First TV lead was to be in a play called 'On Easy Terms' for Rediffusion TV, written by Ken Taylor and directed by Tania Lieven. He was to play an amorous door-to-door salesman. However the production was cancelled during rehearsals, near the end of Rediffusion's tenure. The play was taken by Belgian TV and made as Facilités de payement (1970) (TV).
Four children with Patricia Scott: actor Toby Eddington (born 1954), Hugo, Dominic and Gemma.
He was awarded the 1992 London Critics Circle Theatre Award (Drama Theatre Award) for Best Actor for his performance in "No Man's Land.".
He was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1987 Queen's Honours List for his services to drama.
Just before he died, Paul Eddington gave a very moving interview in the Face to Face series. With typical modesty, he said that his epitaph should simply be "He did very little harm".