Coronation Street star Bill Roache is charging fans £20 a ticket to hear him talk about his “successful life” as he faces bankruptcy for a second time over tax arrears.
The 91-year-old soap actor has played Ken Barlow in the ITV soap since 1960 and is currently the show's highest-paid member, earning around £250,000 a year.
The event will see Bill take the stage in Scarborough this summer for An Evening With William Roache: The Best Of His Life & Times.
Hosted by Stride For Truth, the evening promises to be a “truly unique and special occasion”.
Also with “warm and fascinating stories about his long and successful life”.
Coronation Street star Bill Roache, 91, is charging fans £20 a ticket to hear him talk about his “successful life” as he faces bankruptcy for a second time over tax arrears
The soap actor has played Ken Barlow in the ITV soap since 1960 and is currently the show's highest-paid member (pictured in the series), earning around £250,000 a year.
Following news of the potential insolvency, HMRC said it “does not comment on individual cases”, but a spokesperson told The Mirror: “We take a supportive approach to dealing with customers who have tax debts and do everything we can we can, to help those who are committed.” With us you can get out of debt, for example by offering installment plans.
“We only file for bankruptcy as a last resort.”
A Coronation Street spokesperson told the publication: “We are truly sorry to hear about Bill's financial situation. “Bill has an ongoing contract with Coronation Street and remains a popular member of the cast.”
Lawsuits against the father of five children were filed at London's High Court on Tuesday, but details of the cause of the tax debt remained confidential.
In the late 1990s, Bill went bankrupt after a libel dispute with The Sun for describing him as a “boring Ken Barlow”.
He won the case, but was judged to have wasted his time suing and was only awarded £50,000, the amount the newspaper had offered him in an out-of-court settlement.
He was left with huge legal costs, which he compounded with the decision to sue his lawyers over the case, leaving him in debt of up to £600,000.
In December last year it was reported that Bill had taken on the lead role in Coronation Street for a further 12 months, marking his 63rd year on the soap.
Hosted by Stride For Truth, the evening promises to be a “truly unique and special occasion”.
He holds the world record for longest-serving television actor in a continuous role and is even listed in the Guinness Book of Records.
Bill had previously said that he still wanted to be on the soap when he was 100 years old.
Last year he told The Mirror: “Someone said to me: 'Look Bill, you're in the Guinness Book of World Records, you've got the MBE, you've been in Coronation Street for over 60 years, what else. ' There?'
“I said to him, 'I want to be the first centenarian to star in an ongoing drama.' “That’s my goal: to be 100 and still working on Coronation Street.”
“As long as they want me and as long as I can, I’ll keep doing it.”
Bill also said: “People will ask, ‘When are you retiring?’ Are you going to take a break? But what happens then?
He holds the world record for longest-serving television actor in a continuous role and is even listed in the Guinness Book of World Records (pictured in a soap with Anne Reid in 1963).
Last December, Bill was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by King Charles for his services to acting after more than 60 years on Corrie
“Although I can do it and they will have me, I have no intention of retiring.” “I am very fortunate to work for an organization that is happy to have me.”
Last December, Bill was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by King Charles for his services to acting after more than 60 years on Corrie.
Bill, who previously received an MBE, revealed the hilarious reaction of King Charles, who jokingly asked: “You're not working yet, are you?”
In May 2022, Bill revealed that he almost quit the soap to pursue his dream of appearing in western films alongside Clint Eastwood.
He admitted he first aspired to act in films when he started his acting career, telling the Sunday People: “When I started out I wanted to act in films, especially westerns.”
“There was a time in the middle of my career, when I was in my 40s, when I thought if I was ever going to go out and do something different, now would be the time.”
“But I was just thinking about it. I've actually never done it. I realized I’m really proud of Coronation Street, I’m lucky to be there.”