Howard Saddler

Howard Saddler is an English actor who is known for his recurring role as Pastor Clayton in the BBC soap opera EastEnders in 2023 and 2024. He also appeared briefly in the other soap operas, Hollyoaks and Doctors.

Saddler started his acting career portraying minor characters in programmes such as Grange Hill, The Bill, The Ghost Hunter,Footballers' Wives, Rockface and Doctors, before getting his first big part in the television series Without Motive, where he played DC Trevor Richards. Following this, he would appear in the popular mockumentary series The Office, as Oliver, a "kind natured Swindoner" who puts up with David's crude humour throughout the series. In 2003, he appeared in the theatre production of The Beggar's Opera, which was performed at the Orange Tree Theatre. Between September 2005 and February 2006, he appeared as Paul in The Arab Trader, which was performed at the Royal National Theatre.^[1]

Between 2004 and 2021, Saddler would continue to appear in many others television series, including Holby City, Waking the Dead, Black Cake, My Lady Jane, The Ark and the Netflix series The Witcher. From 2003 to 2005, he appeared in Family Affairs as Les Boulter. In 2014, he appeared in the British film A Royal Hangover. In 2023, Saddler made his debut on EastEnders as Pastor Clayton. Clayton remained a character on the show until 2024, where he was involved in a sexual assault storyline against Yolande Trueman, played by actress Angela Wynter.^[2]

Since leaving Eastenders, Saddler has gone on to appear in the television series Grace and is set to appear in the upcoming Horror film Dig Dig Dead and Return to Silent Hill.^[3] In 2024, Howard became a judge for Recovery’s Got Talent, which he claims to have gotten involved with as he was in treatment himself. ^[4]