Paul Middleton Dawkins (born 5th December 1918 in Long Ashton, Somerset; died 26th June 1979 in Westminster, London) appeared on Coronation Street between September and October 1963 as George Pickup, brother of Victoria Street tenant Ethel Tyson.
He also appeared in a starring role as Ernest Parbold in the first season of Street spin-off Pardon the Expression. His role in the programme was curtailed by a serious car crash after the first series and he was replaced by Robert Dorning as Wally Hunt.
He began in repertory theatre and then had a run with the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre. Success on the stage dried out in the mid-1950s when television became popular during which time he "rested" with various occupations such as salesman, solicitor's clerk and a milkman while directing amateur productions and lecturing for the arts council. After work as an extra, he found renewed success in 1962.
His other on-screen credits include the semi-regular role of Matthew Kimbler in Crossroads during 1968,along with smaller parts in No Hiding Place, The Avengers, The Plane Makers, Z Cars, Emergency-Ward 10, Public Eye, Ace of Wands and People Like Us.
On stage, he appeared in RSC productions of The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Nil Carborundum, Afore Night Come, Troilus and Cressida, The Devils, Curtmantle, The Jew of Malta and The Merry Wives of Windsor. Other works include Elusive Straw Hat, Viceroy Sarah, Northanger Abbey, Jupiter Laughs, The Changing Room, Brassneck, Plunder, The Rainmaker and A Man for All Seasons.