Coronation Street fans have shared their upset after learning that Paul Foreman will receive a devastating diagnosis which will eventually lead to his death. It has been revealed by the ITV soap that Paul will be diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND), which is a life-shortening illness.
Viewers have been wondering if something more serious was wrong with Paul, played by Peter Ash, ever since he was accidentally knocked over by Carla Connor in her Underworld van after unknowingly being drugged with LSD by Stephen Reid.
Amid multiple GP visits, as he struggles with the use of his hand, Paul will start 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.
Fans will see Paul keeps the diagnosis from his partner Billy Mayhew and his family, confiding only in his flatmate Dee Dee Bailey. The storyline will then 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.
While Corrie has confirmed that there is currently no specific date for Paul, or Peter's exit from the ITV soap, the storyline will eventually lead to Paul's heartbreaking death as 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.
And following the new storyline news being confirmed on Friday (March 24), Corrie fans have been flocking to social media to comment. @dwhxo said: "I am so gutted about this but I had a feeling after Paul’s accident that there would be more than meets the eye with his injuries. Paul is one of my favourite characters and @peterash_85 is such a gifted actor, he is going to smash the scenes that are set to play out."
@mccarthyc60 wrote: "This breaks my heart. Love his character!" @jenniferbackx shared: "Nooooo. That means he will be leaving and he's a fab character mnd is horrendous my grandma died from it." @chattymandan added: "So sad really like Paul and billy together and he’s obviously gonna be killed off this is why I don’t like having favourites in the soaps."
But others have been applauding the move. @chichard41 said: "This is going to be heartbreaking for me to watch, but so thankful for the awareness it will raise with guidance from @mndassoc." @RyanTheSoapking tweeted: "Such an important storyline and a topic that is rarely covered in soap. @PeterAsh_85 and the whole team at #Corrie will do this storyline justice.
@scripttoscene commented: "For a long time I thought it would be powerful for a soap to tackle MND The fact that some are surprised Paul will die shows that some don’t know how devastating this disease is Done well, it will be the best storyline amongst the soaps Best of luck to @PeterAsh_85 #corrie." @terrettcorey added: This is going to be a tough but important storyline. What #Corrie does best."
The news comes after Peter took to Instagram with a selfie from his dressing room at the Salford-based soap in which he said he 'loves his job'. The actor, who became a regular on the cobbles in 2019, was seen smiling for the camera as he posed for the mirror selfie.
"Happy days," he captioned the post before adding the hashtag: "Love My Job." And now one of the first comments on the post, from @juliewho5, reads: "Just read what is going to happen to Paul. Properly gutted. You made him my favourite."
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