BYE BARLOW
Coronation Street viewers break down in tears as Ken Barlow says emotional goodbye to his and Deirdre’s home
KEN Barlow bid farewell to Coronation Street in tonight's heart-wrenching episode.
The retired teacher, 80 - who is played by actor Bill Roache in the ITV soap - had viewers in tears as he left the cobbles to move into a luxury retirement flat.
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Ken left audiences at home feeling all nostalgic in emotionally fraught scenes that saw him saw goodbye to his beloved dog Eccles and his home.
Barlow - who wasn't allowed to bring Eccles into the retirement home - took a moment alone with his pooch to bid farewell.
Cradling the dog in his lap, Ken whispered: "Maybe I could smuggle you in in a suitcase. What do you think about that sweetheart?";
He added: "All you ever wanted was my companionship and maybe a little bit of bacon.
"This is not goodbye, this is au revoir. Until we meet again."
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He tugged at the heartstrings yet again when he said goodbye to his home - which he lived in with Deirdre (played by the late Anne Kirkbride).
Ken's family left him alone in the now-empty living room as they took the final few boxes away.
Claudia Colby leaned in and said: "I'll give you a moment to say goodbye to the old place," before walking out.
Ken stood up, walked around the room and said shakily, "goodbye number one Coronation Street" before walking out.
The camera then panned to the cabinet, which was lined with old framed photos of Ken and Deirdre, in an emotional tribute to Anne and her iconic character.
Viewers were left teary-eyed at the emotional scenes, and flooded Twitter with their heartbreak.
One wrote: "You know you're feeling emotional when you cry at Ken Barlow saying goodbye to his house on Corrie. I am actually sobbing at him leaving Number 1 what is wrong with me."
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"Ken Barlow, you will be missed!!" another added.
"Aww Ken! Genuine tears. Damn you @itvcorrie," a third penned.
Ken made the move after agreeing to sell the house to daughter Tracy and her husband Steve, is the night he leaves for good.
He is the only remaining character from the first episode of the soap that will celebrate its 60th anniversary in December.
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Actor Bill admitted it was very emotional filming his goodbye scenes.
"Filming that final scene of the episode was very poignant, just Ken and Eccles and the cobbles," he said.
"We have already started filming at the retirement complex and I am really enjoying it, it always feels different when we film away from the street."
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