Jim Bywater

Jim Bywater was a British actor and musician perhaps best known for the role of Wilf Starkey in Coronation Street. In the 1970s and 80s, Bywater was a member of Belt and Braces, Gavin Richards' leftwing political theatre company, and of the Belt and Braces Roadshow Band which released music in the decade. In 1976 Bywater met his wife, the actress and broadcaster Jeni Barnett whilst starring together in a Belt and Braces production. On 16th June 2026, Barnett posted a blog entry announcing Bywater's recent death at the age of 82 following a long illness.

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  Dalziel and Pascoe

  Sylvester Herne

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  The Hollow Crown

  Hotspur's Servant

• Ready When You Are, Mr McGill

  Geoff

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  Driving Ambition

  Music

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  The Accidental Death of an Anarchist

  Inspector Pissani

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  The Luddites

  William Cartwright

• 2012The Hollow CrownHotspur's Servant
• 1996Dalziel and PascoeSylvester Herne
• 1988The LudditesWilliam Cartwright
• 1984Driving AmbitionMusic
• 1983The Accidental Death of an AnarchistInspector Pissani
• 1976Ready When You Are, Mr McGillGeoff