{"id":239374,"date":"2023-10-25T10:18:16","date_gmt":"2023-10-25T10:18:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lovemainstream.com\/?p=239374"},"modified":"2023-10-25T10:18:16","modified_gmt":"2023-10-25T10:18:16","slug":"bill-kenwrights-44-year-role-in-corrie-from-adoption-to-engagement-heartbreak","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lovemainstream.com\/celebrities\/bill-kenwrights-44-year-role-in-corrie-from-adoption-to-engagement-heartbreak\/","title":{"rendered":"Bill Kenwright’s 44-year role in Corrie from adoption to engagement heartbreak"},"content":{"rendered":"

Everton chairman Bill Kenwright dies aged 78<\/h3>\n

Bill Kenwright, who has died at age 78, was a man of many talents, including that of a football boss, but it was his turn as Gordon Clegg during his nearly half-century run on Coronation Street that was his top goal for soap fans.<\/p>\n

The Liverpool-born star, who was also a successful theatre and film producer when he joined the Everton FC board as chairman in 1989, arrived in Manchester almost 50 years ago intending to enrol in university but ended up auditioning for Corrie at Granada Studios. <\/span><\/p>\n

He got his big break on the cobbles as Gordon Clegg, the son of Betty Williams who was raised by his aunt Maggie and her husband Les.<\/span><\/p>\n

His first episode hit screens in April 1968 and he spent just one year on the show before quitting the role for a career as a producer.<\/p>\n

However, he was such a viewer favourite that show bosses encouraged him to return to the iconic soap several times as a guest star throughout his life.<\/p>\n

READ MORE <\/strong> Bill Kenwright honoured by celebs declaring late star ‘changed their lives’<\/strong><\/p>\n

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His character was part of some major storylines over his first 12 months on the soap in the 1960s, including living in the flat above the Corner Shop with his aunt Maggie and her husband Les.<\/p>\n

His most notable episode, however, was his return to announce Betty’s death in 2012.<\/p>\n

In one significant scene, at Betty’s wake in The Rovers Return, he read out a letter from her thanking all her friends for all the good years before handing another letter to barman Sean, which contained her secret hotpot recipe.<\/p>\n

He also went on to have a relationship with Lucille Hewitt and the pair planned a wedding.<\/p>\n

However, after Gordon passed his accountancy exams, he ended the engagement with a devastated Lucille, cancelled the wedding and escaped to London for a job.<\/p>\n

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