Coronation Street icon William Roache once starred on the ITV soap alongside his real life sons
Coronation Street’s William Roache isn’t the only successful actor in his family.
The 94-year-old has played Ken Barlow on the ITV soap since 1960 and is reportedly one of the highest-paid stars on Corrie.
During his 66 years in Weatherfield, Ken has been caught up in many thrilling and chilling plots, from iconic romances, including his long marriage to Deirdre Barlow (Anne Kirkbride), to secret sons cropping up on the cobbles.
In 2027, there was also the massive “Who Attacked Ken?” whodunnit when he was violently pushed down the stairs by his own son, Daniel Osbourne (Rob Mallard). Luckily, he survived to tell the tale.
There was also a surprise when Will Roache’s real-life sons appeared alongside the actor as part of another Ken Barlow storyline.
Who are Will Roache’s sons?
Will’s real-life sons have also acted alongside him on the soap, adding a personal touch to his career.
The legendary soap star has two children with his first wife, Anna Cropper, and their eldest son, Linus Roache, born in 1964, is also an actor.
The more seasoned Corrie fans might remember Linus playing Peter Barlow, Ken’s on-screen son, back in 1975. He took on the role aged nine, becoming the fourth actor to play the troublesome character.
Linus maintained his on-screen family ties with Bill when he returned to the ITV soap in 2010. Looking completely different as a sharp-suited businessman, he took on the character of Ken’s long-lost son, Lawrence Cunningham.
In a confusing but happy twist for the Roache family, Linus’ little brother James then played his on-screen son, James Cunningham.
Ken played a major role in trying to build a relationship between Lawrence and James, after his son refused to accept that James was gay. Will has previously expressed that he was “enormously proud” of their time together on the soap.
He once said: “When I’m in New York, no one bothers about me; it’s all about Linus. James is just getting started, but will no doubt be just the same.”
Soap fans were recently left surprised to discover that Will had starred alongside his sons on Coronation Street.
On a Corrie Facebook fan page, alongside photos of Will and Linus and James, one person asked: “Did anyone else know that Ken’s real sons were in the soap?”, while another fan replied: “I do now! No way.”
A third person commented with a mind-blown emoji, while a fourth fan declared: “That is amazing.”
James also had the chance to play his own father, William, in a 2010 drama about Corrie’s history, called The Road to Coronation Street. He also appeared in Cold Blood and Four Seasons before stepping out of the limelight following his Corrie role in 2011.
Where have I seen Linus Roache before?
Meanwhile, Linus’s acting career flourished with roles in major Hollywood films such as Batman Begins and The Wings of the Dove.
Linus has also starred in a long list of other popular television. Between 2017 and 2020, he played David Wellington in Homeland, and in 2019, he appeared on Summer of Rockets as Richard Shaw.
Vikings fans will know the actor as King Ecbert between 2014 and 2017, while Law & Order viewers will recognise him as Executive ADA Michael Cutter from 2008 until 2010.
Most recently, Linus starred as John Tunstall in Billy the Kid, Reginald Pye in Doctor Who, and Colonel Figgis in The Capture.
Sadly, Will’s daughter Vanya passed away at the age of 50 on March 4, 2018, due to liver failure. Bill was granted compassionate leave from the soap following her death.
He revealed that a car crash prevented him from saying goodbye to Vanya before she died at a hospital in Chichester.
He shared: “The pain of losing a child is unbearable. To not be able to say goodbye to Vanya was awful, but I take some comfort in knowing she is in a better place and at peace. But your children going before you is horrendous.”
Coronation Street airs weekdays on ITV and ITVX
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