Corrie fans figure out Ken Barlow’s ‘dirty secret’ in chilling final exit twist
Coronation Street fans think Ken Barlow star William Roache could be leaving the show with a bang in a final prison twist after Roy Cropper’s arrest for murdering Lauren
Coronation Street’s Ken Barlow could be hiding a very dirty secret as fans think they’ve twigged a massive exit twist for actor William Roache.
Bill has played Ken since the soap first aired back in 1960, appearing in almost 5,000 episodes in total. But now fans think he could go out with a bang in a shocking twist that would connect him to the murder of Lauren Bolton. While Roy Cropper is rotting in prison accused of killing her, some fans think it’s really Ken who’s to blame.
Lauren was close to Ken’s son Daniel, who was tutoring her, and is also in the frame for her murder. And some eagle-eyed social media users reckon that could be the key to Ken’s dirty secret coming out.
Taking to X – formerly known as Twitter – one fan suggested: “Okay so out there but hear me out. Ken killed Lauren (or has her tied up in the basement), because he’s always liked younger women. He doesn’t want Daniel to take the blame so admits all. Sentenced to life, Bill Roache retires. Boom.”
More X users chimed in with: “Ken’s gone missing, maybe it was him who kidnapped Lauren.” As someone else said: “Re Lauren’s caller, Ken Barlow has always been persistent where the ladies are concerned.” Some even think Ken could be Lauren’s secret boyfriend.
Over on Reddit, some fans had the same idea. One user suggested: “Maybe it was Ken? He’s definitely older.” Another replied: “I want Ken to have killed her so he’ll finally leave lol.”
Upcoming spoilers for the soap have revealed that there’s more tragedy in store for the imprisoned Roy, after he has another flashback of Lauren and Max at the café. The overwhelmed Roy is later found collapsed on the floor of his cell by a prison officer and rushed to hospital.
He reveals to Mary that he’s trying desperately to remember the details of a conversation he overheard between Max and Lauren as he feels sure it’s of significance, Mary urges him not to give up as it’ll come to him eventually. Meanwhile, the police set about filming a reconstruction of her last movements at Roy’s Rolls.
Finally, Roy remembers the necklace Lauren got from her boyfriend and tells Dee-Dee about it, suggesting if they trace where it came from they might be able to figure out who her boyfriend is. But will any new evidence come to light?
In tense soap scenes this week, fans watched as dognappers took Freddie and kept him hostage, begging for a confession from Roy in exchange for the dog’s freedom. Evelyn and Nina were left distraught, with even Toyah roped in after finding men digging around in the park for Lauren’s bones.