Coronation Street actor Peter Ash has been gracing our screens since 2018.
Corrie viewers were first introduced to his character Paul Foreman when he shared a prison cell with David Platt in May 2018.
Many expected that to be the end of Paul's storyline, so fans got a pleasant surprise when he rocked up on the cobbles a few months later in January 2019 looking for his sister.
Then they dropped the bombshell that his estranged twin sister was none other than fan favourite Gemma Winter.
He has partaken in many big storylines since joining the soap bit he’s set to leave the soap this year after a devastating Motor Neuron Disease (MND) diagnosis.
Paul will be diagnosed with MND by doctors, who have called for more tests after seeing him struggling after he was accidentally run over by Carla Connor, in upcoming episodes.
Paul will be given the heart-breaking news that his life going forward will be limited as he struggles with the diagnosis and keeps it hidden.
Paul confides in his friend Dee Dee and keeps the news a secret initially, but his partner Billy Mayhew eventually finds out all is soon revealed about his health and what it might mean for the future of the pair's relationship as they come to terms with the diagnosis.
It was confirmed the storyline will go on for months, rather than weeks.
It is expected to be weeks until his partner Billy finds out, before the wider residents learn of the diagnosis and support Paul in his diagnosis going forward.
The diagnosis will eventually lead to Paul's death and it will mean an exit for actor Peter, something which he has admitted to feeling conflicted about.
As the shocking storyline unfolds and fans prepare to say goodbye to Peter, we take look at his love life, famous family and surprising previous acting roles.
Previous roles
Corrie wasn't Peter's first big role, as he had already been dropped straight in at the deep end on Footballers' Wives as soon as he finished his A-Levels aged 17, playing Darius Fry between 2003 and 2006, alongside fellow Corrie star Ben Price as Conrad Gates.
But once the show ended it was back down to earth with a bang - and the reality of life as an out of work actor.
Peter appeared in ITV crime drama Blue Murder in 2003, before he landed a six-episode role in Casualty later that year.
Then he had roles in The Royal, The Street and White Van Man, but his first involvement in soapland was actually in a rival show, as he appeared in four episodes of Hollyoaks as Harley Frater's acquaintance Ron.
However, he had to get a day job between acting gigs in order to survive.
"In between Footballers’ Wives and Corrie I was what you’d call a jobbing actor really," he explained to The Mirror last year.
"I had some amazing acting jobs, but they were here and there spread out. In between I was doing day jobs like bar work, working in call centres.
"Most of the time as an actor you are out of work. That is why I feel so lucky now to be involved in this show.
"It is regular work and it is the first time in my life I have done regular acting work for over a year.
"But you have to do other stuff in between to pay the bills. I was a driver for a while, picking up cars driving them around the country.
"You do anything and everything - but you also have to find something flexible so that you can go for auditions, and then if you get a job you might need a few weeks off for filming. So it is hard, as there aren’t many jobs where you can do that."
Just before he secured the role on Corrie, Peter was working in a call centre run by actors, which made it easier for him to get time off work for auditions.
"It was a weird one. Initially the part was only three episodes as David Platt’s cellmate. I was made up for that - just to have three episodes on Corrie was amazing," he explained.
"Then it was a bit later in the year and my agent said they were interested in bringing Paul back who was going to be Gemma’s brother. I was blown away. It was brilliant news."
Family life
Manchester-born Peter lives with his girlfriend Amy, a student nurse, and their 12-year-old son Ayden.
And he has a famous cousin, William Ash who starred in Corrie as Spike aged 10 and most famously as Chris Mead in Waterloo Road.
In January this year, Peter hit back when It's A Sin and Doctor Who writer Russell T Davies claimed only gay actors should play gay roles.
The TV producer said he believes it is the only way to guarantee authenticity with TV show casting.
"I’m not being woke about this… but I feel strongly that if I cast someone in a story, I am casting them to act as a lover, or an enemy, or someone on drugs or a criminal or a saint… they are not there to 'act gay' because 'acting gay' is a bunch of codes for a performance," he told Radio Times .
"It’s about authenticity, the taste of 2020."
He added: "You wouldn’t cast someone able-bodied and put them in a wheelchair, you wouldn’t black someone up. Authenticity is leading us to joyous places."
However, Peter hit back on Twitter and was praised by many of his followers.
He simply tweeted: "Acting; the art or occupation of performing fictional roles in plays, films or television."
Peter has been playing Paul for more than two years now - and still struggles to believe he's on the famous soap.
"When I got the Coronation Street job I was working in a call centre just over the way at Media City," he said.
"I used to drive in here to work an think “urgh I am going to work” and now I think “Yes! I am going to work”.
"It has been such a whirlwind since I joined the show. I’ve been here for just over a year now and I’ve had the best time ever."
* Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on ITV at 7.30pm and 8.30pm
