ITV This Morning viewers distracted by Corrie legend Bill Roache - and it's not for the first time

This Morning viewers couldn't help but mention the same thing as Coronation Street legend William Roache appeared on the programme. The ITV daytime show returned to screens on Monday (September 12) in a special edition paying tribute to the Queen.

Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield fronted the two-hour show where they were joined by a number of guests as they discussed the Queen's death and memories of Britain's longest-reigning monarch.

Bill, who celebrated his 90th birthday earlier this year, appeared live in the ITV studio to share his own memories of Queen Elizabeth II who he was fortunate to meet on several occasions. The Ken Barlow actor was among one the veteran cast members who greeted the head of state when she visited in 1982 to open the show’s new set and more recently in 2021 as the soap celebrated its 60th year on screens.

READ MORE: ITV Coronation Street fans think 'dodgy' Griff has unknown link to Toyah

The 2021 visit came after the Covid lockdown period and the Queen's special trip to the cobbles reflected how important soaps had been during this time. Bill shared how he had used the time to compliment the Queen on also being "wonderful" during the difficult coronavirus period as well. He said: "What was so lovely about her was this readiness to smile, and you felt she wanted to laugh and had a beautiful laugh."

The actor noted that aside from her visits to the set, he had personally met her on a number of other occasions and that he was able to have had “quite a long chat” with her when she visited Preston, Lancashire. He said that during their conversation she had explained that she was about to go to Balmoral and was looking forward to the trip, a sentiment that has been shared numerous times