Soap legend Bill Roache has been a fixture as Ken Barlow since the very first episode and is set to continue in his iconic role as the show gears up for its monumental 65th anniversary next year

Soap legend Bill Roache, who has portrayed Ken Barlow for over six decades, is set to continue his reign on the cobbles.

With the show gearing up to celebrate its 65th anniversary next year, ITV has reportedly offered the veteran actor a massive new contract to keep him on the iconic soap. New Coronation Street boss Kate Brooks has had a challenging start since taking over the iconic soap, including the controversy surrounding Sean Wilson. To make matters worse, Corrie was snubbed by BAFTA in the continuing drama category this year.

Despite these setbacks, Brooks is now focused on the future, and her attention has shifted to the soap’s highly anticipated 65th anniversary next December. She’s reportedly looking over the large cast list as part of a big shake-up to the show. However, one character who remains central to these plans is legendary star Bill Roache.

Discussions about his new contract are said to have already begun, and he is expected to play a central role in the anniversary celebrations. While Brooks faced a rocky start, she’s now working hard to steer the show toward a successful future, with Ken Barlow set to be at the heart of it.

A source told The Sun: “It’s not been the best start for Kate. She already knew she had a big job on her hands to try and turn things around and then everything happened with Sean Wilson. They added: “Corrie was also snubbed by BAFTA in the continuing drama category after it failed to make the shortlist, which is a pretty big deal for everyone working on the show.

Coronation Street’s Bill Roache is reportedly said to have been offered a new contract (Image: ITV)

“Things have settled down a little and Kate is making exciting plans for the future, which just happens to be the soap’s big 65th anniversary next December. And one person who had to be a big part of it all is Ken Barlow. Discussions have already started for his new contract, which he is of course expected to sign.”

Earlier this year, Kate left her position as a producer on Emmerdale, a role she had held since 2018. Before that, she worked on Coronation Street, contributing to some of its most memorable storylines, including Hayley’s death, the mystery of Tina’s killer, and the arrival of the serial killer Pat Phelan.

This comes after the Sean Wilson controversy, which has been a significant talking point for Coronation Street this year. Wilson, who returned to the show to be part of a storyline involving Gail Platt, was reportedly axed despite his comeback. Sean was set to return to the soap as Martin Platt as part of the exit storyline for co star Helen Worth but later stepped down citing “personal reasons”. No further details have been released. Sean played the character of Martin for 20 years from 1985 to 2005.