William Roache

2022 - 4 - 19

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Image courtesy of "Leicestershire Live"

Coronation Street's William Roache has 'no intention' of retiring as ... (Leicestershire Live)

Actor appeared in the very first episode of the iconic ITV soap.

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Image courtesy of "WalesOnline"

Bill Roache at 90: The Coronation Street legend's life in pictures (WalesOnline)

As the legendary actor turns 90, we look back at the life of William Roache who has been on our screens as part of Coronation Street since it began in 1960.

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Image courtesy of "Daily Express"

William Roache's affection for Corrie co-star Joanna Lumley unearthed (Daily Express)

WILLIAM ROACHE's affection for former Coronation Street co-star Joanna Lumley remained unclear after the actor refused to be pushed on whether they were ...

He added: "She told me that she used to dream about me and I laughed and said don’t you mean nightmares? Tonight, ITV airs Happy Birthday Bill, to mark Roache's 90th birthday and his record-breaking stint on the much loved soap opera. "She had everything. And then she told me that she had a crush on me, but she never told me at the time! She elevated things. "But they had other plans for the hero of The Street and I was just a distraction for a mad month of his life."

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Image courtesy of "ITV News"

Coronation Street star William Roache has no plans to retire as he ... (ITV News)

Coronation Street actor William Roache has said he has "no intention of retiring" as he prepares to celebrate his 90th birthday. | ITV News Granada.

If you enjoy doing something, keep doing it." I am so fortunate to work for an organisation that is happy to have me." But you don't have to buy into that belief. It was beautiful to see her again, to me she looks no different. He said: "People will say when are you retiring? Are you going to take a break?

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Image courtesy of "Manchester Evening News"

ITV Coronation Street and Happy Birthday Bill: Real life of Ken ... (Manchester Evening News)

Bill is the world's longest-serving television actor and his 90th birthday is around the corner.

Viewers will also get a glimpse of Bill's North West home, featuring a collection of royal memorabilia and family mementoes, which he was sharing with his "perfect" son and daughter. "It's such a lovely group of people of all ages from five to me at 90," he said. Years later, Sara suddenly died aged 58 in 2008 - and his daughter, Vanya, died from a liver condition 10 years later in 2018 at the age of 50. He says in the one-off documentary that he takes part in a weekly exercise class with school games like Tag Zombie and star jumps. He previously told the Mirror : "To not be able to say goodbye to Vanya was awful. But I take some comfort in now knowing she is in a better place and at peace. I had the opportunity, I indulged it and I can tell you this: it’s not worth it. I didn’t have the strength to control it. Bill also once revealed that he had an affair with Corrie co-star, Pat Phoenix, who played Elsie Tanner on the much-loved soap. But what I did find out is it does not bring you happiness and it is not the way to be. And Bill has a major milestone just around the corner. Ken is known for his illustrious love life on-screen and Bill has experienced both love and loss in real life.

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Image courtesy of "Liverpool Echo"

Happy Birthday Bill viewers issue same demand for William Roache (Liverpool Echo)

Ken Barlow icon William Roache will turn 90 next week and viewers of a special programme dedicated to his career on Tuesday have issued the same demand.

Fellow Corrie stars appeared on the show to praise their co-star. He has been a mainstay on the Cobbles ever since and holds the Guinness World Record for the longest serving television star in a continuous role. William has played Ken Barlow on Coronation Street since the very first episode of the ITV show in 1960.

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Image courtesy of "Hull Daily Mail"

Happy Birthday Bill: The life of longest running Corrie star William ... (Hull Daily Mail)

Soap legend William Roache has been playing Ken Barlow in the iconic Coronation Street since it began in 1960. Six decades later, William is celebrating his ...

Now, he has progressed to a career in film, appearing in the 2005 hit, Batman Begins. The documentary will explore his real-life relationships such as his marriage to actress, Anne Cropper in 1961. Both of them have also appeared in Coronation Street.

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Image courtesy of "Daily Express"

'Cultural shock' Coronation Street's Bill Roache recalls childhood ... (Daily Express)

CORONATION STREET legend Bill Roache, who plays Ken Barlow in the ITV soap, has candidly spoken out on the difficulties he experienced at boarding school.

During the programme, Bill opened up about moving away from his family home to attend a boarding school in North Wales. Bill Roache, who has portrayed Ken Barlow in Coronation Street for more than 60 years, is about to celebrate his 90th birthday. As a child, Bill attended a school that was set up by his grandfather who was a physician, but his life changed substantially when he was sent away to boarding school in North Wales.

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Image courtesy of "Mirror.co.uk"

Corrie's Bill Roache reveals he 'really fancies' the Queen after ... (Mirror.co.uk)

Coronation Street legend Bill Roache says he has fancied the Queen since he first met her in his younger years during his time in the Army.

I am so fortunate to work for an organisation that is happy to have me." The actor said: "People will say when are you retiring? Are you going to take a break?

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Image courtesy of "Accrington Observer"

Corrie legend William Roache shares how the ITV soap was almost ... (Accrington Observer)

Created by scriptwriter Tony Warren with Granada Television and shown on ITV, Tony's first proposal of the soap was initially rejected. That was until the ...

That’s the sad thing, the collective consciousness of humanity says you live to 70 and start to deteriorate towards the end". You know, people ask me if the younger ones ask me for advice and I say no, they’re all so good and confident that I feel I should ask them. The soap legend was also quizzed on whether he plans to retire. Discussing the soap, having been of its original characters making him the longest-serving actor in a television soap opera, Bill revealed: "It was called Florizel Street when we started rehearsing and everything. The ITV soap has been a family favourite in many households for 60 years and was recently visited by the Queen to mark its delayed anniversary. Created by scriptwriter Tony Warren with Granada Television and shown on ITV, Tony's first proposal of the soap was initially rejected.

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Image courtesy of "Metro"

Coronation Street legend William Roache 'really fancied' the Queen (Metro)

Speaking about the Queen on his documentary Happy Birthday Bill, the soap legend admitted he found Her Majesty 'very attractive'.

In the documentary Bill was shown a picture of a party he attended, where the Queen was also present. More recently, Her Majesty met Bill and co-stars including Barbara Knox (Rita Tanner), Sue Nicholls (Audrey Roberts) and Helen Worth (Gail Platt) when she visited the Coronation Street set. ‘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,’ he says.

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Image courtesy of "Entertainment Daily"

Coronation Street legend William Roache makes shock admission ... (Entertainment Daily)

Coronation Street legend William Roache has made a shock admission that he fancies the Queen in his new documentary to celebrate turning 90.

The pain that it caused, and there’s all sorts of dangers.” Speaking to The Mirror in 2019, the actor said: “Looking back, I didn’t know any better. I am so fortunate to work for an organisation that is happy to have me.”

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