Peter Armitage

Peter Armitage (1940-2018) was a distinguished British actor, widely recognized for his portrayal of Bill Webster, the father of Kevin, on the iconic soap opera Coronation Street. He first stepped into this role in 1984 and returned for two additional stints from 1995 to 1997 and later from 2006 to 2011. Beyond his notable tenure on Coronation Street, Armitage gained fame through a memorable 1980s Yellow Pages advertisement where he played a father purchasing a bicycle.

His acting career began in 1970, leading to a varied portfolio of television credits. He appeared in Ken Loach's poignant drama Days of Hope, Alan Bleasdale's GBH, and Jimmy McGovern's acclaimed productions Hearts and Minds and Dockers. In Russell T Davies' The Second Coming, he had the compelling role of the father to Christopher Eccleston's modern interpretation of Christ.

Armitage's film work includes a role in the 2001 comedy The Parole Officer starring Steve Coogan, and he portrayed Sergeant Kerby alongside the legendary Michael Caine in the 1988 film Jack the Ripper. Additionally, he played David Jason's older brother in the beloved sitcom Lucky Feller during the 1970s.

Throughout his extensive career, he made guest appearances in a variety of popular series such as The Sweeney, Casualty, and The Bill, with his final television appearance occurring in an episode of Doctors in 2013.