Two beloved Coronation Street characters are actually father and son in real life – and fans are gobsmacked.
Over the years, the ITV soap has brought in several real-life family members onto the cobbles. Real-life siblings, cousins, and even parents and their children have all shared a set.
Cousins Brooke Vincent and Ellie Leach have found fame on the soap, while the late Rick Neelan (Greg Wood) was actually the real life brother of footballer Tommy Orpington (Matt Milbur).
But they’re not the only ones to be related on and off air. And fans have recently been left stunned after realising soap legend Will Roache – who plays Ken Barlow – starred alongside his real-life sons on the soap several times.
Will’s son appeared on the soap
Read More
Related Articles
Read More
Related Articles
Back in the 1970s, Will’s son Linus Roache – then aged just nine – became the fourth child actor to play Ken’s son Peter Barlow. He held this role for two years.
Linus maintained family ties to Will on-screen as he returned to the ITV soap in 2010. Appearing alongside his famous father once more, this time, he played sharp-suited businessman, Lawrence Cunningham.
It later turned out that Lawrence was Ken’s long-lost son from his relationship with Susan Cunningham (Patricia Shakesby) in 1961.
The Roache family seems to have a strong connection with the soap
What’s more, in another shocking twist Will’s other son James joined the soap in 2010, playing Lawrence’s on-screen son, James Cunningham. Ken played a major role in trying to build a relationship between Lawrence and James, after his son refused to accept James was gay.
James also had the opportunity to portray his own father William in a dramatisation of Corrie, titled The Road to Coronation Street in 2010. Linus’s career also took off and he bagged roles in Hollywood flicks like Batman Begins and The Wings of the Dove.
Will’s other son also stared on the soap
Will has previously shared how he was “enormously proud” of their time working together on the ITV soap. Speaking about Linus’ acting career at the time, he told The Sun: “When I’m in New York, no one bothers about me, it’s all about Linus. James is just getting started but will no doubt be just the same.”
It’s fair to say The Roache family seems to have a strong connection with Coronation Street, with most members having appeared on the soap at some point. Linus’ mother, Anna, also featured in several episodes back in 1962.
Soap fans have recently discovered to learn that Will starred alongside his sons on Coronation Street. On a Corrie Facebook fan page, alongside photos of Will and Linus and James, one person penned: “Did anyone else know that Ken’s real sons were in the soap?!” Someone else replied: “I do now! No way.” Echoing their thoughts, a third person commented with an exploding head emoji. A fourth person also declared: “That is amazing.”
Coronation Street airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX