Coronation Street legend Bill Roache has revealed that he is hopeful of returning to filming next month.

Production on the ITV soap shut down in March as the coronavirus crisis escalated, although filming got back underway in June under strict new health and safety measures.

Cast members aged over 70 were kept away for their own safety, however, meaning that 88-year-old Roache, Barbara Knox (Rita Sullivan), Sue Nicholls (Audrey Roberts), David Neilson (Roy Cropper) and Maureen Lipman (Evelyn Plummer) have all yet to return to set.

Providing an update to Good Morning Britain today, Roache said: "The over-70s haven't been called yet, I might be called after August as I'm ready and willing.

"I hope I'll be back. I've been speaking to my colleagues and they've said there's a lovely camaraderie even with social distancing."

With filming now back on track, Corrie will return to airing six episodes a week from next month, while Roache and his fellow veteran cast members are expected to play a pivotal role in the 60th anniversary episodes airing in December.