Corrie to air motor neurone disease storyline as cobbles favourite is diagnosed
Coronation Street actor Peter Ash is set to be at the centre of a motor neurone disease (MND) storyline and has shared his determination to "get it right"
In a first for Corrie, much-loved character Paul Foreman (played by Peter) will be diagnosed with the terminal life-shortening illness and the storyline will follow the progression of the disease.
Following weeks of speculation about what is causing the character’s clumsiness, Friday’s episode will see the builder referred to a specialist, before being given a diagnosis of MND in April.
MND is a fatal, rapidly progressing disease that affects the brain and spinal cord, attacking the nerves that control movement so muscles no longer work and currently, it has no cure, the MND Association said.
Coronation Street has been working on the storyline with the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association whose experts have been advising the soap’s researchers, scriptwriters and actors since last autumn to ensure it is an “accurate portrayal”.
The storyline will follow the challenges he faces as he loses his mobility, and his ability to eat and speak, “locked in a body that is failing”.
Talking about portraying the physical effects of the illness, 38-year-old Peter said: “I’ve been eased into it.
“It started with Paul’s hand but I’m very aware as the time goes on and as the symptoms progress, it’ll get a lot more technical.
“So 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 he’ll be going on.”
He later added: “Especially when you’re playing a character with an illness or a condition, there’s so much responsibility to get it right, not to cheapen it and to represent it properly.
“We act it but there are people watching who are living with it so it’s very important to get it right and be spot on with it, be sensitive.”
Peter said he was initially shocked to discover the future of his character because the nature of the life-shortening disease will mean his eventual exit from the show.
“I’ll be sad to leave the show, it’s been an amazing job, I’ve met fantastic people. But also at the same time, happy to be involved in such a powerful storyline that hopefully will bring awareness,” he said.
Peter added that he originally knew about the disease only through Professor Stephen Hawking and the ice bucket challenge which went viral a few years ago, but has since read former rugby player Rob Burrow’s book and watched his documentary to understand more about the illness.
The ITV storyline will follow the impact the diagnosis has on his loved ones, including his on-screen boyfriend Billy Mayhew played by Daniel Brocklebank.
The 43-year-old actor, whose grandfather died of MND 20 years ago, said his own experiences of the disease will directly translate into his acting.
Daniel, who is an MND ambassador, spoke about being told of the storyline: “They told me what the storyline was going to be but they had no idea of my history with MND or with the association, so it was a bit of a shock.
“My legs went a little bit weak because I suppose it just brings back memories of that time. I did wonder if this could potentially be quite triggering in a lot of ways.
“I’m hoping I might be able to bring some of my personal experience into the playing of this storyline, having been somebody who did in real life help to care for somebody with MND.”
Daniel said he won’t have trouble accessing the emotion to play the part but said “the pressure will be trying not to burst into tears”.
READ MORE:
- For all your daily celebrity news and gossip, sign up to OK!’s newsletter – CLICK HERE
- Coronation Street fans left 'sobbing' and a 'mess' as cobbles favourite dies
- Coronation Street star sacked for 'leaking storylines' lands new job with Love Islander
- Coronation Street Tracy Barlow star Kate Ford's life off screen including famous ex
- To read the very best of today’s OK! content from breaking news to Royals and TV – CLICK HERE
Source: Read Full Article