26 January 2024 , 09:25
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Coronation Street's Bill Roache has showed off his huge Cheshire home as he praised his decorators.
The 91-year-old actor, who has played Ken Barlow in the soap since 1960, is currently facing bankruptcy after HMRC filed a petition against him. It is believed Bill is the highest-paid member of the cast as he takes home around £250,000 a year. Over the years Bill has shared a glimpse at what his life away from Corrie is like.
His home in Wilmslow, Cheshire features a huge conservatory with glass windows overlooking a spacious garden with green lawns and a pond. Inside, the actor has kept the walls white but added touches of gold details throughout. In a clip shared on his social media back in 2022, Bill showed off the room as he pointed out his favourite features.
Bill has gold leaves painting inside his house (Instagram/ @gborgdecorators)
The actor's home features a huge conservatory (Instagram/ @gborgdecorators)He said: "My wife Sarah decorated this house 25 years ago and she did it to a very high standard. So we were concerned about finding someone who could live up to that high standard. We did. We came across George and his family business. They just do a brilliant job. Now I just want to show you some little bits, this area here they've done all that and added this leaf here and they've done it beautiful it just looks absolutely wonderful even better than it did originally."
The video was shared with building company G.Borg, who carried out the work to Bill's home. The legendary soap star praised the work as he added: "This bit here is interesting. This windowsill that is like glass, you could use it as a mirror. You could almost see your face in it. And the precision here, it's absolutely brilliant. It's far better than we ever thought it could be."
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Bill married his second wife Sarah in 1978 and they share three children together - daughters Verity and Edwina, and actor son James Roache. The Ken Barlow star also has children Vanya and Linus with his ex Anna. Sarah tragically died of a heart condition at their home in 2009. Bill has admitted to being "lost without Sarah," and his eldest daughter Vanya sadly died in 2018 from liver failure.
The actor has previously shared how he wants to keep playing Ken until he is 100. In 2022 Bill received an OBE from King Charles for services to drama and charity. The world’s longest-serving soap star, who already had an MBE, said at the time: "I'm delighted to be receiving an OBE as it's such a wonderful honour. I can't tell you how proud I am.
"Coronation Street has given me so much in life and I absolutely love the programme and everyone who works on the show.” HMRC told The Mirror it does not comment on individual cases. But a spokesperson told us regarding Bill's petition: "We take a supportive approach to dealing with customers who have tax debts, and do everything we can to help those who engage with us to get out of debt, such as offering instalment plans.
“We only petition for bankruptcy as a last resort.” A spokesperson for Coronation Street said: "We're really sorry to hear of Bill's financial situation. Bill has an ongoing contract with Coronation Street and remains a much-loved member of the cast."