COMEDY’S RIGHT UP MY STREET
Ken talks Corrie
SOAP legend William Roache said he has loved filming Corrie’s recent comedy scenes.
The 86-year-old star admitted he had enjoyed the more light-hearted plots – and said they had “lifted” his mood.
His comments will be welcomed by fans, who had called for the soap to end its string of dark storylines involving serial killing, sex grooming, drug abuse and male rape.
The star – who has played Ken Barlow since the ITV show’s first episode in 1960 – said: “I love playing the drama and all the big scenes in the Barlows, but the comedy has been good to do recently. After a full day it does seep into you and lift your mood. I always found that in theatre and it’s really nice to do.”’
Rula Lenska recently returned to Corrie as Claudia Colby and William has enjoyed playing out the “flirtations” between the hairdresser, Ken and fellow crimper Audrey Roberts – played by Sue Nicholls.
He said: “Rula is lovely. I’m so lucky to have some of the people I work with and she’s one of them. She’s wonderful and so good.
“I love playing the lighter stories with Claudia and Audrey, the flirtations between them, the slight jealousies and the stories from the past.
“Whether there will ever be a long-term relationship between them I’m not sure.
“I think there’s much more to play this way.’’
Fans of the soap have hailed its return to lighter plotlines under new producer Iain MacLeod. He had pledged to “focus on balancing any dark stuff with lighter stuff ”.
He added: “And with comedy and with character, which is what people first fell in love with about Corrie. Including myself.’’
But William does have some hard-hitting scenes to come. Ken’s daughter-inlaw Sinead Tinker – played by Katie McGlynn – is set to be diagnosed with cervical cancer.
William said: “Ken happens to be at the hospital when she comes out of a room in tears having been given the news. She rushes off home, but he goes round after her and puts in her in a position where she tells him.”