He was a loving husband, father, grandfather—the acting was what he did
Rothwell was part of Coronation Street's original 1960 cast, playing Ken Barlow's brother for nine years before pursuing other TV roles. Creator Tony Warren had specifically written the role for Rothwell after working with him on BBC Radio's Children's Hour during their childhoods.
- Alan Rothwell played David Barlow in Coronation Street's original 1960 cast for nine years
- Creator Tony Warren wrote the role specifically for Rothwell after working with him on BBC Radio's Children's Hour
- Rothwell also appeared in Gideon's Way, The Villains, Brookside, and presented Picture Box and Hickory House
- He died at 89 following a short illness
Alan Rothwell, who played David Barlow in the original cast of Coronation Street from 1960-1969, has died aged 89 after a short illness. The veteran actor was a pioneering figure in British television.
Alan Rothwell, who brought David Barlow to life in the opening moments of British television history, has died at 89 following a brief illness. The actor passed away peacefully in hospital, his family confirmed, leaving behind a career that spanned nearly seven decades and touched generations of viewers who grew up watching him on their screens.
Rothwell was born in Oldham and became one of the founding faces of Coronation Street when the ITV soap premiered in 1960. He remained with the programme for nine years, playing the brother of Ken Barlow—a role that would outlast his own tenure by decades. What made his casting particularly significant was not accident but intention: creator Tony Warren had specifically written David Barlow with Rothwell in mind, having worked alongside him years earlier on BBC Radio's Children's Hour during their own childhoods. That early connection shaped the beginning of what would become Britain's longest-running soap opera.
Beyond Coronation Street, Rothwell built a substantial television career. He appeared in crime dramas like Gideon's Way and The Villains, and later took on the role of Nicholas Black in Channel 4's Brookside during the 1980s. But perhaps his most enduring presence came through children's television, where he became a familiar and trusted voice presenting the long-running programmes Picture Box and Hickory House—work that introduced him to yet another generation of British viewers.
William Roache, who played Ken Barlow opposite Rothwell from those first episodes onward, offered a tribute that spoke to the particular bond forged in those early days of live television. Roache described working with Rothwell on Coronation Street's inaugural broadcasts as "such a wonderful time," and remembered him as both a skilled actor and a genuinely pleasant colleague. The two men had remained connected across the decades, their shared history as pioneers of the medium creating a lasting professional friendship.
Coronation Street's production team released a statement acknowledging Rothwell's passing and his place in the show's foundation. They noted that he had created a "memorable character" in David Barlow and would "forever be remembered as one of the original cast members"—a recognition that speaks to how deeply he had been woven into the fabric of British television culture.
Rothwell's family remembered him in terms that extended far beyond his professional accomplishments. He was, they said, a loving husband, father, grandfather, and uncle—a man whose life held meaning in the ordinary relationships that sustained him. That balance between public achievement and private devotion is perhaps the truest measure of a life well lived. His death marks another passing from that remarkable cohort of actors who helped establish the grammar of British television itself, a language that continues to be spoken in living rooms across the country.
Notable Quotes
He and I worked together on the very first episodes of Coronation Street, which was such a wonderful time. He was a very good actor and a delightful man.— William Roache, who played Ken Barlow
Beyond his professional achievements, he was a loving husband, father, grandfather and uncle. He will be fondly remembered and deeply missed.— Rothwell's family
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
What made Rothwell's role in Coronation Street different from other early television work?
The show was built around him in a way. Tony Warren didn't just cast him—he wrote the part knowing Rothwell from their shared childhood on radio. That's not how casting usually works. It meant the character fit him like a glove from day one.
Nine years is a long time to play one character. Did he struggle with being defined by it?
The source doesn't say he struggled. What's interesting is that he didn't stay—he left in 1969 and went on to other things. Gideon's Way, Brookside, children's television. He seemed to want a broader career, not to be trapped by one role.
William Roache's tribute felt warm but brief. What does that tell us?
They worked together at the very beginning, when television was still being invented. That creates a bond that doesn't need many words. Roache called him "delightful"—that's the kind of thing you say about someone you genuinely liked, not just worked with.
Why does it matter that he was on children's television?
Because it means he wasn't just a soap opera actor. He was trusted with children's education and entertainment. Picture Box and Hickory House—those were serious programmes. It shows he had range and that the industry valued him beyond drama.
His family's tribute focused on his personal life, not his fame. Is that significant?
Very. It suggests he didn't define himself by Coronation Street, even though that's what the world knew him for. He was a husband, a father, a grandfather first. The acting was what he did; the family was who he was.