Roger Brierley

Roger Brierly (born 2nd June 1935 in Bramhall, died 23rd September 2005 in London) appeared in Coronation Street in December 1976 as Lanky Potts, a friend of Eddie Yeats who sold Annie Walker he prized Rover car.

Brierly had strong memories of appearing in the programme and acting opposite Doris Speed who he towered over. During camera rehearsal for his scenes, he was constantly bobbing from side to side. After the rehearsal had finished, Doris asked, "What on earth were you DOING, dear?" Brierley replied that, being so much taller than the diminutive Doris, the cameras were having trouble getting them in the same shot. "You see, I don't want to cast a shadow on your face, Miss Speed." Drawing herself up to her full height, Doris replied, in her steeliest Annie Walker voice, "Young man! The dole queues of Manchester are full of actors who dared to cast a shadow on the face of the great Doris Speed!" It was only when he saw the unmistakable twinkle in her eye that he dared to laugh.

He began acting in school and for the Stockport Garrick Society. After national service, he trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and then worked for Hornchurch Rep and the Royal Shakespeare Company for one season though his main work was in television.

He also appeared in The Likely Lads, The Wednesday Play, Nearest and Dearest, Hadleigh, The Dustbinmen, Armchair Theatre, Budgie, Sykes, Z Cars, The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, The Sweeney, Rising Damp, Crown Court, Telford's Change, The Goodies, To the Manor Born, Tales of the Unexpected, Play for Today, Wood and Walters, Shine on Harvey Moon, Doctor Who, Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV, A Very British Coup, First of the Summer Wine, The Bill, Jeeves and Wooster, Minder, Screen Two, Goodnight Sweetheart, Seaforth (with Linus Roache), Dangerfield, London's Burning, Casualty, Agatha Christie's Poirot and Footballer's Wives (with Ben Price).

Film roles include The Adventures of Barry Mackenzie, Young Sherlock Holmes, Superman II, The Wicked lady, Killing Dad, A Fish Called Wanda, Beaumarchais and About a Boy.

External pages

 * Internet Movie Database entry for Roger Brierley
 * Wikipedia page for Roger Brierley