Peter George Adamson (16 February 1930 – 17 January 2002) was an English actor, best known for playing Len Fairclough in Coronation Street from January 1961 to May 1983.

Early life

Peter George Adamson was born on 16 February 1930 at 54 Hannan Road in Kensington, Liverpool, the youngest of six children. His father was a manager of a menswear shop. Adamson was evacuated to Wales with his older brother when World War II broke out.

Career

Early career and Coronation Street

After taking part in a community play at the age of 17, Adamson moved to London and attended LAMDA, but left after two months. He returned to the north-west, working for several years in repertory theatre, where he met his wife Jean. He set up his own rep theatre company, producing and performing in plays and summer shows at Weston-super-Mare. He appeared in London's West End, and first appeared on television in 1956 in a variety show. He then gained roles in television dramas such as Granada Television's Skyport and Knight Errant Limited before being cast as Len Fairclough in Granada's fledgling soap opera Coronation Street. His character first appeared on screen in January 1961. He was in New Zealand from November to December 1972, playing Gus in Harold Pinter's play The Dumb Waiter. In 1973, he appeared in the play Nightfall.

He stopped drinking alcohol in July 1969 after being suspended from the show unpaid, and spent several weeks in Rossendale General Hospital in the Rossendale Valley, drying out. The articles were branded "Len Lets Rip". He said Anne Kirkbride was "Propping too much time up at the bar" and "I wish she would leave the street, although I would miss her terribly. But for her own good she should go because she's been here for far too long. She's a great actress loaded with talent but plays the part of a dull housewife. I call her a lazy moo". Adamson said off-screen he did not get on at all with Barbara Knox, who played his screen wife Rita.

He was given a warning by producer Bill Podmore and management at Granada that he would be dismissed for breach of contract if it ever happened again. Adamson was told he would be suspended from the programme for six weeks without pay in April 1983. The suspension was due to take place in June and July 1983.

Allegations of indecent assault

On 24 April 1983, a Sunday newspaper reported Adamson had been arrested the previous day on suspicion of two incidents of indecent assault on two eight-year-old girls at a public swimming pool in Haslingden, where he had assisted as a part-time instructor. One was allegedly assaulted the previous day and the other on 16 April. The police complaint alleged Adamson's hands had strayed while he was giving swimming lessons.

In June 1988, he was allegedly persuaded by freelance Sun reporter Dan Slater to change his story following several bottles of whisky. Adamson was alleged to have told Slater: "I am totally guilty of everything the police said"...."But what I hope you will print - there was no sexual intent." This appeared in The Sun on 6 and 7 June 1988. As a result, Lincolnshire Police interviewed Adamson, who denied the confession. Slater claimed he had "mislaid" the tapes of the interview and the police took no further action.

Sacking

After he was charged, Adamson was refused legal aid. Two weeks before the trial began, he approached Granada to see if they would help with a potentially large legal bill. Granada prepared to loan Adamson £10,000, but he admitted to Podmore and Granada management that he had signed an unauthorised contract to sell his memoirs to The Sun and News of the World, along with the story of his arrest and trial, which had left Adamson with legal bills of £120,000. In 1974, he had been earning £12,000 a year. he was killed off-screen in a motorway crash on 7 December 1983. To demonise the character, it was revealed he had been returning home from an affair, cheating on his wife Rita.

Work after Coronation Street

Post-Coronation Street, Adamson starred as Inspector Hubbard He returned to the UK in the spring of 1988 and played Sir Tunbelly Clumsy in a revival of The Relapse at the Mermaid Theatre from September to December that year. From February to April 1989, Adamson starred in the play Comedians in Belfast.<!-- Theatre Ireland - Volumes 18-24 - Page 52 --> Acting roles became increasingly rare after that.

Personal life

Adamson married Jean Duncan on 2 December 1953. They had two sons. Jean, who had suffered from rheumatoid arthritis since her teens, died of septicaemia at Wrightington Hospital in Wigan on 26 September 1984, aged 51.

Death

Adamson successfully underwent surgery for bowel cancer in 1990. He suffered from osteoarthritis and tinnitus in his later years.

Adamson died from stomach cancer in Lincoln County Hospital on 17 January 2002. He left £5,000 to his elder son Michael. Johnny Briggs paid tribute, as did Jean Alexander, who said, "It's sad he has gone, but I hope he is at peace now." No Coronation Street cast member, past or present, attended his funeral.

References

  • Podmore, Bill (with Peter Reece) (1990) Coronation Street: The Inside Story London: Macdonald.
  • Peter Adamson at Corrie.net