On screen, Ken will prove he still has what it takes to woo the ladies when he catches the eye of Elspeth, played by Helen, during a singles cocktail night at the Chariot Square Hotel
Comedian Helen Lederer only has eyes for Bill Roache as she plays Ken Barlow’s new love interest in Coronation Street.
On screen, Ken will prove he still has what it takes to woo the ladies when he catches the eye of Helen’s character Elspeth during a singles cocktail night at the Chariot Square Hotel.
Helen, 65, reckons Bill, 91, is just as dashing away from the cameras. She said: “I can see why Elspeth is interested in him – he is a real silver fox with very chiselled cheekbones.”
In next week’s March 27 episode, Elspeth sends drinks over to Ken and his son in law Steve. Elspeth is invited to join them, leaving Steve gutted that his father-in-law has hit it off with an attractive lady whilst he hasn’t met anyone. Asked how she ended up working on the ITV soap, Helen said the offer came “out of the blue”.
She said: “To be offered a part playing a role opposite William Roache is even more exciting. I had met him once before when I sat next to him at an event, and I thought what a lovely man he was and so personable. So for me to be offered this brief role was a joy.”
The new storyline comes as Bill works through money problems away from the cobbles. He was last week given three months to settle a tax debt with HMRC to “allow for the sale of property”.
Lawyers said the sum he owes, which was not disclosed in court, has been reduced due to payments made. His character Ken was famously twice married to Deirdre (the late Anne Kirkbride) and also romanced Claudia Colby (Rula Lenska) in 2020.
Helen has enjoyed a varied career, with past roles in shows such as Absolutely Fabulous, as well as doing stand-up. She has married twice and has a daughter, Hannah Lederer-Alton, with her first husband, journalist and former editor of The Observer, Roger Alton. Her second husband is Chris Browne, a GP.
Asked if she was hit by nerves on the cobbles, she admitted: “I do indeed but as I’m older now I recognize it for what it is and so I try and put them in a compartment and tell myself it is OK. I talked myself through it.
“It was a very rainy day up in Manchester and I was so excited to see ‘Coronation Street’ on the side of the building so I got a photo taken like a tourist. What struck me was how amazing everyone was and how comfortable they made me feel.
“From the word go, everyone couldn’t have been nicer. They were just so very friendly. I met Amy Robbins [who plays Christina Boyd] who I shared a dressing room with, so that was fun and the day just got better and better.”
On why her character Elspeth catches the eye of Ken, she said: “Elspeth is quite a forward person.
“She is someone who is not afraid to put lipstick on and her hair done, make an effort with her nails and pull the velvet draped dress over her slightly fuller figure and sit at the bar by herself with an open heart and an open mind. She is bold and proud to be there on her own and speak to people.” Helen said a longer stint on the show is possible if Ken and Elspeth hit it off.
She said: “The answer to that is ‘most definitely’. Ken had Steve to deal with but he was certainly interested in her. He got her number, so who knows? One day he might actually call her and I can come back to Weatherfield.”