Celebrities arrive at the red carpet for the British Soap Awards at the Hackney Empire in London, UK. WORLDWIDE RIGHTS Pictured: William Roache Ref: SPL4088031 240514 NON-EXCLUSIVE Picture by: FameFlynet.uk.com / SplashNews.com Splash News and Pictures Los Angeles: 310-821-2666 New York: 212-619-2666 London: +44 (0)20 7644 7656 Berlin: +49 175 3764 166 photodesk@splashnews.com World Rights
Soaps

Coronation Street star William Roache ‘doesn’t like big parties’

His hearing makes small talk difficult

William Roache, who plays Ken Barlow in Coronation Street, doesn’t like “big parties” and isn’t interested in making “small talk” at bashes.

The 87-year-old star – who plays Ken Barlow on the soap – has said he makes an exception for the Corrie Christmas party, but he usually leaves early because he prefers to get his beauty sleep in for the busy week ahead.

Ken doesn’t mind a good party (Credit: ITV)

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Speaking to the Sunday People newspaper’s Love Sunday magazine, Bill confessed: “I don’t particularly like big parties.

“It’s nice to have a get-together although I don’t stay for that long. I like to get eight hours’ sleep and wake refreshed in the morning.”

And the ITV veteran doesn’t intend to get very merry with alcohol over the festive period because he insists he doesn’t drink apart from the odd glass on a “special occasion”.

Bill doesn’t like much to drink – unlike Ken (Credit: ITV)

He said: “Barring the occasional glass of champagne or wine on special occasions, I don’t drink alcohol.”

Instead, Bill is determined to have a peaceful Christmas with his family – daughter Verity, 38, and son Will, 34 – in Notting Hill.

His other son, Linus, 55, lives in America and has committments over there that mean he won’t be able to make it home for the festive season this year.

Christmas and New Year will be very different for the Barlows this year (Credit: ITV)

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And the Ken Barlow actor isn’t expecting any gifts under the tree this year as he “doesn’t need anything”.

Bill added: “There’s nothing I need, nothing I specifically want. Although new clothes would be nice … and my children usually get me something I’d never even thought of but actually love.”

But the party pooper does remember his most treasured gift he once received on Christmas Day.

He explained that he had been “desperate for a motorbike” when he was 18, but his parents didn’t want him to have one.

However, on Christmas Day they gifted him one and he was “so excited”.

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