Coronation Street star William Roache given three months to settle tax debts

Coronation Street star William Roache has been given three months to settle his tax debt.

The sum owed by the actor - who plays Ken Barlow in the long-running soap - was not disclosed during a hearing at the High Court in London on Monday.

However, lawyers for the star asked the court for a 12-week adjournment to allow for the sale of a property.

The court also heard that the sum the actor owed had been reduced due to previous payments having already been made.

Retired Insolvency and Companies Court judge, Stephen Baister, granted the adjournment on Monday, which was not opposed by lawyers for HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

The case is now due to return to the court in June.

The 91-year-old did not appear at Monday's hearing, which lasted less than a minute.

The actor is best known for his portrayal of Barlow in the ITV soap, which he has starred in for six decades since making his debut in its first episode in 1960.

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A serviceman with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers in his younger years, Roache turned to acting after leaving the military and currently holds the Guinness World Record as the longest-serving TV soap star in the world.

He was made an OBE in the Queen's New Year Honours list in December 2021 for his services to drama and charity.