Corrie's Bill will mark half century

Coronation Street veteran Bill Roache will celebrate 50 years in the soap, after landing a deal to extend his contract to 2010.

Bill appeared as Ken Barlow in the first episode of Corrie on December 9, 1960, and is the only remaining member of the original cast.

The 76-year-old will play mild-mannered Ken for at least another two years, according to the Mirror, which will take him over the half century mark at the same time as the soap.

Only Don Hastings, who has played Bob Hughes on US show As The World Turns since October 1960, has a longer soap record.

Bill told BBC Breakfast last month that he is determined to hold the record.

"I spoke to him (Bob Hughes) on the phone. He's in a daytime soap, and I said to him 'Can't you be ill for two months?'"

"I hope I will overtake him one day - but we are streets ahead of anyone else," he said.