Friday, 2 February 2018
Exclusive Book Review: Billy Walker actor reveals life story
Ken Farrington is the actor who played Billy Walker in Coronation Street. And next month sees the release of Ken's life story, in a book that's called Hush My Mouth. The book is being launched at TV Utopia this coming weekend and you can find out more here.
I was sent a preview copy of the book so that I could write a review of it here on the Coronation Street Blog. And so, here we go!
Well, the first thing to tell you is that I love reading autobiographies and biographies of famous people I enjoy watching on the big screen, on the telly or who are in the music business, so this book was right up my Street. I also enjoy those kind of books more when there's lots of gossip and behind the scenes news in them, so I wasn't disappointed in this book at all.
Ken's life as an actor is laid bare, and he's brutally honest about the profession, about himself and about his co-stars he worked with, including while working on Coronation Street. When he first auditioned for Corrie it was for the role of Dennis Tanner, which went to Philip Lowrie. But Corrie bosses were so impressed with Ken that they invited him back when they were looking to cast Annie Walker's son Billy. The rest, as they say, is history and Billy Walker went into the classic Corrie character book.
Life behind the scenes at Corrie in the early days is laid bare in Ken's book. It's full of egos, arguments and contains plenty of stories to put a smile on your face. Yes, Jack Howarth (Albert Tatlock) was as tight-fisted as you've heard. Yes, Margot Bryant (Minne Caldwell) could swear like a trooper and frequently did.
There are plenty of anecdotes about his co-stars from the 1960s such as Pat Phoenix (whom he didn't get on with) and Doris Speed (who he did). But it doesn't stop there. Ken mentions just about everyone he worked with at Corrie, both on and off screen, behind the scenes, in the cast and crew, leaving you in doubt what he thought of them all - good and bad.
And all the way through Ken's appearances as Billy Walker, you get the sense of Coronation Street as a show moving with the times, changing, responding to its audience and to the era it was in. Ken talks about the show taking in actors from the comedy and cabaret club circuit such as Lynne Perrie, Bill Tarmey and Liz Dawn.
Ken is brutally honest in this book, and you can take that whichever way you feel. It's gossipy, full of anecdotes and drama - and not always flattering about his co-stars or himself.
But is it worth buying? Most definitely, yes.
You can order the book here.
Read more Corrie news, interviews, gossip and spoilers
Please read our advice for leaving comments on the Coronation Street Blog
All original work on Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License
Labels:
billy walker,
Ken Farrington,
newsnow
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
You might also like...
-
Wednesday 27th November 2024 Lisa sits at Carla’s bedside, willing her to pull through. Matty’s hauled in for questioning but Alya provi...
-
Tonight I feel as though the White Queen from Through the Looking Glass has been sprinkling her magic across Weatherfield (given that she ca...
-
Monday 25th November 2024 Lisa spells out to Carla that she’s not ready for a relationship. Returning to the factory Carla’s horrified t...
-
From Coronation Street fan Joseph MacDonald: "Following the recent announcement of a story in which Debbie Webster is to be killed off ...
-
"It's so fun to watch. It just feels nice and 'soapy.'" I recently travelled to Coronation Street studios in Mancheste...
-
I recently travelled to Coronation Street studios in Manchester for a press conference with new producer Kate Brooks. It was packed with so ...
-
Here are the major storylines for the week ahead on Coronation Street, all wrapped up nicely in 50 words or less. Monday December 2 to Frida...
-
“ I love our Christmas Day. I just thoroughly enjoyed everything about it.” It's always a big moment when a new Corrie producer takes t...
-
How is Leanne feeling as the trial approaches? I just think she just feels a bit of a fool, really. Now it's all like it all come out ...
-
“It's fantastic for the viewer.” I recently travelled to Coronation Street studios in Manchester for a press conference with new produc...
No comments:
Post a Comment