List of East Enders Characters (1987) - Duncan Boyd

Duncan Boyd, played by David Gillespie, is the curate at the local church. He is first seen in October 1987, when Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean), who is sick of being made to choose sides between her rowing parents, seeks solace at the church. Over subsequent chats, Sharon soon begins to feel comfortable enough around Duncan to start relaying her problems and she is overjoyed to finally find someone that listens to her for a change. Over the following months, Sharon finds herself leaning on Duncan more and more and she soon begins to feel attracted towards him, feelings that are reciprocated by Duncan.

By the end of the year, the two start a relationship, much to the shock of Sharon's parents, Den (Leslie Grantham) and Angie (Anita Dobson). Sharon seems to have fallen in love and in December she asks Duncan if they can get engaged. Duncan tries to win Den over by informing him of his admirable intentions towards Sharon, and hinting that marriage is a definite possibility in the not too distant future. Den is pessimistic however, and sets about trying to upset the relationship by persuading his employee, Donna Ludlow (Matilda Ziegler), to flirt with Duncan outrageously, knowing full well that Sharon will catch them in the act. The plan works, and Sharon is furious to see Duncan sharing a drink with Donna, but unfortunately for Den, their row is short-lived and they patch things up soon enough.

Later in the year, Duncan sparks up a friendship with Lofty Holloway (Tom Watt), who regularly accompanies him to youth help groups. This eventually leads to Lofty's departure when Duncan sets 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 starts to begrudge the amount of time Duncan spends on his Christian duties and the many Bible readings he attends with the devout Christian, Dot Cotton (June Brown). She also begins to grow tired of Duncan's inability to have fun and she starts to ponder whether they are really suited to each other after all. Things reach a climax after Duncan persuades Sharon and her best friend Michelle (Susan Tully) to house a homeless Donna in their flat. Malicious Donna subsequently tries to come between the friends, and when asked to leave, she refuses and claims tenants rights. Sharon blames Duncan for the whole mess, and when he is offered a parish in Wiltshire and wants to proceed with their wedding immediately, Sharon has second thoughts and calls off their engagement. Duncan is heartbroken and proceeds to ask her to marry him several more times, before he finally accepts it is over.

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