Kenneth Charles Cope (born on 14th April 1931 in Wavertree, Liverpool) was a familiar face in several iconic 1960s television programmes. He first appeared as the fondly remembered 'Sunny Jim' - Jed Stone - in Coronation Street in a one-off episode in April 1961, then returned as a regular character in September of the same year. The Equity actors' strike meant that his departure from the programme was sudden in November however he reappeared for further stints in the role from November 1962 to March 1963 and January to September 1966. His popularity in the role of the street trader was such that he was invited to become member of Belfast branch of National Market Traders Federation in January 1963.

After this he turned to his writing talents, penning Episodes One and Three of the Leonard Swindley spin-off Turn out the Lights with Peter Eckersley. He later appeared - and is best remembered - for the series Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased), in which he played the latter titular-role. He also contributed to the seminal satirical series That Was The Week That Was.

As well as being an actor Kenneth has worked as a DJ for Radio Luxemburg and recorded a record, 'Hands off. Stop mucking about', with Tony Hatch.

He has continued to act after leaving the programme taking a leading role in two of the beter late 1970s 'Carry On' movies, Carry On at your Convenience and Carry On Matron. He appeared in the soap opera Brookside for three years as Ray Hilton.

Kenneth met his wife Renny Lister when she appeared alongside him in Coronation Street as Jean Stark. Their children include the actress Martha Cope.

Somewhat unexpectedly, Cope returned to Coronation Street as Jed in August 2008. The forty-two year gap between his appearances is a possible record for any television programme. But this record was broken by actor Philip Lowrie who returned in 2011 as Dennis Tanner after a forty-three year absence, beating Kenneth's record. After playing the role for four episodes in August, he returned again in November that year, and his character was nearly killed by character Tony Gordon played by Gray O'Brien, but survived, and made a brief return the following month, where the character made his final appearance. It was originally intended to have Jed killed off, but Kenneth Cope was against the idea so producers changed it.