Geoffrey Hinsliff

Geoffrey Hinsliff (born 1937 in Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire) is an English actor best known for his portrayal of Don Brennan in Coronation Street from 1987 to 1997. He had previously played other characters in the same programme, in 1963 and 1977.

Age 16 he appeared with the Leeds Service of Youth Players in a production of Outward Bound by Sutton Vane at the Civic Theatre in Leeds in November 1954.

He trained at RADA, before making his television debut in an episode of Z-Cars. He went on to appear in Adam Adamant Lives!, Dixon of Dock Green, UFO, Crown Court, The Professionals and Heartbeat, and also played a wireless operator in the film A Bridge Too Far.

In 1978 Hinsliff appeared as a sergeant in an episode of the hard-hitting British police drama The Professionals, the episode entitled When the Heat Cools Off.

In 1979 he took the role of Doctor Astrov in Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya at Leeds Playhouse directed by Michael Attenborough.

He also had a role in the comedy-drama Brass and appeared in two Doctor Who stories: Image of the Fendahl and Nightmare of Eden. He guest-starred in Holby City as an alcoholic in 2010.

He married Judith Seal on 2 September 1967 in St Cecilia’s Church, Little Hadham.[10] His daughter is the political journalist Gaby Hinsliff.

He lives in Winster in the Derbyshire Dales.