetic ear for the confused 18 year-old Sharon Watts, who found herself romantically attracted to him.

History

Duncan the curate was first seen in Albert Square in October 1987, when Sharon Watts, who was sick of being made to choose sides between her rowing parents, sought solace at the local church. Over subsequent chats, Sharon soon began to feel comfortable enough around Duncan to start relaying her problems and she was overjoyed to finally find someone that listened to her for a change. Over the following months, Sharon found herself leaning on Duncan more and more and she soon began to feel attracted towards him, feelings that were reciprocated by Duncan.

By the end of the year, the two had started seeing each other, much to the shock of Sharon's parents, Den and Angie. Sharon seemed to have fallen head over hills in love and in December she asked Duncan in they could get engaged. Duncan tried to win Den over by informing him of his admirable intentions towards Sharon, and hinting that marriage was a definite possibility in the not too distant future. Den was pessimistic however, and set about trying to upset the relationship by persuading his employee, Donna Ludlow, to flirt with Duncan outrageously, knowing full well that Sharon would catch them in the act. The plan worked, and Sharon was furious to see Duncan sharing a drink with Donna, but unfortunately for Den, their row was short-lived and they patched things up soon enough.

Later in the year, Duncan sparked up a friendship with Lofty Holloway, who would regularly accompany him to youth help groups. This eventually led to Lofty's deaprture when Duncan set him up with a job as a handyman in a children's home away from the Square.

In late 1988, cracks started to show in Duncan and Sharon's relationship, mainly because Sharon started to begrudge the amount of time Duncan spent on his Christian duties and the many Bible readings he attended with the devout Christian, Dot Cotton. She had also began to grow tired of Duncan's inability to have fun and she started to ponder whether they were really suited to each other after all. Things reached a climax after Duncan persuaded Sharon and her best-friend Michelle to house a homeless Donna in their flat. Malicious Donna subsequently tried to come between the friends, and when asked to leave, she refused and claimed tenants rights. Sharon blamed Duncan for the whole mess, and when he was offered a parish in Wiltshire and wanted to proceed with their wedding immediately, Sharon had second thoughts and called off their engagement. Duncan was heartbroken and proceeded to ask her to marry him several more times, before he finally accepted it was over.

Duncan remained in Walford until July 1989, performing priestly duties, including being the priest at Den Watt's memorial service in April, after which he was not seen again.