Corrie Street icon Ken Barlow reveals all..!

If you had to compare Ken Barlow to one of the greatest movie characters of all time, then George Bailey, Jimmy Stewart’s hero in It’s a Wonderful Life, would fit the bill admirably: a young man with dreams of seeing the world who winds up staying in the same place for most of his life.

There are also times, especially when watching old episodes of Coronation Street, that Ken seems more like the hero in Highlander, a constant presence across six decades of history.

And like many an ill-fated soul in that film, there are moments that Ken also lost his head, especially when Mike Baldwin ran off with his beloved Deirdre.

There’s a chance to see some of his greatest scenes in the first of a new series narrated by Corrie veteran Sally Lindsay. Each episode focuses on some of Weatherfield’s most legendary characters, including Roy Cropper and Sally Metcalfe.

We begin with that deep dive into the Barlow pool, and Ken’s 60 years in Weatherfield, from the show’s first episode in 1960, right up until the present day.

Ken made his debut almost five minutes into episode one, and his navy blue pullover was the subject of discussion around the dinner table. However, the fact he was a college student really wound up his dad, Frank.

While Barlow Snr, wife Ida and their other son David didn’t last long, Ken has been the backbone of the show. But how did his angry young student turn into one of the most iconic characters on British television?

William reveals what life was like for the original cast of the Street, and why Violet Carson (Ena Sharples) was the natural leader.

Roache reveals how he felt when Anne Reid (Ken’s first wife Valerie) decided to leave the saga, and how he worried he was about to be written out with her.

In the aftermath of Valerie’s death, William recalls how he was given the freedom to play a scene how he wanted to, and the outpouring of emotion was the moment that changed the trajectory of Ken’s story, and his career.

Among the contributors are Chris Gascoyne (Peter) and Kate Ford (Tracy), who explain how William thrives on physical scenes. The star himself admits his passion for an on-screen punch up, and how he has always tried to make them look as real as possible.

Among Ken’s most iconic re-screened moments are the alcoholics anonymous scene with the bickering Barlows; an awkward French lesson with Raquel (Sarah Lancashire), and his explosive showdowns with Mike Baldwin (Johnny Briggs).

Plus, highlights of the comedic relationship between Ken and acid-tongued mother-in-law Blanche (Maggie Jones), and the special relationship he had with Anne Kirkbride, aka Ken’s wife Deirdre.

William also explains what it’s like to be the head of one of the most famous screen families in Britain.

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