Coronation Street stalwart - Ken Barlow

With thanks to Corrie fan Llifon Jones from North Wales for writing these wonderful profiles of some of our Corrie faves. Check back each day to see who the next stalwart will be!

Ken Barlow is an undisputed stalwart, as he is the only remaining original character from the first episode in December 1960. Since then, we’ve seen him get married four times, father four children and date a record 27 girlfriends.

First wife Valerie Tatlock was electrocuted and second wife Janet Reid left him. Third wife Deirdre Langton, regarded as his true love, divorced him after his infidelity with Wendy Crozier. He remarried Deirdre in 2005, much to the delight of their friends and family. Miraculously, he’s only fathered three children: Peter and Susan with Valerie in 1965 and Daniel with partner Denise Osbourne thirty years later. He adopted Deirdre’s daughter Tracy in 1986.

Since his debut, nearly 50 years ago, Ken has had many occupations including being a teacher, newspaper columnist and taxi driver. Ken had a 20-year rivalry with Mike Baldwin, who had an affair with Deirdre and married Ken's daughter Susan. Ironically, Mike died in Ken’s arms in 2006. Although regarded as a bore by the media, Ken is known for his comedy partnership with Albert Tatlock in the 70s and 80s and this is repeated today with his chemistry with mother-in-law Blanche Hunt.