William Roache Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

Ken Barlow is set to find himself reunited with another former flame as Coronation Street announced the return of Stephanie Beacham. The actress will reprise her role of Martha Frazer in the ITV soap next month, it was revealed on Thursday (October 10).

Coronation Street fans have been left issuing a demand as Absolutely Fabulous star Helen Lederer made her first-ever appearance in the ITV soap. It was announced earlier this month that the actress would be making a one-off appearance in the long-running show.

Coronation Street fans couldn't contain their excitement during Wednesday (27 March) night's visit to the cobbles when Absolutely Fabulous star Helen Lederer made the soap debut as a potential new love interest for Ken Barlow. In the latest episode, Ken was trying to help his son in law Steve McDonald start dating again after his breakup with Tracy Barlow.

Comedian and actress Helen Lederer, known for her role in Absolutely Fabulous, is about to appear on Coronation Street. Helen joins the cast as Elspeth who catches the eye of Ken Barlow, played by William Roache. In the episode to air on Wednesday 27 March, Ken spots Elspeth during a singles cocktail night at the Chariot Square Hotel.

Helen Lederer has revealed more about her guest stint in Coronation Street after it was revealed she'll be joining the iconic programme. The actress and comedian will make an appearance in the ITV soap later this month as her chracter catches the eye of Ken Barlow.

Coronation Street star William Roache has been given a deadline to settle his tax debt, the High Court has heard, after it was revealed he was facing bankruptcy after HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) filed a petition against him.

Latest Coronation Street spoilers reveal trouble ahead for the Platts as Harvey Gaskell (Will Mellor) enacts his revenge after betrayal by Adam Barlow (Sam Robertson). Having signed his divorce papers to Sarah Platt (Tina O’Brien), Adam decides to stop working on Harvey's appeal and sends CCTV footage of Natasha Blakeman’s (Rachel Leskovac) murder directly to the police. It’s not long before Harvey calls Adam aware the police have damning evidence and tells Adam to watch his back.

Bill Roache has played Ken Barlow on Coronation Street since 1960 and reportedly earns more than £250,000 per year from his role, making him one of the highest paid stars on the show.The 91 year old also thought to be the highest-paid member of the cast. From his bankruptcy battle to his co-star sons, let's take a look at the veteran actor's life off screen... Corrie star sons Bill's real-life sons have also acted alongside him on the soap, adding a personal touch to his career.

Coronation Street bosses have thrown their support behind longest-serving Weatherfield legend Bill Roache, who plays Ken Barlow on the ITV soap. Bill, now 91, was reportedly forced to file "for bankruptcy" due to his financial situation. The reports come as a result of a petition he has now had launched against him by HMRC.

Coronation Street viewers have seen several different incarnations of Peter Barlow over the years. And the current actor who plays him, Chris Gascoygne, has been a firm fixture for over two decades. However, Peter is set to bid a heartbreaking farewell to the Cobbles in sad scenes that will air over the festive period.

It's almost impossible to think of a TV show has been going for over 60-years, like Coronation Street. The longest running soap in the world, it first blipped onto our black and white TV screens in 1960.

Coronation Street fans are speculating that Asha Alahan might be starting a surprise affair. Asha, who has been dating Nina Lucas (Mollie Gallagher) for the past two years, seems to be getting quite close to newcomer Isla, leading fans to predict some heartbreak and drama for the couple. Asha (Tanisha Gorey) has recently started training as a paramedic and is being mentored by her experienced colleague, Isla.

She first appeared in Coronation Street as an exotic dancer called Rita Littlewood in 1964, but actress Barbara Knox made such an impression that bosses never forgot her. In 1972, Barbara was asked back and she begged Ken Dodd to release her early from his show. He kindly did and today Barbara is the longest- serving female TV soap actor in the world.To celebrate Barbara’s 90th birthday, ITV1 is paying tribute to its flame-haired star by telling her tale with tributes from her friends and colleagues.

Some actors arrive in a TV show and never seem to leave. Actors like EastEnders' Adam Woodyatt (Ian Beale), plus Coronation Street's William Roache (Ken Barlow) and Neighbours' Stefan Dennis (Paul Robinson). Others come and go but definitely make their mark, such as Casualty's Jonathan Kerrigan, who played the BBC medical drama's bleach blond-haired nurse Sam Colloby in the late 1990s.

It may be hard to believe but soon Helen Worth will be celebrating 50 years on the cobbles. The actress joined Coronation Street in 1974 as Gail Platt, 14 years after the ITV soap first hit screens.

Coronation Street viewers were left in disbelief over Ken Barlow star Bill Roache's age on Monday's Lorraine as they refused to believe he is 91 thanks to his youthful looks.The actor, who was born in 1932 and has been on the cobbles since Corrie's first-ever episode in 1960, appeared on the ITV chat show to reveal he had gone skydiving for the first time in his life and he shared his experience with fans at home. In the pre-recorded feature, it showed a delighted Bill skydiving with an instructor before releasing the parachute and landing in a field.

Sir Ian McKellen almost appeared on Emmerdale, but unfortunately, Coronation Street’s creator prevented the casting. While appearing on This Morning, Sir Ian, 84, spoke about his master plan to appear in every soap playing the same character. The idea began to formulate when he appeared in ten episodes of Coronation Street in 2005 as con artist Lionel Hipkiss who pretended to be an author called Mel Hutchwright.

Jack P Shepherd has been on Coronation Street for more than 20 years - but it wasn't until this weekend that he had a taste of his 'dream' job. The actor, who plays David Platt in the ITV soap, enjoyed a bit of work away from the cobbles.

Coronation Street star Jack P Shepherd has jokingly shared his annoyance after his long-time co-star William Roache, also known as Bill, dropped a huge clanger during their recent set interaction.

The Coliseum is the last surviving professional, producing theatre in Oldham. It’s been in the town for over 100 years, survived two World Wars and a global pandemic, but at the end of March it will be forced to lower the curtain for the final time after losing its entire Arts Council England (ACE) funding.

Peter Kay is angry with late paedophile presenter Jimmy Savile for destroying the legacy of his music video for '(Is This The Way To) Amarillo'. The stand-up comic teamed up with singer Tony Christie in 2005 to release a version of the 1971 track - which had featured in Kay's Channel 4 sitcom 'Phoenix Nights' in 2002 - to raise money for charity Comic Relief. The video featured Kay and a host of other beloved British celebrities miming along to the lyrics and walking and dancing, these included 'Coronation Street' actor William Roache, his late 'Corrie' co-star Anne Kirkbride, late 'Bullseye' host Jim Bowen, Sir Cliff Richard, talk show host Sir Michael Parkinson, late comedy great Ronnie Corbett and more.

Coronation Street actor Bill Roache has said the Queen made you feel like you were “the only person in her life” as he reflected on his encounters with her over the years.The 90-year-old, who is best known for playing Ken Barlow in the ITV soap, recalled meeting the late monarch personally and during her two visits to the cobbles of Weatherfield while appearing on a special episode of This Morning on Monday. Bill was among one of the veteran cast members who greeted the head of state when she visited in 1982 to open the show’s new set and more recently in 2021 as the soap celebrated its 60th year on screens.

From Coronation Street to Line of Duty, the late Queen Elizabeth was a fan of popular TV shows like the rest of us – and even allegedly watched several episodes of Netflix's The Crown. Her Majesty apparently thoroughly enjoyed smash-hit police drama Line of Duty, which she reportedly devoured while isolated at Windsor Castle during the lockdown while grieving the death of her husband Prince Philip as well as the family rift from Harry and Meghan's explosive Oprah Winfrey interview in 2021.The late sovereign, who sadly passed away on Thursday, 8 September aged 96, was partial to arranged weekend screenings of The Crown, a "senior royal source" said in 2017.

The Queen last visited Greater Manchester just over 12 months ago - including a special visit to one of the region's most iconic institutions.

Coronation Street saw a former couple reunited during Monday night's episode (August 1) as Wendy Papadapoulos, nee Crozier, enjoyed a dinner date with her old flame Ken Barlow. Wendy, a former Weatherfield Council secretary, famously had an affair with Ken Barlow in 1989 leading him to divorce from his late wife Deirdre.

Coronation Street's Harriet Bibby, Elle Mulvaney, Jack James Ryan and James Craven seemed to be closer than ever as they partied at the soap's summer bash. Earlier this week, the cast and crew on the ITV programme were out in force for the annual do.

Coronation Street's Antony Cotton may not have expected to protect Nicole Scherzinger as he took part in a special event over the weekend. The actor, best known for playing Sean Tully in the ITV soap, was among the famous faces joining the Platinum Pageant on Sunday (June 5) to mark the Queen's jubilee.

Coronation Street icon Bill Roache has celebrated his 90th birthday today. Bill is renowned for being the longest-running soap actor, playing Ken Barlow on the ITV show since it first began in December 1960. In order to mark the impressive milestone, his family have released new portraits of the 90 year old taken by his son Will at their family home in Cheshire.

Coronation Street has been flooded with messages about its legendary star as he marks his 90th birthday. William Roache, who has played Barlow patriarch Ken since the very first episode of the ITV soap, is celebrating the big milestone on Monday (April 25).

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 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.

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.

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.

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