Bill Roache still feels Anne Kirkbride’s presence on the ‘Coronation Street’ set.
The soap legend – who has played Ken Barlow on the show since its first episode in 1960 – has a "powerful" connection to his late co-star and on-screen wife, who died of cancer aged 60 in January 2015, and she’s always in his thoughts.
He said: "Even now, I can feel her around. It’s very powerful, particularly at the Barlows’ where Ken and Deirdre were called upon to do a lot of crying and shouting.
"But I know all is well for her. And you get to the point where you can think about the happy times and enjoy them.
"She’s only ever a thought away – love is a great connector. I can say to Annie, ‘Didn’t we have a great time?’ They love it if you become happy again and think about them in a loving way."
The 86-year-old actor believes bodies are designed to "go on forever" and our soul chooses when we die, and though his daughter Vanya passed away aged 50 from liver failure as a result of a blood disorder in March, he wasn’t "shocked" by her death because she was "ready" to go.
He said: "Vanya’s death totally affirmed what I know.
"Yes she was very young. Too young. But she’d not been well for a while so it wasn’t a shock.
"She was ready to go and I knew that she’d gone to a very happy place."
And Bill didn’t grieve for too long because he feels his daughter has "gone home".
He added to the Radio Times magazine: "We are immortal beings and we just change environments. You only grieve for so long because her battle is done and she’s gone home."
Bill Roache feels Anne Kirkbride’s presence on Corrie set
