Bill Roache writing novel

ill Roache has been writing a novel during lockdown.

The \'Coronation Street\' legend is still not back on the cobbles as his character Ken Barlow because over-70s actors are yet to return to the show\'s set amid the coronavirus pandemic, but he has been penning an adventure story, which has a "psychic side to it", as well as learning to draw to pass the time.

He said: "My daughter Verity is an artist and she has taught me to draw a bit, so I\'ve been doing some drawing, and also some writing.

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"I\'ve been writing a story, which I\'ve really been enjoying.

"It\'s an adventure story, where a couple are doing up an old house and they find a letter from the war about a guy who found a chalice and had hidden it in a church.

"They go back and try to find it and they do find it. It has a psychic side to it as well.

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"I don\'t want to reveal too much about it."

But the ITV soap\'s longest-serving cast member has revealed he and his fellow over-70s Weatherfield residents won\'t be back on the cobbles until after August at the earliest.

Speaking on \'Good Morning Britain\', he added: "The over 70s haven\'t been called yet. I\'ve been told I might be called after August, so I hope so.

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"We\'re ready and willing.

"The writers are told to be inventive, so I\'m hoping they will come up with something. I would like to get back [to work].

"I\'ve been speaking to my colleagues, and those who are working say there is a wonderful camaraderie, although they\'re doing distancing.

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"There\'s a great feel at work, so I\'m quite looking forward to doing that."