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Coronation Street's Bill Roache Admits He Feared Ken Barlow Would Be Killed Off Amid Stroke Storyline

He's been in 'Corrie' for 57 years.
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Entertainment Editor

‘Coronation Street’ veteran Bill Roache has admitted he feared his days on the soap could have been numbered, when his character Ken Barlow suffered a stroke last year.

Back in October, the Barlow family were put firmly back in the spotlight, when two family members returned to Weatherfield to return to care for Ken, after he was taken into hospital.

However, the long-serving actor has now admitted he feared for his character’s future when he first heard about the storyline, even growing concerned he could be written out completely.

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Bill Roache
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Speaking to The Mirror, Bill said: “When Ken had a stroke it made me think about his mortality.

“I got a bit worried they might be writing him out. Fortunately his recovery was quite quick.”

Before the storyline aired, Bill told HuffPost UK: “The only thing I said when I first heard about it was that I wanted to speak to somebody on the medical side to make sure that what I was doing was right.”

Far from being written out in the aftermath, Ken’s illness and recovery meant the Barlows could take centre stage in the weeks that followed, with the return of both Adam and Daniel Barlow serving as big plot devices in the past few months.

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Ken Barlow in hospital last year
ITV/Rex/Shutterstock

While Adam has already taken a shine to Maria Connor, Daniel was at the centre of a drama when he slept with Sinead Tinker, resultingly ending her engagement to Chesney Brown.

Bill is the longest-serving actor in ‘Coronation Street’, having appeared in the show since its first episode aired on ITV in 1960.

TV's Longest Serving Soap Stars
Bill Roache(01 of15)
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Played: Ken Barlow (1960 - Present, 'Coronation Street')

William, or Bill as he's known, was one of the original stars in Tony Warren's series. In the decades since, we've seen his character marry four different women, though Deirdre Barlow will always be his soulmate. (credit:ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Adam Woodyatt(02 of15)
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Played: Ian Beale (1985 - Present, 'EastEnders')

Not only is Ian the longest-serving 'EastEnders' character, but he's also the most married, following five ceremonies - though he did marry Jane twice. (credit:REX/Shutterstock)
Chrisopher Chittell(03 of15)
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Played: Eric Pollard (1986 - Present, 'Emmerdale')

Pollard has been at the centre of many big storylines, but none were more touching than his - often hilarious -relationship with Val. (credit:ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Eileen Derbyshire(04 of15)
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Played: Emily Bishop (1960 - Present, 'Coronation Street')

Emily is the longest-standing female character in 'Corrie', and though she's taken a handful of breaks from the soap, actress Eileen has always returned to t'cobbles. (credit:ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Pam St Clement(05 of15)
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Played: Pat Butcher (1986 - 2012, 2016, 'EastEnders')

We thought we'd seen the last of Pat in 2012, when she was killed off in emotional scenes. Little did we know, she'd be back for Peggy Mitchell's farewell. (credit:News (UK) Ltd/REX/Shutterstock)
Barbara Knox(06 of15)
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Played: Rita Tanner (1964, 1972 - Present, 'Coronation Street')

After making a brief appearance in 1964, Barbara returned to the soap just under a decade later. (credit:Ben Curtis/PA Archive)
Richard Thorp(07 of15)
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Played: Alan Turner (1982 - 2013, 'Emmerdale')

Richard made his last appearance in the soap in July 2013, and his character was killed off, off-screen, three months later. Sadly, the actor then died in late October. (credit:ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Betty Driver(08 of15)
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Played: Betty Williams (1969 - 2011, 'Coronation Street')

Hotpot, anyone? (credit:ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Wendy Richard(09 of15)
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Played: Pauline Fowler (1985 - 2006, 'EastEnders')

The formidable Pauline was one of Walford's most-loved matriarchs. (credit:REX/Shutterstock)
Stan Richards(10 of15)
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Played: Seth Armstrong (1978 - 2003, 2004, 'Emmerdale')

The role was at first a bit part but due to Stan's popularity, he stayed in the Dales. And it simply wouldn't have been the same without him. (credit:ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Steve McFadden(11 of15)
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Played: Phil Mitchell (1990 - 2003, 2005 - Present)

Steve was honoured for his work on the soap at the 2016 British Soap Awards, where he received the Outstanding Achievement Award. (credit:Nils Jorgensen/REX/Shutterstock)
Sheila Mercier(12 of15)
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Played: Annie Sugden (1972 - 1994, 1995, 1996, 2009, 'Emmerdale')

What would Annie make of what her grandsons Robert and Andy are getting up to at the moment? (credit:ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Helen Worth(13 of15)
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Played: Gail Platt (1974, 1975 - Present, 'Coronation Street')

Over the years, Gail has had to deal with many unexpected moments, and Tina O'Brien's (pictured) teen pregnancy was just one of many that hit headlines. (credit:WHAT'S ON TV/REX/Shutterstock)
Clive Horby(14 of15)
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Played: Jack Sugden (1980 - 2008, 'Emmerdale')

Between 1972 and 1976, the role was played by actor Andrew Burt, but Clive made it his own when he arrived in the Dales. (credit:ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
June Brown(15 of15)
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Played: Dot Cotton (1985 - 1993, 1997 - 2012, 2013 - Present)

Words cannot even express how grateful we are to have Dot in the Square. (credit:BBC)
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