Peter Adamson, the actor who portrayed Len Fairclough on Coronation Street for more than 20 years, died penniless and reliant on benefits after his career was destroyed by addiction and scandal. He appeared in 1,730 episodes between 1961 and 1983, making him one of the soap's most recognisable faces.
Early Success and Struggles with Alcohol
Adamson joined the ITV soap in 1961 as Len Fairclough, husband of Nellie, though his on-screen wife never appeared. His most famous on-screen relationship was with Elsie Tanner, played by Pat Phoenix, with whom he shared a long-running 'will they, won't they' dynamic that never culminated in a romance.
By the 1980s, his turbulent personal life began to affect his work. However, his troubles started much earlier. In 1969, he was suspended without pay for two months after arriving so drunk on set that close-up shots had to be re-recorded and edited into previously filmed footage. Producer Harry Kershaw later said: 'Peter Adamson's drunkenness hung around like an albatross around the programme's neck and my responsibilities as producer were beginning to weigh very heavily indeed. At each story conference during this period we would include the character in our projected plots, hoping that Peter Adamson's problem would miraculously disappear. This was wishful thinking at its most stupid and it rapidly became evident as matters grew worse that drastic action needed to be taken.'
Comeback and Downfall
After his suspension, Adamson overcame his alcohol problems and returned to the show. But in February 1983, he sold insider stories about his colleagues to The Sun, calling some of them 'amateurs' and claiming Anne Kirkbride 'spent too much time propping up the bar'. He also said he had a frosty relationship with Barbara Knox, who played his love interest Rita. Producer Bill Podmore issued a warning and suspended him for six weeks in April 1983.
His career ended when he was accused of indecent assault against two eight-year-old girls at Haslingden Baths, where he worked as a swimming instructor. He was acquitted at Burnley Crown Court, but his reputation was ruined. In a subsequent interview, he allegedly changed his account, saying: 'I am totally guilty of everything the police said... But what I hope you will print – there was no sexual intent.' He received £110,000 for the interview, but later retracted the confession. The reporter had 'mislaid' the interview tapes, so police could not pursue the matter. Nevertheless, ITV dismissed him and wrote him out of Coronation Street.
Final Years and Death
His character Len Fairclough was killed off in a motorway collision seven months after his last appearance in 1983. At the time of his dismissal, Adamson earned £10,000 a year for his role, equivalent to roughly £200,000 annually today. He moved to Canada to rebuild his life but soon returned to the UK. He was declared bankrupt in 1991 and moved into a rented flat in Bury, relying on benefits. He secured a few acting roles in radio dramas and a West End production of Dial M for Murder, but by his death in 2002, he was virtually isolated and penniless. He left behind two sons.
