Coronation Street’s longest-serving resident Ken Barlow may find himself at the centre of an upcoming dramatic storyline regarding his health.
Coronation Street viewers may be seeing more of Ken Barlow (played by Bill Roache) on their screens very soon. It comes after reports that the longest-serving Weatherfield resident is set to take a nasty fall in upcoming scenes.
Corrie stalwart Ken, whom Bill has portrayed for the past 64 years, will end up needing a carer after his tumble, according to The Sun. The anticipated storyline could result in more airtime for Ken, which would be a great help to the actor.
With the ITV soap stars reportedly being paid per episode, Ken’s fall could boost the 92-year-old’s pay. However, the health scare has sparked some concern that this could mark the end of the road for actor Bill’s time on the cobbles.
A TV source told The Sun: “It’s going to knock the wind out of him. Bosses are also hoping it will highlight the plight of older people and the care they need from family members when something like this happens.
“Of course, it gives Bill a much-needed lifeline with all his financial problems”. Over the past few years, reports have circulated of the soap star’s financial woes.
Despite the star reportedly earning up to £250,000 a year for his role in Coronation Street, the actor was reportedly given just three months to pay off his debt to HMRC.
The exact figure of what Bill owes remains undisclosed, however, it’s been rumoured that he had a whopping tax bill of around £546,000.
In March this year, HMRC confirmed that the original debt has since been reduced, as the actor was given three months to sell property in order to settle the rest of what he owes.
Bill’s case will be revisited again this June for the settlement of the remaining balance, and, if the star is unable to do so, he faces bankruptcy.
However, this wouldn’t be the first time the 92-year-old has found himself in that position, as he was previously declared bankrupt in 1999.
Bill’s role of Ken Barlow is a staple character in the Cobbles, as the actor appeared in the first ever episode.
His commitment to the role hasn’t gone unnoticed either, as he was given a Guinness World Record for becoming the longest-serving television star in a continuous role
In 2022, the soap star was also awarded an OBE by King Charles for his services to drama and charity.
Earlier this year, a spokesperson for Coronation Street touched on Bill’s money woes.
They told the Mirror: ‘We’re really sorry to hear of Bill’s financial situation.
“Bill has an ongoing contract with Coronation Street and remains a much-loved member of the cast.’
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