Bill Roache: 'I'll never quit Corrie'

Bill Roache has reportedly pledged his future to Coronation Street following the sudden death of his wife Sara.

The 76-year-old actor vowed never to quit his role as Ken Barlow on the ITV1 soap after attending a memorial service for his partner this week, according to The People.

"I'll never quit the show I love. Sara would have wanted me to carry on," the newspaper quotes Roache as saying. "Apart from my family, Coronation Street has been my life. At my lowest ebb it crossed my mind but I knew I could never walk away.

"Sara always joked that the show was the second woman in our marriage. The cast and crew are like family. I'd stay for another 50 years if I could."

Roache is said to have made his comments in a conversation with his former co-star Bruce Jones, who played Les Battersby on the show.

Jones explained: "He said despite the shock of losing Sara so quickly he could never bring himself to walk away. It has left a huge vacuum in his life but knowing he has the support and love of all the cast and crew is a great source of strength."

Sara Roache passed away at the couple's home in Cheshire earlier this month. She was 58.