Coronation Street has confirmed fans' worst fears as Paul Foreman is set to receive a devastating diagnosis. Viewers of the ITV soap have been worried for the builder ever since he was accidentally knocked over by Carla Connor in her Underworld van after unknowingly being drugged with LSD by Stephen Reid.
Following the accident, Paul was left wearing an arm sling but fans were quick to notice something still wasn't quite right as he struggled to pick up darts in the Rovers Return before throwing one which landed in Evelyn Plummer's hat on a nearby table. Dr Gaddass assumed it was nerve damage and told him his recovery could take weeks.
However, a recent visit to the GP has prompted more tests and in scenes to air next month, viewers will see Paul diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND), which is a life-shortening illness.
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MND is a fatal, rapidly progressing disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. It attacks the nerves that control movement so muscles no longer work. MND does not usually affect the senses such as sight, sound and feeling but it can leave people locked in a failing body, unable to move, talk and eventually breathe.
In Corrie, Paul, played by Peter Ash, starts to notice other issues with balance, mobility and dexterity and during scenes to air on Friday night (March 24), Paul will be referred to a specialist, before, in early April, he is given the devastating news that it is very likely he has MND with the diagnosis then being confirmed later in the month.
Paul keeps the diagnosis from his partner Billy Mayhew and his family, confiding only in his flatmate Dee Dee Bailey. The storyline will follow the progression of the disease as Paul initially deals with the illness alone and eventually has to break the news to his loved ones.
Coronation Street is working closely with the MND Association on this storyline which will explore the challenges faced by Paul and those around him in the coming months. Producer Iain Macleod said of the new twist in Paul's story: "Motor Neurone Disease is something that many people might have heard of but perhaps don’t know a lot about, even given the recent cases of public figures talking about their experiences of living with the condition.
"A show like Coronation Street is uniquely placed to show the day-to-day reality of dealing with an illness that gradually and progressively erodes the physical attributes that you perhaps take for granted, changing forever the way you interact with the world around you."
He added: "At first, Paul - who as a builder, relies entirely on his physicality for his livelihood - will massively go off the rails in a misplaced bid to ensure he isn’t a burden on his loved ones. But in the end, they will be the ones to put him back together emotionally.
"We are committed to portraying in a long-term, sensitive way the effects of this condition on Paul and his family and friends, not shying away from the sometimes painful reality of what his life will be like. We have been privileged to work with the Motor Neurone Disease Association - including talking to people who have the condition and their families - to ensure we do justice to people’s real-life experiences."
Peter, who has played Paul in the ITV soap since 2019 after a brief appearance the year before, said of his new storyline: "Paul is completely blindsided by the diagnosis and he decides to keep it from his family and friends as he tries to come to terms with the news.
"I knew very little about MND before embarking on the storyline and I am hugely grateful to the MND Association for all their help and support. For any actor playing a role which examines a real life issue or condition there comes a huge sense of responsibility and we are aware that some people watching this storyline are experiencing it in reality, it is their life."
He added: "Awareness and education are really important. I have learned so much even in the short time I have been involved in this storyline. We hope Paul’s journey can make people more aware of the symptoms and what it is like for someone to live with MND."
And MND Association director of axternal affairs Chris James added: "We are really grateful to the team at Coronation Street for choosing to tackle this difficult subject. Putting MND in front of millions of viewers every week will raise incredible awareness and help educate people who have never come across this disease – showing the day to day reality for those living with it and the impact on their families, friends and neighbours too.
"The Coronation Street team has been incredibly responsible when considering storylines, scenarios and scripts, spending a lot of time talking to us and members of the MND community to ensure the onscreen portrayal of MND is realistic, sympathetic and sensitive."
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