By Chris King • Updated: 02 Jun 2022 • 4:56
Coronation Street legend, the 89-year-old Bill Roache, has played the character of Ken Barlow on the long-running soap since its inception back in 1960. Now, it has been reported by the Daily Star that bosses at ITV are hoping to extend the popular actor’s contract by another twelve months.
Next April, Bill will celebrate his 90th birthday, and it is rumoured that there are plans to write a major storyline into the show to mark this milestone. In the soap, Ken Barlow is actually 82-years-old.
As an inside source told the publication, “Bill is a huge part of Coronation Street and they know how much the fans adore him. They love the idea of marking his 90th birthday with a great storyline. Bill may be pushing 90 but he still has the energy, passion, and talent that make him soap’s greatest-ever actor”.
The veteran actor holds the record for the longest-ever run on any television drama. One of his few breaks came when he contracted coronavirus earlier this year. Bill has never been shy to voice his desire to never retire from the role in the popular award-winning soap, as reported by thesun.co.uk.
Keep ma'am and Corrie on: Coronation Street's Bill Roache hails the Queen for "carrying on" during the pandemic as she visits cast and crew at on the set at the Rovers Return today. pic.twitter.com/DJnqL7vpz8 — Matt Wilkinson (@MattSunRoyal) July 8, 2021
Keep ma'am and Corrie on: Coronation Street's Bill Roache hails the Queen for "carrying on" during the pandemic as she visits cast and crew at on the set at the Rovers Return today. pic.twitter.com/DJnqL7vpz8
— Matt Wilkinson (@MattSunRoyal) July 8, 2021
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Originally from Wales, Chris spent years on the Costa del Sol before moving to the Algarve where he is a web reporter for The Euro Weekly News covering international and Spanish national news. Got a news story you want to share? Then get in touch at editorial@euroweeklynews.com
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