Coronation Street Icon Peter Adamson Died Penniless After 22 Years on the Cobbles
Former Coronation Street actor Peter Adamson, best known for his role as Len Fairclough, spent over two decades on the ITV soap before a tragic fall from grace left him penniless and living on benefits in his later years.
From Soap Stardom to Scandal
Adamson joined Coronation Street in 1961, becoming a household name during his 22-year run in Weatherfield. Appearing in 1,730 episodes, Len Fairclough was a cornerstone of the show until 1983.
But his career ended in controversy after he was accused of indecent assault against two young girls at a swimming pool where he worked part-time. Though he was acquitted at Burnley Crown Court, the scandal destroyed his career and reputation.
To pay off his £120,000 legal bill, Adamson sold stories to the press, later claiming he had been drunk and persuaded to change parts of his account. Corrie bosses wasted no time in axing him, killing off Len in a motorway crash designed to deny the character a sympathetic exit.
Struggles With Debt and Drinking
Adamson’s off-screen troubles stretched back years. Known as a “hellraiser” and heavy drinker, he had already been suspended from Coronation Street in 1969 due to his behaviour. By the late 1960s, he reportedly owed thousands to the Inland Revenue.
Though he briefly found work in the theatre and on radio—appearing in Dial M for Murder in the West End and The Relapse in 1988—he never recaptured his former success.
Declaring bankruptcy in 1991, Adamson spent his final years living in a modest rented flat in Bury. With acting work dried up, he relied solely on state benefits.
Lonely Final Years
By the time of his death in 2002, aged 72, Adamson was described as a “virtual recluse.” He passed away from stomach cancer, leaving behind his two sons.
Despite his tragic ending, his place in Coronation Street history remains significant. For over two decades, Len Fairclough was one of the soap’s most recognisable characters, remembered for his fiery temperament, complicated romances, and central role in the community of Weatherfield.