Ken from Coronation St confirms that he hasn't died

Coronation Street’s Bill Roache has spoken out after a 'fake news' website claimed the veteran star had passed away, just weeks after the death of his daughter.

The show’s longest serving cast-member, 85, who plays street stalwart Ken Barlow, was the latest celebrity to fall victim to a death hoax after the site published a false statement from his son Linus.

'Son Linus Roache said in a statement that Bill died of heart failure on the night of Wednesday,' it read, according to The Sun.

The actor's spokesperson has since rubbished the report, telling the publication he will not comment on 'fake news.'

MailOnline has also contacted a representative for further comment.  

The news comes just weeks after Bill's daughter Vanya Roache, the oldest of his five children, passed away at the age of 50 after suffering liver failure.

It is the third loss to hit Bill following the death of his second wife Sara Mottram, 58, who passed away suddenly in 2009.

The couple had been hit by tragedy in 1983 when their daughter Edwina died from bronchial pneumonia, aged 18 months. 

It is believed Vanya, from his marriage to his first wife Anna Cropper, passed away on Friday, March 2.  

Bill and his daughter previously fell out when his marriage to her mother broke down because of his infidelity.

In 1999, Bill was declared bankrupt and Vanya, then 32, was interviewed by the Sunday Mirror about her father's financial woes, which stem from a libel case against The Sun. 

Vanya explained that she hadn't spoken to her father for 20 years after he'd'walked out on the family'.

She said: 'I don't feel sorry for him at all about this bankruptcy business after he walked out on us. I'm sure as ever he'll manage to land on his feet again and be OK. 

'I've lost count of the years since we last spoke. I'm not bothered what happens to him. We have nothing to do with each other after what went on in the past.'

Opening up about their rift, Bill explained: 'She has drifted off in another direction. I would rather not talk about unhappiness because I have such a happy family now

'She is there, but unapproachable. I never wanted to be a bad husband or a bad father but sometimes things go wrong.' 

Daily Mail