The Barlows have been a permanent fixture at 1 Coronation Street with Ken as the longest-standing representative - appearing in the very first episode, screened on December 9 1960.
Ken, the son of Frank and Ida Barlow, has been married four times - to Valerie Tatlock, Janet Reid and twice to Deirdre Barlow - and widowed three times.
He fathered twins Peter and Susan, had two illegitimate sons - Lawrence Cunningham and Daniel Osbourne - and adopted his late wife Deirdre's daughter Tracy.
Current Barlow family members are Ken, his recovering alcoholic son Peter and tearaway grandson Simon, mouthy Tracy, her feisty teen daughter Amy, Daniel and his one-year-old son Bertie.
In November 2016 Scottish actor Sam Robertson returned to the show as Ken’s grandson Adam.
He made a comeback alongside Ken’s son Daniel, played by actor Rob Mallard from Oldham, after the return of Ken’s prodigal son Peter, played by Chris Gascoyne, the previous month.
Daniel is Ken’s son by hair stylist Denise Osbourne and Adam is the son of Ken’s late daughter Susan and Mike Baldwin. He had been living in Canada since he left Weatherfield in 2007.
Former producer Kate Oates said of their arrival: “The Barlows have been at the centre of Coronation Street since it started in 1960 and I felt it was time to remind ourselves of the dynasty that Ken has built up over the past 50 years."
The charming Baldwin genes were evident from solicitor Adam's arrival while sensitive and bookish Daniel is a different Barlow altogether and a chip off the old block.
William said at the time: “The Barlows have always been female and suddenly there are four males.
“I hope we are like a mafia family. I’m loving it and I’m thrilled to bits.
“This family is historic. Daniel is the Illegitimate son and they’ve made him a mini me.
“And Adam is the son of Mike Baldwin my arch enemy."
In 2017 Ken was pushed down the stairs by Daniel in a disturbing whodunnit plot, blaming his dad for his then girlfriend Sinead’s abortion and for destroying the family he could have had.
Sinead had an abortion after Ken bluntly told her that being pregnant Daniel’s child was “nothing short of a disaster."
Street stalwart Ken then shockingly said his own “fate was sealed” and he had felt “stuck” with his wife Deirdre, who passed away in 2015.
He said about his troubled marriage to his late wife: “I made the best life I could with Deirdre.”
He forgave Daniel for taking his revenge and after shocking scenes screened at Christmas 2017, the street patriarch stepped up again to defend his family.
He took control of the situation, when Peter drove vicar Billy Mayhew to the edge of a cliff in revenge for the death of his twin Susan, by visiting Billy in hospital to make sure he didn't blame his son for his cliff plunge in the gripping Christmas Day episode.
