'Coronation Street' actor Bill Roache arrested on suspicion of rape Read more: http:

Coronation Street star Bill Roache has pleaded not guilty to charges of rape and indecent assault.

The actor, who plays Ken Barlow in the ITV soap, denied all of the charges in a hearing at Preston Crown Court this morning (September 2).

Roache was charged on May 1 with two counts of rape involving a 15-year-old girl in the 1960s.

On June 6, he was charged with a further five indecent assaults against four girls aged between 11 or 12 and 16, which are also alleged to have taken place in the 1960s.

Speaking in court today, Roache confirmed his name before pleading not guilty to each of the seven charges.

He remains on bail and his four-week trial will begin on January 14.

Roache will not be appearing in Coronation Street while legal proceedings are ongoing. Ken Barlow's on-screen absence has been worked into scripts as the character is currently in Canada.

I seriously doubt he'll ever return to the show. Well, the trail starts on the 13th of this month anyway.

William Roache has been cleared of one of seven sex abuse allegations.

The Coronation Street actor was cleared after a judge ruled that there is too little evidence for one allegation of sexual assault against him.

The 81-year-old denies the remaining two counts of rape and four of indecent assault.

The jury in his trial at Preston Crown Court were told by the judge to return a not-guilty verdict on the single indecent assault count.

The historical claim was made by a woman who said that she was 14 at the time when Roache made her perform a sexual act on him.

During the trial, it was alleged that the incident occurred in a men's toilet at Granada's studios in Manchester in 1965.

Jurors were shown a letter and signed photograph from Roache after the alleged incident, asking her to write back to him after she returned to school.
http://i1.cdnds.net/14/03/618x415/sh...urt-sketch.jpg
Bill Roache court sketch
© PA Images / Elizabeth Cook

The same woman also claimed that she was picked up by Roache later that year from the studios in his Rolls-Royce, before the pair had a conversation of a sexual nature.

She stated that she may have been indecently assaulted in his car, but that she had "no actual memory" of the incident.

Justice Holroyde said: "In relation to that episode, the witness was not giving evidence that it did happen, she was giving evidence that she was thinking it did happen and that is not a sufficient evidential basis for the conviction of an offence."

Roache remains on trial in connection with two counts of rape and four counts of indecent assault involving five complainants who were aged 16 and under between 1965 and 1971.

William Roache has been cleared of one of seven sex abuse allegations.

The Coronation Street actor was cleared after a judge ruled that there is too little evidence for one allegation of sexual assault against him.

The 81-year-old denies the remaining two counts of rape and four of indecent assault.

The jury in his trial at Preston Crown Court were told by the judge to return a not-guilty verdict on the single indecent assault count.

The historical claim was made by a woman who said that she was 14 at the time when Roache made her perform a sexual act on him.

During the trial, it was alleged that the incident occurred in a men's toilet at Granada's studios in Manchester in 1965.

Jurors were shown a letter and signed photograph from Roache after the alleged incident, asking her to write back to him after she returned to school.
http://i1.cdnds.net/14/03/618x415/sh...urt-sketch.jpg
Bill Roache court sketch
© PA Images / Elizabeth Cook

The same woman also claimed that she was picked up by Roache later that year from the studios in his Rolls-Royce, before the pair had a conversation of a sexual nature.

She stated that she may have been indecently assaulted in his car, but that she had "no actual memory" of the incident.

Justice Holroyde said: "In relation to that episode, the witness was not giving evidence that it did happen, she was giving evidence that she was thinking it did happen and that is not a sufficient evidential basis for the conviction of an offence."

Roache remains on trial in connection with two counts of rape and four counts of indecent assault involving five complainants who were aged 16 and under between 1965 and 1971.

Too little too late? Considering his whole history of sex antics, even recently fellow actor Michelle Keegan in a story before all this broke saying how he grabbed her bum, I'm afraid no matter what he's not going to recover from this and I don't expect him to return to Corrie to be honest.

He has been found Not Guilty on 2 accounts of rape

[QUOTE=Perdita;802868]He has been found Not Guilty on 2 accounts of rape[/QUOTE)

Just heard it myself. Well, I have my doubts but he's either gotten away with it or was never guiity in the first place. Now, will he be back as Ken soon?

[QUOTE=Perdita;802868]He has been found Not Guilty on 2 accounts of rape[/QUOTE)

Just heard it myself. Well, I have my doubts but he's either gotten away with it or was never guiity in the first place. Now, will he be back as Ken soon?

[QUOTE=GloriaW;802870]

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Originally Posted by Perdita

He has been found Not Guilty on 2 accounts of rape[/QUOTE)

Just heard it myself. Well, I have my doubts but he's either gotten away with it or was never guiity in the first place. Now, will he be back as Ken soon?

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You need to be very careful what you say in regard to this matter now.

Bill Roache has been found NOT GUILTY of all charges. End of. Speculation is Dangerous and expressing it on a public forum could result in legal action

Bill Roache has been cleared of all sexual abuse charges.

The Coronation Street actor was found not guilty of two rapes and four indecent assaults after a trial at Preston Crown Court.

Five women had claimed that he assaulted them while aged 16 or under between 1965 and 1971. He was also cleared of a fifth indecent assault charge due to lack of evidence.

The 81-year-old denied knowing any of the women, and insisted that he had never been sexually interested in underage girls.

The women had claimed that he had assaulted them in the toilets and dressing rooms at Manchester's Granada Studios, and in his Rolls Royce.

His family are said to have cried with relief after the verdicts were announced by the jury.

Roache is now expected to return to Coronation Street as Ken Barlow, having not appeared on the soap since April 29, 2013.

Coronation Street bosses have confirmed plans to consult with Bill Roache over his return to the soap after he was cleared of sex abuse charges.

The actor was today (February 6) found not guilty of two rapes and four indecent assaults after a trial at Preston Crown Court.

Roache has not appeared on Coronation Street since April 2013 as all scenes featuring his character Ken Barlow were dropped after the 81-year-old's initial arrest.

A Coronation Street spokesperson told Digital Spy today: "We look forward to talking to Bill soon about his return to work."

Roache's exit from the long-running soap was addressed in July last year, when Ken's wife Deirdre revealed that he had flown off to Canada to support his grandson Adam, who had fallen ill.

Anne Kirkbride, who plays Deirdre, was among a number of Roache's Coronation Street colleagues who supported him in court last week, giving evidence in his defence.

His on-screen son Chris Gascoyne (Peter Barlow) and long-serving cast member Helen Worth (Gail McIntyre) also defended him at the trial.

Roache has played the role of Ken since 1960.

[QUOTE=alan45;802871]

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Originally Posted by GloriaW

You need to be very careful what you say in regard to this matter now.

Bill Roache has been found NOT GUILTY of all charges. End of. Speculation is Dangerous and expressing it on a public forum could result in legal action

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Baloney.

[QUOTE=GloriaW;802874]

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Originally Posted by alan45

Baloney.

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http://www.slate.com/articles/techno..._facebook.html

QED

[QUOTE=GloriaW;802874]

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Originally Posted by alan45

Baloney.

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http://www.slate.com/articles/techno..._facebook.html

QED

[QUOTE=alan45;802876]

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Originally Posted by GloriaW

http://www.slate.com/articles/techno..._facebook.html

QED

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You really are dumber then I thought. Expressing doubts as to a verdict is hardly libel. Get a life.

[QUOTE=alan45;802876]

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Originally Posted by GloriaW

http://www.slate.com/articles/techno..._facebook.html

QED

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You really are dumber then I thought. Expressing doubts as to a verdict is hardly libel. Get a life.

[QUOTE=GloriaW;802884]

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Originally Posted by alan45

You really are dumber then I thought. Expressing doubts as to a verdict is hardly libel. Get a life.

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[QUOTE=GloriaW;802870]

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Originally Posted by Perdita

He has been found Not Guilty on 2 accounts of rape[/QUOTE)

Just heard it myself. Well, I have my doubts but he's either gotten away with it or was never guiity in the first place.

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.

[QUOTE=alan45;802895][QUOTE=GloriaW;802884]

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Originally Posted by GloriaW

.

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That's right, I have doubts. How long do you want to harp on this? People are entitled to have doubts and sorry if that's causing you to hammer on. I was stating that either he did it and got away with it or was entirely innocent. That a jury has acquitted him doesn't erase my personal doubts.
Go away, you're annoying.

[QUOTE=alan45;802895][QUOTE=GloriaW;802884]

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GloriaW

.

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That's right, I have doubts. How long do you want to harp on this? People are entitled to have doubts and sorry if that's causing you to hammer on. I was stating that either he did it and got away with it or was entirely innocent. That a jury has acquitted him doesn't erase my personal doubts.
Go away, you're annoying.

Eccles will be happy :p

I'd rather Ken didn't return.

I'm looking forward to the return of Ken and Kevin on the street.

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Originally Posted by Snagglepus

I'm looking forward to the return of Ken and Kevin on the street.

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I'm not.

He will be able to take Eccles for a walk and help Deirdre eat her stuffed marrow.

On a serious note, the cps in the news said there is certain criteria that a case has to pass before it can go to court. The CPS said they respected the jury's verdict, however they also said it was right for the case to come to court. Whether it was, who is to say. It is a tricky one. Although I do not like the women I did find myself agreeing with Christine Hamilton, a friend of Bill Roache. she said the only winners are the lawyers.

However I hope it doesn't stop victims coming forward to report these dreadful crimes.

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Originally Posted by Dazzle

I'm not.

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Me either. I haven't particularly felt the loss of them during their absence.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dazzle

I'm not.

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Me either. I haven't particularly felt the loss of them during their absence.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by flappinfanny

On a serious note, the cps in the news said there is certain criteria that a case has to pass before it can go to court. The CPS said they respected the jury's verdict, however they also said it was right for the case to come to court. Whether it was, who is to say. It is a tricky one. Although I do not like the women I did find myself agreeing with Christine Hamilton, a friend of Bill Roache. she said the only winners are the lawyers.

However I hope it doesn't stop victims coming forward to report these dreadful crimes.

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That's always a danger and I heard the actress Sherry Hewson talking on a morning show about how upset she's been as she's a friend and supporter of Roache and that it all has to stop.
"this climate we live in is so dreadful."

i took it to mean that accusatons of sexual abuse should not be as widely reported. That's the last thing that should occur. One of the reasons abusers have gotten away with it for so long was that they felt intimidated to come forward especially if the abuser had been a high profile or powerful person.

With the Saville revelations the atmosphere changed which is good though of course anything can be used the wrong way.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by flappinfanny

On a serious note, the cps in the news said there is certain criteria that a case has to pass before it can go to court. The CPS said they respected the jury's verdict, however they also said it was right for the case to come to court. Whether it was, who is to say. It is a tricky one. Although I do not like the women I did find myself agreeing with Christine Hamilton, a friend of Bill Roache. she said the only winners are the lawyers.

However I hope it doesn't stop victims coming forward to report these dreadful crimes.

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That's always a danger and I heard the actress Sherry Hewson talking on a morning show about how upset she's been as she's a friend and supporter of Roache and that it all has to stop.
"this climate we live in is so dreadful."

i took it to mean that accusatons of sexual abuse should not be as widely reported. That's the last thing that should occur. One of the reasons abusers have gotten away with it for so long was that they felt intimidated to come forward especially if the abuser had been a high profile or powerful person.

With the Saville revelations the atmosphere changed which is good though of course anything can be used the wrong way.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by flappinfanny

He will be able to take Eccles for a walk and help Deirdre eat her stuffed marrow.

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Dedire will miss being able to smoke all over the place so freely though.:nono:

Lord, I can't stand to hear Anne Kirklbride speak anymore. Those vocal chords are so thickened by the smoking.

Lancashire Police have issued a statement after Bill Roache was cleared of historic sex abuse charges today (February 6).

The Coronation Street actor was found not guilty of two counts of rape and four counts of indecent assault after a trial at Preston Crown Court.

Shortly after the verdict, Lancashire Police said that they "entirely respect" the jury's decision and encouraged victims of sexual abuse to report such crimes.

They said: "These very serious allegations were thoroughly and professionally investigated by a team of specialist detectives.

"Lancashire Constabulary worked closely with the Crown Prosecution Service from an early stage, and all the evidence was subjected to careful scrutiny before a decision was taken to charge, in the belief that there was sufficient evidence to justify a realistic prospect of conviction.

"The jury has had an opportunity over the course of the trial to hear and fully consider the evidence presented by both the prosecution and the defence.

"We entirely respect the verdict reached by the jury today; the burden of proof in our system is quite rightly very high and we thank them for considering this matter so carefully."

They added: "The Constabulary remain committed to investigating allegations of this nature, no matter how historic, and would encourage anyone who has been a victim of a sexual offence to come forward safe in the knowledge that they will be treated sensitively and professionally."

Speaking outside court, Roache thanked the jury for their "speedy recovery" and said that he would "like to get back to work".

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.

A Coronation Street spokesperson told Digital Spy today: "We look forward to talking to Bill soon about his return to work."

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Originally Posted by Snagglepus

I'm looking forward to the return of Ken and Kevin on the street.

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u fancy ken in his kimono :p

Bill Roache will reportedly return to Coronation Street in the summer.

The 81-year-old actor - who plays Ken Barlow in the ITV soap - has not appeared since his arrest over allegations of rape and indecent assault in 2013.

Coronation Street actor William Roache speaks to the media outside Preston Crown Court, as he was today found not guilty by a jury of two counts of raping a 15-year-old girl in east Lancashire in 1967, and four indecent assaults involving four girls aged between 11 or 12 and 16 in the Manchester area in 1965 and 1968.
© PA Images

He was cleared of all charges yesterday (February 6), saying outside court: "I need to get back to work."

According to BBC News, Roache is expected to return by the summer, as filming for transmission in April is already underway, with storylines planned until July.

Ken Barlow has not appeared in the soap since April, and is said to have been visiting his grandson Adam in Canada.

A Coronation Street spokesperson told Digital Spy: "We look forward to talking to Bill soon about his return to work."

A jury at Preston Crown Court ruled that Roache was not guilty of two allegations of rape and four of indecent assault.

Five women had claimed that he assaulted them when they were aged 16 or under between 1965 and 1971.

Bill Roache has starred in Coronation Street since its first episode in 1960, and is the longest-running character in any TV soap opera.



I will be glad to see him return if only to show that a couple can stick together despite numerous problems and Ken and Deirdre are well suited to each other

Soap star William Roache is to resume filming on Coronation Street, almost five months after being cleared of rape and indecent assault.

from www.bbc.co.uk/news

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Haven't missed him at all! Why are they sacking people and letting this old devil come back?!

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Originally Posted by Ruffed_lemur

Haven't missed him at all! Why are they sacking people and letting this old devil come back?!

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I have missed him-for poor Deirdre's sake! :D They are so funny together.

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Originally Posted by Ruffed_lemur

Haven't missed him at all! Why are they sacking people and letting this old devil come back?!

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I have missed him-for poor Deirdre's sake! :D They are so funny together.

He wasn't sacked. He was suspended while the investigations were carried out. He's been found not guilty and free to resume his life.

I'm surprised there is no mention of him in the current storyline with the trouble his son Peter is in.
Then again Gails dad had no contact during her troubles and showed no concern about Nicks accident.