Ken Barlow: Last News

Coronation Street icon William Roache turns 90 years old today (April 25). The actor is best known for playing Ken Barlow in the ITV soap opera since it was first broadcast on December 9 1960.He's listed in the Guinness World Records as the longest-serving television star in a continuous role.Bill has been married twice and has had five children, two of them have tragically passed away.He married TV and stage actress Anna Cropper in 1961 but the pair parted divorce in 1974.

Coronation Street star Bill Roache, who plays Ken Barlow, appeared on This Morning and admitted that he has a crush on the Queen whilst fans were shocked at his youthful appearance.The veteran soap actor will turn 90 on 25 April and has played Ken Barlow since the ITV programme kicked off back in 1960. ITV aired a documentary ahead of his monumental birthday titled Happy Birthday Bill, which included Bill himself as he discussed his personal life, career and achievements throughout the six decades he has been on the cobbled streets.Fellow Corrie legend Anne Reid, who played Ken’s first wife Valerie, also appeared in the documentary.

Coronation Street's William Roache - known as Bill - was welcomed onto the This Morning sofa to talk to Phil and Holly about his new book, Life and Soul, and upcoming 90th birthday next Monday. And the soap icon - who has played Weatherfield icon Ken Barlow since the show’s very first episode in December 1960 admitted that despite romances with dozens of women as the bookish on-screen lothario, it’s the Queen he has a crush on in real life, dating back to a meeting in 1953. After discussing his life, work and ways he stays young in outlook as his milestone birthday approaches, Holly Willoughby turned the conversation round to the Queen, who celebrated her 96th birthday this week.

His upcoming big birthday may have been widely publicised on ITV this week but William Roache's youthful appearance is still continuing to stun fans. The Coronation Street actor is just days away from marking his 90th birthday, on April 25.

Coronation Street fans were left in awe on Monday as the ITV soap shared a picture of Bill Roache's "incredible" 90th cake.Taking to Instagram, the ITV soap shared a picture of the Ken Barlow star, whose birthday is on 25 April, posing with his birthday cake, which is a replica of his character on the famous cobbles.The cake sees a fondant version of Ken Barlow sitting outside the Rovers Return Inn complete with the cobbles and a Coronation Street sign. Corrie penned alongside the snap: "Bill turns 90! Join us tonight for a special documentary celebrating the 90th birthday of the man behind Ken Barlow.

Coronation Street fans were left making the same demand after watching one of the show's biggest star's life and career celebrated. Happy Birthday Bill aired on ITV on Tuesday night and paid homage to William Roache ahead of his 90th birthday.

Coronation Street actor Bill Roache has admitted he “really fancied” the Queen when he met her.The star, who is best known for playing Ken Barlow in the soap, also shared how he had gone on to meet the royal eight times over the years. Bill, who is set to turn 90 next week, first met the Queen, 95, during his younger years in the army, before his rise to fame in the ITV series.Speaking about their first encounter in a TV documentary, the actor said: “I’ve met the Queen eight times.”“I first met her when I was 21 and I was in the Army and we had the day with her which was very nice.“I really fancied her! I don’t know if that’s heresy but she was very attractive.”The soap actor spilled all about meeting the Queen in his new ITV documentary, Happy Birthday Bill, which celebrates his ninth decade around the sun. Bill, who will celebrate his birthday on April 25, also has “no intention of retiring”. He explained: “People will say when are you retiring? Are you going to take a break? But then what happens?“Whilst I can do it, and whilst they will have me, I have no intention of retiring. “I am so fortunate to work for an organisation that is happy to have me.”Bill has been a part of Corrie since the series first aired in 1960.His character Ken was involved in some major storylines a couple of years ago when the show celebrated an impressive 60 years of being on our screens. Heartbreaker Ken has notably been married three times, even reuniting with first on-screen wife Valerie Tatlock (Anne Reid) 50 years later, and well after she had left the show. Incredibly, Bill is in the Guinness World Records as the longest-serving television star in a continuous role.A young Bill joined the British Army and was commissioned into the

William "Bill" Roache admitted he "fancied" the Queen and grew fonder and fonder of the 95 year old monarch every time he met her. The Coronation Street actor, who celebrates his 90th birthday this month and was named in the New Year's Honours list, has met Her Majesty an incredible eight times. And from their very first meeting, the Ken Barlow icon was attracted to her.

Coronation Street legend Bill Roache has revealed he "fancied" the Queen when he met her. The soap stalwart has met the monarch eight times over the years and admitted he took rather a shine to her.According to The Sun, he spoke out in Happy Birthday Bill, a new documentary celebrating the actor as he prepares to turn 90.

Coronation Street fans have predicted that Joanna Lumley could return to the cobbles - as a love interest for Ken Barlow. The Ab Fab star actually did a stint in Weatherfield back in the early 70s and her character Elaine was a love interest for Ken (Bill Roache).Joanna popped up in Happy Birthday Bill, ITV's documentary celebrating the actor and his career as he prepares to turn 90.And now fans think she could follow it up with a return to the soap - even considering her incredible Hollywood roots."Wouldn't it be fab if Joanna Lumley came back into #Corrie as Ken's old flame," one person poster on Twitter."Just need Joanna Lumley to return to the Street now...

Coronation Street legend William Roache has reunited with his former on-screen wife as part of a documentary to mark his 90th birthday.The actor has played Weatherfield resident Ken Barlow since the first-ever episode in 1960.Happy Birthday Bill, which airs on ITV tonight (April 19), celebrates Bill reaching the milestone birthday and his record-breaking time on the cobbles.During the show, the soap veteran is reunited with Anne Reid more than 50 years after her exit from Corrie.Anne played Ken’s first wife Valerie, who died after being electrocuted by a faulty hairdryer in 1971.Opening about the highlight of making the documentary, Bill said: "Without a doubt meeting up with Anne Reid again after all those years. "She played my wife in Coronation Street for eight years and I was very sad when she chose to leave.

It's been a staple on the small screen for more than 60 years and was recently visited by the Queen to mark its delayed anniversary but not many will know that Coronation Street almost wasn't called Coronation Street. The ITV soap was first broadcast on December 9, 1960.

He holds the Guinness World Record for being the longest-running TV soap star but does Coronation Street legend William Roache plan to retire any time soon? We wouldn't put any bets on it.

Coronation Street is renowned for its long-standing characters - from Ken Barlow to Rita Tanner. But over the past year, some fresh-faced stars have taken to the cobbles in some of the ITV soap's most hard-hitting storylines to date.

He's just days away from celebrating a huge milestone and in celebration, Bill Roache has been reunited with his first on-screen wife. The Coronation Street legend is set to have a programme dedicated to him on Tuesday (April 19) ahead of his 90th birthday on April 25.

What is happening where you live? Find out by adding your postcode or visit InYourAreaSadly, the pair no longer work together. Rula's Weatherfield character, Claudia Colby, last appeared on the cobbles following her break-up with Ken Barlow, played by William Roache, aside from a guest cameo last year."It was sad when her character wasn't taken forward because most of the cast on Coronation Street have their own lives and their kids are in school, so you spend a lot of time on your own when you're there," says Maureen. Her partner of 13 years, Guido Castro, died in January last year after contracting Covid.

Emmerdale star Dominic Brunt must have broken some kind of record as after 25 years working on the ITV soap he's had to call in sick for the first time. Viewers best know the actor for playing Paddy Kirk in the ITV soap, making his debut in the role back in February 1997 when his character was brought in as a locum for Zoe Tate at the veterinary surgery.

Coronation Street viewers were left emotional after they spotted what they thought was a touching tribute to Ukraine on the ITV soap. On Monday night, ITV viewers saw Elle Mulvaney's character Amy Barlow trying to convince her grandfather Ken Barlow (William Roache) to give her the inheritance that her late grandmother, Deidre (Anne Kirkbride) left her before she passed away.

The newest Dragon to appear in the famous Den, Steven Bartlett, was caught off guard last night when he heard himself being mentioned by Coronation Street characters Shona Platt (Julia Goulding) and Amy Barlow (Elle Mulvaney). The social media businessman, 29, posted a clip of the Monday 21 March's episode on Twitter with the caption, "Ummm excuse me what ????", as he saw the Weatherfield residents refer to him as the same title of his book, "a happy sexy millionaire".

Steven Bartlett probably wasn't expecting a shout-out on Coronation Street but he certainly got one anyway.

Coronation Street's Adam Barlow (Sam Robertson) is left seriously injured in upcoming scenes following a showdown with Lydia Chambers (Rebecca Ryan).When Sarah Barlow (Tina O'Brien) invites Adam to Harry’s birthday party he reckons she’s thawing.But his good mood is short-lived when Sarah announces she’s filed for divorce.With Sarah distracted, Adam texts Lydia from her phone.Meeting Lydia in a coffee shop, he presses record on his phone but Lydia sees through him and snatching his phone, presses delete.Asserting he’s had enough of her games, Adam tries to wrestle his phone back, but as Lydia lets go, the phone smashes to the floor.Lydia rails at Adam for his treatment of her all those years ago.Adam feels a pang of guilt but when he suggests it’s time she told Sarah the truth, Lydia’s seething, realising it’s still the same old Adam and all he cares about is himself.As Daniel Osbourne (Rob Mallard) scours the shopping centre for Adam, having heard from Sarah he’s gone to meet Lydia, he hears a noise from the balcony.In a rage, Lydia slaps Adam and gives him an almighty shove.As Adam topples backwards over the railings, Lydia watches with horror.The doctor tells Ken Barlow (Bill Roache) and Daniel that Adam has suffered a bleed behind the eye and needs an operation to save his sight.As they quiz Adam about his fall, suggesting Lydia’s to blame, Adam claims he doesn’t remember.Peter Barlow (Chris Gascoyne) breaks the news to Sarah who asserts Adam’s no longer her problem but Carla Connor (Alison King) urges Sarah to be there for him when he wakes up as she clearly still cares about him.