Veteran British actor Bill Roache has been hospitalised with pneumonia just days before his upcoming 80th birthday.
Roache, father of Law & Order star Linus Roache, was struck down with the potentially-deadly lung infection shortly after a speaking tour of Canada and is now recovering at home following a brief stint in hospital.
The Coronation Street actor is planning to mark his 80th birthday on Wednesday (25Apr12) with a big party, and hopes to recover in time to celebrate.
A spokeswoman for Roche tells Britain's The People tabloid, "Bill is currently at home recovering from pneumonia. It isn't ideal, especially with his 80th birthday coming up. But he is doing very well and feeling much better now."