Coronation Street is lining up an emotional new story for Ken Barlow, with the character set to have a health battle.

The character, played by William Roache, has been on screen for the last 64 years, going through several different storylines throughout the soap’s history.

The latest arc, as per The Sun, will see the veteran fall down the stairs and injure himself, leaving him needing the help of a carer.

The story is said to have an effect on the normally effervescent Ken, who is left demoralised after struggling to fully recover from his fall.

The arc is also said to be a ploy to highlight the plight facing elderly people, with the message being to emphasise the care they often need from family members.

Whilst the Barlow family will soon be tending to Ken, they are currently preparing for the exit of his grandson Simon, with Alex Bain set to depart the ITV soap after 16 years in the role of Simon.

Ahead of his impending exit, Bain reflected on his experience whilst detailing how he came into the role, recalling: “When I was little my mum and dad took me to do some professional photos.

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“The photographer asked if it would be OK to give my details to an agent as he thought I would be good as a child model. The agent got in touch and signed me up and I have been with them ever since.

“I did some photographic jobs, a couple of commercials including one for Rice Crispies and then a role in Sunshine alongside Bernard Hill. My agent then called my mum and said there was a role for a child my age in Corrie so I went through the audition process.

“The list kept getting shorter and shorter until my agent called and said I had got the part. That was a huge moment for my mum and dad coming from a Northern working-class background and suddenly you are taking your son to work alongside Ken Barlow!”