Coronation Street's Bill Roache says Queen made you feel like you were ‘the only person in her life'

A video report by Granada Reports Presenter Gamal Fahnbulleh

Bill Roache who is best known for playing Ken Barlow in the ITV soap, recalled meeting the late monarch personally and during her two visits to the cobbles of Weatherfield.

The 90-year-old was among one the veteran cast members who greeted the head of state when she visited in 1982 to open the show’s new set and more recently in 2021 as the soap celebrated its 60th year on screens.

He said: "We had just moved onto the new set in 1982 and she came with the Duke of Edinburgh.

"We all saw stood outside our houses and they'll never say that they liked the show or watched the show.

"I suppose that is only right because everyone will want to make claim that we were their favourites. Although other members of the royal family have said so."

Her Majesty also visited the cobbles almost 40 years later in 2021.

When asked if the Queen had changed much since he first met her Roache said: "What is incredible, her eyes are a beautiful blue, very alert, and she doesn't wear glasses."

He continued: "I first met her when I was 21. She was young and had just been made Queen and came on the Commonwealth Tour.

"She was so beautiful. I really fell in love with her as a person, as an individual.

"She's just a very comforting person to be with and in the seven times that I have met her there's always been the protocols, the rehearsals and the anticipation that's been the problem.

"Actually meeting her has always been very easy, very delightful and very comforting and usually full of humour."

The 2021 visit was after the Covid lockdown period and reflected how important soaps had been during this time.

Roache told This Morning that he had used the time to compliment the Queen on also being "wonderful" during the difficult coronavirus period as well.

He said: “What was so lovely about her was this readiness to smile, and you felt she wanted to laugh and had a beautiful laugh."

The actor noted that aside from her visits to the set, he had personally met her on a number of other occasions and that he was able to have had "quite a long chat" with her when she visited Preston, Lancashire.

He said that during their conversation she had explained that she was about to go to Balmoral and was looking forward to the trip.

The actor revealed that what he enjoyed "was her sense of enjoyment", adding: "When you are with her you feel you’re the only person in her life. She’s extraordinary."

Roache, who holds the Guinness World Record for the longest-serving TV soap star in the world, was made an OBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours list in December 2021 for his services to drama and charity.

He admitted that he felt a "great sense of personal loss" following the news of her death on Thursday.

"It’s a very strange feeling but it’s like a member of your family has gone but King Charles now, who’s taken over, he’s equally as warm," he said.

He added: "I think he will be a wonderful king. He will spread it a little further with his own interests in the planet and animals and welfare for young people.

"He will bring a new thing but he will continue the Queen’s warmth and interest and care."

Jane Danson, who plays Leanne Battersby in the soap also recalls meeting the Queen twice on two separate occasions.

She said: "The first was about 12 years ago from a distance really and that was pretty special, but for me I think for all of us at Coronation Street we had a really special day in the summer of 2021 and she came to visit the set."

Jane said it had been two years since the cast had all been together again "so it was a very special day".

"On that day it just felt like the sun came out when the Queen arrived.

"She really spent quality time here chatting to people, taking an interest in how we worked throughout the pandemic."

She added: "She was amazing. She just seemed to glow when she walked around and met everyone and took such an interest in us all."

Coronation street actor Ben Price said: "I think it was an incredible honour for the show to come and have her visit. Especially during the pandemic and for me it was a real highlight of my career.

"There I am at work, with my family, meeting the Queen."

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