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 Sunday, 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. 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. In September 1970, Adamson took two months away from Coronation Street to play Mr Fenn in the Emlyn Williams play Someone's Waiting. 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. In December 1981, he was celebrated in an episode of This Is Your Life, when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews in London's Leicester Square. First suspension Off screen, Adamson gained a reputation as a hell-raiser, admitting he had a drink problem and had become involved in pub brawls. On 7 November 1966, he was fined £30 and banned from driving for a year after being arrested for drunk driving. 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. Adamson was missing from episodes 921 to 935. After discharge, he attended Alcoholics Anonymous and remained sober for 15 years but started consuming alcohol again after his wife's