Coronation Street’s Ken Barlow ‘takes a nasty fall in upcoming episodes to secure bigger pay package’ following bankruptcy

Coronation Street legend Ken Barlow is believed to be overcome with health problems after he takes a nasty fall down the stairs in the coming episodes.

Bill Roache, 92, who has played the character for 64 years, will have a serious fall on the soap, which he says will leave him in need of a caregiver. the sun.

The new storyline will reportedly mean Bill can increase his earnings as actors in the ITV soap are paid per episode.

But the character’s health problems have raised concerns that this could be the beginning of the end for Ken.

A TV source told the publication: ‘It will take the wind out of his sails.

Cobbles veteran Bill Roache, 92, who has played the character for 64 years, will take a serious fall down the stairs, leaving him in need of a carer, the Sun reported.

‘Bosses also hope it will highlight the plight of older people and the care they need from relatives if something like this happens.

‘And of course it gives Bill a much-needed lifeline with all his financial problems.

Finances are a tricky subject for Bill because although he reportedly earns £250,000 a year playing Ken in the long-running soap, he has racked up half a million in debt to the tax authorities.

He struck a deal to settle the £588,015.18 bill in 2018, but according to reports from February he has only paid £41,666.65 so far.

Bill wants to sell some property to pay off debts The sun reported in February that a potential buyer had pulled out of a deal.

The High Court has now granted him a twelve-week extension to ‘enable the sale of property’.

Bill failed to appear at a specialist hearing, where HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) lawyers said the amount the actor owes – which was not disclosed in court – has been reduced as a result of payments made.

Jacquille Jarrett, for HMRC, said Mr Roache had requested a 12-week adjournment, which was unopposed, to ‘allow the sale of property’.

The new storyline also means Bill can increase his income as actors in the ITV soap are paid per episode

Retired Insolvency and Companies Court judge Stephen Baister approved the postponement and said Roache’s case will return in June.

“Wonderful,” Dr Baister said at the end of the hearing, which lasted less than a minute, at the High Court in London.

Bill is best known for his portrayal of Ken Barlow in the ITV soap for more than 60 years after making his debut in the first episode in 1960.

The actor, who holds the Guinness World Record for the world’s longest-serving TV soap star, was included in the Queen’s New Year Honors list in December 2021 for his services to drama and charity.

In February, friends from Bill’s spiritual group claimed he was “doing well” as he faces “bankruptcy” for the second time, according to The mirror.

At a Stride for Truth group meeting, 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.

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 published his six-figure debts just weeks after it was announced that he was going bankrupt for a second time.

Finances are a tricky subject for Bill because although he reportedly earns £250,000 a year playing Ken in the long-running soap, he has racked up half a million in debt to the tax authorities.

He struck a deal to settle the £588,015.18 bill in 2018, but according to reports from February he has only paid £41,666.65 so far

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 February 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.

A spokesperson for Coronation Street told the Mirror: ‘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.”