Donald De Souza
DOB: 8th July 1933
Marital status: Separated from Nicola
Address: Holdgate Farm
Occupation: Millionaire and retired businessman
First arrived
October 2007. Donald was lying unconscious in a hospital bed when he made his first appearance in the show. The millionaire husband of gold digging Nicola De Souza, Donald was fighting for his life while she hoped he would pop his clogs and leave his millions to her.
Character reference
Much to Nicola's annoyance, her elderly husband woke up and made a good recovery, moving to live with her at Holdgate Farm. Nicola promised to nurse Donald back to health, but then made several attempts on his life, including trying to electrocute him with his own train set. Donald wasn't stupid and knew Nicola was driven by his money, but even he didn't realise quite how far she would go to inherit his fortune. When Donald finally discovered what she had been up to, he threw her out and vowed that she wouldn't get a penny from the divorce. As it happened, the marriage was never consummated so Nicola would have a hard time claiming a morsel of Donald's estate.
Donald's son Miles doesn't have much of a business head and so Donald recently asked Carl King to join him in running De Souza Enterprises. On his 75th birthday, Donald announced his retirement and handed the reins over to Carl. In the meantime, Donald's estranged daughter, Anna, has arrived from Dubai in the hope of building bridges with her father and laying claim to the business. But she hadn't reckoned on her father's close relationship with Carl and soon realised she had a challenge on her hands if she was to take over the throne.
Love life
Needless to say, after what he went through with Nicola, finding a new 'love' isn't top of Donald's list of priorities.
Memorable scenes
On the cliff top, when Donald nearly rolled off the edge after telling Nicola he knew she had been trying to kill him.
What next?
Donald is making it hard for daughter Anna to get back into his good books. Will he eventually hand over the rod of power to her?
About the actor:
Michael Jayston began his working life as a trainee accountant for the National Coal Board before obtaining a scholarship for the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He enjoyed much success on the stage before becoming a well known face on British television. His Shakespearean roles include Demetrius in A Midsummer Night's Dream and Edmund in King Lear. He has also appeared in TV shows such as Doctor Who, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, A Bit of a Do, Coronation Street, The Darling Buds of May and Tales of the Unexpected.
