Ken Barlow (William Roache)

[Richie_lecturer]

Absolutely. My poilitics is against jobs for life, but I think in Ken's case he should be the one who calls time. He is an institution in British TV, and I don't feel the end is nigh for him just yet. Bill Roache's only about 74 in real life so he's not that ancient.

BTW this is reported in the Daily Star, take with a pinch of sodium chloride.

[Chris_2k11]

I can't see this happening.

[Perdita]

ROMEO Ken Barlow has had 27 girlfriends on Corrie — now it looks like he’s getting a boyfriend!

The Street becomes awash with gossip when Ken befriends Gail’s gay dad Ted. But Deirdre is relieved when she discovers there’s no truth to the rumour — started by her mum Blanche.

Good old Blanche, she certainly get emotions going.

[sindydoll]

no! that wont be true!!

[Chloe O'brien]

Aw bless Blanche what is she like.

[Abbie]

This will be funny to watch

[kitty_uk]

lol will be funny hehe

[Perdita]

Ken Barlow's absence from Coronation Street will finally be addressed on screen next week.

The ITV soap's longest-running character is not appearing in the programme while Bill Roache, who plays him, is facing charges of rape and indecent assault.

Ken was last seen on Monday, April 29, when Tracy (Kate Ford) caused tension by inviting new boyfriend Rob Donovan to dinner at the Barlows'.

In the Coronation Street double bill airing on Friday, July 12, Ken's absence will be worked into the storyline as his wife Deirdre (Anne Kirkbride) reveals that he has flown off to Canada.

Ken makes the last-minute trip to support his grandson Adam, who is unwell after suffering a shock collapse.

Deirdre tells Tracy: "Canada is a long way away and he's got no other family. Blacking out like that is frightening, and he collapsed at work."

Tracy replies: "So dad just drops everything. You know something, I can't imagine he would ever do anything like that for me."

Roache was charged on May 1 with two counts of rape involving a 15-year-old girl in the 1960s. He was later charged with five indecent assaults against four girls aged between 11 or 12 and 16, but strenuously denies all of the allegations.

The 81-year-old will next appear in court on September 2 and a provisional trial date has been set for January 13.

[tammyy2j]

About time

[Perdita]

Coronation Street producer Stuart Blackburn has lined up a light-hearted storyline for Ken and Deirdre Barlow.

Ken, played by Bill Roache, will whisk wife Deirdre off to Wales on a caravan trip in scenes to be aired over the summer.

When Ken arrives home he finds a shaken Deirdre. She prepares to give him an ultimatum
© ITV
Ken and Dierdre Coronation Street

Blackburn said to The Mirror: "I can't wait to see Bill back on screen. I'm going to give Ken and Deirdre a little holiday - a caravan in North Wales. What could possibly go wrong?

"Ken raises the idea of going on holiday and she's busy scanning the papers for places in Monaco or Barbados, something like that.

"Then he pulls up in a hired caravan going, 'Let's go to North Wales!'"

Blackburn hopes that the new storyline will help lighten the mood of the ITV soap after the murder of Tina McIntyre, which kicks off next week.

Blackburn said: "Ken is going to come back to a really dark time. But Tina's murder storyline won't be the only one that dominates for him.

"We are going to have some fun as well."

Roache has not appeared on screen in Coronation Street since April 2013, when all scenes featuring his character Ken Barlow were dropped following his initial arrest.

The actor said in February that he was looking forward to returning to the soap after being cleared of historic sex abuse charges.