Coronation Street has cast Absolutely Fabulous actress Helen Lederer in a guest role as a love interest for the show’s oldest character Ken Barlow.
Known for once being the cobblestoned biggest lothario (Bill Roache) and desperate to prove he can still woo the ladies at the age of 91, Ken takes up speed dating.
After being single for nearly a decade following the death of his beloved wife Deirdre in 2015, he catches up with his girlfriend Elspeth (played by comedian Helen, 69).
Ken attends the speed dating event with ex-son-in-law Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson) and leaves the taxi company owner devastated when, despite his advanced age, he manages to outdo him in romance.
Speaking about the role Helen, who will appear in a Wednesday March 27, described her character as ‘forward and brave’.
Coronation Street has cast Absolutely Fabulous actress Helen Lederer in a guest role as a love interest for the show’s oldest character Ken Barlow (Bill Roach)
Once known as the cobblestone’s biggest lothario and desperate to prove he can still woo the ladies at the age of 91, Ken takes up speed dating
After being single for almost a decade following the death of his beloved wife Deirdre in 2015, he catches the eye of his girlfriend Elspeth (played by comedian Helen, 69).
She also admitted that one of the biggest draws of taking on the role was the opportunity to act opposite Bill, who has appeared on the soap since its first episode in 1960.
Saying: ‘I had met him once before when I sat next to him at an event and I thought what a lovely man he was and so personable. So for me it was a pleasure to be offered this short role’.
And despite only appearing briefly, Helen teased that Ken took Elspeth’s number during their scenes and she would love to return to the soap should he call.
As well as playing Catriona in Ab Fab, the actress has also appeared in Hollyoaks, Celebrity Big Brother and Agatha Christie’s Marple.
It comes after the actor was given a three-month deadline to settle his huge tax debt to ‘allow sale of property’ on Monday.
William earns £250,000 a year playing Ken Barlow on the long-running soap, but has racked up half a million in debt to the taxman.
He struck a deal in 2018 to clear the £588,015.18 bill, but according to reports last month he has only paid £41,666.65 so far.
Bill is looking to sell off a property to clear the debt with The sun reported in February that a potential buyer had pulled out of a deal.
Ken enters the speed dating event with ex-brother-in-law Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson, right) and leaves the taxi company owner devastated when, despite his advanced age, he manages to outdo him in romance
Speaking about the role of Helen, who will appear in a Wednesday March 27, described her character as ‘forward and brave’
The High Court has now granted him a 12-week adjournment to ‘allow the property to be sold’.
Bill did not appear at a specialist hearing where lawyers for HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) said the amount the actor owes – which was not disclosed in court – has been reduced due to payments made.
Jacquille Jarrett, for HMRC, said Bill had requested a 12-week adjournment, which was unopposed, to “allow for the sale of property”.
Retired insolvency and corporate law judge Stephen Baister granted the adjournment and said Bill’s case will return in June.
“Excellent,” said Dr. Baister at the end of the hearing, which lasted less than a minute, at the High Court in London.
Bill is best known for his portrayal of Ken Barlow in the ITV soap for more than 60 years after debuting in its first episode in 1960.
He has married three times during his six decades on the show with Deirdre (Anne Kirbride) being the most memorable (pictured together in 1989)
Dynasty star Stephanie Beacham also appeared as a love interest for Ken, played by actress Martha Fraser
He has married three times during his six-decade run on the show, with Deirdre (Anne Kirbride) being the most memorable.
They were first married in 1981 and their relationship was rocky to say the least.
Shortly after tying the knot for the first time, Deirdre had an affair with Mike Baldwin (played by Johnny Briggs) after she found Ken boring.
And while the relationship miraculously survived, it quickly came to a devastating end when Ken had an affair with his secretary Wendy Cozier (Roberta Kerr) in 1989.
They divorced in the 80s, only to remarry in 2005, which tragically ended after her off-screen death in 2015, following the passing of actress Anne Kirkbride.
Before Deirdre, Ken was briefly married to Janet (Judith Barker) in 1973.
After the death of his first wife, Ken married Janet soon after so that his twins would have a lovely mother.
But the pair would often not see eye to eye, with Janet not keen on having the children at home and also disappointed by Ken’s lack of ambition.
In 1977, Janet appeared on Ken’s doorstep and begged him to take her back, but he refused, prompting her to take her own life.
Valerie (Anne Reid) was Ken’s first wife and mother to Peter (Chris Gascoyne) and Susan (Joanna Foster).
They married in 1962 and were smitten until her devastating accidental death in 1971.
Ken then agreed to take a teaching position in Jamaica and the family prepared to emigrate.
While getting ready for her own going away party, Valerie was electrified by a malfunctioning hair dryer.
Bill, who holds the Guinness World Record for the longest-serving television soap star in the world, was appointed an OBE in the Queen’s New Year Honors list in December 2021 for services to drama and charity.
It comes after the actor was given a three-month deadline to clear his huge tax debt to ‘allow sale of property’ on Monday