Editing Ken Barlow (section)

====Martha Fraser====
In January 2009, [[Martha Fraser]] (played by [[Stephanie Beacham]]), a new love interest for Ken, was introduced to the show.<ref name="DSMF">{{cite web |last=Green |first=Kris |title=Stephanie Beacham joins Corrie |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s3/coronation-street/news/a136922/stephanie-beacham-joins-corrie.html%7Clast=Green%7Cfirst=Kris |publisher=Digital Spy |date=27 November 2008 |access-date=8 May 2011<!--archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/5yJaWKgaj?url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s3/coronation-street/news/a136922/stephanie-beacham-joins-corrie.html-->}}</ref> Ken meets Martha by the canal while he is walking his dog, Eccles. Martha reveals that she is a theatre actress who travels to performances on her barge.<ref name="DSMF"/> Ken seeks her out again, and he helps her go through her lines.<ref name="KenCheatAgain">{{cite web |title=Will Ken cheat on Deirdre again? |url=http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/soaps/coronation-street/interviews/will-ken-cheat-on-deirdre-again/4947 |work=[[What's on TV]] |date=3 February 2009 |access-date=8 May 2011 |archive-date=2 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902163515/http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/soaps/coronation-street/interviews/will-ken-cheat-on-deirdre-again/4947 |url-status=live }}</ref> Roache told ''[[What's on TV]]'' that Ken is happy to find a "like-minded person" who is easy to talk to. He enjoys telling Martha about his problems, his son and his grandchildren, as she is not judgmental.<ref name="KenCheatAgain"/> When asked if Ken mentions Deirdre, Roache said "Er... no. Martha asks him about Peter's mum and Ken tells her that she's dead, which is the truth, so Martha automatically assumes he's a widower and he doesn't put her right."<ref name="KenCheatAgain"/> Ken also chooses not to mention Martha to Deirdre; Roache believed that she would be angry if she found out.<ref name="KenCheatAgain"/> Roache revealed that Ken is not thinking about having an affair with Martha, but he is "captivated" by her, and does have feelings for her.<ref name="KenCheatAgain"/> During the storyline, Roache's wife, Sara, died.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/manchester/7877711.stm |title=Street actor Roache's wife dies |date=8 February 2009 |publisher=[[BBC News]] |access-date=27 May 2011}}</ref> Roache was given compassionate leave from the soap, and writers were forced to rework Ken's storyline.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2009/0216/416248-coronationstreet/|title=Coronation Street filming on hold|date=16 February 2009|accessdate=23 February 2023|work=RTÉ Lifestyle and Entertainment|archive-date=23 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223230724/https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2009/0216/416248-coronationstreet/|url-status=live}}</ref> Ken and Martha eventually consummate their relationship, and Ken considers leaving Deirdre and Weatherfield. He changes his mind at the last minute, and Martha leaves, alone.<ref>{{cite news |last=Green |first=Kris |title=Stephanie Beacham to return to Corrie? |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s3/coronation-street/news/a166928/stephanie-beacham-to-return-to-corrie.html |date=23 July 2009 |publisher=Digital Spy |access-date=27 May 2011 |archive-date=24 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024054815/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s3/coronation-street/news/a166928/stephanie-beacham-to-return-to-corrie.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Alison Graham of ''[[Radio Times]]'' said Martha was Ken's soulmate, because "she's the most perfectly bourgeois bit-on-the-side."<ref name="RTKandM">{{cite web |last=Graham |first=Alison |title=Ken and Martha in Coronation Street |url=http://www.radiotimes.com/blogs/586-what-were-watching-ken-and-martha-in-coronation-street/ |url-status=dead |work=[[Radio Times]] |date=13 March 2009 |access-date=4 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100711112115/http://www.radiotimes.com/blogs/586-what-were-watching-ken-and-martha-in-coronation-street/ |archive-date= 11 July 2010}}</ref> Graham said that Martha allowed Ken's "middle-class heart" to sing after the pair bonded over a love of [[BBC Radio 4]], books and plays.<ref name="RTKandM"/> Comparing Ken's relationships with Martha and Deirdre to a prison sentence, Graham said Martha offered Ken a deserving parole from the "years of breaking rocks in the prison yard of his marriage to Deirdre."<ref name="RTKandM"/> She hoped that Ken and Martha were "soon in the throes of ecstasy", because Ken deserved it.<ref name="RTKandM"/> Following the conclusion to Ken's relationship with Martha, Roache expressed an interest in having more girlfriends for Ken introduced in the future.<ref name="MoreLoveTwists">{{cite web |last=Kilkelly |first=Daniel |title=Roache wants more Corrie love twists |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s3/coronation-street/news/a214502/roache-wants-more-corrie-love-twists.html |date=15 April 2010 |publisher=Digital Spy |access-date=8 May 2011 |archive-date=20 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420211023/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s3/coronation-street/news/a214502/roache-wants-more-corrie-love-twists.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The actor said, "I thought it was great last year having a girlfriend, especially at my age. A few more would be great. I've lost count of romances I've had in the show, not to mention the four weddings."<ref name="MoreLoveTwists"/> Ken and Martha's romance was later depicted in the ''Coronation Street'' musical, ''[[Corrie!]]''. Ben East of ''[[The Stage]]'' said the romance was "genuinely funny".<ref>{{cite web |last=East |first=Ben |title=Corrie! |url=http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/29294/corrie- |work=[[The Stage]] |date=17 August 2010 |access-date=27 May 2011}}</ref>