Ken and Deirdre hold Hen and Stag night locally

IT'S been such a long-lasting love affair, full of drama, scandal and secrets, that we thought they'd never tie the knot. So the nation will rejoice when they finally become man and wife on April 8.

No, not Charles and Camilla. Although their royal register office do does coincide with the real wedding of the year - between Coronation Street favourites Ken and Deirdre.

The happy Corrie couple, played by veteran soap stars Bill Roache and Anne Kirkbride, look so in love at their register office ceremony, surrounded by smiling family and friends, that you'd never guess this was second time around for the pair.

They first heard the sound of wedding bells back in 1981. And, as Corrie fans know, both Ken and Deirdre have had their fair share of relationships since then...

Now, after all their failed flings, rocky romances and mad marriages, they have decided to give it another go and spend the rest of their lives together.

And when the wedding scenes are screened, soap fans are promised a real treat.

A Street source says: "We all love a wedding and this one is a cracker. There are highs and lows and some really emotional twists, both before and after the big day.

"Ken and Deirdre seem to have been around for ever and, love them or loathe them, they work brilliantly as a screen couple.

"One thing is for sure, their wedding day this time around will not be forgotten. It promises to be fantastic viewing."

Ken and Deirdre's recent attempt to get hitched was thwarted by the untimely return to Weatherfield of her roguish ex-husband, Ray. They had waited in vain for daughter Tracy (Kate Ford) to turn up at the register office, but called it off when they learned she and baby Amy were in A&E.

A car had bumped into the baby buggy. And Tracy was raging at the driver, unaware that he was the father who had abandoned her as a toddler, Ray Langton.

It turned out that Ray (Neville Buswell)was dying of stomach cancer and had returned to Weatherfield to say his last goodbyes and make his peace with Deirdre and Tracy. But while they have warmed to his charms, his presence has infuriated Ken - especially since Ray moved into the Barlow residence.

Ken was so angry with Ray for wrecking his big day and coming between him and his adopted daughter Tracy, he got uncharacteristically drunk one night in the Rovers, then gave everyone a piece of his mind.

Ironically, Ray plays a crucial part in persuading Deirdre to become Mrs Barlow again. She has been stalling, feeling it inappropriate to marry Ken while Ray is dying.

Our Street source adds: "He overhears Deirdre telling Ken she can't go through with a wedding because she doesn't feel right about it all. Afterwards, Ray quietly takes her to one side and urges her to do so. He says he would be so happy if they marry and that persuades Deirdre to tell Ken she accepts his offer of marriage."

Her decision sparks some hectic planning for her hen night and Ken's stag do.

For the hens, it's a wild girls' night out at the Weatherfield Arms. With the likes of Tracy, Frankie Baldwin, Liz McDonald, Rita Sullivan, Emily Bishop, Eileen Grimshaw and Sunita Alahan donning special T-shirts which show Deirdre's changing hairstyles over the years.

"There's a lot of sexual innuendo between the younger women, much to the embarrassment of Emily and Rita," says our insider. "And Tracy disgraces herself by slipping away with a guy she picks up."

Meanwhile, Ken's stag do in the Rovers is a much tamer affair, probably because he is surrounded by Deirdre's past conquests - her old flames Mike Baldwin and Dev Alahan, and her ex-hubby Ray.

"When Mike remarks how many of Deirdre's old lovers are there you'd expect Ken to go mad," says our source. "But he tells them that he's the lucky one, because he's got Deirdre to himself for the rest of his life."

They all meet up the next day - some rather bleary-eyed - at Weatherfield Register Office, to cheer on the happy couple. Ken's best man is his grandson Adam (Sam Robertson) who is Mike Baldwin's son. Then it's on to a reception in the Rovers.