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Derek Benfield

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Derek Benfield
Born
Derek Benfield

(1926-03-11)11 March 1926
Bradford, England
Died10 March 2009(2009-03-10) (aged 82)
Esher, England
Occupation(s)Playwright and Actor
Years active1948-2005
Spouse
Susan Lyall Grant
​
(m. 1957)​
Children2
Benfield (left) in 1972

Derek Benfield (11 March 1926 – 10 March 2009) was a British playwright and actor.

He was born in Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire, and educated at Bingley Grammar School. He was the author of the stage farce Running Riot and played Patricia Routledge's character's husband in Hetty Wainthropp Investigates (1996–1998).

Arguably, Benfield's best known character portrayal was as transport company foreman Bill Riley in the UK television series The Brothers in the early 1970s. Before this, he starred as Frank Skinner in the 1970 cult sci-fi series broadcast on UK ITV, Timeslip. Some of his other television roles included Walter Greenhalgh in Coronation Street (1961–1969), Albert the Clerk in Rumpole of the Bailey (1978–80), and characters in Breakaway (1980) and First of the Summer Wine (1988).

His film credits include small roles in Crossplot (1969), I Don't Want to Be Born (1975) and Lifeforce (1985). His plays included the farces Post Horn Gallop and Wild Goose Chase, both about the fictional exploits of the eccentric Lord and Lady Elrood and visitors to their castle.

He also appeared with Colin Baker as John Hallam in the Doctor Who audio play Catch-1782 produced by Big Finish Productions.

Plays

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  • The Young in Heart, 1953[1]
  • The Way the Wind Blows, 1954[1]
  • Champagne for Breakfast, 1954[1]
  • Wild Goose Chase, 1955
  • Running Riot, 1958
  • Out of Thin Air, 1961[1]
  • Fish out of Water, 1963
  • Down to Brass Tacks, 1964
  • Third Party Risk, 1964
  • The Party, 1964
  • Post Horn Gallop, 1965
  • Murder for the Asking, 1967
  • Off the Hook, 1970
  • A Bird in the hand, 1973[1]
  • Panic Stations, 1975
  • Caught on the Hop, 1979[1]
  • Beyond a Joke, 1980[1]
  • In for the Kill, 1981
  • Look Who's Talking, 1984[1]
  • Touch and Go, 1984[1]
  • Flying Feathers, 1987[2]
  • Bedside Manners, 1990[1]
  • Toe in the Water, 1991[1]
  • Don't Lose the Place, 1992[3]
  • Anyone for Breakfast?, 1994[4]
  • Up and Running, 1995[1]
  • A Fly in the Ointment, 1996[5]
  • Two and Two Together, 1999[1]
  • Second Time Around, 2000?[1][6]
  • Funny Business, 2005[1]
  • In At the Deep End, 2005[1]
  • Over My Dead Body, 2005?[1][7]
  • First Things First, 2007[1]

Personal life

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Benfield was married to actress Susan Lyle Grant from 1953 until his death in 2009. They had two children together and two grandchildren.

Death

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Benfield died of Stomach cancer on 10 March in 2009 at the age of 82 the day before his 83rd birthday.[8][9][10]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1959 Room at the Top Man in Bar Uncredited
1962 A Matter of Conscience Gerasimovich TV film
1964 House of Glass Sapper Maggs TV film
1965 Jury Room[11] Unknown
1969 Mosquito Squadron Airman Valet Uncredited
Crossplot Man in cafe
1975 I Don't Want to Be Born Police Inspector
Safety - Everyone's Business[11] Unknown
Safety in Shipbuilding[11]
1977 The Bia Safety Set: Safety - Hearing[11]
The Bia Safety Set: Safety - Seeing[11]
The Bia Safety Set: Safety - Dermatits[11]
Safety Hearing[11]
1978 Charlie and Julie[11] Uncle Charlie
1979 One Last Shock[11] Unknown
The Knowledge Football Driver TV film
1980 The Boy Who Never Was Inspector TV film
Any Fool Can Do It?[11] Unknown
AA - The Sign for Service[11]
1982 Remembrance Vincent's Farmer
1984 Arthur's Hallowed Ground Eric TV film
Slimming Down[11] Grandad
1985 Lifeforce Physician
1986 FMI: Service Reception Service[11] Unknown
1987 The Girl Janitor
Our Geoff Ronnie TV film
1995 Missing Persons[11] Unknown

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1955 Return to the Lost Planet Professor Bergman 3 episodes
1958 The Larkins Mr. Burlington Thrush Episode: "Angry Young Man"
1959 Third Barrister Episode: "Haul for One"
Great Expectations Landlord 1 episode
1960 Suspense Prison Doctor Episode: "Decision at Nine"
ITV Sunday Night Drama Graves Episode: "The Devil Makes Sunday"
Probation Officer George Cooper 1 episode
1961 Three Live Wires Higgenbottom All 26 episodes
Maigret Emile Episode: "Death of a Butcher"
1962 Harpers West One Cedric Gilbert 1 episode
Winning Widows Episode: "The Supermarket"
Faces of Jim Episode: "The Face of Tradition"
ITV Play of the Week Chancellor of the Exchequer Episode: "The Apple Cart"
1963 Dr. Kusmich Episode: "War and Peace"
Z-Cars Mr. Healey Episode: "It Never Rains..."
Crane Osman Episode: "The Cannabis Syndicate"
Drama 61-67 Taxi Driver Episode: "The Taxi's for Johnnie"
The Victorians Tubbs Episode: "The Silver King"
Marriage Lines Harold Episode: "The Threshold"
ITV Playhouse Barrett Episode: "They Don't Make Summers Like They Used To"
Sergeant Cork Mr. Spiller Episode: "The Case of the Fenian Men"
Coronation Street Jim Baker 3 episodes
1964 Dixon of Dock Green Mr. Stevens Episode: "All Sorts to Make a World"
Z-Cars Mr. Brooke Episode: "Whistle and Come Home"
McKinley Episode: "Finders Keepers"
Detective Dr. Hamm Episode: "The Drawing"
The Villains Harry Episode: "Contraband"
Happily Ever After 1 episode
The Protectors Betts Episode: "Who Killed Lazoryck?"
Catch Hand Baxter Episode: "It's Only Bricks and Mortar"
R3 Tom Collis 3 episodes
No Hiding Place Henry Mercer Episode: "Scaremonger"
1965 Prescott Episode: "Music for Murder"
Story Parade Mr. Laker Episode: "The Make-Believe Man"
Cluff Josh Tupman Episode: "The Brothers"
Riviera Police Voisin Episode: "That Kind of Girl"
Jury Room Mr. Blakiston Episode: "Traitor"
Theatre 625 Sergeant Byrom Episode: "The Siege of Manchester"
The Mask of Janus Andrew Parsons 3 episodes
1966 Dixon of Dock Green Mr. Delaney Episode: "The Heister"
Publican Episode: "Street of Fear"
The Baron The Scientist Episode: "The Persuaders"
The Likely Lads Cloakroom attendant Episode: "Brief Encounter"
Public Eye Carter Episode: "I Could Set It to Music"
The Troubleshooters Sloan Episode: "Four Cheers for Geoffrey"
Blackmail Cully Episode: "The Haunting of Aubrey Hopkiss"
Vendetta Police Sergeant Episode: "The Ice-Cream Man"
1967 Z-Cars Mr. Blacker Episode: "The Great Fur Robbery"
Dixon of Dock Green Jack Bowden Episode: "The Step-Brother"
The Newcomers Mr. Hutchinson 3 episodes
The Gamblers Fireman Episode: "The Man Beneath"
Coronation Street Walter Greenhalgh Recurring role
Softly, Softly Palmer Episode: "The Same the Whole World Over"
1968 Moxham Episode: "In Bulk"
Z-Cars Timmy Cater Episode: "Special Relationship"
The Revenue Men Fender Episode: "Sentimental Value"
The First Lady Mowbray Episode: "Cleverclogs"
Champion House Gerald Dobson Episode: "Breakout"
The Expert Harry Murdoch Episode: "Full Choke"
The Root of All Evil? Peter Whittaker Episode: "You Can Only Buy Once"
1969 Dixon of Dock Green Harry Fisher Episode: "The Jelly Man"
Plays of Today Purdon Episode: "Men of Iron"
Hadleigh Sergeant Moggs Episode: "Safety of the Realm"
Paul Temple Victor Burgess Episode: "Message from a Dead Man"
Out of the Unknown Tom Clarke Episode: "Immortality Inc"
1970 Oh, Brother! Episode: "The Laughter of a Fool"
Z-Cars Dicky Green Episode: "Cruising for Burglars"
The Borderers Herdsman Episode: "Hostage"
1970-1971 Timeslip Frank Skinner Series regular
1971 Z-Cars Thurley Episode: "Dan Dan..."
Dixon of Dock Green Quilter Episode: "Flashpoint"
Out of the Unknown Dr. Liam Moore Episode: "Welcome Home"
Thirty-Minute Theatre Bradford Episode: "Jenkins"
Doomwatch Arnold Payne Episode: "Public Enemy"
1972 Dr. Ridley Episode: "Flood"
Z-Cars Byrne Episode: "Sweet Girl"
Man at the Top Mr. Cunliffe Episode: "All Very Hush, Hush"
The Long Chase Fisherman 3 episodes
1972-1976 The Brothers Bill Riley Series regular, 89 episodes
1973 The Flaxton Boys Sergeant Brophy 3 episodes
Armchair Theatre Cyril Episode: "The Death of Glory"
1975 Late Call Voice #2 Mini-series
Dixon of Dock Green Skinner Episode: "Chain of Events"
1976 Hunter's Walk Bert Brown Episode: "Say Nothing"
1978 Armchair Thriller Mr. Cooper Episode: "The Girl Who Walked Quickly"
Z-Cars Detective Superintendent Ramsden Episode: "Departures"
1978-1980 Rumpole of the Bailey Albert Handyside Recurring role, 4 episodes
1979 Thundercloud Beattie Episode: "Carry on Number One"
1980 Breakaway Leo Corby 3 episodes
Minder Brown Episode: "A Lot of Bull and a Pat on the Back"
In Loving Memory Alfred Pardoe Episode: "The Outing"
1981 Hi-de-Hi! Rose's Dad Episode: "Desire in the Mickey Mouse Grotto"
Crown Court Alfred Warrington Episode: "Leonora"
Wilfred and Eileen Mr. Clough 1 episode
1982 A Kind of Loving Franklyn Mini-series
Shine on Harvey Moon Chairman 2 episodes
Yes Minister Aston Wanderers Board Member Episode: "The Middle-Class Rip-Off"
1983 Hallelujah! Arthur Walton Episode: "Poor Box"
1984 Andrew Gibson Episode: "Rock Bottom"
Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense Undertaker Episode: "The Late Nancy Irving"
The Gentle Touch Mr. Devis Episode: "Wise Child"
Remington Steele Hector Tolouse Episode: "Maltese Steele"
Juliet Bravo Mr. Darcy Episode: "Workforce"
1985 Travellers by Night Man in the forest Mini-series
The New Statesman Mr. Walmsley 1 episode
1986 Casualty Mr. Davies Episode: "Crazies"
1987 Worlds Beyond Dr. Meredith Episode: "The Black Thumb"
Intimate Contact Edgar 3 episodes
1988 Gentlemen and Players Harry Griffen Episode: "One for Sorrow, Two for Joy"
Help! Mr. Kinnell Episode: "We Are Sailing"
1988-1989 First of the Summer Wine Mr. Scrimshaw Series regular, 13 episodes
1989 Only Fools and Horses Registrar Episode: "Little Problems"
That's Love Brian 1 episode
1990 Agatha Christie's Poirot Dr. Adams Episode: "The Cornish Mystery"
Making News Philip Baxter Episode: "Conspiracy"
Casualty Eric Hogarth Episode: "Street Life"
1992 Lovejoy Don Episode: "Angel Trousers"
The Brittas Empire Mr. Franklin Episode: "New Generations"
Screen One Man on Bus Episode: "Trust Me"
1993 Mulberry Alf Episode: "A Musical Evening"
1994 The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries Alfred Belt Episode: "Hand in Glove"
Men of the World Mr. Buxton Episode: "Lost in France"
1996 Peak Practice Fred Hargrave Episode: "Whipping Boy"
1996-1998 Hetty Wainthropp Investigates Robert Wainthropp Series regular, 23 episodes
1997 Frighteners Jack Hammond Episode: "Rose Cottage"
2001 Hearts and Bones Mike Piper 1 episode
2005 Doctor Who: The Monthly Adventures[11] John Hallam (voice)

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Derek Benfield". www.doollee.com. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Taunton Thespians Present Derek Benfield's Laugh Out Loud Comedy "Flying Feathers" - Taunton - 2023". 28 February 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  3. ^ "Don't Lose the Place!". Stageplays.com. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  4. ^ Books, Better World. "Anyone for Breakfast? book by Derek Benfield: 9780573017155". Better World Books. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  5. ^ "Thame Players' Ointment is the Best Prescription for Laughter! |". Thame Hub. 24 August 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  6. ^ Benfield, Derek (2000). Second Time Around: A Comedy. Samuel French. ISBN 9780573018879.
  7. ^ Books, Better World. "Over My Dead Body : A Comedy book by Derek Benfield: 9780573115998". Better World Books. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  8. ^ "BENFIELD - Deaths Announcements - Telegraph Announcements". Announcements.telegraph.co.uk. 10 March 2009. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  9. ^ "Obituary: Derek Benfield". The Guardian. 1 April 2009. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  10. ^ "Derek Benfield". The Herald. 9 April 2009.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Collections Search - Derek Benfield". 23 October 2020.
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