Post by RitaLittlewood on Jul 13, 2007 16:19:57 GMT
From the Manchester Evening News:
Ken: I'll never quit Street
Adam Moss
3/ 7/2007
CORONATION Street veteran William Roache has pledged the rest of his acting career to his beloved soap role, insisting he'll never quit Weatherfield.
Despite hitting his landmark 75th birthday earlier this year and having spent almost half a century playing Ken Barlow, William says Corrie is as much home now as it was back in 1960 when he appeared in the very first episode.
Some commentators may have raised an eyebrow when he ventured outside the safety of Corrie's cobbles to embark on his one-man theatre show earlier this year.
By his own admission, he is relishing being back on stage in front of a live audience but his future could not be any clearer.
"Retiring from Coronation Street is not an option at all," he says at the merest hint that his tenure as Ken Barlow maybe nearing a conclusion.
"I am really happy here and I will be in Coronation Street as long as I am wanted," he tells me.
"I don't have a single regret about being in the Street for 46 years. I get some fantastic scenes - the kind of stuff that it would be extremely hard to come across outside of here. I do occasionally wonder what life would have been like had I done something else but I love the Street and I am very proud of it."
Three children
During the last 46 years, his character has been married four times - to Valerie, Janet and twice to Deirdre - and has fathered three children.
And, of course, he's the only character to have been in the soap from the very first episode.
His life off the small screen is equally enthralling, if audiences at his 'An Audience with William Roache' nights are any judge.
He has done seven of the nights around Britain so far and on most occasions reluctantly has to draw matters to a close after two hours, for fear of upsetting theatre bosses.
He adds: "The first half of the show is me talking about my life growing up, joining the army and my early days in theatre. But the second half is mostly about the Street and also gives the audience the chance to ask me questions.
"They are not shy about asking things either.
"More often than not I have to call matters to a close when the audience still has lots to ask me."
An Audience with William Roache comes to Manchester's Library Theatre on Sunday, September 23 at 7.30pm. For tickets call 0161 236 7110.
Ken: I'll never quit Street
Adam Moss
3/ 7/2007
CORONATION Street veteran William Roache has pledged the rest of his acting career to his beloved soap role, insisting he'll never quit Weatherfield.
Despite hitting his landmark 75th birthday earlier this year and having spent almost half a century playing Ken Barlow, William says Corrie is as much home now as it was back in 1960 when he appeared in the very first episode.
Some commentators may have raised an eyebrow when he ventured outside the safety of Corrie's cobbles to embark on his one-man theatre show earlier this year.
By his own admission, he is relishing being back on stage in front of a live audience but his future could not be any clearer.
"Retiring from Coronation Street is not an option at all," he says at the merest hint that his tenure as Ken Barlow maybe nearing a conclusion.
"I am really happy here and I will be in Coronation Street as long as I am wanted," he tells me.
"I don't have a single regret about being in the Street for 46 years. I get some fantastic scenes - the kind of stuff that it would be extremely hard to come across outside of here. I do occasionally wonder what life would have been like had I done something else but I love the Street and I am very proud of it."
Three children
During the last 46 years, his character has been married four times - to Valerie, Janet and twice to Deirdre - and has fathered three children.
And, of course, he's the only character to have been in the soap from the very first episode.
His life off the small screen is equally enthralling, if audiences at his 'An Audience with William Roache' nights are any judge.
He has done seven of the nights around Britain so far and on most occasions reluctantly has to draw matters to a close after two hours, for fear of upsetting theatre bosses.
He adds: "The first half of the show is me talking about my life growing up, joining the army and my early days in theatre. But the second half is mostly about the Street and also gives the audience the chance to ask me questions.
"They are not shy about asking things either.
"More often than not I have to call matters to a close when the audience still has lots to ask me."
An Audience with William Roache comes to Manchester's Library Theatre on Sunday, September 23 at 7.30pm. For tickets call 0161 236 7110.
