Coronation Street's Peter Ash details 'overwhelming'…

Coronation Street's Peter Ash details 'overwhelming' reaction to impending exit and atmosphere on set

Coronation Street star Peter Ash has spoken about the 'overwhelming' reaction to his latest storyline after viewers watched Paul Foreman being diagnosed with motor neurone disease.

Last month, Paul received the devastating news that he has the fatal, rapidly progressing disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. But the former builder, who only discovered anything was wrong after he was accidentally knocked over by Carla Connor in her Underworld van when she had been unknowingly drugged with LSD by Stephen Reid, has kept the news from his loved ones.

He had only confided in his friend and former flatmate Dee-Dee Bailey but last week, fans of the ITV soap saw his partner Billy Mayhew discover the truth. After discovering Paul was going to court, he also headed to the courthouse, unaware he had been stealing cars to fix his money woes.

But unbeknown to Paul, Billy too heads into the courthouse and Paul is horrified to see him there. The magistrate addresses Paul and tells him that in light of his serious medical condition, MND, he’ll receive a suspended sentence, leaving Billy in shock.

On the scenes to come after Billy discovered the truth, Daniel Brocklebank, who plays Billy, told the Manchester Evening News: "They were brutal [to film]. I came home exhausted after that day.

"Pete and I had done some filming that day with Rob Burrow which i think added to the intensity of filming them. Obviously having spent the afternoon with someone with advanced MND, and such a hero like Rob who has made such a huge impact on the MND community and MND association, I think it added to that day.

"And they're heartbreaking. Even during the read through, Pete and I were welling up. Sometimes you make a choice about how you're going to play things [but] sometimes you don't get a choice. Sometimes it just gets you and you literally can't choose anything else because that's how it makes you feel in that moment."

Billy at the hospital with Paula after discovering the truth (ITV)

And this was echoed by Peter, who has played Paul since 2019, who said: "We waited a while for that moment because for the longest time only Dee-Dee knew about the MND so it's quite a big moment for Paul to let his partner know exactly what he's been going through.

"It was quite emotional to film. I love working with Dan and we have a great time but when we do these heavy scenes as well, it's always really nice and we have a nice rhythm. But it was emotional to film, especially as we had just met Rob Burrow that afternoon."

Speaking about the atmosphere on set, Peter added: "Again, it was quite an emotional atmosphere. Jane [Hazlegrove] who plays Bernie was waiting behind the set to come on and just listening to the scene making her emotional.

"In the scene, she doesn't know yet so she was saying she had to close her ears and think of something else. But it was just a beautifully written scene as well."

The storyline will eventually see Peter leave the soap as Paul (Peter Ash Instagram)

Peter also opened up about the reaction to the storyline, which will eventually lead to his exit from the ITV soap, since it was announced back in March. "It's been amazing, it really has. It's been quite overwhelming really to get messages from people who have lost loved ones or are currently living with loved ones who have MND. It really is something.

"And I appreciate all the kind responses so far." But the fact the storyline will see him make a permanent exit from Weatherfield has made the storyline even more upsetting for fans. "People have been lovely saying they don't want me to go and things like that and I really appreciate that. The Corrie fans are amazing. We have amazing fans. It's great."

READ NEXT:

Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.

Already a member? Sign in here