Peter Benson

Peter Benson played the funeral director Bernie Scripps in most of the 18 series of Heartbeat (1992), from 1995 to 2009, a role perhaps which he is most likely to be remembered for. His character also ran a garage in the fictional town of Aidensfield and often got involved in disastrous money-making schemes with Claude Greengrass (Bill Maynard) and half-brother Vernon Scripps (Geoffrey Hughes). Benson also appeared in BBC comedy Blackadder (1982) as Henry VII, ITV's 1980s soap opera Albion Market (1985) and in two episodes of hospital drama Casualty (1986). Benson was a highly skilled singer and dancer and an accomplished theatre actor. He and Maynard starred on stage together in a production of Trinity Tales in the late 70s. He portrayed Henry VI in a BBC television adaptation of Shakespeare's play in 1983.