Original cast members Violet Carson (Lynda Baron), who played Ena Sharples, and Doris Speed (Celia Imrie), who portrayed Rovers Return landlady Annie Walker

Playing my own dad in The Road To Coronation Street

I'm about to appear in a BBC Four drama about how Coronation Street started called The Road to Coronation Street, where I play my father, Bill Roache (who plays Ken Barlow in the soap) as a young man. I am about the same age as him when it started.

To get into the role I had some great chats with my dad about the good old days and how he was feeling at the time. He told me how excited he was about everything but that he was also very nervous, so I kept that in mind for the part.

It has a great cast, and working with Celia Imrie, Jane Horrocks, Jessie Wallace, Christopher McKay and Shaun Dooley (to name a few) was such an honour. It was so inspiring to watch them at work.

It's also directed by Charles Sturridge, who is truly a genius. He is such a patient director and never fails to get breathtaking results.

One great memory of filming was my first day on set, and walking on I felt like I had gone back in time. Charles had created a very atmospheric environment and every prop was authentic to the era. Even the TV cameras they used back then were on set and operating.

Even if you're not a Coronation Street fan you'll still love this as it's a gripping story about a young man's determination to get his show out there on the TV despite what he is told. He fights for what he truly believes in. Mix that in with a cast of some of the best loved actors and brilliant directing and you've got the ingredients for an absolute stomper of a show.

As an actor, nerves always play a part which you learn to use to your advantage in your performance. Filming this definitely hit the nerves a bit. I wanted to make sure the part was evocative and accurate, of course for the production, but mainly for my father.

I also appear in Coronation Street, the soap, playing Ken Barlow's grandson. I had fun filming both roles, but it was quite a crazy experience playing my father's character's grandson, and then playing my father himself.

But what made it even more confusing was that I filmed them both at the same time over a period of two weeks, so I would film one in the morning and the other in the afternoon.

Luckily they were both filmed in the same location at ITV, so I only had to pop over next door. I really enjoyed it though, as I was doing what I love.

Anyway, I'll sign off now. I hope you enjoy The Road to Coronation Street and do let me know what you think.

James Roache plays William Roache in The Road To Coronation Street.

The Road To Coronation Street is on at 9pm on Thursday, 16 September on BBC Four.

The programme is part of Planet North, BBC Four's season of films celebrating the culture, history, life and architecture of northern England.

Something tells me I should watch this, but I'm having fun in Bunns thread and could prolly catch it on Catch Up

I would love to but saddo mcsaddoson who is not even a liverpool fan is watching the football.

Awwww Issy, do you have Virgin or Sky?

Hmmmmmmmmm same in this old house too.

lol loads @ Saddo mcsaddoson.  Hope you can see it on catch up sometime. I Loved Elsie  Tanner and Annie Walker.

Can't watch it, no TV and I'm beginning to like it. I'm doing lots of things that I don't normally do because I used to be shakkled (sp) to daytime TV. Now I'm reading books I meant to read for ages, doing bits of housework I never thought of before and back to the books.

Yuss,best way really

All through summer i watched very little TV, i was out much of the time, and doing RL stuff. I'm just liking this cast line up and hope its decent.

Cinds, you not able to  watch it in another room?

I have Virgin so will watch it on catch up then I will make him watch Come Dine with me. 

That's ma girl

TBH Cologne, mine's only on as background noise

Pam, I realise now that was the same here. I feel quite liberated. Because I'm virtually housebound, I used to watch all the crappy daytime stuff and leave the crossword for later, never mind books (I love books). Now, I wake up, get the paper out the letterbox, make coffee, feed the kitten and open the back door for her, sit down and do the crossword.  I'm on the latest Stephen King ITM, so that comes next and the only interuptions are feeding the kitten and making lunch/dinner.

          I've got the match on C5 at the mo, but I'm not taking much notice of it

Some silly nit just scored a goal and started sucking his thumb - I kid you not.

Josie, the shining light.

It was the most bizarre thing ever

I'll have to try and catch up on the beeb sport website.

Thought I'd pop in and see what the spare thread should have looked like.

Well, you know, some things never turn out like they should

Your just after another random thingie

Thumbs and footie!

Not missed much then

Random hugs are ok I guess. Random thingies  now that's a different matter  

Soooooo anyone else watched it, or do i have to be the only critic.
Slow to start but i'm right into it. Love How Elsie and Ena are played. Interesting how they decided to show it in the begining, after it nearly got scraped after a pilote episode.
Jessie is a good actress.

Have a random  

I'm sorry Evelyn, you have to be my eyes and ears (if that's ok) until I manage to get another TV.

Lol I was watching the footie too but will watch this later. How was it? I love corrie!

Oh, I thought it was a 'one off'

Oooooh ta Cologne. I haven't had many random hugs. Peeps have hugged me yes, but no random ones that I can think of

Random hugs are ok I guess. Random thingies now that's a different matter


Yes the smilies are a bit limited.   The amount of times i use this green smilie, you think I was advertising Ultrabright.

I watched this later on Sky+ last night - I was dead impressed at Jessie's performance

They had it on at the same time as The Young Ones n Laura Norder! Why do they do this? The Law prog followed naturally from the soap and by the time Mock the Week and Question Time had finished it was too late.

I'm just watching it now    tis very good 

Ena Sharples and that hair net used to scare me as a kid 

I forgot it was on,    ended up watcing Alan Davis, which is a great series ,

I have to find it on a catch up channel, or look out for a repeat.

Yeah I could have but I was comfortable where I was   

Don't worry I recorded it, so will watch it later.

Just noticed it's repeated tonight om BBC4 @ 11:45 pm.

Why are the BBC doing a programme on an ITV legend?

I forgot it was on so I'll have to watch it if it's repeated