Roache to be Ken until he dies
Coronation Street legend William Roache has revealed he will carry on in the soap until he dies - just like his beloved screen uncle Albert Tatlock. The actor, who has played housewives' favourite Ken Barlow for 45 years, told the Express & Star he would not be following fellow veterans Johnny Briggs and John Savident out of the ITV1 show.
Instead he wants to carry on with his character into old age, just like actor Jack Howarth who played Albert Tatlock until his death in 1984, aged 88.
Stourbridge based Mr Briggs' character Mike Baldwin and Mr Savident, who played Fred Elliott, have left the Street in recent months.
But 74-year-old Mr Roache, in Wolverhampton to give a talk to the city's National Spiritualist Church about his belief in the afterlife, said he had no plans to give up his Coronation Street alter ego, the soap's only original cast member.
Mr Tatlock sold number 1 Coronation Street to Mr Barlow just before departing the soap.
"Retiring is not an option," said Mr Roache.
"While they want me I will still do it. I have done 45 years of it and it doesn't seem to change."
But the actor admitted hectic filming schedules did take their toll on him.
"The day job is very demanding," said Mr Roache.
"We work very long hours of filming from seven till seven six days a week."
Mr Roache said his fame helped promote his spiritual ideas and he was delighted if people attended just to catch a glimpse of Ken Barlow.
"If people think they have come for the wrong reasons they will go away with something to think about," he said.
Irene Jones, treasurer of the church, said Mr Roache's second visit there in two years had proved popular.
By Stuart Pollitt
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