In November 2020, Barlow was again presented with the Guinness World Record for the longest serving TV soap star in the world for his six decades in Coronation Street.[3]. Ben East of The Stage said the romance was "genuinely funny". To worsen his situation, he was initially suspected of murdering her. "[80] While Dyson left the series under her own volition, Pemberton later became one of several cast members fired under Aspinall's tenure as producer. [46] One such row, which followed Ken's discovery of Janet's plans to send the twins to boarding school, was later used as an exercise in drama schools, which Roache deemed "a nice compliment to everyone involved in creating the moment. It was just like an idea that was shoved in. It was appalling", recalled Roache. [77] Upon separating from Elaine, Ken confided in his friend Rita (Knox) that, "There were other fellers more glamorous, more successful, more wealthy and more interesting than me." Scriptwriters had actually been planning to reunite Ken and Deirdre, but when Kirkbride fell ill and had to be written out, the scripts were changed and Ken was paired with Denise instead. [11] The series became a long-running soap opera, airing multiple times weekly, and Roache continued in the role, though gradually ceased to affect a Lancashire accent. [45] The storyline's fast pace angered Roache; he once stressed: "I was very cross about the whole thing. The suspect list was initially narrowed down to six: Adam Barlow (Sam Robertson), Peter Barlow (Chris Gascoyne), Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford), Daniel Osbourne (Rob Mallard), Pat Phelan (Connor McIntyre) and Sinead Tinker (Katie McGlynn). Ashamed of his family and background, Ken was constantly apologising to her. He is left a single parent following Valerie's untimely death; she perishes after being electrocuted in January 1971, and he is left heartbroken. Martha asks him about Peter's mum and Ken tells her that she's dead, which is the truth, so Martha automatically assumes he's a widower and he doesn't put her right. Ken continues to stand up for his political beliefs and spends seven days in prison in March 1967, after being arrested for protesting. I've lost count of romances I've had in the show, not to mention the four weddings. ", "Janet clearly saw Ken as someone who might provide the sort of lifestyle she wanted if he was pushed and manoeuvred in the right direction. [90] She would criticise his looks, and on one occasion she accused him of being homosexual. William Patrick Roache MBE (born 25 April 1932) is an English actor. Although no calls were made, 20 million viewers watched the wedding episode. He explained: "[Ken] was the sort who wanted to have a wife who would stay at home, look after the kids and make sure the house was run smoothly, while he went off to work to pursue a career. He came second in the poll, behind EastEnders' Den Watts (17%). Ken Barlow was born and raised at 3 Coronation Street, Weatherfield, Lancashire. "[59], Ken was paired romantically with hairdresser Denise Osbourne (Denise Black) in 1994, the romance scuppering the chances of a reconciliation between recent divorcees Ken and Deirdre. [61] Denise Black has discussed her character's ambivalence towards her relationship with Ken, revealing why she believed Denise engaged in infidelity: "The thing is that she's in love with both men. [67] Roache revealed that Ken is not thinking about having an affair with Martha, but he is "captivated" by her, and does have feelings for her. "[70] Graham said that Martha allowed Ken's "middle-class heart" to sing after the pair bonded over a love of BBC Radio 4, books and plays. A few more would be great. Just the mention of Baldwin's name was enough to get Ken twitching with barely contained anger, and for Johnny Briggs and me it was absolutely wonderful. Roache called it "good character-defining stuff", which established the antagonism between Ken and his father, borne from Ken's snobbery and desire to abandon his roots. Deirdre's funeral is held the week after. Mike discovered Adam's existence in 2001; Susan attempted to flee, but was killed in a motor accident. "[102] Briggs has claimed that Ken was envious of Mike because he was rich and successful while Ken was not, and Roache has claimed that the reason Ken disliked Mike was because he was a self-centred and self-made individual.[102]. [16] In 2010 Roache pledged to stay with Coronation Street: "I'm not even thinking about retiring. ", was included on Harry Hill's debut album, Funny Times. When I introduce myself I add, ‘Ken Barlow – as in Coronation Street ’. This is an allegation denied by Roache, who has cited Ken's evolution over the years, his chaotic love life and dysfunctional family as evidence to the contrary. Not only did it help satisfy him intellectually, it also allowed him to help others and at the same time give him a degree of control, which he probably always wanted. [121], In May 2012, Trisha Ward's stage musical, Street of Dreams, debuted. [citation needed] In 1983, Roache, Kirkbride and Briggs were named TV Personalities of the Year at the Pye Colour Television Awards, for their performances in the Ken–Deirdre–Mike love triangle storyline. Moran added that Ken "refused to go along with the last half century's stress on consumer aspiration and meritocratic elitism", but added that by modern standards, "Ken has wasted his education and his life. Valerie accused him of attempted murder on one occasion when a small house fire occurred – with the twins trapped inside. William Roache interview: 'Coronation Street is a major, cutting-edge drama serial' As the soap turns 60, the man who has played Ken Barlow since the very beginning recalls its highbrow origins He’s been there since episode one in 1960 and remains at the heart of the street. Ken is then shocked to discover that Peter has been indicted for the murder of Frank Foster (Andrew Lancel), who had been found not guilty of raping Carla. He shoved his kids up in Scotland, didn't really look after them. So the exciting guy [Mike] comes along and he's a bit flash, isn't he? On-screen, Ken was opposed to Lawrence's views and decided to embrace James' sexuality. The production, which is based on Coronation Street, featured Roache playing his on-screen alias, Ken, in a pre-recorded segment. Aware that the characters had become popular, executive producer H. V. Kershaw requested that Granada Television's evening duty officer be made available on the night of broadcast, in order to take viewers' congratulatory phone calls. Little dubbed Ken Coronation Street's elder statesman and lynch-pin, a one-man Greek tragedy, and the greatest survivor in Weatherfield. [7] A combined audience of 24 million viewers tuned in to see the nuptials. "[128] Roache won the case and was awarded £50,000; however, he was forced to pay legal costs, which bankrupted him. From episode 1 broadcast on 09/12/60 The longest running member of the show, and still going! Ken tracked down his son following marital unease with Deirdre, which led to interactions with Denise when he turned up unannounced for a visit. We take a look at the moment we met the great Ken Barlow. He debuted in the soap's first episode on 9 December 1960. It rarely pays to be too clever or too rich in soapland as the majority of plotlines rely upon tragic Shakespearian falls from grace which everyone laughs their socks off at. [128] Brian Viner has suggested that it is remarkable that Ken has been labelled boring in spite of the many plots he has been involved with over the years. [7] Roache has revealed that Ken's role in the serial was threatened in 1964, when producer Tim Aspinall, who was dubbed the "mad axe-man", took the helm of Coronation Street. The storyline captured both media and viewer interest: 20 million people tuned in to watch Ken's discovery of the affair. "[13] The animosity between Ken and his children has been explored throughout the programme's duration. Peter Barlow is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera, Coronation Street, played by Chris Gascoyne since 2000. Poor Annie wasn't prepared for what happened to her next and actually burst into tears because of the ferocity of my performance. [66] Ken seeks her out again, and he helps her go through her lines. Behind the scenes Bill Roache has even suggested to Johnny Briggs that they should make a version of Brokeback Mountain for the two elderly cowboys. "[32] ITV publicity referred to the number of relationships and flings he has had, stating "This could take a while ... Ken has had more girlfriends than most of the Street's male residents put together. The character of Peter was born on screen during an episode broadcast on 5 April 1965, he was born along with his twin sister Susan (Katie Heannau, Wendy Jane Walker, Suzy Patterson, Joanna Foster) to parents Ken (William Roache) and Valerie Barlow (). "[19], Ken's political stance is left-liberal. 7. [citation needed] Ken and Martha eventually consummate their relationship, and Ken considers leaving Deirdre and Weatherfield. It was a relationship that ran for many years, and although towards the end of Mike Baldwin's time on the show you might say there was a little mellowing going on, it was never a relationship that was going to be anything other than uneasy. This frustrated Susan, who actually liked Coronation Street. Ken is fearful that his son iss going to die, and this almost happens when Peter goes into cardiac arrest, after marrying Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson) on his hospital bed; However, Peter survives. [44] There was no buildup to their marriage; Ken returned from Scotland and introduced Janet as his wife. Absolutely no one was expecting to see Ken Barlow (William Roache) come to the difficult resolution that his time on the Cobbles has come to an end. Then followed a battle between Mike and Ken for custody of Adam, with Ken adamant that Mike should not look after his grandson. [23] A scathing article he wrote for a newspaper, in which he labelled his neighbours as "lazy-minded, politically ignorant, starved of a real culture and prejudiced against any advance in human insight and scientific progress", led to clashes with his father and a fistfight at the Rovers with Len Fairclough (Peter Adamson). [20] Roache concurs that Ken obviously had higher aspirations than "being stuck in Coronation Street", but notes that "he was also portrayed as a nice young guy who was happy to help out if he could. [8] Lowrie was later cast in the role of another original character, Dennis Tanner. Denise doesn't mean to cause so much pain. In 1961, Ken's mother dies in a motor accident. He urged him to be true to himself and ignore his father's bigoted views. [citation needed], By 1984, following the departures of original characters Annie Walker, Albert Tatlock, Len Fairclough and Elsie Tanner, Ken was the only character from the original cast who remained in the serial. Ken Barlow has been in Coronation Street since the first episode He was just a baby-faced 23 when he married his first wife, Valerie Tatlock. It is a short-lived custody as, later that year, Denise returns and snatches Daniel; Ken's attempts to reclaim his son fail. Harvey therefore tried to shape the play around their journeys over the years. That said, for sheer staying power Ken and Bill are clearly indivisible: one has lived in the same street practically all his life, the other in the same role [...]. After pushing his family away from him and making Sinead have a secret abortion Ken is pushed down the stairs and left for dead by an unknown assailant. For 50 years he has been the nearest thing Weatherfield, the fictional area of Greater Manchester where Coronation Street is located, has had to a social conscience. [104] Numerous fights between Ken and Mike were featured, and Briggs has suggested that they became famous for their brawls. Everyone was talking about it and the pubs were empty. He changed from teacher to newspaper owner, through various jobs, but threw that away too. In 2011, ITV filmed a spin-off, web-based series featuring Ken and Deirdre, entitled Ken and Deirdre's Bedtime Stories. The actor, 88, debuted as Ken Barlow in the first episode of the ITV soap, which will celebrate its 60th anniversary on December 9, and remains the longest running TV soap opera in the world. "[39], Ken and Valerie's marriage came to an untimely end in 1971. In turn, he thought the scenario generated some of the best performances in the actors' careers. When he rejects her, she commits suicide by taking an overdose. [40] Reid and Roache were briefly concerned that her departure would result in Ken being written out, and Roache recalls that Ken emigrating with the twins was a scenario under consideration. The producers decided to run the storyline to highlight the fact homophobia still exists. David and Frank's deaths (in 1970 and 1975 respectively) leave Ken as the sole surviving Barlow. [138] She noted that although Ken had many relationships, "he could hardly be described as an early 'Dirty Den'", a character notable for his womanising in the soap opera EastEnders. [79] Their strained familial relationship was apparent from his very first scene, in which conflict arose over his reluctance to eat a meal with brown sauce. However, news of Tracy and Tony's fling reached her and she was ashamed to come home and face Liz. [7] A potential storyline was devised in which Ken and his then wife Valerie would move to Australia. The first fight between the pair occurred in 1986, when Ken confronted Mike in his factory about Mike's maltreatment of his daughter. [66] Ken meets Martha by the canal while he is walking his dog, Eccles. Men were shouting out: 'Go on Mike, give her one.' Her problem is that she just doesn't know whether she's coming or going. By her late teens, she was a qualified hairdresser and running her own salon called Maison Valerie, stumping up half of the money to set it up herself with her father loaning her the rest. However ITV bosses were keen to stress that while Ken is leaving the cobbles, actor Bill will remain on the soap. [1] Having appeared in the role continuously since that date, Roache is the longest-serving actor in a televised soap opera, and was honoured at the 2010 Guinness World Records ceremony for the achievement, having surpassed actor Don Hastings from the American soap opera As the World Turns, who previously held this title. She uses the "undying hatred" between Ken Barlow and Mike Baldwin (Johnny Briggs) as an example of this, suggesting that viewers "welcome the sense of stability this offers although the element of change offers as much enjoyment for viewers. Two pilot episodes were filmed, with Ken played by Roache in one, and by actor Philip Lowrie in the other. "[25] Little suggested that Ken has transformed from an angry young man who never fitted in and was always challenging the system, into a bore next door, eventually discovering that he couldn't change the world after all. In fact, he is one of the characters about whom audiences would tend to want to warn any female characters to 'stay away, it'll end in tears'". The job of supporting Frank largely fell to Ken, as David now lived in London. [67] When asked if Ken mentions Deirdre, Roache said "Er... no. [115] Harvey has suggested that when he researched the play, in the top five storylines for each of the 50 years of Coronation Street, three characters regularly featured—Ken, Deirdre and Gail Platt. Ken kicks Tracy out when he discovers that Tracy has seen her ex–fiancée Rob, who's in prison for murder. [63] The character returned in the winter of 1996, for the last part of her storyline, Black having decided to quit the role. [7] Roache disliked this version, as he believed Ken's response lacked realism. "[109], Reflecting on the feud in 2006, Roache gave reasons why he thinks Ken and Mike clashed so often: "Ken felt threatened when Mike arrived on the street, but it made the part more exciting for Bill. He enjoys telling Martha about his problems, his son and his grandchildren, as she is not judgmental. He is the eldest son born to Frank (Frank Pemberton) and Ida Barlow (Noel Dyson). But he isn't terribly exciting. I always thought of him during that first decade as a young man who had a very stubborn streak in him when it came to his principles and what he thought was right. [93] Blanche was willing to put her wit aside and fight to ensure that Ken and Deirdre stayed together,[93] although most of the time, she interfered in his life. The situation saw Ken realise he was in a "loveless marriage" – a match made whilst feeling lonely and under the presumption that she was his last chance of happiness. When she is dumped by Mike in favour of Jackie Ingram (Shirin Taylor), she starts seeing Ken. This responsibility led to a two-year quarrel with his co-star Pat Phoenix, when she insisted that her character, Elsie Tanner, undermine Ken in an argument. He made his debut in the soap's first episode, broadcast on 9 December 1960. He later discovers that Peter has sacked his lawyer and it becomes even more likely that he will be found guilty of the murder. Jenny's remarks referenced the Weatherfield stalwart's struggles during the early 1990s. Eventually, he admits to the infidelity. [31] Roache said, "Ken tried to bring up the kids on his own, but he wasn't doing so good. We really are like an old married couple who have had their ups and downs, lived through them and come out the other side. They had both gone off and done very silly things and had had affairs with people, and yet their overriding need as they got older was for each other. When it came to the sort of job he would do, it was clear that teaching fitted perfectly with him as a person. Ken is not seriously hurt, though. Valerie Tatlock was born on 26th November 1942 to Alfred and Edith Tatlock. It seemed to fit perfectly with the lives that had been created for them throughout their time in Coronation Street. [120] Ken has been spoofed by Jon Culshaw in The Impressions Show, where he is having a secret affair with Pat Evans from EastEnders, spoofed by Debra Stephenson. This frustrated Susan, who actually liked Coronation Street. Despite being generally "well-meaning", Roache assessed that for the first two decades of Coronation Street, Ken had a ruthless streak where women were involved. He decided who he wanted out, while others including myself were put on warning that we were likely to be given the chop at a later date. [92] However, she was seen as "the glue" of the Barlow family in the modern era, holding them together. "[125], Ken has a reputation for being boring. [49][58], During Anne Kirkbride's lifetime, Roache was complimentary about Ken and Deirdre, as well as about Kirkbride—whom, he stated, he loved as much as Ken loved Deirdre—with this love explaining why Ken always ended up returning to her. They eventually remarry on 8 April 2005; although in January 2003 Ken discovers that Deirdre had sex with Dev Alahan (Jimmi Harkishin) during Christmas 2001, he forgives her and they remain together. Both Ken and Mike will miss the bust-ups. Actor Bill waved as he filmed on location Credit: Zenpix. In one storyline, Ken had to start looking after the children more frequently, but he grew bored and would often leave them unattended. Dennis has been struggling to get a job since getting out of pris… [19] Chronicling the history of Coronation Street in 2007, Virgin Media stated, "Perhaps unfairly dubbed boring, Ken is ultimately an intelligent man, frustrated by the cards life has dealt him – although the hair, clothes and strong morals haven't helped. All these years and Ken still doesn't realise it's not Deirdre who's the dead weight in his life, it's he himself. [87] Ken moved in with him and Albert gradually saw Ken as "the son he never had". "[52] Watson believes that actors often feel "disturbed and uncomfortable" at the prospect of what their character will experience. ", Of the love triangle storyline, Briggs has said, "the way it captured the nation was amazing. '"[83] Roache has suggested that the subsequent problems in his children's adulthood were Ken's fault: "I blame Ken for how they've all turned out. Ken takes the separation badly and attempts suicide by overdose, but is prevented from doing so by his friend, Bet Lynch (Julie Goodyear). He became carried away and moved him in because Ken has always "longed for intelligent conversation". [12] Roache originally earned £10 per episode, compared to the £3,000 per episode that he earned in 2010. Val he was close to her uncle Albert Tatlock and so… [7] In 2010, Roache said, "[Ken] was beginning to look very ordinary and quite nerdy, and that in turn had a knock-on effect for me, because I started to lose confidence as an actor. [73] Fifty years later, it transpired that their relationship had left Susan pregnant, resulting in the birth of a son, Lawrence. [72], Ken's first on-screen relationship was with Susan Cunningham (Shakesby), whom he dated throughout the first ten episodes. "[7] 20 million viewers tuned in for the episode; it attained the soap's second-highest recorded overnight ratings, surpassed only by the farewell episode of Hilda Ogden (played by Jean Alexander) in 1987. [85], After Valerie's death, Ken became responsible for looking after her uncle, Albert, and he later became known as Ken's "Uncle Albert". While auditionees for the other twenty-one original roles were drawn from casting director Margaret Morris' contacts in the north of England, Warren spotted William Roache performing in the Granada Television play Marking Time, and knew that he was the right actor to play Ken. I went through a time where I was really scared of 'drying', which is not being able to remember your lines. In 2020 Ken decided to move away from the street for a new adventure and moved into the Stillwaters retirement complex with Claudia. [30], Scriptwriters capitalised on the rivalry between the characters when, in 1986, Mike married Ken's daughter Susan, a union that Ken strongly opposed. Tracy is deeply upset and accuses Ken of betraying Deirdre. Although he had rarely done so in the past, he voiced his concerns to the series' producer, dismayed that the character "seemed to be floating in a nebulous state". [7][56], Ken and Deidre have been described as soap opera's version of Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. They had an on/off relationship and a wedding was planned in 1996; however, in a plot twist, it was revealed to Ken that Denise, unable to "hold her primitive lusts in check", was having an affair with her brother-in-law, Brian. So he sent them up to Glasgow to live with his mother-in-law." The storyline "horrified" viewers, and Craig received abusive letters from angry fans. [134] Gareth McLean of Radio Times was critical of the storyline: "When it comes to self-delusion, Ken takes the biscuit, claims the cake and wolfs down the éclair. [76] [129] In a Radio Times poll of over 5,000 people in 2004, 15% chose Ken as the soap character they would most like to see retired. [126] Despite Ken being fictional, critic Jim Shelley, writing for the Daily Mirror in 2009, labelled Ken "the most boring man you could ever meet". Roache has been honoured with a lifetime achievement award at the British Soap Awards for his portrayal of Ken. [78] His later love interests included Wendy Crozier (Kerr), Alma Sedgewick (Barrie) and Maggie Redman (Kerman). When Ray Langton (Neville Buswell) leaves his wife Deirdre (Anne Kirkbride) in 1978, Ken supports her. [23] Although Ken has occasionally espoused socialist ideology, Roache suggests that he is really more of a "liberal, fair-minded guy [...] always looking to right the wrongs of society",[24] and "a man of integrity who fights for what he thinks is right". The Baldwin/Barlow feud erupts again, as Mike is the father of Maggie's son, Mark Redman (Christopher Oakswood). In October 2016, Ken is shocked to see his son Peter. It was in the soap’s 10,000th episode last month, viewers discovered Ken would be bidding farewell to the cobbles. However, by 1983, Deirdre grows bored with Ken and has an affair with his rival, Mike Baldwin (Johnny Briggs). Ken's first on-screen relationship was with Susan Cunningham (Shakesby), who he dated throughout the first ten episodes. Like two cowboys, they spent their lives sizing each other up. "[64] When Denise was awarded custody, she left Coronation Street and Ken lost contact with his son. William Roache, Actor: Coronation Street. Marital problems arise in 2006 when, following Mike's death from Alzheimer's disease, Ken grows jealous of Deirdre's consequent grief; he leaves home and tries to rebuild a relationship with his estranged son Daniel. Culshaw wanted to include his impression of Ken in the show, saying "We were just looking for an excuse to get him in", so he decided that Ken and Pat would have a "secret romantic tryst at a motorway service station" somewhere between Weatherfield and the EastEnders' setting of Walford. When Ken discovers that Lawrence is intolerant of the homosexuality of his own son, James (James Roache), Ken severs contact. "[21] Roache considers himself "the guardian of Ken", responsible for ensuring that his actions and dialogue remain true to the character. [127] Roache sued for libel in 1990 when The Sun newspaper ran an article branding Ken boring and making allegations that Roache was disliked among the cast of Coronation Street. William Patrick "Bill" Roache MBE is an English actor. Mike was killed off, dying of Alzheimer's disease; he died in Ken's arms. [122], For his portrayal of Ken, Roache won the Lifetime Achievement award at The British Soap Awards 1999. [8] Coronation Street was a hit with viewers and its contract was extended. In late 1976, Barker was asked to reprise the role for a final time. Despite his somewhat antagonistic role in the show's early years, Ken developed a reputation among critics for representing an archetypal "boring man". He believes that Ken was thereafter included in "much stronger stuff" as a result, including a storyline in which Deirdre had an affair with his rival, Mike Baldwin (Briggs). In it, he hailed Ken as "one of the iconic British soap characters", an all-time great who has been integral to Coronation Street. He changes his mind at the last minute, and Martha leaves, alone. He accuses Peter of drinking and after their argument, Ken suffers a stroke and he is hospitalised. Two years later, he has a fling with exotic dancer Pip Mistral (Elaine Stevens), but his marriage survives. According to Briggs, no choreographers were ever used. "[65] Denise's return was used as a catalyst to cause further problems in Ken and Deirdre's marriage, Ken having grown discontented. "[125], In a Channel 4 televised poll that was broadcast in 2001, Ken Barlow was voted the third most-hated TV character of all time, coming behind Phil Mitchell from EastEnders and Mr Blobby. [97] The reunion was short-lived due to a rift between Lawrence and James. [57] Coincidentally, Ken and Deirdre's first wedding in 1981 was screened within 48 hours of Prince Charles and Princess Diana's wedding, and just as in 2005, the Barlow wedding attracted more viewers than the royal wedding. [2] Of the many women Ken has been paired with, his relationship with Deirdre has been the most enduring. 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