CORRIE legend William Roache will celebrate his 90th birthday next week.

Viewers of Happy Birthday Bill – a programme dedicated to his career on the box – have asked the soap star to become a knight.

William has been part of the Coronation Street line-up since the show first aired in December, 1960.

Decades later, TV fans are ready to celebrate his milestone birthday on April 25, 2022.

Last night, ITV aired Happy Birthday Bill, which tells the story of the actor's legendary life in the build-up to his special day.

The programme also featured appearances from some of his co-stars including Kate Ford aka his on-screen daughter Tracy and Alison King, known as Carla Connor.

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TV personality Paul O'Grady is also one of his friends and quipped: "The man is 90, and he's got hair like Rapunzel!"

But within minutes of the show starting, many viewers turned to Twitter to issue the same request.

According to them, William deserves to receive a knighthood for his long career.

"The sooner William Roache gets a knighthood the better", one fan wrote while another added: "Bill Roache should have a knighthood."

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A third Twitter user penned: "Nooo why is he not Sir Bill?!"

Receiving a knighthood is one of the highest honours an individual in the UK can achieve.

Over the years, William has appeared in over 4,600 episodes of Coronation Street and he has no plans of retiring as of yet.

Speaking of his involvement in the long-running ITV soap, William said: "Whilst I can do it, and whilst they will have me, I have no intention of retiring. I am so fortunate to work for an organisation that is happy to have me."

Before he became known for his appearances in Corrie, William appeared in several other shows in the likes of Sunday Night Theatre, His and Hers, The Queen's Guards, All Star Comedy Carnival.

But he hasn't strayed too far away from the cobbles since he first moved in Coronation Street.

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While his knighthood remains to be confirmed, William did receive the British Soap Awards Lifetime Achievement Award for his role as Ken Barlow in 1999.

Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on ITV.

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