<P> Following the revelation and amidst the fallout, Denise absconded, leaving her son in Ken's custody . This facilitated Black's desire to have a six - month break from the serial . The character returned in the winter of 1996, for the last part of her storyline, Black having decided to quit the role . Denise's return storyline was scripted to coincide with Coronation Street's increase to four weekly episodes . It focused upon a custody battle for Daniel between Ken and Denise after Denise snatched Daniel . A source at the time discussed the storyline and Ken's reaction to losing his son: "Ken is devastated when he returns home the week before Christmas and finds his son gone . He simply can't believe he's been snatched by the woman who dumped them . He immediately starts a custody battle . Denise plays heavily on the fact that she is the mother, while Ken (claims) that he is back in a relationship with his ex-wife Deirdre . Deirdre actually goes to court with him for support, but she gets angry when she finds out he tries to use their friendship as a lever to get Daniel back ." When Denise was awarded custody, she left Coronation Street, and Ken lost contact with his son . </P> <P> Denise was reintroduced for several months in 2007, over a decade after she had last appeared . Ken tracked down his son following marital unease with Deirdre, which led to interactions with Denise when he turned up unannounced for a visit . Black was pleased to be invited back, saying "I don't think that you can have Ken Barlow's baby and forget about it, can you?" Denise's return was used as a catalyst to cause further problems in Ken and Deirdre's marriage, Ken having grown discontented . It was only a brief return; once Denise's advances towards Ken were rejected, Denise was written out again . </P> <P> In January 2009, Martha Fraser (played by Stephanie Beacham), a new love interest for Ken, was introduced to the show . 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 . Ken seeks Martha out again, and he helps her go through her lines . 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 . 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 ." Ken also chooses not to mention Martha to Deirdre; Roache believed that she would be angry if she found out . 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 . During the storyline, Roache's wife, Sara, died . Roache was given compassionate leave from the soap, and writers were forced to rework Ken's storyline . 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 . </P> <P> Alison Graham of the Radio Times said Martha was Ken's soulmate, because "she's the most perfectly bourgeois bit - on - the - side ." 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 . 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 ." She hoped that Ken and Martha were "soon in the throes of ecstasy", because Ken deserved it . Following the conclusion to Ken's relationship with Martha, Roache expressed an interest in having more girlfriends for Ken introduced in the future . 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 ." 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 ." </P>

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