Who pushed Ken?

Coronation Street whodunnit: Six are in the frame for attempted murder

CORRIE fans were horrified last night to see Ken Barlow lying unconscious after tumbling down a flight of stairs.

The fall is at first blamed on a stroke but there is a further shock tomorrow as police reveal he was actually hit over the head before the plunge – and they are probing an attempted murder.

And as Ken has rowed with all of his nearest and dearest lately, the list of suspects is long.

The whodunnit will run for weeks but Ken actor Bill Roache, 84, has teased that the cast already know who the culprit is. He said: “I hope the viewers enjoy trying to work out who it could be in the same way that we all did. It is very cleverly done and I am thrilled with it.”

Bill has been in the soap since its launch in 1960 and admitted he was worried bosses planned to kill off Ken when he read the story, so he went to see producer Kate Oates.

He said: “My first thought was, ‘Are they trying to write me out?’ That was my question to Kate. But once I knew Ken would recover, I was thrilled with the storyline. Strong stories are great to do. As an actor they are very enjoyable.”

Ken stays with Roy as he realises he cannot trust his family, which features a murderer (Tracy), a drug dealer (Adam), an ex-alcoholic (Peter) and a student with a history of violence (Daniel). Also in the frame are builder Pat Phelan and Daniel’s girlfriend Sinead.

Bill said: “There is a moment when he looks at them all and is terrified, as it could be any one of them because he had rows with them all. To find it could be someone very close to you is frightening. He is deeply hurt that a member of his family might want to kill him. As each one is arrested he thinks, ‘It could be that person’.

“The paranoia would be huge, with each one there is a possible motive, an argument he has had which could have triggered it.”

Bill added that he is loving the way the Barlows have become “almost mafia-like”.

He said: “It occurred to me that I wanted to remain head of the family and have great stories – and this is what is happening.”