Mister Baaaarlow

Ken Balow's Coronation Crush 1960s



One of the longest-lasting actors on Coronation Street, William Roache as Ken Barlow, has appeared in the show from the very first episode in 1960, up to the present, as of 2010. Known as a ladies charmer and sometime philanderer, Barlow has had an amazing 27 girlfriends in the course of the show's run. This 10 minute clip from what I believe to be 1965, focuses on a schoolgirl's crush on a young and married Ken Barlow, asking for his photograph too. The sound quality isn't too great. Also, a young Emily Bishop or "Miss Nugent" features. Ken is married to Valerie Tatlock at this time. This episode also runs close to the Elsie Tanner gets evicted from her house storyline.

You may see "Dad's Army" star Arthur Lowe appearing as lay preacher Leonard Swindley, in the black suit and black bowler hat in the Gamma Garments store at 1 min 53secs in, speaking to Street legend Albert Tatlock (Jack Howarth). The character Swindley appeared in a couple of spin-offs in 1966 and 1967, after leaving the show in 1965 (storyline was he was promoted to higher management in the Gamma Garments company) "Pardon The Expression" comedy sitcom (1965-1966) and "Turn Out the Links" (1967), a comedy sitcom spin-off of a spin-off.