Reports are emerging that Bill Roache is set return to Coronation Street this summer.
Roache, who plays Ken Barlow in the soap, has not appeared since his arrest over allegations of rape and indecent assault in 2013.
The 81-year-old actor was on trial for seven incidents which were alleged to have taken place between 1965 and 1971, and involved five women who were aged 16 and under.
He was cleared of one of the seven abuse charges last week and
yesterday, he was found not guilty of two counts of rape and four counts of indecent assault by a jury at Preston Crown Court in the UK.
Bill Roache, pictured with his family yesterday
Ken Barlow has not appeared in the soap since last April and his absence has been explained by a visit to his on-screen grandson Adam, who lives in Canada.
A Coronation Street spokesperson
told Digital Spy: "We look forward to talking to Bill soon about his return to work."
Bill Roache has starred in Coronation Street since its first episode in 1960.
