Coronation Street star William Roache, 93, has disclosed a two-year feud with his former co-star Pat Phoenix, who played Elsie Tanner on the iconic soap. The revelation came during a rare public appearance at The Lowry in Salford, where Roache joined fellow cast members for 'An Audience With Coronation Street'.
Roache, who has portrayed Ken Barlow since the show's first episode in 1960, explained that the dispute began over a disagreement about how to perform an intense scene. Phoenix reportedly wanted to throw an ashtray at Roache's character, but Roache objected, calling the move 'unprofessional'. The pair did not speak off-camera for two years.
The feud ended when Phoenix invited Roache to her birthday party. 'She said, 'Oh I suppose you'd better come to my party then,' and we became good friends after that,' Roache recalled. Despite the off-screen tension, they continued to film scenes together during the rift.
Pat Phoenix, who died in 1986 at age 62, was one of the original cast members and became a household name as Elsie Tanner. Roache noted that she particularly enjoyed the celebrity aspect of her role. Earlier this year, Roache received a Lifetime Achievement Award and expressed his desire to remain on Coronation Street until he turns 100.
