Coronation Street legend given ‘job for life’ as contract extended

Coronation Street has been on the air for over 65 years – and Ken Barlow actor William Roache has been there since the very first episode. He is now due to continue to play the role as long as possible.

Coronation Street legend William Roache has told he has a job “for life” after playing soap character Ken Barlow for 65 years. The long-serving star was in the very first episode of the ITV show when it aired way back on 9 December 1960.

Now aged 93, the star is not showing any signs of slowing down – and has instead agreed to continue starring on Coronation Street for at least another year. And now it has been suggested he will have his contract extended for as long as he is alive after proving to be a true professional all these decades later.

Ken’s storylines over the years have included a troubled marriage to Deirdre, other love affairs, and surviving being pushed down the stairs in the 2017 whodunit. While Bill has played virtually no other character over the course of his entire career – with just a handful of roles before he landed the part of Ken at the beginning of the ’60s.

In an interview with The Sun, ITV’s Executive Producer for Continuing Drama, Iain Macleod, has guaranteed that Bill will never be asked to leave the show. Asked if the actor is permitted to stay on the cobbles for as long as he wants, Iain said: “Absolutely. I mean, it would be a brave producer team that took that decision.”

Lavishing praise on the actor, he said: “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.”

Last month, it was revealed that Bill’s contract to appear on Corrie had been extended by another year. And reports went on to claim that the star would be paid an impressive six-figure fee to continue playing the part.

Meanwhile, Bill himself has made it no secret that he wants to carry on working until he turns 100 at least. Currently, the actor who lives in Wilmslow, Cheshire, holds the world record as the longest-serving actor in a continuous role.

Speaking earlier this year, after bagging the Lifetime Achievement Award at The Entertainment Agents’ Awards (TEAA) award, Bill said: “It’s a huge honour to receive this award, and I am very grateful for it.

“I’ve enjoyed a wonderful career, and to have spent so many years working on such a special programme like Coronation Street has been magical. I’ve been fortunate to work with some absolutely incredible actors over that period and made a lifetime of memories. I’m looking forward to being in the programme for many more years to come – hopefully until I am 100!”

Bill’s sweet deal to continue starring on Corrie comes after a large number of cast either quit the soap or were shown the door as budgets at ITV have been tightened. Corrie fans were devastated recently when Helen Worth, 75, quit the soap after 50 years.

She played loveable character Gail Platt – first appearing in July 1974 and leaving in late 2024. Of her exit, she said in a statement: “I made the decision at the start of the year and spoke to the producers who were very kind and understanding.

“I have been truly blessed to have been given the most incredible scripts week in week out, and to have worked with fantastic actors, directors and a brilliant crew. The past 50 years have flown by and I don’t think the fact that I am leaving has quite sunk in yet.”

In recent months, a high number of beloved characters have disappeared from the cobbles after being on screens for years. Billy Mayhew, played by Daniel Brocklebank, was killed off after 11 years, Dee-Dee Bailey, played by Channique Sterling-Brown, left towards the end of 2025 after first appearing in 2022.

Other big names to quit the show included Eileen Grimshaw, played by Sue Cleaver, who exited in June 2025 after 25 years, while Daisy Midgeley, played by Charlotte Jordan, left in 2025 after four years, and Craig Tinker, played by Colson Smith who was just 11-year-old when he took on the role, was written out after 14 years.