Just 3 hours to prove his innocence

IN 2013, Bill was arrested by Lancashire Police on suspicion of the historical rape of a 15-year-old girl in his bungalow – an allegation he denied.

The star was then charged with two counts of rape, and five counts of indecent assault against four girls aged between 12 and 16 at the Coronation Street studios and in his Rolls-Royce.

He pleaded not guilty to all charges during his trial at Preston crown court.

One of the charges was dismissed by the judge and Bill was found not guilty of all the other charges in February 2014.

He returned to the cobbles later that year. Lawyers for the actor argued that the trial had been “infected” by abuse allegations against Jimmy Savile and other high-profile stars.

Roache always insisted that he had never met his accusers, let alone molested them.