Coronation Street star William Roache is turning 90 years old this month but has 'no intention of retiring.
The soap actor, who celebrated his birthday on April 25, plays Ken Barlow in the long-running soap and has been since the series first aired in 1960.
He is even listed in the Guinness World Records as the longest-serving television star in a continuous role.
William discusses his iconic role in the new ITV documentary celebrating his birthday, Happy Birthday Bill.
The actor said: "People will say when are you retiring? Are you going to take a break? But then what happens?
"Whilst I can do it, and whilst they will have me, I have no intention of retiring. I am so fortunate to work for an organisation that is happy to have me."
The documentary will also share a few glimpses of his private life with his family and friends.
It will also shed life on his life before Coronation Street.
The show celebrated its 60th-anniversary two years ago amid the coronavirus pandemic with his character playing a major role in the storylines.
Over the years, Ken has been noted to have a chaotic love life, including through his marriages to Valerie Tatlock, Janet Reid and, most notably, to Deidre Langton.
He even reunited with Valerie (played by Anne Reid) fifty years after she left the show.
Asked what was the highlight of the new documentary, Bill says: “Without a doubt meeting up with Anne Reid again after all those years.
"She played my wife in Coronation Street for eight years and I was very sad when she chose to leave.
"When Valerie died she was due to meet Ken at the Rovers so when she walked through the doors finally 52 years later it was a lovely moment, we both just started laughing.
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"It was beautiful to see her again, to me she looks no different.”
William said that Anne admitted she even had a crush on him when they starred together on the show.
He said: “She told me that she used to dream about me and I laughed and said don’t you mean nightmares? And then she told me that she had a crush on me, but she never told me at the time!
"She had also given me a silver cup when she left that she had engraved with 'We must do it again some time' so it was nice that we finally got that chance."
Happy Birthday Bill airs on ITV and ITV Hub on April 19 at 8pm.
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