LAMAMIMET

Alan Rothwell was born on 9 February 1937 in Oldham, Lancashire. He first gained public attention playing Jimmy Grange in the radio drama The Archers before becoming a regular on the new ITV soap Coronation Street as David Barlow, appearing from 1960-1961 and again from 1963-1968. He continued his acting career with roles in series such as Top Secret, Heartbeat, and Doctors, and returned to soaps as Nicholas Black in Brookside during the mid-1980s. Rothwell also appeared in films including Zeppelin (1971) and Walk Like a Panther (2018), and made guest appearances on programmes like Casualty and The Musketeers. Beyond acting, Rothwell became a familiar face to a generation of children as the presenter of the long-running programmes Picture Box (1969-1989) and Hickory House (1973-1978), where he combined entertainment with educational content. Rothwell remained active in television into his later years, featuring in various dramas and audio productions. He died in May 2026 at the age of 89, with his passing announced by the Coronation Street social media team.