Bill's Grief 'I Didn't Say Goodbye'

More Tragedy Has Befallen the British Soap Star.

- Judy Kean

Bill Roache has had almost as much drama and heartache in his life as Ken Barlow, the character he plays on Coronation Street.

But every time something tragic happens, the veteran actor somehow manages to keep going and work through the pain, which is what he is currently doing following the sudden death of his daughter.

Vanya Roache (50) died unexpectedly in March from a blood disorder that caused her liver to fail. William (86) was on the Coronation Street set filming when he received a text message to say she had been taken seriously ill. He immediately got in his car to drive from Manchester in the north of England to Chichester in the south, taking a detour to pick up his son James in London.

The pair were 15 minutes from the hospital Vanya had been taken to when the sat-nav took them down a snow-covered country road and disaster struck.

“The car just went straight on, smashed a sign, went over a traffic island and hit a hedgerow, smashing the whole front of the car,” says Bill. “Recovery said they couldn’t get out for five hours. By the time I got to her, it was too late.

“To not be able to say goodbye to Vanya was awful. But I take some comfort in now knowing she is in a better place and at peace. I like to think about the happier times we had, and when I say, ‘I love you, Vanya,’ I know she hears it.”