“Coronation Street star Peter Adamson, who portrayed Len Fairclough for 23 years, died while living on benefits after his career sadly came to an end in the 1980s.”
One Coronation Street actor ended up reliant on benefits despite spending more than 20 years playing Len Fairclough on the beloved ITV soap. Peter Adamson passed away at the age of 72 in 2002, having become a “virtual recluse” in Bury during his later years after his acting career took a downturn in the 1980s.
Adamson rose to fame as Len, appearing in 1,730 episodes between 1961 and 1983. Sadly, his time on the soap came to an end that same year when he was accused of indecently assaulting two eight-year-old girls at Haslingden Baths, where he also worked as a swimming instructor. Although he was later acquitted at Burnley Crown Court, his behaviour afterward created tension with ITV executives.
In a decision that would prove disastrous, he sold his story to The Sun while under the influence of alcohol, appearing to admit to the allegations in a confused interview. He notoriously stated: “I am totally guilty of everything the police said. But what I hope you will print – there was no sexual intent.”
According to the Express, Adamson received £110,000 for the exclusive story.
The revelation marked the end of his career, and after being dismissed and permanently written out of the show by ITV bosses, he attempted to start over in Canada. However, the move didn’t last, and upon returning to the UK, he was declared bankrupt in 1991.
At the height of his fame on Coronation Street, Adamson was earning £10,000 a year — the equivalent of around £190,000 today. But in his later years, he found himself living in a rented flat and relying on welfare, unable to find work.
Though he died while on benefits, it wasn’t his first brush with financial hardship. During his time on the show, Adamson struggled with heavy drinking — often during working hours — and by the late 1960s, he owed tens of thousands to the Inland Revenue.
His alcoholism eventually led to a suspension from Coronation Street in 1969.
The legal costs from his trial only deepened his financial troubles, and after the passing of his wife Jean shortly afterward, Adamson’s circumstances worsened considerably.
In his later years, he took on small roles, including radio performances, a West End appearance in Dial M for Murder, and a part in Vanbrugh’s The Relapse in 1988. When he died in 2002, he was survived by his two sons.
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