Peter Adamson, who played Len Fairclough in Coronation Street, died in 2002
Peter was sacked from the soap(Image: Mirrorpix)
A Coronation Street star died penniless and receiving benefits in his Bury home, it has been reported.
Peter Adamson spent two decades on the ITV soap playing Len Fairclough. But the actor, who passed away at the age of 72 in 2002, was reported to have become a “virtual recluse” following the end of his acting career in the 1980s.
Adamson featured in an impressive 1,730 episodes of Coronation Street from 1961 to 1983, but his career came to a halt when he faced allegations of indecent assault against two eight-year-old girls at Haslingden Baths, where he worked as a swimming instructor. Despite being acquitted of the charges at Burnley Crown Court, his reputation suffered a severe blow, reports the Mirror.
While drunk, he was allegedly persuaded to change his story and is alleged to have said in an interview: “I am totally guilty of everything the police said… But what I hope you will print – there was no sexual intent.”
Peter was on Corrie for two decades(Image: Mirrorpix)
He was paid £110,000 for the interview. But Lincolnshire Police later re-interviewed Adamson, who denied the confession. The reporter in question said he had “mislaid” the interview tapes, and the police took no further action. He was immediately sacked by ITV bosses and written out of the soap.
Following these events, ITV executives dismissed Adamson, and his character was removed from Coronation Street.
The actor left to start a new life in Canada to start a new life but soon came back to the UK and was declared bankrupt in 1991. Upon his return, he had to live in a rented flat and relied on benefits as he was unable to find work.
Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE
While he was on Corrie, he was paid £10,000 a year, which is around £190,000 in today’s money. Peter was still receiving benefits when he died, but he had financial issues more than once in his life.
Peter died in 2002(Image: PA)
It was said that the actor heavily drank while he worked and owed thousands to Inland Revenue by the late 1960s. He was then suspended from Coronation Street in 1969 due to his drinking.
The legal bill from his trial showed the financial issues he went through in his life. Things got even worse for the actor after the trial, as his wife Jean died shortly after.
Peter managed to add some final acting roles to his list, which included radio work and a West End production of Dial M for Murder. He also had a stint in Vanburgh’s The Relapse in 1988. The star left behind two sons when he passed away in 2002.