Coronation Street actor expected to contest rape allegations

Bill Roache is expected to contest rape allegations made against him later.
An ITV spokesperson says he won’t appear in Coronation Street until legal proceedings against him finish.
The actor, who plays Ken Barlow, was charged yesterday with 2 counts of raping a 15-year-old girl.
The allegations date back to 1967.
He’s been released on bail and will appear in court later this month.
Mark Hennessey is the London editor of the Irish Times – he says Roache was arrested as part of Operation Yewtree, opened after allegations were made against the late Jimmy Saville: