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Coronation Street star Peter Ash confirms exit story for Paul Foreman

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Coronation Street spoilers follow.

Coronation Street star Peter Ash has revealed a big new storyline for his character Paul Foreman, who'll be diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) next month.

Paul has been experiencing problems with his hand since being involved in a road accident on the cobbles. However, in upcoming scenes, Paul is told that his ongoing struggles are unlikely to be linked to the crash.

In early April, a specialist tells Paul that it's very likely he has MND. The diagnosis is ultimately confirmed later in the month.

Subsequent scenes explore how Paul copes with the news that he has the life-shortening condition. He initially confides in his flatmate Dee-Dee Bailey, but delays telling his partner Billy, mum Bernie or twin sister Gemma.

Coronation Street is working closely with the MND Association on the storyline, which will run for many months. As there is currently no cure for MND, Corrie bosses have confirmed that the story will lead to Paul's death.

Peter recently caught up with Digital Spy and other media for his first interview about the emotional storyline.

Paul initially thought that he was suffering from nerve damage, but after seeing no improvement, is he now worried that he could be experiencing something more serious?

"At this point, it's all about Paul wanting to get back to work and earning again. I don't think he has any idea that it's going to be something so serious.

"Paul thinks that it's a trapped nerve, or a bit of weakness in his hand, which was caused by the accident he had on the street. But it turns out that the problems in Paul's hand are nothing to do with that."

How does Paul feel when he attends another appointment and is told that it could be Motor Neurone Disease?

"When Paul is told that they'll be testing for MND, he doesn't really know what that is. He has to ask a few questions. The consultant explains that Paul is experiencing symptoms which could be MND. From that point, Paul just goes into shock.

"Paul is not looking positively on it at all. He thinks that he's got it, even though he hasn't been told that for definite yet. As far as Paul is concerned, this is what it is - it makes sense based on the symptoms he's experiencing. Once it sinks in, it turns his whole world upside-down."

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Why doesn't Paul tell his loved ones what the consultant has said?

"Paul wants to be sure first before he tells anyone, which is understandable. But he's also been worrying so much recently about his money problems. Paul has got his sister's wedding coming up, which is going to be a big stressful event.

"Paul thinks there's too much going on in everyone's lives at the moment to unload that on them. He bottles it up and keeps it in, which must be such an isolating feeling."

How long have you known about this storyline? How did you feel when you knew that it would ultimately lead to you leaving the show?

"I was called into the producer's office late last year. It was a shock. I suppose it's always a bit scary when you get called into the producer's office!

"[Coronation Street producer] Iain MacLeod said that they had a big storyline for me and it should be a great thing to do, but unfortunately, it would mean an eventual exit.

"I had mixed feelings, obviously. I'll be sad to leave the show - it's been such an amazing job and I've met fantastic people.

"But also, I'm quite happy to be involved in such a powerful storyline that hopefully will bring awareness to MND. It's also going to be quite a progression of Paul's illness."

What did you know about MND before you found out about this storyline?

"Very little. I knew of Stephen Hawking and I remembered the name of the condition from the Ice Bucket Challenge that happened a few years ago - of course, that was called ASL because that's the American name for the condition.

"I didn't know that much, so as soon as the story was pitched, I knew that I'd have to read up on it and do research."

ITV//ITV

What research have you done?

"We were put in touch with Mike Small, a man who's living with MND. I had a really interesting chat with him. Mike was a labourer too, so there are some similarities to Paul, but his story is completely different. There are little bits we might have taken from other people's stories, but this is Paul's story.

"The MND Association have been a great help and have been giving us the information we need. Whenever there's a new script or a new symptom, I'll check in with them and make sure that it's portrayed properly.

"Everyone here at Corrie has also been great with the help and support, particularly the research and the storyline team.

"I also read [former rugby league star] Rob Burrow's book. I'm not a sport guy at all, so I've not heard about him through rugby or anything, but obviously through hearing about this, I'm following his story now. I've watched his documentary and I've read his book."

Do you feel a big responsibility when exploring a story like this?

"Massively. When you're playing a character with an illness or a condition, there's so much responsibility to get it right and not to cheapen it. We want to represent it properly. We're acting it, but there are people watching who are living with it. It's very important to get it right, be spot on with it and portray it sensitively."

Your co-star Daniel Brocklebank, who plays Paul's boyfriend Billy, has personal experience as his grandfather had MND. Did you know that beforehand?

"I didn't, but it was not long after I was informed of the story and we all went out for drinks that we talked about it.

"I said to Dan: 'I don't know if you know what's going to happen to Paul?' He already knew because he'd had a call from [Coronation Street's assistant producer] Verity MacLeod. That was the first that I'd heard that Dan's grandfather had suffered with it. He told me loads about it, which was helpful too."

ITV

How have you found portraying the physical effects?

"So far I've been eased into it, as it just starts with Paul's hand. I'm very aware that as it goes on and the symptoms progress, it will get a lot more technical.

"I'm sure as the symptoms pile up, I'm going to be speaking a lot more with the MND Association to make sure we get it all right. It's quite a journey that we're going on."

What do you hope Coronation Street will achieve by exploring the storyline?

"I just hope that it brings awareness and the general public can see what people who live with this go through on a daily basis. It's about the loved ones of the person as well, because it affects so much of their lives and it's tough.

"I hope that people can understand the condition more. There's one scene in the pub where Paul is struggling to pick up a glass and George accuses him of being drunk. We're showing little things like that, which obviously people with MND have to deal with."

Is Paul worried that this will change how people see him?

"Definitely. There are scenes exploring that when Paul speaks to Dee-Dee, who's the one person he confides in. Bless her, she deals with a lot with Paul when he starts unloading!

"Paul doesn't want to tell anyone else, because he fears that they'll treat him differently after this point and he'll be pitied - he doesn't want that. It's understandable and obviously he doesn't want to worry people.

"At the moment we're still filming the scenes where Dee-Dee is the only person who knows. I think the next point will be when Billy finds out, but I've not read to that point yet."

Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 and streams on ITVX.

Read more Coronation Street spoilers on our dedicated homepage

Coronation Street has been working on Paul's storyline with support from the MND Association, which focuses on improving access to care, research and campaigning for people affected by motor neurone disease.

The charity's helpline MND Connect (0808 802 6262) is available Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, and 7pm to 10.30pm. Calls are free.

Daniel Kilkelly

Daniel has been writing about soaps on Digital Spy since 2004 and took over as Soaps Editor in 2010.  

He has interviewed hundreds of soap stars over the years, from Bill Roache to Lacey Turner, and regularly visits the sets of Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks for behind-the-scenes trips and press events.  

He has served as an awards judge on numerous occasions for the likes of the BAFTA TV Awards, RTS Programme Awards and British Soap Awards. In 2020, he was Highly Commended for Best Section Editor at the BSME Awards.

 

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