HAVING starred in Corrie since its very first episode, Bill Roache is an undisputed Cobbles legend – and he is now being rewarded with a spin-off tribute show.
The one-off programme has the working title Bill Roache: Life On The Street and is expected to be shown later this year or early 2027.
Corrie legend Bill Roache is set to get his own spin off tribute show
Bill as Ken Barlow and Anne Kirkbride as Deirdre Langton tie the knot in a 1981 Corrie episode Credit: Rex
A show insider said: “This is a very celebratory programme marking the huge achievement of being on for the past 66 years.
“The production company behind the documentary have been working closely with both soap bosses as well as himself for the past six months.
“Very few cast members get an honour like this but then very few can boast the incredible career that Bill has had.
“He’s a Weatherfield icon.”
The actor was introduced as in the soap’s debut episode in 1960.
He has even made it into the Guinness Book of as the longest-serving star in a continuous role, having started in the role when he was 28 years old.
Since then, his character has had four marriages to three different women.
The most famous was the love of his life, Deirdre — played by the late — who Ken married in 1981 and in 2005 after they had divorced in the Nineties.
Ken also became a dad to five kids, one of them adopted daughter Tracy, played as an adult by Kate Ford, who has given him the greatest grief over the decades.
The documentary has Bill’s full backing after producers approached him with the idea.
He agreed, saying he felt honoured.
The show is being made by production company MultiStory, who are part of ITV Studios and, suitably enough, are based in Corrie’s home city of .
They have a pedigree when it comes to producing weighty documentaries, having chronicled the life work of justice campaigner Ann Ming, as well as the story of the family of murdered teenager .
TUNE IN FOR THE PIANO
Mika, Jools Holland and Claudia Winkleman will all be involved in the next series of The Piano Credit: Channel 4 / Nic Serpell Rand
Jamie Cullum is set to play at London Liverpool Street Station in the competition Credit: Channel 4 / Nic Serpell-Rand
PIANIST competition The Piano is back, with returning alongside judge and co-host Mika and some special guests.
They include expert tinklers , who will beat London Liverpool Street Station, and , at London Bridge Station.
But Claudia admits she still doesn’t know her way around a piano.
She said: “I still know absolutely nothing, but nobody seems to mind.
“They haven’t shouted at me, so I’m like the idiot of the group.
“I know what moves me, but I’m just there as a conduit.
“I’m there to chat to them and make them as comfortable as possible and try and hear as much of their story as possible, so that the mentors can then get to know them a bit before they play.”
But she also wants to find out what tunes they’re planning on serving up – because there’s one artists she’s dying to hear.
Claudia said: “Elton John, I just want somebody to play his amazing music!”
Jools said of being a guest mentor on The Piano: “There’s a real honesty to it, people simply sit down and play, and hopefully that’s when the music really comes into its own.
“You get to hear them properly, and that’s always a pleasure.
“No piece is the same in different pianists’ hands.”
The Piano returns to on July 12.
CADBURY TALE TO SET BAR
Jessica Barden plays one of the Cadbury siblings Credit: ITV
NEW drama The Cadburys will bring to life the story behind the visionary family, who, in 1860s Birmingham, fought to create the now world-famous chocolate.
Two very different brothers, Richard and George, find themselves in charge of their family’s failing cocoa business.
Things become even more complicated when their sister Maria falls for Cadbury’s biggest rival, Francis Fry, and is forced to question her loyalties.
The six-parter stars Harry Gilby, Toby Regbo and Jessica Barden as the siblings, with Ben Hardy as Fry.
Filming is taking place now in Birmingham and the series will air on free streaming service U in 2027.
superfans can binge-watch the show on a new, dedicated Fast (free ad-supported streaming television) channel.
Two of the zombie franchise’s most popular series, The Walking Dead and , land on the streaming platform today.
More will follow.
PICTURE SLAM FOR CELEBS
Alan Carr’s Picture Slam is set to return for a fourth series
ALAN CARR’s Picture Slam is returning for a fourth series, with a big difference.
This time out, Alan will be hosting celebrity contestants as well as members of the public.
The quiz, which sees competitors try to work out answers from various images, will include two celebrity specials and feature and , DJ , singer Lee Latchford-Evans, presenter and TV choirmaster Gareth Malone.
There’ll also be another celebrity special for Christmas, with the famous faces yet to be confirmed.
Alan said: “I am excited to return for another series of Picture Slam and to spice things up with brand new Celebrity episodes.”
The series will be on One and iPlayer on July 18.
and Richard Ayoade lead the cast of an audiobook version Jilly Cooper short story A Pressing Engagement.
Bridgerton’s Corey Mylchreest and Heartstopper’s Rhea Norwood also star in the production, which lands on on July 16.
SIMON’S FAMILY OF SPIES
Simon Pegg plays GCHQ Head of Operations in drama The Undeclared War Credit: Tom Barnes
WORKING on drama is a family matter for .
He plays GCHQ Head of Operations in Channel 4’s cyber-thriller about a high-stakes digital conflict between the UK and .
He has now revealed: “This one felt particularly poignant to me because it was a huge part of my life, GCHQ.
“I had two uncles that worked there, both called Tony.
“They could never tell me what they did.
“They just worked at the old GCHQ, pre-cyber.
“It was just a family thing that we all knew that the Tonys worked at GCHQ and we weren’t allowed to ask what they did.
“Only one of the Tonys is still with us, and I think he enjoyed the first series.
“And my brother did the electrics!
“My brother Steven is a spark and he wired the building.”
The first series ran in 2022 and is available to stream online.
The second series begins on July 21.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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