His upcoming big birthday may have been widely publicised on ITV this week but William Roache's youthful appearance is still continuing to stun fans. The Coronation Street actor is just days away from marking his 90th birthday, on April 25.
The soap star has played the patriarchal character of Ken Barlow since the ITV soap began back in December 1960. Over the years Corrie viewers have watched Ken suffer family woes, tragic losses, and embark on a romance or twenty. And earlier this week, an ITV documentary paid homage to Bill ahead of he milestone birthday.
Happy Birthday Bill saw the actor talking through his life and career on and off-screen with a glimpse into his home life in Cheshire, how he keeps fit, as well as a few appearances from Corrie stars both past and present - including a surprise reunion with his first on-screen wife Valerie, played by Anne Reid.
Discussing the soap, having been one of its original characters making him the longest-serving actor in a television soap opera, Bill also revealed that Coronation Street almost wasn't called Coronation Street as it was changed before the first of 13 pilot episodes went to air. But as they say, the rest is history.
Bill has now appeared on This Morning to chat to Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield about his impending birthday. The Corrie icon joined the hosts in the show's ITV studio. Phil questioned Bill on the secret to looking so good and being so well for his age, stating that his main thing previously has been "being positive."
"Yes, it is mainly," Bill agreed. "There’s certainly basics to life like eating enough vegetables, drinking enough water, getting enough exercise. But I think probably the worst thing is stress. If you listen to the news and read the papers too much, there’s not much joy around is there? So if you can enjoy yourself and find the joy in whatever you do, it makes such a big difference."
"The other thing is this ageing thing," he added. "When you get to about 60 people ask ‘when are you going to slow down? When are you going to retire?’ – No. If you don’t give up, if you don’t use it, you lose it, so keep going while you’re enjoying doing it as long as you can."
Bill also clarified his comments after saying on his ITV documentary that he had a crush on the Queen. He was awarded an OBE in the 2022 New Year Honours list - more than ten years after he was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2001 New Year Honours.
"I don’t know if I should’ve said that, but she was so beautiful," Bill, who last met the Queen when she visited the cobbles last summer to celebrate the soap's delayed 60th anniversary, told Holly and Phil. "Her first Commonwealth tour (was) in 1953, and I was with the Royal Welch Fusiliers, so she came to us and we had a day with her.
"And she still is (beautiful). She came to the set last year and I reminded her about that and she remembered that tour. She’s still bright as a button, (her) eyes are still beautifully blue. She’s amazing and wonderful."
With his big day just around the corner, Bill admitted that he had "no idea what he’s doing to celebrate, but that he would be "surprised if there was no surprise!"
Meanwhile, This Morning fans couldn't help but comment on his appearance on social media.
@Beckie_Miller_ tweeted: "I swear William Roache must be drinking the blood of virgins or something. He’s unnaturally youthful #ThisMorning."
"Bill Roache looks fantastic for 90! #ThisMorning," @Davej3ffs said as @Elizabeth241072 agreed: "Bill Roache looks amazing #thismorning."
@Lockiebaws commented: "I'll tell you what, #BillRoach does NOT look 90 #ThisMorning."
"Is William Roache a Vampire the bloke never ages #ThisMorning," @MaidenWatford shared.
@dancingmoose42 wrote: "Usually when people say someone looks good for their age, they look awful but like fair enough he’s looking great for 90. #ThisMorning."
While @Miss_Vix88 joked: "He’s worked up north for years we’ve got good air up north ya see we’re all youthful looking #ThisMorning."
