Coronation Street’s Peter Ash confirms new villain for show
"Bernie and Gemma are not impressed at all."
Coronation Street star Peter Ash has warned that Paul Foreman’s father Denny hasn’t changed his ways.
Show bosses recently announced that Danny Cunningham has been cast in the role of Denny, who arrives in Weatherfield next week. The character has been mentioned over the years but hasn’t been seen until now.
Denny turns up after hearing Paul speak about his Motor Neurone Disease during an appearance on Amy Barlow’s new radio show.
Paul’s mum Bernie and twin sister Gemma are both unhappy to see Denny after his past behaviour. Paul’s husband Billy Mayhew also reminds him that Denny was violent towards him when he was a child.
Seeing things differently, Paul decides to give Denny a chance and suggests they should spend some time together.
Speaking about Denny’s arrival, Peter explained: “He does show up completely unexpectedly at the flat, which takes Paul by surprise.
“I think had it been a couple years ago, without the MND diagnosis, he probably would have told his dad to do one, basically. Because he wasn’t a nice person at all.
“But I think Paul has a different outlook now because obviously he’s dying, and I think he’s just got a different way of looking at that. So he gives him a chance and he goes out for a drink with his dad. They kind of get on all right, because Denny just treats him like a normal person.”
Asked about Denny’s history of violence, Peter replied: “Yes, there’s references to that. So he was definitely not a nice person at all. And in fact, I don’t think he’s changed that much!
“He leaves Paul alone for a bit, they’re going to watch a film and just hang out together. But then Denny goes out, and he shouldn’t really leave him alone, but he leaves him alone too long.
“Paul has a bit of a coughing fit, which really kind of shakes up Denny when he does eventually come back to the flat.
“Paul is having a real problem breathing. From the day before, when he goes to the pub with Denny, he drinks a bit too much and he’s a little bit sick that day, I think it’s still on his lungs, and that’s what causes the coughing fit the next day.”
Peter added that Denny can expect a growing backlash from the rest of Paul’s family.
He said: “At first, to be fair, Billy is not too bad. Because obviously he’s all about forgiveness. And that’s kind of where Paul’s head is at the moment with his new kind of outlook on the short life he’s got left.
“But Billy is really, really not impressed after he finds out that he took Paul to the pub, he’s got him pissed, he’s taken his neck collar off, which helps support the weight of his head.
“And obviously Paul’s sick when they come back to the flat, so Billy’s really not happy with him.
“Bernie and Gemma are not impressed at all. I mean, I think Paul’s probably the one that’s the most positive about his return, at the start anyway. He’s short of time, and he wants to smooth anything over he can before his time’s up, really.”