Richard Beckinsale (6th July 1947 - 19th March 1979) made his television debut on Coronation Street when he appeared as Constable Wilcox in April 1969. After training at adult drama classes in Nottingham, he gained a place at RADA, graduating in 1968. His first starring role, also for Granada Television, was in The Lovers which was created by Jack Rosenthal and co-written with Geoffrey Lancashire and ran from 1970 to 1971. He also made a small appearance in the John Finch-created series A Family at War in 1970.