Exclusive
KEN'S NEW LOVE
Coronation Street legend Bill Roache getting new on screen love interest at age of 91 – as he faces £500k tax bill
A court this week gave him three months to settle the debt or face bankruptcy
CORRIE legend Bill Roache is getting a new on-screen love interest — at the age of 91.
Bill, who has played three-times married Ken Barlow for 64 years, will be pursued by newcomer Helen Lederer.
3
3
The Absolutely Fabulous actress, 69, filmed her guest stint earlier this year and will appear on screen next month.
It comes as Bill, paid around £250,000 a year, faces a £500,000 tax bill.
A court this week gave him three months to settle the debt or face bankruptcy.
A TV source said: “Despite being Weatherfield’s oldest resident Ken still has an eye for the ladies and his character is very charming.
READ MORE CORONATION STREET
“Corrie stars are paid per episode so this storyline will help boost Bill’s earnings.
“Bosses know what he’s going through and bringing in Helen as Ken’s new love interest will mean more air time, which means more cash.”
Bill has previously claimed he has not been short of female company off screen, telling Piers Morgan in an interview in 2012 that he had bedded up to 1,000 women.
That boast led to his co-stars nicknaming him “c**k Roache”.
Most read in Soaps
This week he opened up about why the show was losing viewers.
Speaking on Cameo he said: “A lot of people stop watching.
“The difficulty the producers have is you’ve got an older generation that’s getting older, and you’ve got to keep appealing to the younger generation and that isn’t easy.”
Coronation Street's Bill Roache confirms he has no plans to retire and want to be first centenarian on the show
3
Topics