Corrie star Bill Roache denies he’s dead after falling victim to online hoax

Reports of his death have been greatly exaggerated.

Coronation Street star Bill Roache has denied that he is dead after an online hoax published by a news site claimed that he had died of heart failure on Wednesday. The 85-year-old - who plays Ken Barlow on the ITV soap - was forced to deny claims that he had died, claims which the reporting website had said were confirmed by his son, Linus. The website stated: “Son Linus Roache said in a statement that Bill died of heart failure on the night of Wednesday.” However Roache, who has been a mainstay on the legendary soap since its first episode in 1960, swiftly denied it. The veteran actor recently took time off from the show after his daughter passed away through liver failure.