In Coronation Street’s 60th year and on this very special press day zoom extravaganza, I thought I’d start with an interview that for a fan and Corrie connoisseur like myself (and resident Corrie blog aficionado) is not only a great honour but quite frankly, a bucket list tick I never knew I needed. A chat with Corrie icon William Roache aka Ken Barlow aka Mr Coronation Street himself!
As the clock struck 10 am on Friday 27th of November, I joined my zoom and clicked the special secret meeting link. I was immediately greeted by a live stream montage interview with Jack P Shepherd (David Platt) discussing Coronation Street’s cultural and sociological relevance (whilst he was sat in the Rovers, no less), and relative Corrie newbie Lorna Laidlaw (Mrs Bailey) waxing lyrical about the recent racism story and the familiarity of Corrie’s seismic presence and stature within British television history.
Host Nina Nannar's knowledge and enthusiasm for the show was appreciated and transferred well through the laptop screen
As the legendary Bill Roache zoomed-in from his posh conservatory to join us for a chat, I sat back in awe and listened intently.
Here is what he had to say about his world record-breaking 60 years of Corrie continuing drama;
(NN = Nina Nannar, WR =William Roache)
NN- We last spoke during Corrie’s 50th anniversary and here we are 10 years later. In a world of ever-growing entertainment and TV channels, what do you think is the secret to Corrie’s continuing success?
WR - ‘The success of the street is very simple. It’s about lives in a little back street, the adversity of life. It’s well written, well-directed, and 60 years shows you that we’ve definitely done something right! There’s no reason why the show doesn't continue, forever!'
NN - 'When you began on the show in 1960, I guess you couldn’t have imagined we’d be having this interview some 60 years later, as that’s not how an actor's life usually works?'
WR - 'No. It was only meant to run for 11 weeks anyway and I didn’t want to do it! In those days ITV was in little pockets all over the country, and this was just a little area of the north-west, I'd got a lead in a television play and was waiting for that to come out. I didn’t really want to go back up north for what I thought would be a small little family show that was inconsequential. We then realised we were part of this new social realism, just like John Osbourne’s ‘Look back in anger’, the theatrical world was suddenly transferring to television.'
NN - When did you realise you were a Corrie ‘lifer’?
WR - 'Almost immediately we realised that we were the at the cutting edge of social realism in drama. This wasn’t a ‘soap opera’ it was a cutting edge drama serial - something special. We were then offered a three-year contract as an initial decision and as time went on, I reached my 40s, I thought, well, is this going to be me for life? I didn’t spend much time on the decision and I thought YES it is, I love it. As a director once said, ‘You get a scene on Corrie as good as any play or film’ and that is still a very relevant statement today. All the truths that Tony Warren (show creator) laid down, are still manifesting themselves today.'
NN - The thing with serial drama is that it’s developed massively over the 60 years, and you are doing really heavy storylines and relevance. Long gone are the days when critics used to criticise continuing drama?
WR - ‘Yes! you work very hard and you have to have the acting skillset for all manner of things. that’s why I don’t like the term ‘soap’ it’s derogatory and long since been relevant for television used to advertise soap powder. Why are we still calling it that? It's cutting edge drama and we still are. Being an actor in a continuing drama is very demanding, and it’s wonderful that we can show off all of these stories, present them, and the stories we tell, if relevant to people’s lives, they realise that they aren’t alone in any given situation.’
NN - Ken Barlow and the family are intrinsic to Coronation Street. It must have been great to get back on set this year, considering how bad 2020 has been for self-isolation within the pandemic?
WR - ‘Yes, I was off for a good few months so it.s good to be back with my dysfunctional family! I love them all, we all get on really well, and it’s a privilege and enjoyment, you look forward to going to work’
**
Can you imagine 60 years in the same job? What an honour to be in on that interview and listen to William Roache’s memories of show creator Tony Warren, and his dream still being realised today.
Keep ‘em peeled I’ve some great cast interviews coming up - including a chat with the Barlow clan, the ensemble of Yasmeen’s storyline, and much much more!
I am @rybazoxo your cobble connoisseur!
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