Ken Barlow’s (William Roache) worried loved ones plan to stage an intervention over his finances in forthcoming Coronation Street scenes.
The pensioner has been busy planning an all-expenses-paid trip to Porto for him and his friend Cassie Plummer (Claire Sweeney) in recent weeks.
The pair have built a close friendship since Ken agreed to let Tyrone Dobbs’ (Alan Halsall) birth mother be his carer and help him around the house earlier this year, amid struggles with his mobility.
Cassie is the only one who knows that Ken recently won £50,000 after his numbers came up in a premium bond draw.
As he has splashed the cash, many fans have speculated that Cassie is using Ken for his money.
Next week, his family begin to share similar concerns when his son Adam Barlow (Sam Robertson) is perturbed to learn Ken’s forked out on airport lounge tickets and first-class flights for his Porto trip.
Adam confides in brother-in-law Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson) that he’s worried where Ken is finding the money to fund his and Cassie’s lavish lifestyle and fears he’s running up debts, not knowing of his dad’s recent windfall.
The pair agree that, once Ken and Cassie return from Porto, a family intervention is needed.
Matters are made more complicated, however, by the fact next week also sees Steve and Cassie finally give in to their mutual attraction and spend the night together.
How will his new love react when they confront Ken over his spending?
Actress Claire Sweeney, who plays Cassie, recently opened up to Metro about sharing scenes with Corrie icon William, who plays Ken.
‘I feel so honoured, I have only been here a year and I am so lucky to have this storyline’, she told us. ‘We did a scene together on his 92nd birthday. He has this shine in his eyes and he never drops a line. He is so great. I’m thinking if I can just hang out with him and get a little bit of that elixir or whatever his secret is. I’m fascinated by him and I love talking to him. I have been a longtime fan of the show and I love all the history of Corrie as well.
‘I have been asking him questions about the rehearsals in the old days. What would the women wear? Was there a hierarchy? What was the pecking order? And I get them to tell me all these amazing stories.
‘He’s fascinating. And then what’s amazing when they say action, I just see this complete calm, come over him. And everything’s easy and slow and laid back and he just really is brilliant.’
Coronation Street airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8pm on ITV1, and from 7am on ITVX.
