Paul Foreman’s heart-breaking MND storyline drew to a close this Monday in tear-jerking scenes. Over on social media, Corrie fans were devastated to see him draw his last breath.

Soap viewers have been left in tatters after Coronation Street aired a tear-jerking exit for Paul Foreman, marking the end of his powerful MND storyline.

The beloved builder, portrayed by actor Peter Ash was diagnosed with the neurodegenerative condition last year and suffered the loss of his mobility, before eventually requiring a speaking machine and a wheelchair.

Paul drew his last breath in tear-jerking scenes aired this Monday, September 9, while his husband Billy Mayhew (Daniel Brocklebank) tried to reach him before it was too late, after going on the hunt for his mobile phone, lost during a night out with David Platt (Jack P. Shepherd).

In a devastating twist, Billy did not get to say a proper goodbye to the love of his life, as he was only able to reach him once he’d managed to replace his broken phone, running to Weatherfield General Hospital in a desperate bid to get to the hospital in time.

The race to Paul’s hospital bed began when Summer noticed that Paul was struggling to breathe and covered his face with an oxygen mask in vain. Meanwhile, Billy had no idea that Paul was at a low point as nobody could reach him without his phone.

Kit Green (Jacob Roberts) eventually showed up, leaving Summer and Bernie to explain their dilemma and, upon realising that nothing could be done without the help of professionals, they decided to call an ambulance. Paul was immediately rushed to the hospital, with Gemma Winter (Dolly-Rose Campbell) climbing into the ambulance while Bernie and Summer saw them off and vowed to join them.

Billy was then found by Kit with David, after the vicar had finally managed to find his broken phone, replacing it with a new one which allowed him to catch up with the many calls and messages he had missed.

Bernie, Summer and were all at Paul’s bedside as Billy was later able to give him one last phone call. Unbeknownst to Billy, Paul drew his last breath, dying just as Billy was declaring his love for him but Bernie insisted on letting the vicar finish what he had to say. Billy proceeded to declare his unwavering love to Paul, unaware that Bernie, Summer and Gemma were sobbing after his passing.

Paul’s health took a turn for the worse during this Monday’s Coronation Street instalment, leaving fans devastated as he drew his last breath

Sadness and rage among fans

Corrie viewers have been bracing themselves and were warned by spoilers to have tissues at the ready as Paul’s exit scenes were expected to air this week.

“Going to be sad next week when Paul dies”, “It’s going to be absolutely heart-breaking when Paul dies. Peter Ash has played an absolute blinder and raised so much awareness for MND”, some have notably penned.

Over on Twitter, now X, fans of the Manchester-based programme shared their own devastation this Monday, predicting a downward spiral for Billy. “Oh god, that’s traumatic. The phone call, pretending he hasn’t already gone. Far too relatable for some of us”, one penned.

Another added: “This is so awful”, while a third continued: “Oh this is genuinely gut-wrenching.” A fourth chimed in: “So so sad”, just as another echoed: “God Bernie and Gemma destroying me.”

But their sadness turned to fury when they realised Billy didn’t get to say a proper goodbye. “Whoever wrote that ending needs to be sacked. #corrie Everything they have done for MND and the support that was shown from Billy to Paul throughout this then they have him miss the whole thing, just because he lost his phone. Deserved way way more for such a horrible disease.”

Another echoed: “I don’t know what to think about that. It was beautiful to see Paul surrounded by loved ones and seeing them say bye, but I do think Billy should have been there. Just an unnecessary extra bit of drama #corrie.”

The end of Paul’s life in the cobbles marks the finale of a hard-hitting storyline dedicated to motor neurone disease, launched with the help and support of the MND Association.

An incurable disease

For context, motor neurone disease is considered a rare neurological condition, which is experienced by around 5,000 people in the UK according to the MND Association who have brought Corrie bosses support and guidance for almost two years to ensure the accuracy of Paul’s storyline.

MND affects the brain and nerves but, more specifically, the motor neurones, which refers to nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control muscle activity, from walking, and speaking to swallowing and breathing. It remains an incurable disease to this day, though research could lead it to become a treatable condition in the future, as stated by the MND Association’s Director of Services and Partnerships Sally Hughes to The Daily Mirror.

Off-screen, the devastation MND leaves behind was made clearer with the death of Rob Burrow on June 2, 2024. The former rugby player had been living with the disease since his own diagnosis in December 2019.

The storyline has been praised and even won the award for Best Storyline at the 2024 Radio Times Soap Awards but while Paul’s last scenes were powerful, some viewers have deemed them a difficult watch.

Speaking about the storyline, Peter Ash said: “With a storyline like that there’s a lot of pressure to get it right. Obviously you don’t want to misrepresent it or anything, so there is a lot of research being done. It’s tough and it’s been such a heavy storyline, but it feels good knowing we’re getting it right.” He’d then added: “The response to it has been amazing from people living with MND themselves, and also their families responding to it, so it’s been amazing in that regard.”

From Weatherfield to the stage

This also comes after Peter Ash spoke about his exit from Coronation Street. The 39-year-old said he has mixed feelings about leaving the cobbles: “I massively thank Iain and Verity [MacLeod] for trusting me with this story. It’s a double-edged sword. I always knew it would be an eventual exit unless we were lucky enough to find a cure [for MND] in that time…”

“But I always knew it would be [his exit] and I’m just, again, grateful that they trusted me to play the storyline and allowed it to play out, there was never a ‘this is when it’s going to end’. I was always quite surprised when I’d ring Iain and he’d say, ‘Right, this is what’s happening for the next six months…’ But it was amazing.”

The Paul Foreman star has since told the Daily Mirror that he has more work lined up. “I’m doing panto and I’m really looking forward to it. I’m doing Aladdin [at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in Oldham] and I’m the bad guy. That will be great fun, such a change from this. But right now, I’m enjoying a bit of time off and the lie-ins.”