Ken Barlow (William Roache)

[Perdita]

Ken Barlow is coming back to Coronation Street next week.

The character returns from Canada and is shocked to find out that his son Peter is in prison on remand for Tina McIntyre's murder

Here, Bill Roache - who plays Ken - chats about his return, Peter in prison and being part of Corrie again...

Ken is furious with Deidre
© ITV

How is Ken feeling about his return to the Street?
"Ken is really happy to be back, he has had a great time in Canada, he's used the time to do things he loves doing, he has started writing poetry and become a vegetarian, things which he immediately gets stick about on his return from Deirdre and Tracy. But he wouldn't want it any other way."

Does he have any idea that something is wrong?
"Not at all, Deirdre is a bit evasive but there is no way he would have any idea what she has been hiding from him. He knows that Peter and Carla have split up but that's as much as he knows at first."

When does he first discover that Peter is in prison?
"He has been trying to go out but Deirdre has so far foiled him every step of the way as she builds up the courage to tell him about Peter's arrest. But when Deirdre goes out of the back of the house to get Eccles he decides to head to the shop where he bumps into Carla and she tells him the truth because he starts asking her if there is any hope for their marriage!"

What are his emotions about Peter? Does he blame him?
"As soon as he asks Peter outright and Peter tells him he didn't kill Tina Ken believes him. He looks him in the eye and totally believes what he says. It isn't just the blind faith of a father's love, he genuinely knows Peter is not the murderer."

Ken visits Peter in prison
© ITV

How does Deirdre's decision not to tell him affect their marriage?
"Ken is furious but they have been round the block a few times and once they have had it out he forgives her. What he finds harder to deal with is that he is the only one who seems to believe Peter. He soon realises that everyone else, Deirdre included, think that there is a chance that Peter did it, even if they don't want to believe it."

What happens when Ken visits Peter in prison?
"What shocks Ken is that even Peter seems prepared to throw in the towel - for a time Ken is the only person who seems to want to put up a fight. He realises that Peter does blame himself, even though he didn't actually kill Tina he can see that he feels responsible which is one of the reasons that Ken genuinely does believe he didn't kill her."

Is he shocked by Peter's condition?
"He is shocked that Peter has admitted defeat so quickly and just seems prepared for the worst."

How does Ken plan to help him?
"Ken has always been a man who loves a cause, a mission, now that it is his own son he will stop at nothing to try and prove his innocence."

Does Ken even suspect that Rob might have something to do with this?
"Nobody suspects Rob, and Ken has no reason to think he was the killer, that is why Rob is able to get away with it for so long. What motive would he have? He has also played a very clever game sticking to his guns about Peter being the killer."

Ken reassures Peter he has his support
© ITV

How does he feel about Rob being under his roof and being engaged to Tracy?
"There is something about Rob that Ken doesn't like, he has had time to win Deirdre round, but Ken isn't sure about him, that doesn't mean to say he thinks he has anything to do with the murder. The fact that Rob is so certain Peter has done it is enough to wind Ken up."

What happens when Ken tries to get Simon to visit Peter?
"The last thing Rob wants is Peter getting visit from Simon and getting any ideas about fighting the charges, Rob wants Peter to continue accepting his fate so he 'accidentally' arranges for a day out with Simon, Amy and Tracy, so Simon is not available to go to the prison. Ken has no idea that it is deliberate."

What is Rob's reaction when Ken hires a new solicitor and vows to find the real killer?
"Ken is fast becoming the thorn in Rob's side, if Ken hadn't returned and started this crusade to prove Peter's innocence Rob would have had no worries about the truth ever being found out. Now he is constantly panicking that Ken is going to unearth something that incriminates him."

How do you feel about being part of this storyline?
"Yes I am thrilled to be at the heart of a story which has been so huge for the show. Ken is linked in some way to all the main players, which is what the street does so well, it is the ripple effect and Ken is at the heart of it. He has always loved a challenge and it is great to show that side of Ken. But I am equally pleased with the great comedy story running alongside it where Ken and Deirdre go on a caravan trip to North Wales, it was great fun to film. This is what the show does best, great drama alongside laugh out loud comedy."

[lizann]

has ken met rob yet?

[Perdita]

He must have done, Rob has been a cast member before Ken left for Canada

[Perdita]

Ken in love triangle with Audrey

Coronation Street bosses are lining up a love triangle involving Ken Barlow, Audrey Roberts and new girl Nessa.
It has previously been reported that the legendary lothario will catch the idea of Audrey’s new hairdresser, Nessa. She’s the sister of Cathy Matthews and arrives on the cobbles after she’s recruited by Audrey when Maria Connor goes to look after her sick mum. But while Nessa may get her claws into Ken, she’s not the only local lady lusting after Ken. In a new twist Audrey will realise she’s developed feelings for Ken and doesn’t know what to do about them. She feels guilty because she was good friends with Deirdre Barlow, who only recently passed away. Audrey will confide in Rita about her feelings but it remains to be seen which woman bags Ken long term.

[mariba]

I'm sorry but Ken is 80+ ..surely a love triangle is bit too much at that age? Especially when his beloved Deidre has just died..I wish they would just keep Ken friendly with Audrey or something. There's other things to write for him than romance, surely. Use your imagination writers!

[Perdita]

I'm sorry but Ken is 80+ ..surely a love triangle is bit too much at that age? Especially when his beloved Deidre has just died..I wish they would just keep Ken friendly with Audrey or something. There's other things to write for him than romance, surely. Use your imagination writers!

Could not agree more!

[Perdita]

Although he's still learning to cope after the death of wife Deirdre, Ken Barlow could soon find himself at the centre of a love triangle on Coronation Street with Audrey Roberts rumoured to be developing feelings for the widower.

According to The Mirror, Ken (Bill Roache) will start dating new character Nessa, the sister of Cathy Williams.

Meanwhile it's understood that viewers will also see Audrey (Sue Nicholls) getting closer to Ken, and telling Rita she "has feelings" for Ken and thinks it's mutual.

Nothing official has been released about the potential storyline but The Mirror quotes a source who said: "Ken Barlow has always been a lothario on the Street and nothing has changed.

"This time he ends up in a kind of love triangle, getting involved with Nessa, whilst also attracting attention from Audrey.

"After the death of Deirdre (Anne Kirkbride), Ken starts to spend more and more time with Audrey and she admits to Rita she wants to be with him all the time."

The source also added: "Audrey feels very mixed up because she feels there's something between them but she feels guilty because Deirdre was her friend and she hasn't long died.

"There is a chance Audrey could finally be lucky in love after years without a partner."

Ken has been married four times, twice to Deirdre, whilst Audrey was left heartbroken after dating escort Lewis Archer in 2010.

It's understood that Corrie bosses will try out a potential relationship and see how viewers react before deciding if it will be come a long term storyline.

A show source said: "It is a case of them having feelings for each other. But the storyline is set to run and run."


Read more: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s3...#ixzz3kE2H8kkw

[Dazzle]

I'm sorry but Ken is 80+ ..surely a love triangle is bit too much at that age? Especially when his beloved Deidre has just died..I wish they would just keep Ken friendly with Audrey or something. There's other things to write for him than romance, surely. Use your imagination writers!

I also feel it's too soon after Deirdre, but I suppose she never stopped him being a lothario even when she was alive so at least it's in character. Also, it'll hopefully be a good few months before this plays out on screen.

As for Ken's age, I've read several news reports which would raise a few eyebrows regarding elderly (and presumably ailing) care home residents getting into scraps about their sex lives. I don't think emotions change much even when the body starts to fail. Also, Ken is only 75 so plenty of life in him yet.

As I mentioned in another post recently, the Ken and Audrey "friendship" began when the storyline about him encouraging her to read Anna Karenina started. It was only dropped because of poor Anne's real life death, but it's not a new idea by any means.

[Perdita]

Coronation Street's producer Stuart Blackburn has confirmed reports that Audrey Roberts will become Ken Barlow's new love interest.

The surprising storyline was first rumoured late last month, as Audrey was tipped to develop feelings for Ken following the recent death of his wife Deirdre.

When Ken hears noise from the salon, he enters to find the place smashed up and Audrey shaken
© ITV
Audrey and Ken in next week's Coronation Street

Ken will also be catching the eye of new character Nessa, who is the widowed sister of recent arrival Cathy Matthews.

Speaking of Ken and Audrey's connection for the first time, Blackburn told Inside Soap: "It's going to be a bit like Ross and Rachel in Friends. There will be a lot of barriers, and Audrey won't want to act on her feelings as she feels it's too soon after Deirdre's death.

"But when Cathy's sister Nessa comes in, she'll have no such qualms!"

Blackburn added that he is also hoping to further expand the show's older cast with the arrival of a new male character who has yet to be announced.

He said: "I'm looking for a comedy character who's a bit older and isn't exactly Fred Elliott, but might be of that ilk.

"I can't say much more than that, but we are in negotiations with the person we have in mind. The character is in his 60s or 70s and is a very naughty, cheeky chappie. And this actor is so, so Corrie!"


Read more: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s3...#ixzz3lAGojAFt

[Perdita]

He might be getting close to Nessa Warner, but Coronation Street star Bill Roache has said his character Ken Barlow would "drop everything" to be with Audrey Roberts.

A love triangle is developing on the show, and while Audrey is currently wrestling with secret feelings for Ken, she's kicking herself for letting Nessa get in there first.

Speaking about Ken's situation, Roache said if he knew Audrey was interested, he would "drop everything".

An upset Nessa refuses to go to Carla and Nick's engagement party
© ITV
"He would like to think that she had feelings for him, but he doesn't know. He certainly has for her, but he hasn't allowed himself to open up and express them until he's fully over Deirdre."

When asked if Audrey and Ken would make a good couple, Roache said: "I do, I really do, this is me Bill Roache speaking, when I first heard the producers say this is what they're going to do, I thought it was a great idea.

"...it's amazing after all these years of just being friends, but it's going to be stretched out, it will be on and off, they're not just going to get together, bang, get married because there's no story there. There'll definitely be problems."

He went on to say: "He's known Audrey for 30 years, she's been married to other people but they've always had a very nice respect for each other.

When Ken hears noise from the salon, he enters to find the place smashed up and Audrey shaken
© ITV
"She's respected the fact that Ken is a University graduate, has a Degree. Since the death of Deirdre she has been very warm and very sympathetic, which is laying down the foundation so when the time is right, their relationship could grow."

Meanwhile, Audrey is about to damage Nessa's chances of love with Ken by giving her the haircut from hell next month.