Coronation Street's Bill Roache does not see co-stars outside of work
Coronation Street star Bill Roache keeps himself apart from his soap co-stars outside of work.
Bill Roache does not see his Coronation Street co-stars outside of work.
The 94-year-old actor - who has played Ken Barlow since the ITV soap's first episode in 1960 - thinks he has a stronger bond with some of the behind-the-scenes crew.
Appearing on the latest episode of the Session 7 - Interesting Lives podcast, Bill revealed: "I don't meet up with anyone.
"I had one or two people like Chris Gascoyne and one or two others, recently, that I was closer to. I'm probably closer to people in makeup and wardrobe.
"You can like them and be friendly with them, but that's it. We meet at parties at Christmas and things like that, we have a drink and things."
And the same goes for Barbara Knox, 92, who has played Rita Tanner in Coronation Street since December 1964.
Bill added: "Barbara's great, she's a wonderful person.
"We've been polite, but we've never been friendly. I have never been socially out with Barbara ever.
"She speaks her mind, and she knows her life, which is fine; we respect each other, but we don't meet up socially."
Bill holds the world record for the longest-serving TV actor in a continuous role and has previously said he wants to remain on the show until he turns 100.
Speaking on Love Your Weekend last year, he said: "Still going strong, and hope to make the centenarian. That would be great."
Asked the secret behind his longevity in Coronation Street, Bill added: "The secret is to enjoy yourself. But, you know, there’s a collective consciousness about ageing, a lot of it is a belief system.
"When you’re 60, you know, ‘Oh sit down, take it easy, aren’t you retiring yet?’ and all those things. No! Keep going! I’m doing a parachute jump in a few weeks’ time. You just do whatever you want to do, as long as you enjoy it, that’s the main thing.
"People will say, 'When are you retiring?' But then what happens? Whilst I can do it, and whilst they will have me, I have no intention of retiring.
"I am so fortunate to work for an organisation that is happy to have me. For me, it’s really just the same as ever. Getting on with it, steady as you go. If you enjoy doing something, keep doing it."
And in January, Coronation Street boss Iain Macleod says Bill can keep playing Ken "for as long as he wants".
He added to The Sun newspaper: "I mean, it would be a brave producer team that took that decision [to axe him].
"Whatever you give him, even now, he’s on point. He’s on his dialogue; he’s the most professional member of the cast. I don’t know how many more records there are to break in that field, but I hope he breaks them all."
