Peter Henry Benson (born 13th June 1943 in Wallasey, Cheshire; died 6th September 2018 in London) appeared on Coronation Street as Bryan Murdoch, co-proprietor of the Murdoch Guest House where the Websters and Rita Sullivan briefly stayed when they holidayed at Blackpool in July 1994.
Educated at Wallasey Grammar School, he showed a talent for singing and dancing, and learned the piano. Having chosen acting as a career, he trained at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre's drama school.
Best remembered in the long-running role of funeral director Bernie Scripps in Heartbeat from 1995 to 2009, his other credits included Trinity Tales, The Devil's Crown, Maria Marten or Murder in the Red Barn, Great Expectations, The Borgias, Doctor Who, Albion Market, A Dorothy L. Sayers Mystery, All Creatures Great and Small, The Bill, Boys from the Bush, A Touch of Frost, Heartbeat, Merlin and Casualty.
Film roles included Putney Swope, Cry of the Banshee, The Shout, The Sailor's Return, The First Great Train Robbery, Tess and Hawk the Slayer.
On stage, he appeared in productions of The Representative, Treasure Island, A Midsummer Night's Dream, 1066 and All That and Assassins.
