Farrington's first major role was as Jack Marvel in the 1960 series,
The Splendid Spur, but he came to prominence playing the role of
Billy Walker, wayward son of publican
Annie, in
ITV's long-running
soap opera,
Coronation Street, having previously been considered for the role of
Jed Stone. He joined the series in 1961, continuing in the role on and off until leaving the show for good in 1984. Farrington played long-suffering Chief Inspector Teal's right-hand man in the TV series
The Saint and also appeared in episodes of
The Avengers,
Redcap and
Z-Cars. He appeared in films such as
Submarine X-1 (1968) and
Party Party (1983). Farrington worked with the Manchester Drama Group, with whom cast members of
Coronation Street often performed in the 1970s. In 1974, he directed
Anne Kirkbride in a lunchtime production of
David Halliwell's
Muck from Three Angles at the Grapes Hotel in Quay Street. Kirkbride's character in the soap,
Deirdre, was a love interest of Billy Walker around this time. In 1990 he played the role of joiner Mr.Edwards in an episode of
All Creatures Great And Small titled
"Knowin' How To Do It". In 1993 he appeared in an episode of
Heartbeat, playing Vic Kennis (as Ken Farrington). Beginning in 1997 he played the continuing role of Jack Gates, father of Hart family matriarch Annie Hart (played by
Liz Crowther), in the soap opera
Family Affairs. His character was killed off in late 1998 (several weeks prior to the entire Hart family being killed off) as part of a drastic revamp of that series. ==
Emmerdale (2004–2006)==