Hearts will be both soaring and breaking as fans tune in to next week’s Coronation Street episode, as dying Paul Foreman (Peter Ash) leaves his flat for the last time for a special day organised by husband Billy Mayhew (Daniel Brocklebank).
With Paul forced to face his tragic fate, Billy wants to give him a day to remember ahead of the inevitable outcome that will tear them apart forever.
Meanwhile, Toyah Battersby (Georgia Taylor) has her own health fears, and she has Nick Tilsley (Ben Price) by her side at her latest appointment. But someone is watching them…
And bullying Mason (Luca Toolan) is back in Weatherfield after his release from prison, and Stu (Bill Fellows) is deeply concerned to find him battered and bruised.
He soon decides to take him under his wing…
Monday July 22
Leanne speaks to Rowan about the article but he manages to pull the wool over his eyes.
Despairing at Leanne’s naivety, Toyah heads off for her hospital appointment alone. She is shocked when Nick turns up and they go in to see the consultant together.
With Mason’s release on his mind an anxious Dylan arrives for his shift at Speed Daal. Stu is shocked to find a bloody and battered Mason near the precinct.
Michael and Ronnie offer to help Joel move a chest of drawers from his old flat to Dee-Dee’s. Joel gets Lauren out of the flat by giving her money to go shopping.
As Michael helps Joel with the chest of drawers, Ronnie takes a look in the fridge and remarks that it’s packed with ready meals for one.
Abi returns from Essex and makes it clear to Kevin she wants to forget all about Stefan.
Billy calls the family together for a meeting at No.5 where Paul plays them a pre-recorded message telling him that he’s dying, he can’t bear anymore fighting and right now he needs his mum more than ever.
Wednesday July 24
Toyah goes to another hospital appointment alone but is touched when she finds Nick waiting for her. As they hug Nick spots a man taking a photo. Convinced Rowan is behind the photo Nick is determined to sort him what.
Gemma glumly reveals the landlord is sending someone to view No.5 later. On the street, Summer is stunned to see an estate agent ushering Kit inside No.5.
A new occupational therapist calls on Paul at the flat and tells him the stairlift is now too dangerous and he can no longer leave the flat. Billy tells Paul they will leave the flat one last time tomorrow and can do whatever he fancies.
Debbie comes to the rescue after she spots Jack being bullied about Abi’s video and explains that they are not really Abi.
Jack makes Debbie promise not to tell Kevin and Abi that he knows. Meanwhile Debi is shocked when Stefan arrives at the hotel.
In Joel’s flat, he promises to a bored Lauren she’ll be on her way to Ireland within a week. Lauren calls on Max, desperate for some normality. Dylan’s worst fears come true when he comes face to face with an angry Mason.
Friday July 29
In this episode devoted entirely to Paul’s story he wakes to discover his speech has drastically deteriorated but is determined to enjoy his last day of freedom out of the flat after being told he can no longer use the stair lift.
The emotional episode follows Paul and Billy as they spend the day doing the things that Paul loves and wants to do while he still can. It is an emotional rollercoaster for both men.
Daniel Brocklebank told us more, revealing: ‘Paul hasn’t got a clue what they’re going to do. Billy takes him back to the church where they got married, which is lovely, and they have a nice little moment there.
‘He’s also organised for some of Paul’s buddies to all meet at the Rovers for a drink. Obviously Paul can’t drink because he’s got a feeding tube. However David organises this funky little bit of machinery and you can make bubbles out of any liquid that tastes of the liquid.
‘So obviously, having not been able to swallow anything at all for some time this is such a fun treat as David makes some beer bubbles for Paul so that he can actually taste the taste a bit. The whole day is amazing and I really don’t want to spoil it by giving too much away.
‘It was the most incredible and emotional episode to film. Not all of the day is big surprises or gestures. I think what Billy is realising, as I think most people should, in life, generally anyway, is that actually the small things are the biggest.
‘You don’t need grand gestures or expensive gifts, it is in the detail, the little things that matter the most.’
