Rochdale Literature and Ideas Festival: Kevin Kennedy - Street to Recovery

Rochdale Literature and Ideas Festival: Kevin Kennedy

Kevin Kennedy launched his tell all autobiography, 'The Street to Recovery', at Rochdale Literature and Ideas Festival today (Sunday 27 October). Kevin sat down with festival compere Norman Warwick for a candid interview about everything from Coronation Street to his struggle with alcohol.

Kevin, who first appeared in Coronation Street in 1983 as Curly Watts, spoke fondly of his time on the Street and said: "In a time when it was hard for people, it was my job to cheer up the nation."

His role in Coronation Street made Kevin one of the UK's most successful soap actors.

Curly Watts appeared in Coronation Street from 1983 to 2003 and was often described as a loveable nerd. His story lines often dealt with repeated failures to form successful romantic relationships. When talking about his work, Kevin said:

"It was very easy to do thanks to the work of my colleagues."

Towards the end of the 1990s, Kevin began to suffer with alcohol related issues. In 1996, his drinking problem escalated from a social addiction to something that he couldn't leave alone. Kevin said: "Life was fine but for some reason I couldn't leave alcohol alone."

He described how his alcohol problem left him needing to keep up a level of drunkenness. He added: "I was drinking 24/7 so I had to maintain a level of drunkenness."

Kevin kept this up for three years and described this time as "exhausting". "I drank because I loved it," he said.

Sober for 15 years now, Kevin now doesn't have any struggles with alcohol and doesn't have a problem with other people drinking alcohol.

Kevin is the father of two daughters, aged 7 and 9, and lives in Brighton with his family. As well as continuing to be an actor, Kevin helps people with addiction problems. He said: "I don't point at them and say you have a problem. I tell them what I went through and what I experienced as a way of getting through to them."

After leaving Coronation Street, Kevin went on to make music, perform in pantomimes and has become a West End star.

Kevin spoke fondly of his time on stage. "I wouldn't change anything for the world."

After his interview, Kevin took questions from the audience and the question on everyone's lips was, 'Would you return to Coronation Street?' Kevin replied: "If the opportunity arrived then no one would be happier than me."

Kevin's book, The Street To Recovery, covers his twenty years on the soap, his battle with addiction and recovery and his future plans in the entertainment business. The book will be available on general sale from the 31 October.