Coronation Street’s Bill Roache, 91, is ‘unphased’ by huge six-figure amount he owes to the taxman as he ‘faces bankruptcy’ for a second time

Coronation Street’s Bill Roache is ‘unphased’ by a huge six-figure sum he owes to the tax authorities, friends say.

The 91-year-old actor, who has played Ken Barlow in the ITV soap since 1960, struck a deal in 2018 to settle a debt owed of £588,015.18 but has so far only paid £41,666.65.

Friends of Bill’s spiritual group claim he is “doing well” as he “finds bankruptcy for the second time,” according to The mirror.

At a Stride for Truth group meeting on Friday evening, one member said they “100% supported” Bill.

The organisation, which aims for world peace and enlightenment, meets in a room above a foot clinic in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester.

Coronation Street’s Bill Roache is ‘unphased’ by huge six-figure sum he owes to tax authorities, according to friends

Friends from Bill's spiritual group claim he is 'doing well' as he faces 'bankruptcy' for the second time, according to The Mirror

Friends from Bill’s spiritual group claim he is ‘doing well’ as he faces ‘bankruptcy’ for the second time, according to The Mirror

Stride for Truth’s Facebook reads: ‘The ultimate vision and plan is true and eternal world peace. A new world order will be established and a new collective consciousness created.

‘This new order and new earth will center on love. Power will return to the human heart and lies, deceit, greed and wickedness will no longer flourish. The truth will set us free.”

Bill, who is now the highest paid member of the cast and earns around £250,000 a year, ‘owes the tax man almost £550,000’.

The Sun has published his six-figure debts, just weeks after it was revealed he was going bankrupt for a second time.

Bill was initially owed £588,015.18 and entered into an agreement to settle it in 2018, but High Court papers obtained by the publication claim he only paid £41,666.65.

He had until last month to pay the full amount of £546,348.53 and now faces a High Court battle in March.

Bill’s interest payments amount to £14,699, while he also faces late payment penalties of more than £8,000, both of which are included in the total.

MailOnline has contacted Bill’s representatives for comment.

The actor, 91, who played Ken Barlow in the ITV soap since 1960 when he was paid just £70 a week, is now the highest-paid member of the cast, earning around £250,000 a year.

The actor, 91, who played Ken Barlow in the ITV soap since 1960 when he was paid just £70 a week, is now the highest-paid member of the cast, earning around £250,000 a year.

It comes after HMRC said it ‘does not comment on individual cases’, but a spokesperson told The Mirror: ‘We take a supportive approach to dealing with clients with tax debts and do everything we can to help those who work with us to get out of debt, such as offering repayment plans.

“We only file for bankruptcy as a last resort.”

A spokesperson for Coronation Street told the publication: ‘We are really sorry to hear of Bill’s financial situation. Bill has an ongoing contract with Coronation Street and remains a much-loved member of the cast.”

Papers were filed against the father-of-five at London’s High Court on Tuesday, and details of what caused the tax debt remained confidential.

In the late 1990s, Bill went bankrupt after a libel battle with The Sun for calling him ‘boring Ken Barlow’.

He won the case but was judged to have wasted time with the lawsuit and was awarded only £50,000, the amount the newspaper had offered him to settle out of court.

He was left with huge legal bills, which he compounded with the decision to sue his lawyers over the case, leaving him with debts of up to £600,000.

In December last year it was reported that Bill has signed up to star in Coronation Street for another twelve months, marking his 63rd year on the soap.

The actor, 91, has played Ken Barlow in the ITV soap since it debuted in 1960, when he was paid £70 a week.

He had until last month to pay the full amount of £546,348.53 and now faces a High Court battle in March

He had until last month to pay the full amount of £546,348.53 and now faces a High Court battle in March

He holds the world record for longest-serving TV actor in a continuing role and is even listed in the Guinness World Records (pictured on soap opera with Anne Reid in 1963)

He holds the world record for longest-serving TV actor in a continuing role and is even listed in the Guinness World Records (pictured on soap opera with Anne Reid in 1963)

He holds the world record for longest-serving TV actor in a continuous role and is even listed in the Guinness World Records.

Bill previously said he still wanted to be on the soap at the age of 100.

Last year he told The Mirror: ‘Someone said to me, ‘Look, Bill, you’re in the Guinness Book of Records, you’ve got the MBE, you’ve been on Coronation Street for over 60 years, what else is there? over there?’

“I said to him, ‘I’d like to be the first centenarian to be cast in an ongoing drama.’ That’s my goal: to live to be 100 and still work on Coronation Street.’

“As long as they want me and as long as I can do it, I’ll keep doing it.”

Bill also said, “People will say, when are you going to retire? Are you going to take a break? But what happens then?

“As long as I can do it, and as long as they want me, I have no intention of retiring. I am fortunate to work for an organization that is happy to have me.’

Last December, Bill was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) by King Charles for his services to acting after more than 60 years with Corrie.

Bill, who was previously awarded an MBE, revealed King Charles’ hilarious response, who playfully asked: “You’re not still working, are you?”

Last December, Bill was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) by King Charles for his services to acting after more than 60 years in Corrie

Last December, Bill was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) by King Charles for his services to acting after more than 60 years in Corrie

In May 2022, Bill revealed that he almost quit the soap to pursue his dream of appearing in westerns alongside the likes of Clint Eastwood.

He admitted that he first aspired to be in films when he launched his career as an actor, telling the Sunday People: ‘When I started I wanted to be 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 else, now was the right time.

“But I was just thinking about it. I’ve never actually done it. I realized that I am very proud of Coronation Street, and that I am lucky to be a part of it.’