Peter Dudley

Peter Dudley (1935–1983) was an English character actor best known for his role as Bert Tilsley in television's Coronation Street; a role he played continuously from 1979 until 1983.

As a child, Dudley harboured a desire to become an actor, but after leaving school, he began his working life as a doffer in a local mill — but this job only lasted two days. He then took a job in a grocer's shop before he joined The Bolton Hippodrome where he stayed for six months.He then worked as a window dresser and a salesman before doing his national service with the army.

After the war, Dudley returned to acting with the Oldham Repertory Company and at the University Theatre in Manchester. He also became a leading actor at Manchester's Library Theatre Company. He appeared in the movie The Ragman's Daughter as a lorry driver and on television in Siege of Golden Hill, Against The Crowd, Have Bird, Will Travel, Here I Stand, The Shabby Tiger, Strangers and Crown Court.

Dudley became well known in repertory before appearing as Bert Tilsley, and it was through this background that he found a champion in Pat Phoenix. After 4 bit parts in Coronation Street, first appearing as Duggie Bowson, then taking a role as a delivery man, another small role, then playing Donald Anderson in February 1978, he was eventually cast as Bert Tilsley.

On 29 January 1979, he joined the cast as a regular playing family man Bert alongside Lynne Perrie and Christopher Quinten. He was openly homosexual, and in 1982 Dudley was observed exposing himself to another man in a public toilet in Didsbury, and was charged with importuning. With commendable courage, Coronation Street Producer Bill Podmore stood by him and he continued to appear in the series. He was found guilty and fined £200.

Dudley was charged with gross indecency some months later. Although he claimed he was not guilty and had been set up by the police, he realised he was in very serious trouble. He chose to go to Crown Court rather than a Magistrates Court, which prolonged the affair and made it very public. The first jury failed to agree and the judge ordered a retrial. The strain became too much and he suffered a stroke, losing much of the use of his left side, and briefly his speech. The retrial was postponed and the file kept open.

Dudley spent time in physiotherapy and wanted to act again in the Street, so the storyline of Bert being injured in a compressor explosion in Brian's garage was devised. His disabilities were hidden, but it was clear the actor wasn't well. Before the second court case could be heard, he suffered two heart attacks and he died on 20 October 1983 after suffering another stroke, aged 48 years. He was cremated at Blackley Crematorium, Manchester on 25 October 1983.