Coronation Street’s last remaining original cast member talks to us about his half century as Ken Barlow! Do you remember your first day on set? “Really well. We were this group of people who didn’t realise that what we were doing would go down so well. But even then, I knew there was something special about this drama. It was very much cutting edge for its time. It was new and different.” What is your abiding feeling right now? “I feel very lucky to have been in the show for 50 years. This anniversary has crept up on me. Every so often, over the years, I’d see myself on TV and think ‘Oh God, I’m getting old. I’ve just been doing my job and suddenly, 50 years has gone by.' I have no regrets whatsoever. I think Coronation Street is wonderful.” What is the biggest misconception about Ken? “He’s not a great lothario, he’s just useless with women. You have to feel sorry for him really. His son’s an alcoholic bigamist and his daughter’s a murderer. He’s had some very beautiful women and I’ve enjoyed working with some great actresses. Joanna Lumley was lovely and so was Stephanie Beacham, but of all Ken’s women, Deidre who is played by Anne Kirkbride, is my favourite.” Why is she so special? “Anne is such a lovely person. We get on well, she’s a joy to work with and I love her dearly. So does Ken, which is why he always comes back to her. We have been together on screen for pretty much 30 years now and so much of what we do on camera is instinctive. We really are like an old married couple who have had their ups and downs, lived through them and come out the other side.” What is your favourite ever storyline? “When Deirdre embarked upon an affair with Mike Baldwin in 1983. The story gripped the nation. It was in the news. Manchester United flashed it up on their electronic scoreboard during a match at Old Trafford when they were playing Arsenal. It said 'Ken and Deirdre Reunited. Ken 1. Mike 0'. And that was in the days when soaps didn’t capture media attention like they do nowadays.” Was that the time when the the term ‘boring Ken’ was coined? “I always felt it was a little unfair. And of course, Ken has been far from boring since then!” What about your favourite scene? “I think when the Barlow family attend an AA meeting with Peter where Blanche’s comments go down like a six-pack of lagers. It was hysterical! We were a bit worried about it because the AA is a trusted organisation and we didn’t know how they would react, but I think you need a dangerous edge in a show like ours.” So you have a fair share of laughs as well? “So many. When we did the show live, you tended not to giggle when the programme was being broadcast, simply because you were terrified, but when it came to rehearsals, that was a different matter. I remember an occasion when I had to walk into the corner shop and play a scene with Gail played by Helen Worth. As I walked in, there was a bit of chewing gum on the floor and I simply stubbed my toe on it. Nothing funny in that, but for whatever reason, I couldn’t stop giggling. Eventually I managed to get through it without giggling and then Helen started!” Who’s the biggest giggler? “Eileen Derbyshire who plays Emily Bishop is a big giggler and I also remember this scene I did with Pat Phoenix. I had to try and open a door with a key and say something like, ‘I can’t get it in.’ Silly schoolboy humour, but it was enough to set the both of us off.” Have you any plans to retire? “Retiring isn’t an option for me. I will do it while they still want me. There isn’t a day goes by where I am not grateful to have a job, and to have a job that I love so much. After 50 years on the Street, I am often asked what the secret of Ken’s staying power has been. I’m not sure there is any one thing, but I do know the public clearly like him, and for that I am extremely grateful. I just feel that I’ve learned my lines and turned up on time.” Click here to watch whatsontv.co.uk's weekly soaps video preview, the Soap Scoop
