Think about your own life. You might not know your actual neighbour’s middle name, but you know Don Brennan’s rickety cab. You remember his mischievous grin and the time he got into trouble with his investments. These characters become part of our daily rhythm, like the morning coffee or that squeaky floorboard you always step over.
Geoff Hinsliff first drove onto the cobbles in 1987 and stayed for a decade. That’s ten years of Wednesday nights, ten years of shared jokes and dramatic pauses. When an actor like that passes away, it’s like a chapter of your own life quietly closes. You might even pause to remember your favourite Don moment—was it when he lost his taxi or when he wore that ridiculous suit?
The Little Things That Stick With Us
What made Don Brennan so special wasn’t the big dramas. It was the small stuff: the way he’d huff and puff about fares, or how he always seemed to park his cab just wrong. In real life, we have those people too. The postman who always chats about the weather, the cashier who remembers your biscuit order. When they’re gone, it’s those small, warm habits you miss the most.
Geoff Hinsliff brought that same everyday magic to our screens. He made a taxi driver feel like someone you’d actually want to ride with—even if his car smelled faintly of old sandwiches. That’s a rare gift, and it’s why we’re all a little sad today. You don’t need to be a superfan to feel it; you just need to have sat on your sofa and felt the comfort of his presence.
ITV Coronation Street star who appeared in first episode and played
