Early episodes told the story of student Kenneth Barlow (William Roache), who had won a place at university, and thus found his working - class background - as well as his parents, Frank and Ida (Frank Pemberton and Noel Dyson) - something of an embarrassment. The character was one of the few to have experienced life outside of Coronation Street. In some ways this predicts the growth of globalisation, and the decline of similar communities. In an episode from 1961, Barlow declares: "You ca n't go on just thinking about your own street these days. We 're living with people on the other side of the world. There 's more to worry about than Elsie Tanner and her boyfriends. '' Roache is the only remaining member of the original cast, which makes him the longest - serving actor in Coronation Street, and in British and global soap history.
who has appeared in the most episodes of coronation street
Kenneth Barlow (William Roache)