Bill Roache celebrates his 91st birthday at his home in Wilmslow, and on set at ITV Studios MediaCityUK in Salford, where Ken Barlow, the longest-serving television star in a continuous role, is the undisputed king of the world’s longest-running soap opera
Tell us about your childhood.
My father was a doctor and we lived in a big house in Derbyshire, which included his surgery, so my sister and I would answer the door to his patients. My grandfather gave half of our large garden to the Rudolf Steiner School, which was built next door to us. I went there for two years from the age of five; it was very handy as I would just slip through the hedge. There was no fixed curriculum as the ethos was to look at the individual and do what was thought was appropriate for their particular development. Then I boarded in Colwyn Bay, which was a shock to the system – having to have a cold bath every day in the summer as well as learning Latin, but I settled into it and played cricket and rugby for the school.
After you left school you joined the army. Was this your original career plan?
I come from a long line of doctors and military personnel. I was hopeless at physics and chemistry, which meant I couldn’t get into any medical college, so had to do my National Service, which made me think that if I got commissioned and become an officer I could stay and fulfil the family honour by being in the military. I joined the Royal Welch Fusiliers and took part in the War Office Selection Board's three-day intensive programme, and, to my surprise, I was recommended for officer cadet training. This led to me undergoing four very tough months at Eaton Hall, near Chester, to become a second lieutenant. I passed and was posted to Kingston in Jamaica. It was 1953 – the same year Queen Elizabeth came to the throne and she visited Jamaica as part of her Commonwealth tour. We had a full day with her; she was beautiful, with a lovely laugh.
I was then deployed to Georgetown in British Guyana, where there had been an attempted coup. I then went to a very cold Germany for four months, which involved exercises with the Canadians and Americans, before volunteering for the Trucial Oman Levies – I saw myself as Lawrence of Arabia, and it got me out of all the hard work and into a warmer climate. After I had finished my five years' duty in the army I was discharged and sent home. I arrived in London aged 26 and booked straight into a hotel as I wasn’t used to the noise and how busy it was. Even though I had been shot at I found my time in the Middle East much more tranquil.
How did your career in acting begin?
Well, I was now too old to go into medical school – even if I had wanted to – and as I had done some acting at school I decided I wanted to become a film star. I sent out letters to people in the film industry and one of them wrote back, which led to a small part in a film called Behind The Mask with Michael Redgrave. They issued the contract and said: 'You're a member of Equity aren’t you?'. At which point I heard a small voice quickly say, 'yes'. I had blatantly lied and knew if it was discovered I wasn't an Equity member the film would be blacklisted. So I went to the Equity office, explained to the girl at reception, who clearly wanted to leave for her lunch, that I had got a contract but wasn’t a member, and she quickly ask me to fill in the application, got it approved and just like I had joined the actors' union. In those days had to do so many hours in repertory theatre, etc, before being allowed in, yet, there was I – a fully fledged Equity member. I went on to play the juvenile lead for a summer season in Clacton-on-Sea, then roles in various English repertory companies in places such as Nottingham and Oldham for an intense two years of learning my craft, performing a play a week with wonderful actors including Brian Blessed. It also led to a small role in the TV series Ivanhoe, and other film bit parts.
Did you have a role model as an actor?
Sir Laurence Olivier. He was one of the people I wrote to when I came out of the army asking for advice. Amazingly I was invited to meet him backstage while he was acting in The Entertainer. As he was putting on his makeup prior to curtain up, I asked him about getting into the industry. He said: ‘No matter what people say to you, don’t give up.’ I left feeling elated: the great Sir Laurence Olivier was telling me to go for it. This inspired me to put myself out there.
How did the role in Coronation Street come about?
In 1959 I got the lead in a television play called Marking Time, which was a big break as it was the Play of the Week and on at 9pm on a Wednesday evening. I’ve never been able to find it unfortunately since it aired… it’s probably one of those lost tapes.
When I was filming Marking Time at Granada, unbeknown to me, Tony Warren (who created Coronation Street), spotted me and told casting he wanted me for the role of Ken Barlow. I was back in my flat in Notting Hill when I got a call from my agent saying Granada wanted me for ‘some comedy series called Coronation Street back in Manchester’. I said I wasn’t interested and didn’t want to do it as I felt that Marking Time was going to be the piece that would really launch my career. He then called me back and said I might as well go up and film the pilot of this series while I was waiting for the play to air. So I did it. I must say I was impressed as there hadn’t been anything quite like it on TV. Realism was sweeping through cinema, so Coronation Street was a trailblazer with its kitchen sink drama approach.
I did the pilot and then they wanted me to film the series. Again I said to my agent I didn’t want to do it, but he said it would air on a Monday and a Friday, so when my play went out on the Wednesday it would be an excellent shop window, with me being on the screen for three days that particular week. Plus Coronation Street was only going to run for 11 weeks so I agreed to do it. It’s just been a very long 11 weeks.
Tell us how Ken has developed over the years
I was cast as the ambitious antagonistic young man who came from a working-class background but had gone to university. That made Ken different. He wanted to make the world a better place and write a famous novel. He tried but failed. That’s the thing with Ken: he had to fail, otherwise, why would he stay on the street?
Did you have any idea how Coronation Street would transform television drama... and your life?
We filmed the first episode live and within the first two or three weeks there was the most amazing reaction. We were pioneering realism in television and shot to the top of the ratings chart. In fact, we haven’t been out of the top 10 since. We were a cutting-edge drama serial and still are… I don’t like the term soap.
Was there ever an opportunity to take a break from the Street to work on other acting projects?
Yes. In the first few years I did manage to do a few plays but I really wanted to do a film. In fact, I just missed out on a part in The Charge Of The Light Brigade. I was offered a four-part mini-series once so I asked the producer at the time, Bill Gilmore, if I could do it. He said I could… but I couldn’t go back to Coronation Street. So, I decided to stay.
As the world's longest-serving actor in a continuing drama, you have been at the heart of numerous dramatic storylines. Do you have a favourite?
The Ken, Deirdre and Mike storyline back in 1983 was the big one. I started to be a little frustrated at how Ken was being written. As the character was getting older some of the writers didn’t really know how to develop him, so he was becoming a bit ‘wet’ and I was always trying to fight against that portrayal. I understand that in some ways he had to be a bit of loser otherwise he wouldn’t have stayed living in the same street, but when he married Deidre and she had an affair with Mike Baldwin I felt personally humiliated for Ken. There was a scene where Ken had found out about the affair and was having an argument with Deirdre in their hallway when there was a knock at their door. It was Mike. There were about three pages of dialogue between Deirdre and Mike, with Ken looking on. I said to the director I couldn’t do the scene and just stand there being humiliated. He asked what I wanted to do and said, 'hit him'. He said I couldn’t do that so instead, Ken interrupts the scene and slams Deidre against the door, which took dear Anne Kirkbride by surprise, but it worked and we won awards for it. After that scene, the writers started to understand my character more and to this day Ken still has passion and fire, which I’m pleased about.
Over the years there has been a huge amount of talent on the Street. Who were your favourite guest stars?
Well, Ken had an affair with Joanna Lumley which was a great storyline. She’s a wonderful actress. I’ve watched those scenes back and they were great. Stephanie Beacham (another of Ken's amours) was wonderful too. And Sir Ian McKellen of course. In fact, he took me out to dinner years ago just after the Street had started and said that one dayhe was going to be in it. And he was.
You celebrated your 91st birthday on April 25. What is your take on age?
I honestly believe the ageing process is largely within the collective consciousness. For example, you get to 60 and people start asking you about retirement or they pull out chairs for you to sit down and say ‘take it easy’. If you start taking it easy and believing you should be resting more it’s starts to become more and difficult for you to get going again and you start to decline. I make sure I get enough sleep and drink plenty of water. I don’t smoke or drink, although I did my fair share in the '60s. I meditate and play golf and I use the stairs and I stand for as long as possible. Our cells rejuvenate and regenerate and our body is a vehicle for us to do what we need to do for as long as we want to do it. There’s no reason for us to not live well and with vitality for 100 years. If you don’t use you lose it.
The special screened by ITV to mark your 90th birthday was lovely. I especially loved you being reunited with your first on-screen wife, Anne Reid, in the Rovers
Ah, that was wonderful. Anne was in it for pretty much the first 10 years and we got on really well, then she left and her career since has been incredible. We hadn’t seen each other since she played Valerie Barlow, so it was lovely when ITV arranged for us to reunite in the Rovers. All we did when we saw each other was hug and laugh. I really loved what they did with that birthday special. When they approached me with the idea they suggested a warts-and-all documentary, but I thought a programme that was a celebration would be more appropriate. I even went back to my old barracks in Wrexham and I met a guy who was training with me at the same time and had been with me in Jamaica.
It was so good to see your sons Linus, and James (known to his family as Will), in Coronation Street, as Ken’s son Lawrence and grandson James. How did this come about?
The producers had been trying for a while to get us together. It was just sad that Linus could only get two weeks over here to film the scenes as he’s based in the States and is incredibly busy. In the first scene Linus and I did, we were sitting in the Rovers and the script ran to three pages. We ran the lines on set, then filmed it and it was done. Linus couldn’t believe we didn’t reshoot or do different takes as is the norm over in the States. He was amazed at how fast we filmed. It was great to work with them both.
Who would you like to play William Roache in a biopic?
That’s easy, Will, my younger son, to play me in my younger years. Linus, as a middle-aged me and then I’d quite like to play myself too. We don’t need anybody else, it’s all in the family.
Where are your favourite places in Cheshire?
I love Wilmslow where I live. Alderley Edge has some great restaurants and then Knutsford for shopping.
What are your thoughts on this month's coronation of King Charles III?
I think he will be great. Prince Charles was in the 40th-anniversary episode of Coronation Street and we had lunch together. His mother set the tone and she was perfect.
And finally, what advice would you give to your younger self?
There’s far more to life than you can ever imagine. And you are never alone…
The reign of King Ken
1939: Kenneth 'Ken' Barlow born at 3, Coronation Street, Weatherfield. He is delivered by Ena Sharples
1962: Marries hairdresser Valerie Tatlock. They go on to have twins Susan and Peter
1971: Val is electrocuted in the family home
1973: Remarries, to Janet (Judith Barker), who leaves Ken because of his lack of ambition
1970s: Ken leaves teaching and tries other jobs
1976: Moves in with Val's uncle Albert Tatlock at number 1, remaining in the street to care for the ageing pensioner
1980s: Ken finds happiness again with divorcee Deirdre Langton,16 years his junior. They marry in 1981 and he adopts her daughter Tracy in 1986
1983. Humdrum family life leads Deirdre to have an affair with Mike Baldwin. Ken forgives Deirdre but a feud between the two men is triggered, which lasts two decades
1989/1990: Deirdre throws Ken out when he has an affair with Wendy Crozier, his secretary at the Weatherfield Recorder and they divorce
1990s: Ken rebuilds his life following a suicide attempt in 1990; he returns to teaching and has relationships with Alma Sedgewick, Maggie Redman and Denise Osbourne. He and Denise have a son, Daniel
2005: Ken and Deirdre remarry
2006. Mike Baldwin dies of a heart attack in the arms of his old adversary, Ken
2015: Deirdre dies from an aneurysm on her 60th birthday
2018: Ken grows close to Claudia Colby (Rula Lenska)
2019: Ken celebrates his 80th birthday
2020: Ken and Claudia move into the Stillwaters Later Life Luxury Living complex, but after realising they want different things from life he returns to Coronation Street
2023: Now retired, Ken remains in residence at number 1 with Tracy, her husband Steve McDonald, granddaughter Amy, Daniel, and Daniel's fiancée Daisy Midgeley
How it all began
Episode one of the world's longest-running television soap opera – the kitchen-sink drama they said wouldn't last
At number 3, Coronation Street, 21-year-old student Ken Barlow (William Roache) is eating dinner with his parents, Frank (Frank Pemberton) and Ida (Noel Dyson). Frank starts accusing Ken of being snobbish and embarrassed by his working-class family, but Ken defends himself, and Ida tries to keep the peace. Ken states he is taking his middle-class girlfriend, Susan Cunningham (Patricia Shakesby), to the Imperial Hotel, which Frank angrily forbids, as Ida works as a cleaner in the kitchens there and he does not like the thought of Ken spending money in the same establishment where his mother works hard to earn it. Ken heads off to the Rovers Return Inn...
Making it possible
The venue
The photoshoot, by Cheshire Life's Kirsty Thompson, was staged at Champneys Mottram Hall, with hair and makeup carried out in the new bridal prep room, an area dedicated to brides and their bridal party and designed for all their beauty needs on the big day.
The venue also has a fully refurbished bridal suite, elegantly decorated with a luxurious four-poster bed and roll-top bath.
Mottram Hall,
Wilmslow Road,
Mottram St Andrew
SK10 4QT
07741 321137
mottramhall.com
Hair and makeup
Artisté
Bill's look was created by Artisté, a luxury, on-demand hair and beauty brand specialising in bringing expert hair and makeup artists straight to a client's door.
The expert team is renowned for delivering an immaculate service, whether for bridal, red carpet glamour, prom night, an awards ceremony, a day at the races or an evening out with friends.
Hair and makeup appointments can be booked online or via WhatsApp (0161 8709154). See the look-book hair and makeup menu at artiste.co.uk
