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Coronation Street's William Roache in court for child rape trial Coronation Street's William Roache on trial, not Ken Barlow
(about 4 hours later)
Coronation Street star William Roache has arrived in court for his trial on charges of committing sexual offences against girls. A judge has told a panel of potential jurors that the "real person" William Roache is on trial, not his fictional Coronation Street character.
Mr Justice Tim Holroyde QC said any views of Ken Barlow must be "put out of your mind" to ensure a "fair and independent judgement" can be reached.
Mr Roache, 81, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, denies two counts of raping a 15-year-old girl in East Lancashire in 1967.Mr Roache, 81, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, denies two counts of raping a 15-year-old girl in East Lancashire in 1967.
He also denies five counts of indecent assault involving four girls in Manchester in the mid to late 1960s. At Preston Crown Court, he also denies five indecent assaults on four girls.
Those charges relate to girls aged from 11 to 16. His trial at Preston Crown Court is scheduled for four weeks. Those alleged offences relate to girls aged from 11 to 16 in Manchester in the mid to late 1960s.
Mr Justice Holroyde said: "It is a real person, William Roache, who is on trial.
"You must separate the fictional character from the real person, you will have to decide verdicts from the evidence you will hear from a real person, about a real person," he added.
Jury selected
"So you must put out of your mind any views you might or might not have, favourable or unfavourable, of the fictional character Ken Barlow.
"However, if for any reason any of you feel that you will find it impossible to make a fair and independent judgement on the evidence, uninfluenced by your views about the TV character, then you must say so."
The judge said Coronation Street actors Anne Kirkbride, Chris Gascoyne and Helen Worth were among the defence witnesses who would be called during the trial.
The trio play the characters Deirdre Barlow, Peter Barlow and Gail McIntyre.
Following Mr Justice Holroyde's remarks, a panel of eight women and four men were selected and have been sworn into court.
Mr Roache arrived at the court with his sons Linus and James, and a security guard. The actor's children sat in the public gallery.
The veteran soap star was arrested at his home last May.The veteran soap star was arrested at his home last May.
Mr Roache, who has not appeared in the programme while legal proceedings were ongoing, "strenuously" denies the allegations.Mr Roache, who has not appeared in the programme while legal proceedings were ongoing, "strenuously" denies the allegations.
The trial is scheduled to last up to four weeks.