Coronation Street’s Bill Roache, 92, reveals cobbles future as he’s handed award by co-star who ‘tried to kill him’
CORONATION Street legend Bill Roache addressed his future on the cobbles as he received a prestigious award.
The actor, 92, has played Ken Barlow since the ITV soap’s debut episode in 1960.
And now, the star has added another achievement to his already glittering career.
Bill received a Lifetime Achievement Award at The Entertainment Agents’ Awards (TEAA), held on Tuesday evening at the Athena Leicester.
This honour recognises individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the UK television industry.
He collected the gong from co-star Claire Sweeney, who has played Cassie Plummer since 2023.
Claire, 53, presented the award alongside singer Tony Christie, 81, Bill’s longtime friend.
Discussing the achievement, Bill told the Champions Speakers Agency: “It’s a huge honour to receive this award, and I am very grateful for it.
“I’ve enjoyed a wonderful career and to have spent so many years working on such a special programme like Coronation Street has been magical.
“I’ve been fortunate to work with some absolutely incredible actors over that period and made a lifetime of memories.
“I’m looking forward to being in the programme for many more years to come.
At the beginning of Corrie, the Barlow family featured Ken, his parents Frank and Ida, as well as brother David.
But by 1968, Ken was the only one still appearing on a regular basis.
The character has been married to three women – while he tied the knot with Deirdre (Anne Kirkbride) twice.
In recent scenes, viewers were left horrified as Cassie – who is Tyrone Dobbs’ biological mother – drugged Ken over an extended period.
The troubled recovering addict befriended Ken after a fall and persuaded him to hire her as a carer.
Showering her castmate with praise, Claire said: “I feel very honoured to have worked with Bill.
History of the Coronation Street set
By Jake Penkethman, TV Reporter
1960-1968 – Whilst the Coronation Street set remained on Quay Street for 53 years, it actually had three separate studio sites. The first was an entirely indoor wooden set which was used for the first eight years of filming. This encompassed a replica of the Street built entirely indoors. The set was known to be awkward for actors to use and the houses brought to three quarter scale.
1968-1982 – In 1968, the addition of an outdoor set was created to adjoin the existing indoor set which was still used for filming right up until 1982. The set was used only when required with many of the show’s cast reportedly hating it and describing it as ‘the coldest place on Earth’.
1982-2013 – A brand new set was officially constructed in 1982 and was almost built fully to scale but still only permitted for one car to drive down the cobbled street. The house were purpose-built using reclaimed Salford brick in order to give it the most authentic feel possible. During these years, some of the show’s buildings were adapted to allow for both interior and exterior filming at the same time. These locations included Elliott’s Butchers, Barlow’s Buys, Prima Doner and Webster’s Autos. The final scenes to be recorded on this site occurred in December 2013. By early 2014, it began operating as a tourist attraction for around two years before ultimately being demolished and re-purposed in 2017.
2014-present – In early 2014, the show’s set moved to the TV hub of the North – MediaCityUK in nearby Salford Quays. It is now located a stone’s throw from major TV studio Dock 10 as well as the BBC’s base in the North – home to Blue Peter, Newsround, BBC Breakfast and BBC Sport. The new set was even bigger and built to 9/10 the scale of a real street and allowed for two card to be travelling down the road at opposite sides for the very first time. The site has even undergone major expansions during its 10 years. Just four years after opening in 2018, a brand new set extension was unveiled which introduced viewers to Victoria Gardens for the first time in its history. The Weatherfield North tram stop also became visible as did a series of shops which became used as part of product placement advertising deals. Brands to have been seen on the Street so far include a Co-Op, a Costa Coffee and a branch of Hay’s Travel. Four years later in 2022, another brand new set was unveiled, this time being the heavily mentioned Weatherfield Precinct. It became the first time in 62 years that the area had ever been seen on screens. It fearued a variety of shop fronts, a playground and a number of small flats which have begun to house more and more residents on the street in recent months.
“Not only is he a legend, he is part of the very fabric of British television.
“Watching him and working with him – he never drops a line, he’s so smart and aware, and just seems to be ahead of everyone.
“He’s brilliant, he’s a kind and generous man, and I feel honoured to have this storyline with him.”
Coronation Street continues on ITV1 and ITVX.