Coronation Street actor Daniel Brocklebank, who plays Billy Mayhew, has been written out of the ITV soap in the wake of his on-screen husband’s tragic death.

Coronation Street’s Daniel Brocklebank, who plays Billy Mayhew, has been inundated with messages from friends, fans and followers as he shared updates about his life off-screen after a heart-wrenching week for his character.

The actor has recently been at the centre of a series of harrowing scenes in the ITV soap. Regular viewers will know that Billy tragically missed the chance to say goodbye to his husband Paul Foreman, who sadly passed away.

Paul, a former builder portrayed by Peter Ash, was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND), a currently incurable condition, in April 2023. His health then took a dramatic turn for the worse, starting with losing the use of his limbs and eventually his ability to speak.

However, in recent episodes, Paul’s health worsened quickly and he was rushed to hospital struggling to breathe. Later, after doctors told his family that there was nothing more they could do but make him comfortable, Paul breathed his last.

In a gut-wrenching twist, a series of events, beginning with Billy looking for his lost phone, delayed his arrival at the hospital, preventing him from saying goodbye. Although he thought he had expressed his feelings to Paul over the phone, in reality, Paul had already tragically passed away, reports the Mirror.

Daniel Brocklebank has headed off on holiday (Image: Daniel Brocklebank Instagram)

Corrie fans have been captivated as Billy has struggled with guilt over not being present during Paul’s final moments and even snubbed Paul’s mother, Bernie Winter, who is preoccupied with arranging Paul’s goodbye.

As the drama unfolds on-screen, actor Daniel Brocklebank, who has portrayed vicar Billy for almost a decade, has escaped to sunnier climes for some much-deserved rest and recuperation following an intense stint on the soap.

Billy missed out on saying goodbye to Paul (Image: ITV)

The star shared his excitement on Instagram with a snap that boasted: “It appears that I’ve awoken in the Caribbean!! Bring on the relax, sunshine and much needed sleep!” Joining in on the joy, Daniel’s partner, Jordan Coulthard, commented, “You deserve this so much babe. Have the best time!” adding further cheer. Former Coronation Street pal Peter Ash showed his support too, with, “Looks amazing! Enjoy your well-deserved rest, buddy!”

Fans were quick to share their happiness for the actor’s break; one admirer penned: “Enjoy @danielbrocklebank well deserved.”

A different devotee remarked: “Enjoy your much deserved R&R!”, while another chimed in: “Well deserved! Enjoy your rest and relaxation!” Another follower left a heartfelt: “Enjoy your well deserved break Daniel.”

And another supporter added: “Much Deserved Daniel! Have a wonderful time.”