A familiar face returned to the ITV soap on Wednesday as a grief-stricken Billy Mayhew dangerously fell unconscious in the street after drinking too much whiskey.
Coronation Street aired a huge surprise on Wednesday (November 6) as a much-loved character returned from the dead to save his husband.
Paul Foreman (Peter Ash) made a shock appearance in Weatherfield only weeks after he tragically died of motor neurone disease.
During the emotional episode, Paul’s friends and family gathered in The Rovers Return to witness his ashes being sent to space and dispersed in the atmosphere.
But consumed with grief, Billy Mayhew (Daniel Brocklebank) was unable to watch the video and, after too much whisky, he made an announcement.
The scattering of Paul’s ashes became too much for Billy who sat in the street drunk and alone (Image: ITV)
The drunk vicar told the pub: “This is a circus, it has nothing to do with Paul.”
He then turned the television set off and continued: “It’s a farce. He’s already gone, and I didn’t even get to say goodbye to him and now I don’t even have any of his ashes.”
Bernie Winter (Jane Hazlegrove) tried to reassure her son-in-law Billy by telling him he was a loving husband to Paul and he shouldn’t beat himself up.
However, this spurred Billy on to publicly confess he made a pass at Todd on the day of Paul’s funeral.
Billy and Paul during their last days together before his tragic death (Image: ITV)
He told everyone in the Rovers: “Hear that Todd? Some loving husband.
“I tried to kiss Todd on the day of Paul’s funeral. That’s what kind of loving husband I am.”
Bernie broke down in tears as Gemma Winter (Dolly-Rose Campbell) raged at Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce) as Billy stormed out of the pub alone, and headed to buy a bottle of booze.
The grieving mum went to visit Todd later and found out the full story about his encounter with Billy.
They soon became worried about Billy’s whereabouts after realising he was dangerously drunk somewhere. Bernie told Todd to believe his instincts if he thought Billy was in trouble and the pair agreed to find him.
However, sitting alone in the street Billy was drinking while listening to recordings of Paul’s favourite songs, looking at photos and ignoring calls from Todd until his phone battery died.
Paul Foreman made a surprise return to Coronation Street on Wednesday (Image: ITV)
In the heartbreaking scene, Billy could be seen beginning to lose consciousness, as a familiar face appeared.
Making a shock return, Paul told Billy: “Get up you lazy arse”. He added: “Come on Billy, wakey wakey. You can’t stay here all night. You’ll freeze to death. Come on, get up Billy boy. Get up.”
Will Paul’s wise words save Billy from freezing to death in the street?
Coronation Street airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8pm on ITV and ITVX.
