Billy Mayhew will be in a race against time to be with Paul’s dying moments
Coronation Street star Daniel Brocklebank has recalled being overwhelmed over the reaction to his and his co-star’s very own special episode ahead of Paul Foreman’s tragic death.
It’s been revealed that Billy Mayhew will be in a race against time to be with Paul’s dying moments suddenly occurring when he is in a hungover state searching for his lost phone.
Spoilers have revealed that whilst complaining of his hangover, Billy realises he’s lost his phone and is thrown into panic as it contains all of his photos and memories.
As he sets off to retrace his steps, Summer Spellman and Bernie Winter are horrified to discover Paul unresponsive on the sofa, struggling to breathe.
Summer calls an ambulance but realising that Billy has left Paul at the worst possible time, with no way of contacting him, Bernie and Summer do everything they can to keep Paul alive. With the odds against him, will Billy make it in time to say his final goodbye to Paul?
Speaking about Billy having his arm twisted to go out for a drink in the first place, Daniel told the Manchester Evening News and other press: “He doesn’t want to go at all. He’s been at home with Paul now for months and Billy’s a control freak so if he can’t see what’s happening, he’s constantly worrying about what could be happening…”
But the tear-jerking episode comes after a special episode in July which saw Billy plan a day for Paul as he faced his last day of freedom as his deteriorating health. The powerful episode was devoted entirely to the day in the life of Paul from his perspective, with his inner monologue heard describing his true thoughts and feelings as his speech continues to be cruelly taken from him.
He later signalled to Billy that the time had come for him to want to end his own life, which left his partner distraught. However, as the couple made devastating plans, they were interrupted by Chesney Brown who need emergency help with childcare and Paul quickly changed his mind.
“In my 31 years of doing this for a living, I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a reaction to a single episode of something I’ve been in,” Daniel shared. “When we first read it, Pete [Paul] and I were on the phone to each other going, ‘This is beautifully written.'”
The soap star, who has played Billy for 10 years, said it was “a really special episode” and recalled filming it over an “intense two-week” period which ended with Daniel and Peter Ash, who plays Paul, enjoying a pint together but admitted it was strange to return to the Trafford-based set after spending time filming what felt like a “stand-alone drama”.
