Corrie Star Roache Loses Wife

Coronation Street favourite William Roache, who plays mainstay Ken Barlow, has announced that his wife of over three decades has died unexpectedly at home.

Sara Roache who was 58, wasn’t known to be suffering from any illness, died on Saturday in her Cheshire home. The cause of death has not been announced.

Speaking through the producers of Coronation Street – Granada Television – 76-year-old William commented: “We loved Sara very much and we are all in a state of shock. We can’t believe she is no longer with us.”

Also speaking via the production company Bev Callard, who plays Liz McDonald, paid a tribute to Sara saying: “She was just gorgeous, a beautiful human being. I have known her for many years and met her before I joined Corrie… …We met many times at charity functions which she gave so much of her time to.

Speaking of William’s loss Callard continued: “Bill is the most wonderful man he will be destroyed. He is so popular; if you have a problem with anything you can go to Bill. That will be repaid by all the cast and crew because everyone loved them both.”

Sara, pictured right in 1985 on William’s ‘This Is Your Life‘ programme had previously appeared in Corrie as a judge. She married Roach in 1978.

Coronation Street launched as a twice weekly serial in 1960, before changing to the soap opera format in 1989. William has been with the show since that first 60s episode, and despite the fact the first 19 years of the show were not classed as soap opera, Roache is listed as being the longest serving UK ‘soap’ star.