Credit:Mike Marsland
William Roache is the definition of a Coronation Street legend but he soap veteran has disclosed that he endured a two-year rift with one of his Corrie colleagues.
The 93-year-old actor, who has portrayed Ken Barlow on ITV’s flagship soap since its debut episode on December 9, 1960, confessed that relations soured with a fellow cast member at one stage.
During a rare public outing, Bill appeared alongside Jane Danson (Leanne Battersby), Jack P. Shepherd (David Platt), Patti Clare (Mary Taylor) and Jimmi Harkinsin (Dev Alahan) for An Audience With Coronation Street.
Filming took place at The Lowry in Salford, situated directly opposite the show’s MediaCity filming location.
The five reminisced about their decades working on the Street before participating in a pub quiz centred on Weatherfield’s happenings across the past 65 years.
The event was presented by This Morning’s Sharon Marshall, with audience members getting to their feet to applaud Bill’s entrance, reports the Mirror.
Whilst discussing his early years on the programme with soap expert Sharon, Bill remembered clashing with Pat Phoenix, a fellow founding cast member who became famous playing Street temptress Elsie Tanner.
During this period, Ken was wed to Valerie Tatlock (Anne Reid), who met her end in 1971 after being electrocuted by a defective hairdryer, and trouble arose when Bill and Pat disagreed about how a dramatic scene should unfold.
He revealed: “I had a scene where she’d said something unkind to my wife, and I told her off.
“Pat said to the director ‘I don’t think she’d take this from this young man…” She said she wanted to do something in the end, and the director said ‘Yes, Pat, anything you want’.
“So Pat asked me to pause and she’d throw an ashtray at me. I said, ‘No, Pat, you know what you’ve done here, and as far as I’m concerned, it’s unprofessional.’ We didn’t talk for two years.”
The duo carried on shooting scenes together for the show but refused to speak off camera, until Pat suddenly decided their feud was over.
Bill revealed: “Two years later, we’re standing together waiting to film a scene, still not talking and it was her birthday coming up. She said ‘Oh I suppose you’d better come to my party then,’ and we became good friends after that!”
Prior to securing her iconic role as Elsie, Pat had spent years as a struggling performer trying to break into the business.
Once she’d achieved stardom, Bill confessed she was one cast member who relished the fame that came with the territory.
Pat first graced screens from the debut episode in 1960 and remained with the show until 1973.
She returned in 1976 before departing once more in 1984, just two years prior to her passing at 62.
She was portrayed by EastEnders star Jessie Wallace in the 2010 biographical drama The Road to Coronation Street, whilst show creator Tony Warren once declared that Carla Connor (Alison King) represents the modern-day Elsie Tanner.
Earlier this year, Bill was recognised with the Lifetime Achievement Award at The Entertainment Agents’ Awards.
At the time, he expressed his desire to remain with the cast until he reaches a century.
He shared: “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!”
