Bill Roache has promised Coronation Street won’t go off air during the coronavirus pandemic
Image Source/ Liverpool Echo
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The cobbles legend – who has played Ken Barlow since the very first episode back in 1960 – suggested the ITV soap could run for another “four months” after bosses revealed the new episodes would be stretch out for as long as possible with production shut down amid the health crisis.
Appearing on Good Morning Britain on Monday (20.04.20), he said:
‘I gather we had, I think quite a while.
‘Because it was going out six times a week, they’re rationing it to three times a week, and I think we had about two months.
‘So I’m not quite sure, but I think we have maybe about four months to go’.
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The 87-year-old actor also backed ‘Corrie’ to stay on air even if they do run out of episodes.
He added:
‘We’ve got 60 years to draw on, so I don’t think we’ll be going off-air, even when they run out!
‘There’s plenty they can be showing and doing. But I think we have got about four months in all, or probably three more, I’m not quite sure’.
Soap bosses previously reduced the programme’s weekly output from six episodes to three after filming was paused due to the coronavirus lockdown.
Bill’s reassuring comments come after fellow ‘Corrie’ cast member Andy Whyment suggested the stars would have to return to filming by the middle of June to ensure they remain on air in the summer.
He said:
‘I think we’ve got until the beginning of July in the can. So we need to get back, hopefully, by the middle of June with a bit of luck.
‘Otherwise it’s going to go off air. Hopefully we’ll get back.
‘A lot of the airlines have said they’re going to start flying again mid-June, so, hopefully, if that’s going to happen then hopefully we should be able to get back to work with a bit of luck. Fingers crossed’.
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