David Griffin

David Griffin (born 19 July 1943) is an English actor best known for both his roles as Squadron Leader Clive Dempster DFC in ''Hi-de-Hi! between 1984 and 1988 and Emmet Hawksworth in Keeping Up Appearances'' between 1991 and 1995.

Biography
Griffin was born in Richmond, Surrey in July 1943. His first screen role was in 1960 in the film A French Mistress, and roles like Ricketts in The Fifth Form at St. Dominic's in 1961, David Ashton in Outbreak of Murder in 1962 and Mark Dennison in Quick Before They Catch Us in 1966 followed soon after and became both popular and familiar with viewers. Griffin would appear in the smash hit film Battle of Britain in 1969 as Sergeant Pilot Chris and in popular television series including Dixon of Dock Green in 1968 and then again in 1974, Z-Cars in 1970 and Doctor Who in 1972 as Lieutenant Commander Mitchell in the episode "The Sea Devils". More smaller roles were to follow in the film Rollerball in 1974, Send In The Girls in 1978, Emmerdale Farm in 1978 and 1979, Maybury in 1983 and then most famously as Squadron Leader Clive Dempster DFC in Hi-de-Hi! from 1984 to 1988. Perhaps the other of Griffin's most famous role would be that of Emmet, Hyacinth Bucket's musical but mouse-like next door neighbour in Roy Clarke's both highly successful and popular BBC sitcom Keeping Up Appearances which also starred Patricia Routledge, Geoffrey Hughes and Josephine Tewson who played Emmet's equally nervous sister Elizabeth. Although the series started in 1990 and ended in 1995, Griffin first appeared in the second series in 1991 as neighbour Elizabeth's recently-divorced brother. The character of Emmet was created by writer Roy Clarke and producer and director Harold Snoad to provide a 'consultant' to Elizabeth who had become popular with the fans of the series. When main star of the series Patricia Routledge decided she wanted to move on with her career and did not want to become typecast as the character Hyacinth Bucket and had recieved several job offers while playing Hyacinth that she was interested in pursuing, one being the female dectective series Hetty Wainthrop Investigates, which starred Routledge in the title role. Griffin, along with the other members of the cast were disappointed that the show was to end but decided it was the right thing to cancel the show, as Keeping Up Appearances would not be the same without Hyacinth Bucket.  After finishing Keeping Up Appearances in 1995, he toured worldwide, with Su Pollard, in the stage show The Good Sex Guide. He has also starred in several pantomimes such as Jack and the Beanstalk amongst others. In 2003, Griffin appeared on the Keeping Up Appearances episode of "Comedy Connections", discussing his role of Emmet in Keeping Up Appearances.

Personal life
Griffin is married to a French lady, with whom he has had two children. Griffin can also speak fluent French.