Corrie's 'Ken Barlow' set for chart bid

Coronation Street stalwart William Roache could be headed for the charts - after teaming up with Harry Hill to work on his album.

Roache, who was last week named the longest serving soap star in the world, is among those making cameo appearances on Hill’s forthcoming album.

Hill has named the album 'Funny Times' after apparently abandoning his earlier proposed title 'Sgt Pepper’s Volume 2'.

The 'TV Burp' comic has signed a deal with Island Records to release the comedy album in November.

Roache, 78, recorded his spoken word vocal specially for the track 'Ken!', which is billed as an Ennio Morricone-style “Spaghetti Western inspired paean to Ken Barlow”. It also features a Mariachi-style trumpet rendition of the Corrie theme tune.

In it he says: “I was a librarian, I was a teacher, I was a trolley pusher, I was a taxi driver – now I am a free man.”

He also recites the line: “I know where the bodies are buried on the street”, and he goes on to lament his mistakes and run though a list of his love rivals.

Roache has been with the show since it launched in 1960 and it will celebrate its 50th birthday on December 9.

Also featuring on the album are stars such as Bruce Forsyth who duets with Hill on Paul Anka and Sammy Davis Jr’s 'I’m Not Anyone'.

'Newsround' creator John Craven also appears on the album on a track called 'Never Be Holly Willoughby Symphony'.

And 80s’ chart star Martin Fry of 'The Look Of Love' band ABC also makes a guest appearance on a version of 'This Guy’s In Love With You'.

The album is released on November 8.