Coronation Street has a tradition of weaving real-life family ties into its plotlines, but fans were gobsmacked to learn that two beloved characters are actually father and son off the cobbles.
The ITV soap has seen siblings, cousins, and even parents and their offspring sharing screen time over the years. Noteworthy examples include Brooke Vincent and Ellie Leach, who are cousins in reality, and the late Rick Neelan (played by Greg Wood), who was the real-life brother of footballer Tommy Orpington (portrayed by Matt Milbur).
However, it’s the family link between soap icon Will Roache and his sons that has recently left viewers flabbergasted. Will, who portrays Ken Barlow, has acted alongside his real-life sons on the soap multiple times.
In the 1970s, Will’s son Linus Roache assumed the role of Ken’s son Peter Barlow when he was just nine years old, becoming the fourth child actor as reported by the Liverpool echo.
He held this role for two years. Linus returned to the soap in 2010, once again sharing the screen with his famous father, but this time as sharp-suited businessman Lawrence Cunningham.
It was later revealed that Lawrence was Ken’s long-lost son from his relationship with Susan Cunningham (Patricia Shakesby) in 1961.
In a surprising revelation, it has been revealed that Will’s other son, James, joined the soap in 2010, portraying Lawrence’s on-screen son, James Cunningham. Ken played a significant role in trying to build a relationship between Lawrence and James after Lawrence struggled to accept James’ sexuality.
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James also had the opportunity to play his own father, William, in a 2010 drama about Corrie’s history, called The Road to Coronation Street. Meanwhile, Linus’s acting career flourished with roles in big Hollywood films like Batman Begins and The Wings of the Dove.
Will has previously expressed how “enormously proud” he was of the time they spent working together on the ITV soap. When discussing Linus’s acting career, 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.”
The Roache family has a strong connection to Coronation Street, with many family members appearing on the show at some point.
Linus’s mother, Anna, even appeared in several episodes back in 1962. Recently, soap fans were surprised to discover that Will had starred alongside his sons on Coronation Street.
On a Corrie Facebook fan page, alongside photos of Will and Linus and James, one fan wrote: “Did anyone else know that Ken’s real sons were in the soap? !” Another fan replied: “I do now! No way.” A third person commented with a mind-blown emoji, while a fourth fan declared: “That is amazing.”
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