Coronation Street

Coronation Street actor William Roache, the longest-serving star in the world’s longest-running soap opera, has been charged with two counts of rape against a 15-year-old girl.

Roache, 81, has played lothario Ken Barlow in the series portraying life in a fictional northern English town since its first episode on December 9, 1960.

He was arrested at his home in north-west England over allegations of raping the girl twice between April and July 1967. Continue reading »

Coronation Street actress Betty Driver, who starred in the soap for more than 40 years, has died at the age of 91.

Former co-star Julie Goodyear described her as “a true icon and legend and a very dear friend”. ITV said Driver died peacefully in hospital on Saturday.

Driver joined the ITV show as barmaid Betty Turpin, later Williams, in 1969.

She had already been in showbusiness for more than 40 years, touring the UK as a singer by the age of 12. Driver was appointed an MBE in 1999.

Driver had originally auditioned for the role of Hilda Ogden in 1964 but was later persuaded to come out of retirement to audition for the role of Betty. She appeared in more than 2,800 episodes.

In January 2011 she told the BBC she would never retire. “I just love working and I will never retire – ever – they’ll have to shoot me to get rid of me,” she said. “I just love people, you see, and I love the cast.”

Driver had been in hospital for six weeks. “She will be sadly missed by everyone who knew her,” an ITV spokesman said.

Coronation Street airs on UKTV at 6pm weekdays and on 7TWO at 10am weekdays.

Source BBC

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