Derek Benfield (11 March 1926 – 10 March 2009) was a British playwright and actor. He was born in Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire, and educated at Bingley Grammar School. He was the author of the stage farce Running Riot and played Patricia Routledge's character's husband in Hetty Wainthropp Investigates (1996–1998). Arguably Benfield's best known character portrayal was as transport company foreman Bill Riley in the UK television series The Brothers in the early 1970s. Before this, he starred as Frank Skinner in the 1970 cult sci-fi series broadcast on UK ITV, Timeslip. Some of his other television roles included Walter Greenhalgh in Coronation Street (1961–1969), Albert the Clerk in Rumpole of the Bailey (1978–80), and characters in Breakaway (1980) and First of the Summer Wine (1988). His film credits include small roles in Crossplot (1969), I Don't Want to Be Born (1975) and Lifeforce (1985). His plays included the farces Post Horn Gallop and Wild Goose Chase, both about the fictional exploits of the eccentric Lord and Lady Elrood and visitors to their castle. He also appeared with Colin Baker as John Hallam in the Doctor Who audio play Catch-1782 produced by Big Finish Productions. Plays Wild Goose Chase, 1956 Running Riot, 1958 Fish out of Water, 1963 Down to Brass Tacks, 1964 Third Party Risk, 1964 The Party, 1964 Post Horn Gallop, 1965 Murder for the Asking, 1967 Off the Hook, 1970 A Bird in the hand, 1973 Panic Stations, 1975 Caught on the Hop, 1979 Beyond a Joke, 1980 In for the Kill, 1981 Bedside Manners, 1988 Personal life Benfield was married to actress Susan Lyle Grant from 1953. They had two children together. Benfield died in 2009 aged 82. Filmography Film Television References External links Obituary in The Times Obituary in The Daily Telegraph Obituary in The Guardian Obituary in The Independent http://www.timeslip.org.uk/whoswho/derekbenfield.php 1926 births 2009 deaths English male television actors Male actors from Bradford People educated at Bingley Grammar School English male dramatists and playwrights 20th-century English dramatists and playwrights Alumni of RADA 20th-century English male writers Writers from Bradford