ILKESTON actor Bill Roache is to return to Coronation Street this week after being cleared of historic sex abuse allegations.
The 82-year-old, who plays Ken Barlow, was unable to work on the ITV soap while the court proceedings took place.
Tonight, fans of the soap will see his character return from visiting relatives in Canada – a plot created to explain his absence during his trial.
But instead of a happy reunion for Ken, he finds his Weatherfield family in tatters as son Peter (played by Chris Gascoyne) is in jail, framed for the murder of lover Tina McIntyre (Michelle Keegan).
Ken steps in determined to help Peter prove his innocence.
The Ilkeston-born actor said: "As soon as he asks Peter outright and Peter tells him he didn't kill Tina, Ken believes him.
"He looks him in the eye and totally believes what he says. It isn't just the blind faith of a father's love, he genuinely knows Peter is not the murderer."
Bill Roache is Coronation Street's longest-serving cast member having portrayed Ken Barlow since 1960.
He was accused of exploiting his fame to rape a 15-year-old girl and indecently assaulting four other teenagers at the soap's studios in Manchester and in his Rolls-Royce in the 60s and 70s.
But Mr Roache was found not guilty of two counts of rape and five of indecent assault after a three-and-a-half week trial at Preston Crown Court.
