At 94 years old, Bill Roache has no plans to retire from Coronation Street — and the legendary actor believes the secret to longevity is refusing to “take it easy.”
The beloved star, who has played Ken Barlow since the very first episode of the ITV soap in 1960, opened up about ageing, acting, grief, and the one moment in his 66-year career where he finally told producers: “Sorry, I just can’t do that.”
Bill insisted he refuses to think about his age and believes people often “age themselves” by giving up on life too early. He explained: “I try not to think about the years, I just think about getting on and enjoying life.”
The actor added: “As you get older, you should start doing more, not less. We’re lucky to be here, so make the most of it. Life is a miracle.”
Despite being officially recognised as the world’s longest-serving soap actor, Bill admitted there was one Coronation Street storyline that deeply upset him because it felt too personal.
Recalling the emotional plot, he explained that Ken Barlow had been fiercely protecting his young child, only for the child’s mother to suddenly return and take the baby away in a single scene.
Bill revealed: “I said, ‘I’m sorry, I just can’t do that.’ I’d been so involved with protecting and looking after this child, suddenly in one sentence it was over.”
The veteran star admitted he struggled because he no longer felt like he was “acting” — instead, he felt personally responsible for Ken after decades in the role.
He explained: “I feel I’m Ken’s caretaker. That’s what I do.”
Bill also reflected on how dramatically Coronation Street has changed since its early days, when the cast would rehearse together like a theatre company and regularly travel around the country with “a crate of beer in the back of the bus.”
Today, with five episodes filmed every week and an enormous cast, the atmosphere is very different — but Bill insists he still loves being part of the soap after more than six decades.
Away from Weatherfield, Bill also spoke candidly about faith and loss. Following the heartbreaking deaths of his daughter Edwina and wife Sara, the actor said his spiritual beliefs helped him cope with grief.
He shared: “I believe there is one God who is loving, totally loving… and I know life goes on.”
