When longest-serving soap star Ken had a wobble on the cobbles

HE holds the Guinness World Record for the longest-serving soap star, having appeared in Coronation Street’s very first episode in 1960.

But William Roache has revealed that he once pondered quitting the cobbles.

The actor, 88, who has played Ken Barlow, pictured, in 4,634 episodes, was speaking ahead of Corrie’s 60th anniversary on December 9.

Roache said: ‘In my 40s I had a long think about it. But I just loved it so much. As someone quite rightly said, “During the year you’ll get some scenes that are as good as anywhere in any film or play”. You get wonderful job satisfaction.’ Ken has had a tumultuous time in the street, including marrying four times, twice to Deirdre. Reflecting on the soap’s success, Roache said: ‘It’s about small people in a backstreet facing adversity. Everyone can identify with that.’ He added that ‘northern humour’ played a part. ‘In times of so much poverty and so on, it was their humour that kept them going.’