Beacham discusses Roache's Corrie return

Stephanie Beacham has revealed that she has been supporting her grieving Coronation Street co-star Bill Roache in recent weeks.

Roache returned to work two weeks ago following the sudden death of his wife Sara on February 8.

Since making his comeback, the actor has filmed a number of scenes with Beacham, who plays Martha Fraser, a new love interest for his long-running character Ken Barlow.

"When he came back on set, I looked him in the eye and gave him a hug," Beacham told The Mirror. "I have a great bond with Bill, even though we've only known each other for a few months."

"At the moment I'm really nervous for him," she continued. "It's very hard. He hasn't really had any time off but he's determined to carry on.

"If he feels like having a moment of quiet, he does, but he's not the self-indulgent type. He's a sterling person and a remarkable human being."

Roache recently confirmed that he will not consider re-marrying following the loss of Sara.