Coronation Street star Alan Rothwell dead as ITV soap pays heartbreaking tribute
The ITV soap tonight announced that the man behind the character of David Barlow has sadly died.
Coronation Street today announced the death of founding star Alan Rothwell(Image: ITV)
Coronation Street tonight announced the death of one of its former stars. Alan Rothwell, who played Ken Barlow’s brother David during the 1960s, has died at the age of 89.
The soap’s official Instagram account shared a black and white image of Alan in character as David saying he will be “forever remembered” for being one of the first actors to appear in the soap when it first aired in December 1960.
A sad post read: “We’re very sorry to hear of Alan Rothwell’s passing and extend our sincerest condolences to his family at this very sad time. He created an iconic and memorable character in David Barlow and will forever be remembered as one of the original cast members of Coronation Street.”
Alan also had parts in Brookside as Nicholas Black in the mid-Eighties, as Mike in the ITV spy drama Top Secret in the early Sixties and had various roles in the Noughties soap Doctors on BBC One.
He appeared in Coronation Street as a regular when it launched in 1960, made sporadic appearances in 1963 and 1964 and then became a regular cast member again until 1968.
Coronation Street star Samia Longchambon, 43, who plays Maria Connor, added her name to tributes, writing: “So sad to hear this. Alan was a also drama teacher at our drama school and I have such fond memories of being taught by him… he was a wonderful man.”
One fan wrote: “Very sad news, part of the original Barlow family. Thoughts with family & friends.” Another said: “May he rest in peace. Condolences to his friends and family x.”
Few Corrie originals are still with us. Anne Cunningham, who played Linda Cheveski, is now 88. Patricia Shakesby, who was Ken’s first love interest Susan Cunningham, is 86 and Ken Barlow star William Roache is 94.
Alan’s screen brother William has held the record as the longest serving actor in a soap opera since 2010 and is unlikely to ever be beaten. He said this week that he has no intention of standing down from the role.
Speaking to the Session 7: Interesting Lives podcast, he explained: “I feel I’m Ken’s protector, I feel I’m looking after him. His caretaker rather than protector. That’s what I do.”
Bill added: “Over the years in Coronation Street there’s only been a couple of times, one time in particular, when it hasn’t worked. That’s because I took it personally, I was personally involved. It wasn’t Ken, it was me doing this but under the name of Ken.
“Ken had an illegitimate child by a hairdresser and he was looking after this child on his own and was very protective of it, was fighting for it tooth and nail. Suddenly, not in just one episode, but in one scene the mother of the child comes along and takes it away and he says okay. I said, ‘I’m sorry, I just can’t do that.’
“I’d been so involved with protecting, keeping and looking after this child, suddenly in one sentence. The producer said, ‘I’m sorry, it’s a bit sudden, I realise it.’ It was too late to change it. That was a big wrench.”
