Inside the Celebrity Big Brother house, laughter echoed as Coronation Street star Jack P Shepherd shared a tale that had his housemates doubled over—and left fans with an unforgettable behind-the-scenes glimpse into soap royalty. While discussing television legends with fellow housemate Patsy Palmer, Jack dropped a nugget of hilarity involving none other than the longest-serving soap star in history—William Roache, who plays the iconic Ken Barlow.

At 93 years old, Roache is still a prominent figure on the cobbles, involved in major storylines, including one where his character recently uncovered a twisted scheme by his own caregiver. But it turns out, even after working side by side for over 25 years, William still calls Jack by his character name: David!

That’s right—despite decades of shared screen time, Roache hasn’t quite made the leap to calling him “Jack.” Instead, it’s always “David,” blurring the line between actor and character in the most delightfully old-school way.

As if that wasn’t enough, Jack joked with his Celebrity Big Brother housemates that William could’ve passed away while they were in the house and he wouldn’t know—a statement that initially stunned the room until he assured everyone the legend was still very much alive and well. Cue relieved laughter—and Jack’s hilarious impersonation of William Roache, which sent everyone into fits.

Beyond the jokes, William Roache is indeed still active on Coronation Street, and recently delivered a powerful performance in a storyline that saw his character nearly poisoned. The culprit? Cassie Plummer, his so-called carer, who had been secretly drugging Ken to keep him weak and reliant on her. Her motive? Desperation to keep her job and a roof over her head.

The plot thickened when Cassie started stealing from Ken as well, turning what seemed like a sympathetic situation into a full-blown betrayal. But Ken, ever sharp despite the character’s age, caught on. With the truth revealed, Cassie was driven out of Weatherfield, and Ken—true to form—made a full recovery.

Back in the Big Brother house, Jack’s tale gave viewers a heartwarming reminder of William Roache’s legendary status and ongoing dedication to the soap. His portrayal of Ken Barlow has spanned generations, starting all the way back in 1960, and shows no signs of slowing down.

The moment also offered a humorous look at the camaraderie (and quirks) among the show’s long-time cast, with Jack’s lighthearted teasing highlighting just how surreal and enduring soap life can be.

From near-death poisonings on screen to laugh-out-loud confessions off it, Coronation Street continues to serve drama and delight in equal measure—and its stars are just as entertaining behind the scenes.