Coronation Street legend Bill Roache, 88, receives a GIANT portrait of his character Ken Barlow

Coronation Street legend Bill Roache, 88, receives a GIANT portrait of his character Ken Barlow to mark 60 years on the soap

He was part of the original cast when the show first aired in 1960.  

And Bill Roache, 88, celebrated 60 years on Coronation Street by receiving a giant portrait of himself. 

The painting was commissioned by ITV and the actor, who plays Ken Barlow in the soap, started sitting for it in February.  

Celebrations: Bill Roache, 88, has celebrated 60 years on Coronation Street with a giant portrait of himself

But the soap legend didn’t see the result until it was unveiled by his daughter Verity on Monday’s This Morning at his Cheshire home.

When the painting, covered in a large white sheet, was unveiled, Bill said: ‘Oh wow, stunning. It’s genius!’ 

He went on to say that he would put the painting in a ‘big area in the stairwell’ so ‘every morning I’ll be faced with that’ when coming down the stairs. 

The painting shows the soap legend clad in a stylish white blazer, shirt and chinos as he stares serenely into the distance. 

The soap star said: ‘I’m so moved, I think it’s a wonderful gift. Thank you ITV and thank you Michael [ Koropisz- the painter].’ 

Commissioned: The painting was commissioned by ITV and the actor, who plays Ken Barlow in the soap, started sitting for it in February

Commissioned: The painting was commissioned by ITV and the actor, who plays Ken Barlow in the soap, started sitting for it in February

Celebratory gift: The soap legend didn't see the result until it was unveiled by his daughter Verity on Monday's This Morning at his Cheshire home

Celebratory gift: The soap legend didn’t see the result until it was unveiled by his daughter Verity on Monday’s This Morning at his Cheshire home

A second version of the painting will be hung in the show’s studios in Manchester.

This Morning viewers took to Twitter to share their amazement at how good the painting is, but also their confusion. 

One said: ‘Who on earth would want a huge painting of themselves #ThisMorning’

Another commented: ‘It’s a really good painting, but I don’t think I’d ever have the, well, narcissism to have a painting of myself hanging up in my own house. #ThisMorning’ 

'Who on earth would want a huge painting of themselves?': This Morning viewers took to Twitter to share their amazement at how good the painting is, but also their confusion

‘Who on earth would want a huge painting of themselves?’: This Morning viewers took to Twitter to share their amazement at how good the painting is, but also their confusion

A third wrote: ‘Looked over from my computer to a muted #ThisMorning to see William Roache standing next to a giant Churchill-esque framed painting of Ken Barlow. Hope he has a castle to put it up in’ 

Another user added: ‘#thismorning I cant think of anything worse than a gigantic portrait on myself in my own home…😂’  

Bill has been playing Ken Barlow since the soap debuted in 1960, making him the longest-serving actor in a televised soap opera. 

Last week, he revealed that he briefly considered quitting the show in his 40s, after more than a decade in the role. 

Original: The soap legend was part of the original cast when Coronation Street first aired in 1960 (pictured with on-screen daughter Tracy, played by Kate Ford, in 2017)

Original: The soap legend was part of the original cast when Coronation Street first aired in 1960 (pictured with on-screen daughter Tracy, played by Kate Ford, in 2017)

He recently described the character as ‘a bit of a one-man Greek tragedy’ due to all the heartache his character endured throughout the years.  

Bill was only 28 when he first appeared on Corrie and said that while he did consider leaving to pursue other roles, he never thought about it seriously. 

He told The Mirror: ‘In my forties I had a long think about it and really looked at the whole thing. 

‘But I just loved it so much. I thought about leaving but not really seriously and I never put it into action in any way whatsoever.’  

Long-serving: The soap star was 28 when he first appeared on Corrie, making him the longest-serving actor in a televised soap opera (pictured in 1980)

Long-serving: The soap star was 28 when he first appeared on Corrie, making him the longest-serving actor in a televised soap opera (pictured in 1980)