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Colin McFarlane

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For the Emmerdale character, see Colin McFarlane (Emmerdale).

Colin McFarlane
McFarlane at the Sasnak City Convention in 2019
Born
Colin Andrew Ignatius Peter McFarlane

(1961-09-15) 15 September 1961 (age 63)
Upper Clapton, London, England
EducationThe Perse School
Alma materLoughborough University
Occupation(s)Actor, narrator, voice actor
Years active1984–present
Spouse
Kate McFarlane
​
(m. 1991)​
Children3

Colin Andrew Ignatius Peter McFarlane (born 15 September 1961) is a British actor, narrator and voice actor. He is known for his roles in film and television including Gillian B. Loeb in two films of Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Trilogy and Ulysses in the STARZ television drama series Outlander. McFarlane's voice roles include JJ in Bob the Builder, Bulgy and Beresford in Thomas & Friends and PC Malcolm Williams in Fireman Sam. He was the voice of The Cube in the ITV game show.

Early life

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McFarlane was born on 15 September 1961 in Upper Clapton, London, to Jamaican parents.[1] His father, Sidney McFarlane, MBE, served in the RAF and his mother, Gwendolyn McFarlane, worked in the NHS. His father was appointed an MBE in 1999 for voluntary service to the community and for service with the Ministry of Defence.[2] The family subsequently moved several times before settling in Lincoln in the East Midlands, where McFarlane grew up.[3] He attended the Perse School, Cambridge, and later read drama at Loughborough University, graduating in 1983.[4][5][6]

Career

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Television

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McFarlane's first professional television role was in 1985 with a three episode guest stint, as Detective Sergeant Watson, in ITV's hit police procedural Dempsey and Makepeace.[7] From there, he would go on to feature in London Weekend Television's made-for-TV film Dutch Girls, alongside Colin Firth and fellow Outlander alumni Bill Paterson.[8] The next year he featured in an episode of London Weekend Television's maternity mini-series To Have and To Hold, which focused on a surrogate mother carrying a child for her sister.[9] In 1988, McFarlane guest starred in a season two episode of ITV's drama Bust, which followed a man in the wake of bankruptcy.[10]

1992 saw McFarlane appear in CITV's children's series Tales From the Poop Deck, where he portrayed Lieutenant Parkinson of HMS Intrepid, and a guest appearance on several episodes of Channel 4's sitcom Sean's Show.[11][12] Later that year he would feature in an episode of mystery series Virtual Murder, an episode of BBC's anthology series Screen One entitled Black and Blue, and the made-for-TV film Lenny Henry: In Dreams.[13][14][15] In 1993 he would guest star in children's series Runaway Bay and ITV's comedy Jeeves and Wooster, which focused on Hugh Laurie's Wooster and Stephen Fry's Jeeves.[16][17] Two years later he would have guest appearances on ITV's Class Act and BBC's police procedural Backup.[18][19]

McFarlane would go on, in 1996, to feature in an episode of BBC's Rowan Atkinson led police comedy The Thin Blue Line, Channel 4's made-for-TV film The Final Passage, and the finale of ITV's four part thriller series Circles of Deceit.[20][21][22]

His numerous TV credits include Judge John Deed, Jonathan Creek, Casualty, Death in Paradise, Father Brown and Holby City.[23] He has also appeared in two of the UK's most-watched soap operas. He appeared in five episodes of Coronation Street from August to September 2010 as a consultant neurosurgeon, Mr Jordan, and played DCI Irving in an episode of EastEnders in April 2014 as part of the "Who Killed Lucy Beale?" storyline.

He has also made regular appearances in British TV comedy, in the shows The Fast Show, Randall & Hopkirk, Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, Harry and Paul and The Thin Blue Line. He played Inspector Norris in the Black Books episode The Blackout, Inspector Terrence Brown in the first episode of Dirk Gently and voiced the Judge in the 2016 revival of the sitcom Porridge.

He also featured in the CBBC shows M.I. High and Hounded as the evil Dr Muhahahaha.

Film

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McFarlane's first film was 1996's short film A Mulatto Song, which focused on the life of George Bridgetower, a virtuoso violinist from the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.[24][25] The next year would see him feature in the direct-to-film film I'd Like A Word With You, a corporate training video on how to deal with discipline interviews.[26] He portrayed Police Commissioner Gillian B. Loeb in the critically acclaimed films Batman Begins (2005) and The Dark Knight (2008). He has also made numerous appearances in Doctor Who, voicing the Heavenly Host in the Christmas special "Voyage of the Damned" and playing Moran in the "Under the Lake" and "Before the Flood" episodes of the ninth series[27] from 2015. In addition, he also appeared in the third series of Torchwood, Children of Earth, as the American military representative Colonel Pierce.

He appeared alongside Matt Smith and Natalie Dormer in the action horror film Patient Zero (2018). He then appeared as the governor in the 2019 thriller film Crawl, featuring Kaya Scodelario and Barry Pepper.

Voice acting

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McFarlane's first voice role was in 1994 as Othello in S4C's Emmy Award winning animated series Shakespeare: The Animated Tales, which adapted and condensed classic Shakespearean plays for children.[28] The next year would see him voice the main villain in BBC's animated series Oscar's Orchestra, which explored a future where music was banned.[29][30] In 1996, McFarlane voiced two characters, God and Goliath, in the Emmy winning animated series Testament: The Bible in Animation.[31][32] From there he would go on to voice the recurring role of Sergeant Slipper, from 1996 to 1998, in the animated Dennis the Menace cartoon Dennis and Gnasher.[33]

His best-known voice roles include JJ and Skip in the original series of Bob the Builder, and as the narrator on the ITV gameshow The Cube. He has also voiced Jonah in the 1997 animated series Captain Pugwash, Bulgy the Double Decker Bus and Beresford the Crane in Thomas & Friends and its 2017 feature film Journey Beyond Sodor.[34][non-primary source needed] In addition, he played the part of Elvis the horse in Iconicles, Sparky the dragon in Mike the Knight, voiced several characters in the episode "The Sweater" of The Amazing World of Gumball.[citation needed], and as well as Police Constable Malcolm Williams in the twelfth series of Fireman Sam and its 2020 1-hour special, Norman Price and the Mystery in the Sky.

He played US General Trent Stone in the 2014 original audio drama Osiris by Everybodyelse Productions.

Video games

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McFarlane has lent his voice to numerous video games, the earliest being 1996's Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars. He would go on to voice characters in G-Police, Codename: Tenka, and The City of Lost Children in 1997.[35] He also voiced Greg in the Buzz! quiz game series, the character Avalon Centrifuge in the 2011 game LittleBigPlanet 2, and provided additional dialogue for Batman: Arkham Knight. He played "The Forgotten One", the central villain of the two downloadable content packs for Castlevania: Lords of Shadow.[36] Also lending his voice to Thunder, in the first Fable video game.

Theatre

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In 2013, McFarlane appeared with Lenny Henry in a critically acclaimed revival of August Wilson's Fences at the Duchess Theatre in London's West End.[37][38]

Personal life

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On 30 June 1991, McFarlane married his wife, Kate, with whom he has three children. He divides his time between homes in Lincoln and North London.

McFarlane is an avid supporter of Lincoln City F.C.

In June 2023, McFarlane announced that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer.[39]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1996 A Mulatto Song Frederick DeAugust Short film
1997 Countdown to Tomorrow Narrator Documentary film
I'd Like a Word with You George Direct-to-video
1998 The First 9½ Weeks Remy
1999 The Criminal Businessman
2000 Sorted Doctor Credited as Colin McFarlan
2001 The Ultimate Stress Show: Managing Stress
Chunky Monkey Trevor
Christmas Carol: The Movie Mr. Fezziwig (Voice)
2002 War Game Little General, King George (voices) Short film
The King's Beard Jasper (voice)
2005 Batman Begins Commissioner Gillian B. Loeb
Fragile Roy
2006 Jungle Boogie Makita (voice)
2008 The Dark Knight Commissioner Gillian B. Loeb
2011 The Last Belle The Barman (voice) Short film
2013 Experiment K5-C The Voice (voice)
2014 Shadows of a Stranger Asmo
2015 Slick Cars Tiberius the Cabover Peterbilt (voice)
2016 The 101-Year-Old Man Who Skipped Out on the Bill and Disappeared Seth
2017 The Invisible Guardian Dupree
Peppa Pig: My First Cinema Experience Mr. Lion (voice)
Thomas & Friends: Journey Beyond Sodor Beresford (voice) UK/US versions
2018 The Commuter Conductor Sam
Patient Zero Colonel Pierce
2019 The Queen's Corgi Chief (voice) UK version
Crawl Governor
The Legacy of the Bones Aloisius Dupree Spanish title: Legado en los huesos
2020 Thomas and the Royal Engine Bulgy and Beresford (voices) UK/US versions
Thomas & Friends: Marvellous Machinery Dr. Holyfield (voice) UK/US versions
Offering to the Storm Aloisius Dupree Spanish title: Ofrenda a la Tormenta
2021 Jungle Cruise Dromm
Supermind: The Brain Drain Supermind

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1985 Dempsey and Makepeace Detective Sergeant Watson 3 episodes
Dutch Girls Mkwela Television film
1986 To Have & To Hold Teacher 1 episode
1988 Bust Steve
1992 Tales from the Poop Deck Lieutenant Parkinson Episode: "Here Be Pirates!"
Sean's Show Announcer 3 episodes
Screen One: Black and Blue Jesse Jarman 1 episode
1993 Runaway Bay Henchman
Jeeves and Wooster Toto Episode: "Totleigh Towers (or, Trouble at Totleigh Towers)"
1994 Shakespeare: The Animated Tales Othello (voice) Episode: "Othello"
1995 Class Act Newscaster 1 episode
Backup DCI Clews Episode: "Clubbing"
1995–1996 Oscar's Orchestra Thadius Vent, Tank (voices) 37 episodes
1996 The Thin Blue Line European Commissioner Mustafa Delcroix Episode: "Ism Ism Ism"
Testament: The Bible in Animation God, Goliath (voices) Episodes: "Elijah" and "David and Saul"
The Final Passage Cast member Television film
Circles of Deceit: Kalon Interrogator 1 episode
1996–1998 Dennis and Gnasher Sergeant Slipper (voice) 26 episodes
1997 Countdown to Tomorrow Never Dies Narrator Television documentary movie
1998 The Adventures of Captain Pugwash Jonah, Dook (voices) 26 episodes
2000 Black Books Inspector Barry Norris Episode: "Blackout"
2001 Office Gossip Charles Mandelson Episode: "Moving On"
Oswald Johnny Snowman (UK voice) Episode: "The Go-Kart Race/Autumn Leaves"
Randall & Hopkirk Sebastian Snellgrove Episode: "Marshall and Snellgrove"
2001–2003 Bob the Builder JJ (UK/US voice)
Skip (UK voice) 		UK/US versions
16 episodes
2002–2005 Ginger's Egg-scellent Adventures Pembroke (voice) UK/US versions
Recurring cast
2002–2006 Judge John Deed Newman Mason Allen Q.C. 5 episodes
2002 Murder in Mind Ray Marker Episode: "Swan Song"
Mysteries of Easter Island Narrator UK version
Television documentary movie
Babyfather Consultant Episode: "#2.3"
2003 Strange Reverend Johnson Episode: "Zoxim"
Television miniseries
Yoko! Jakamoko! Toto! Additional Voices (voice) Episode: "The Snow"
2004 Jonathan Creek Inspector Fell Episode: "The Chequered Box"
2005 Beneath the Skin Jeremy Television movie
Holby City Felix Kente Episode: "Great Expectations"
2006–2012; 2019 Little Princess Chef, Prime Minister, Horace, Various (voices) 25 episodes
2006 Hyperdrive Male Bulaahg Episode: "Asteroid"
Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps Brian Episode: "Cauliflower"
2007 Doctor Who Heavenly Host (voice) Episode: "Voyage of the Damned"
2008–2015, 2020–2021 Chuggington Harrison, the King of Buffertonia (voices) 30 episodes
UK/US versions
The Cube Narrator 86 episodes
2009 Torchwood: Children of Earth General Austin Pierce 3 episodes
Collision Bill Jackson 3 episodes
Television miniseries
2010 Hounded Dr. Muhahaha 5 episodes
Coronation Street Mr. Jordan
Schizo Samurai Shitzhu Dr. 10
Reggie Perrin Mr. Fox
2011–2013 Mike the Knight Sparkie the Dragon (voice) UK version
8 episodes
2011–2016 SkaterBots Streck (voice) 120 episodes
2011 Iconicles Elvis the Horse (voice) Episode: "Puddle Muddle"
Tinga Tinga Tales Majitu the Giant (voice) Episode: "Why Bushbaby Has Big Eyes"
Holby City Nick Horton Episode: "Big Lies, Little Lies"
2012 Dirk Gently Terence Brown Episode: "#1.1"
Bad Education Politician Episode: "Politics"
Harry & Paul 2 episodes
2012–2013 The Amazing World of Gumball Additional Voices (voice) 6 episodes
2013 Jo Captain Heger Television miniseries
Episodes: "The Opera" and "The Catacombes"
Credited as Colin McFarlan
It's Kevin Various Episode: "#1.3"
2013–2014 Zack & Quack Belly-Up (voice) 28 episodes
2013–2016 Officer Blue Lieutenant Thelonius Browne 96 episodes
2014 EastEnders DCI Irving One episode
Plebs Doctor Episode: "The Patron"
Citizen Khan DI Taylor Episode: "The In-Laws"
On Angel Wings Joseph Television short movie
2015 Casualty Clifton Duheney Episode: "Toxic Relationships"
Death in Paradise Anton Burrage Episode: "The Perfect Murder"
Olympus Hades Episode: "Truth"
Doctor Who Moran Episodes: "Under the Lake" and "Before the Flood"
Crown for Christmas Chancellor Riggs Television movie
2016 Father Brown Cardinal Papillon Episode: "The Daughter of Autolycus"
A Midsummer Night's Dream Egeus Television movie
Porridge Judge
Peppa Pig Mr. Lion (voice) Episode: "The Zoo"
Hooten & the Lady Caleb Television miniseries
Episode: "The Caribbean"
2017 Porridge Judge (voice) 3 episodes
Television miniseries
The Rebel Roderick Episode: "Love"
2017–2020 Thomas & Friends Bulgy, Beresford, Dr. Holyfield, Various (voices) UK/US versions
2018 Midsomer Murders Jordan Briggs Episode: "Till Death Do Us Part"
Starship Goldfish The Avianaut / Secateur Episode: "Starship Goldfish Cartoon Pilot"
2018–2020 Outlander Ulysses Main character; Seasons 4–5
2020 Industry Lord Oaki Episode: "Nutcracker"
2020–present Fireman Sam Police Constable Malcolm Williams (voice)[40] UK/US version
2020 Fireman Sam: Norman Price and the Mystery in the Sky UK/US version
Television movie
2021 Queens of Mystery Finton Boyle Episode: "#2.5"
Code 404 Bad Brian Episode: "#2.4"
The Cube (U.S) The Cube (voice) 10 episodes
Milo Suds (voice) Channel 5
2022 Toast of Tinseltown Weech Beacon Episode: "3. The Scorecard"
Dodger Mr Canker Episode: "1. Runaways"
Not Going Out Foreman 1 episode
2024 Piglets Chief Superintendent Cunningham 3 episodes
2025 The War Between the Land and the Sea[41] General Austin Pierce 5 episodes

Theatre

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Year Title Role Director Theatre
2013 Fences Bono Paulette Randall Duchess Theatre

Radio

[edit]
Year Title Character Production Director
1992 Roland's Afterlife Empoli[42] BBC Radio 4 Glyn Dearman

Video games

[edit]
Year Title Voice role Notes
1996 Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars Duane Henderson, Concierge, Museum Security Guard US title: Broken Sword: Circle of Blood
1997 The City of Lost Children Additional Voices
G-Police
Lifeforce Tenka US Title: Codename: Tenka
2000 Imperium Galactica II: Alliances
2001 Gothic NPCs English dub
2002 Gothic II
2003 Primal Abaddon / King Ilbis
2004 Fable Thunder
2005 Constantine Papa Midnite[43]
Cold Winter Mahmoud Al-Fariq
Shinobido: Way of the Ninja Uzimushi English dub
2010 Castlevania: Lords of Shadow The Forgotten One
2011 LittleBigPlanet 2 Avalon Centrifuge
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Rashaad, Rusty English version
Credited as Colin MacFarlane
2012 PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale Buzz Announcer
2013 Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Rashaad / Rusty English dub
2015 Batman: Arkham Knight Additional Voices
2017 Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 Heimdall, Horus, Red Wolf
2019 Planet Zoo Bernard Goodwin
2020 Othercide Suffering
2022 Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Y[44] English dub
2023 Dead Island 2 Dr. Reuben Reed
Final Fantasy XVI Zoltan[45]

References

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  1. ^ Inchley, Maggie (14 March 2015). Voice and new writing, 1997-2007 : articulating the Demos. [Basingstoke]. p. 80. ISBN 978-1-137-43233-9. OCLC 904713830.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. ^ Whitelam, Paul (7 September 2021). "The incredible story of Sidney McFarlane's Windrush journey to 30-year RAF career, MBE, and now honorary degree". Lincolnshire Live. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  3. ^ "BBC - Lincolnshire People - Famous Yellowbellies - Colin McFarlane". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  4. ^ "Notable Alumni". The Perse School Cambridge. 27 August 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  5. ^ "Colin McFarlane takes on the role of Sam the conductor in "The Commuter"". The Philadelphia Sunday Sun. 13 January 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  6. ^ "Outlander, Doctor Who and Peppa Pig star Colin McFarlane | advice". The Stage. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  7. ^ TV.com. "Dempsey and Makepeace: Silver Dollar". TV.com. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  8. ^ "Dutch Girls (1985)". BFI. Archived from the original on 9 December 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  9. ^ To Have and to Hold (TV Miniseries) (1986), retrieved 23 March 2021
  10. ^ TV.com. "Bust: Love Bait". TV.com. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  11. ^ Viewer, Telly. "Tales from the Poop Deck". Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  12. ^ TV.com. "Sean's Show: Episode 2". TV.com. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  13. ^ TV.com. "Virtual Murder". TV.com. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  14. ^ "Screen One: Black and Blue". The Radio Times. No. 3587. 24 September 1992. p. 62. ISSN 0033-8060. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  15. ^ Dadban, Haddad. "In Dreams (1992)". IMDb-API. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  16. ^ TV.com. "Runaway Bay: Masquerade". TV.com. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  17. ^ TV.com. "Jeeves and Wooster: Totleigh Towers". TV.com. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  18. ^ TV.com. "Class Act". TV.com. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  19. ^ TV.com. "Backup: Clubbing". TV.com. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  20. ^ "The Thin Blue Line". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  21. ^ "The Final Passage Part 1 (1996)". BFI. Archived from the original on 16 July 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  22. ^ Rotten Tomatoes. "Colin McFarlane". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on 23 November 2011. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  23. ^ "The First Rule of Office Relationships", Holby City, BBC, 23 August 2011.
  24. ^ "A Mulatto Song (1997)". BFI. Archived from the original on 13 April 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  25. ^ Ho, Ro (19 November 2012). "George Bridgetower: Afro-Polish-born virtuoso violinist". Originalpeople.org. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  26. ^ "I'd Like a Word with You The Discipline Interview (New Version) (1996)". BFI. Archived from the original on 20 June 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  27. ^ The Doctor Who Team (14 January 2015). "Filming Begins on Doctor Who, Series 9". Doctor Who. BBC One. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  28. ^ "Othello". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  29. ^ "Toonhound - Oscar's Orchestra (1994)". www.toonhound.com. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  30. ^ Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of television shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 796. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7. OCLC 692291474.
  31. ^ "God". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  32. ^ "Goliath". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  33. ^ "Sergeant Slipper". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  34. ^ McFarlane, Colin (11 May 2017). "Yes!! Didn't know it was out!!...well spotted :)". Twitter. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  35. ^ "Colin McFarlane Video Game Credits and Biography". MobyGames. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  36. ^ Jorge Bocanegra, "DailyVania: Meet The Voice Of The Forgotten One", 1 July 2011, Rely on Horror.
  37. ^ Limited, London Theatre Direct (16 March 2013). "Funnyman Lenny Henry to get serious again on the West End stage". www.londontheatredirect.com. Retrieved 24 March 2021. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  38. ^ "Fences - Review". London Theatre Guide. 26 June 2013. Archived from the original on 15 April 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  39. ^ "Colin McFarlane: The Cube voice and The Dark Knight star diagnosed with prostate cancer". BBC News. 12 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  40. ^ "Legendary Children's TV show FIREMAN SAM Introduces First Ever Police Character PC Malcom Williams Voiced By Colin McFarlane". www.thefancarpet.com. The Fan Carpet. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  41. ^ "Doctor Who spin-off adds Ruth Madeley and surprise Torchwood character in first look".
  42. ^ "radio plays 1992,bbc,radio drama,DIVERSITY WEBSITE,english,british,uk,classic". www.suttonelms.org.uk. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  43. ^ "Papa Midnite". Behind the Voice Actors. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  44. ^ "Y". Behind the Voice Actors. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  45. ^ "Zoltan". Behind the Voice Actors. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
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