Peter Adamson (actor)

Peter George Adamson (16 February 1930 – 17 January 2002) was an English actor, best known for playing Len Fairclough in TV series Coronation Street from January 1961 to May 1983. 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. He left school at the age of 14 and took an office job in a solicitor's firm, before trying for a career as a commercial artist. Adamson took part in a community play at the age of 17, and 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.