'Coronation Street' and Bill Roache have been presented with updated Guinness World Records confirming they remain the longest-running TV soap opera in the world, and longest-serving TV soap star in the world respectively.
Bill Roache with his Guinness World Record
The 88-year-old actor has played Ken Barlow on the ITV soap since the programme's first-ever episode on 9th December 1960, and the cobbles legend counts himself as "very fortunate" to have been in Weatherfield for so long.
He said: "I would like to thank Guinness World Records for this new award. I have been very fortunate to have been in this wonderful programme, 'Coronation Street', which has carried me into this world record and a lifetime of wonderful memories."
Sally Dynevor (Sally Metcalfe) and Joe Duttine (Tim Metcalfe) accepted Corrie's award on behalf of the cast and crew past and present, just weeks before the soap is due to celebrate its 60th anniversary.
'Coronation Street' Series Producer Iain MacLeod said: "When 'Coronation Street', Tony Warren’s ground-breaking, visionary project, launched in 1960, a columnist in a national newspaper predicted it wouldn’t last more than three weeks.
"Sixty years later, I can safely say the many hundreds of people that have worked tirelessly and dedicatedly on the show have proved that prediction staggeringly wrong. It is an incredible achievement, a testament to Tony’s instincts as a dramatist and proof that the characters and narrative universe he designed are still as relevant today as they were then.
"What better evidence of this could there be than Ken Barlow, played by the record-breaking William Roache, who was in episode one, had a starring role in episode 10,000 earlier this year, and will be at the centre of on-screen events for our 60th anniversary episode on December 9th.
"Bill’s is a singular, spectacular accomplishment and I heartily congratulate him for his peerless professionalism, unstinting commitment to the show and ongoing brilliance as an actor."
Craig Glenday, Editor in Chief of Guinness World Records, handed over the certificates.
He said: "On behalf of myself and all the team here in London we send you our congratulations on sixty incredibly entertaining years, at sixty years young you are officially amazing."
Tagged in Bill Roache