Coronation Street star William Roache spared bankruptcy after tax bill threat

The 92-year-old, who has played Ken Barlow on the soap for more than 60 years, was given 12 weeks in March to settle the dispute.

Coronation Street actor William Roache has settled his outstanding tax bill with HMRC (Ian West/PA) (PA Wire)

Coronation Street star William Roache has settled his tax bill with HMRC at the High Court.

The 92-year-old, who has played Ken Barlow on the soap for more than 60 years, was given 12 weeks in March to settle the dispute.

At a hearing on Monday which lasted less than a minute, Anam Razvi, for HMRC, requested the dismissal of the case on behalf of the tax body.

Chief Insolvency and Companies Court judge Nicholas Briggs agreed and dismissed the case, court staff said.

Roache did not attend the hearing at the specialist Insolvency and Companies Court in London.

He is best known for his portrayal of Ken Barlow in the ITV soap for nearly 64 years after making his debut in its first episode in 1960.

He holds the Guinness World Record for the longest-serving TV soap star in the world and was made an OBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours list in December 2021 for his services to drama and charity.