Coronation Street cast member William Roache has been given a lifetime achievement award for his record-breaking work on the ITV soap.
Bill has played Ken Barlow since the very first episode of the show, and holds the Guinness World Record as the longest-running TV soap star.
Last week, the actor, who is 92, was handed a prestigious award at the Entertainment Agents Awards.
The lifetime achievement accolade celebrates a person who has made an ‘outstanding contribution to the UK entertainment industry’.
So, of course, it was handed to Bill.
‘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’, he told the Champions Speakers Agency.
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The star added: ‘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.’
The actor was given the award by co-star Claire Sweeney, who plays Cassie Plummer in the show.
Opening up about working alongside the soap legend, Claire said: ‘I feel very honoured to have worked with Bill.
‘Not only is he a legend, he is part of the very fabric of British television.
‘Watching him and working with him – he never drops a line, he’s so smart and aware, and just seems to be ahead of everyone. He’s brilliant, he’s a kind and generous man, and I feel honoured to have this storyline with him.’
Claire’s character Cassie spent months drugging Ken Barlow. The plan began shortly after Ken told her that he no longer needed her help as a carer.
Longest-serving soap stars
While Bill Roache holds the record for the running television soap star after a whopping 64 years, he is pipped to the post overall by The Archers star Patricia Greene, who has played Jill Archer in the radio soap since 1957.
Bill’s co-star Barbara Knox is in third place, having played Rita Tanner for 53 years.
The longest-serving Emmerdale star is Chris Chittell, who has played Eric Pollard for 39 years, while Adam Woodyatt takes the crown for EastEnders, having appeared on-screen for 38 of the 40 years the BBC soap has been on air.
Not wanting to lose her income, and the friendship she had built with Ken, Cassie began lacing his tea with antihistamines.
Fortunately, Cassie’s plot was exposed recently in the show, but it came after her actions caused Ken to fall unwell multiple times.
As a result, she was cast out by the community, though kind-hearted Ken refused to report her to the police.
