'Deirdre' tells court Bill Roache was always 'perfect gentleman' She replied: "Lovely." Ms Kirkbride said she had never seen anything worrying about Roache's behaviour on set with young women from when she joined the show in about 1972. The actress swore on the Bible and then chose to stand as she was asked a number of questions by defending barrister Louise Blackwell QC. She confirmed she had known Roache "for quite some time," after she started in the soap aged 17 or 18. Ms Kirkbride was asked how she felt on joining Coronation Street. She replied: "I was terrified for my first day. Very nervous going. It was a completely new situation. I didn't know anybody. I very quickly got to know people and it became easier. Asked what she thought of Roache on meeting him, she said: "He was friendly. I remember the first time I spoke to him was outside a lift and we had a really nice chat and he offered me a cigarette. We shared a lot of the same interests in spiritual things. I just found him very easy to talk to. Miss Blackwell asked her: "At that time, if you had one word to describe Mr Roache what would it be?" Roache smiled in the dock as she made the comment. ITV employee John Friend Newman told the jury he had worked as a floor manager on Coronation Street since 1979. He said his role has been to control the studio, the filming, access and "all aspects of discipline within the studio realms." Members of the public were not allowed without permission inside the building in Quay Street, Manchester. All visitors, including family members of the soap's cast, would have to ask floor managers if they could enter studio areas. People would be challenged on the corridors if not recognised, he added. Mr Friend Newman said: "I have challenged the lord mayor of Manchester. I actually had him removed from the building. He said he had never encountered a guest pass system to get into the building. Mr Friend Newman confirmed he had no connection with Granada Studios in the 1960s and could not comment about access to the set around that time. One of the alleged victims claims Roache groped her in a dressing room, while two others say he sexually assaulted them in studio toilets.