Bill Roache admits he has had a crush on the 'beautiful' Queen since they first met in 1953
Coronation Street's William Roache - known as Bill - was welcomed onto the This Morning sofa to talk to Phil and Holly about his new book, Life and Soul, and upcoming 90th birthday next Monday. And the soap icon - who has played Weatherfield icon Ken Barlow since the show’s very first episode in December 1960 admitted that despite romances with dozens of women as the bookish on-screen lothario, it’s the Queen he has a crush on in real life, dating back to a meeting in 1953. After discussing his life, work and ways he stays young in outlook as his milestone birthday approaches, Holly Willoughby turned the conversation round to the Queen, who celebrated her 96th birthday this week.