Linus Roache is headed to the UK to
play a homophobe in the long-running daytime drama Coronation
Street.
According to The People, Linus
and James Roache will play son and grandson to Ken Barlow, who is
played by their real father, veteran actor Bill Roache.
In the story to be broadcast in
September, Ken Barlow discovers he has a long-lost son, Lawrence
(played by Linus Roache), and a grandson, James (played by James
Roache).
Lawrence, however, hates his son
because he's gay.
“Lawrence is a complete bigot and the
language he uses will leave some viewers furious,” the paper quoted
an unnamed insider.
“The scenes will pull no punches in
expressing some people's hatred toward gay people and what they stand
for.”
Linus Roache appeared on Coronation
Street in 1975 as the character of Peter Barlow, currently being
portrayed by Chris Gascoyne. The forty-six-year-old, British-born
actor played the part of a Roman Catholic Priest struggling with
being gay in the 1994 British film Priest. But
Roache is best known for his two-year stint on the NBC crime drama
Law & Order, which
ended its ten year run this year.