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| Coronation Street star William Roache to face rape charges | Coronation Street star William Roache to face rape charges |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Coronation Street star William Roache is to be charged with two counts of rape involving a 15-year-old girl in the 1960s, prosecutors said. | Coronation Street star William Roache is to be charged with two counts of rape involving a 15-year-old girl in the 1960s, prosecutors said. |
| Mr Roache, 81, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, is alleged to have committed the rapes in Haslingden, Lancashire, between April and July 1967, police said. | |
| Neither Mr Roache, who has played Ken Barlow in the TV soap since 1960, nor his representatives have commented. | Neither Mr Roache, who has played Ken Barlow in the TV soap since 1960, nor his representatives have commented. |
| Prosecutors said Mr Roache will appear before Preston magistrates on 14 May. | Prosecutors said Mr Roache will appear before Preston magistrates on 14 May. |
| Chief Crown Prosecutor Nazir Afzal said the evidence against Mr Roache had been "carefully considered" and as a result, the Crown Prosecution Service would be charging him with two counts of rape. | Chief Crown Prosecutor Nazir Afzal said the evidence against Mr Roache had been "carefully considered" and as a result, the Crown Prosecution Service would be charging him with two counts of rape. |
| "We have been reviewing evidence and providing early investigative advice to Lancashire Police since 1 March," he said. | "We have been reviewing evidence and providing early investigative advice to Lancashire Police since 1 March," he said. |
| "Having completed our review, we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest for Mr Roache to be charged." | "Having completed our review, we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest for Mr Roache to be charged." |
| Mr Roache has an award from Guinness World Records for being the world's longest-serving soap actor, having played Ken Barlow since Coronation Street's first episode. |